How can I cut a section in a svg to an new file

[MontePic]

How can I cut a section out of an SVG file and save it to a new file, including the paths? If needed, should I export it as PNG and then convert the PNG back to SVG

Help would be great

[Bobby Henderson]

The question is a little vague. If you're trying to extract elements out of an existing piece of artwork there are multiple ways to do that. But it depends on the artwork itself. It may be as simple as ungrouping the objects (if they're grouped) and then selecting the desired pieces of artwork, copying them to the clipboard and then pasting them into a new Illustrator document. If you're trying to cut portions out of existing shapes the Pathfinder tools can do that. Clipping masks can show/hide portions of artwork non-destructively.

If the artwork is vector-based already (given that it is in a SVG file) then there is no need for exporting in PNG format and then somehow going back to SVG. PNG is a pixel-based format. Converting vector shapes to pixels and then converting back into vectors again doesn't make any sense. It would degrade the artwork.

[MontePic]

I have opend the original svg file und put a rectangle over it - choose both and

try pathfinder an click intersect but every time got the error 

The application of the filter produces no result. Select two paths."

[Bobby Henderson]

What does the artwork in the SVG file look like? What does the file contain? I still don't understand what you want to cut out of it.

[michelew83603738]

Can you post a screen capture of the artwork with the layers panel showing and expanded so that we can better understand what you are trying to do.

[MontePic]

[Kurt Gold]

Can you share this .svg file for inspection?

[MontePic]

no

[Kurt Gold]

All right.

[michelew83603738]

Would just using a clipping mask work for you? Not sure what your purpose is, but if you use  mask, you will have all of the paths and just the part of the image that you want to show.

[Bobby Henderson]

The map image looks like it is (probably) vector-based. But my guess is the artwork may be nested in one or more clipping groups/masks. That's probably why it won't respond to pathfinder operations. If you open the Layers panel and drill down into the objects list it should show how the contents are grouped or masked.

Still, using a clipping mask to show/hide portions of the map will probably be a much easier approach than trying to use Pathfinder commands to extract or cut parts of the map.

[michelew83603738]

I would open the file in illustrator and just select what you need. It should be straightforward unless there is something else going on with the file.

[Kurt Gold]

Also, there is an Export Selection command in the File menu.