Copying part of an object in Illustrator
Copying part of an object in Illustrator
Question
Is there a way to copy a part of an object in illustrator?
I do not know the technical name of the effect I need to do, so I have to describe it. I need to do the effect where you have an image and then you have a square on the image and a couple lines connecting to a zoomed in shot of that square (if there is a name for this effect, that would be helpful too, since I can;t serach for it otherwise).
I have the larger image, but I cannot figure out any way to select a region, copy just that part, and be able to edit it (add features, adjust scale, etc.) to make the detailed view. I cannot find any way to cut up an image at all, in fact. Obviously artboards are not the way to go, since I am trying to make a compound image, not merely restrict the output when I go to JPEG format at the end. How do you do this?
Popular Answer
If I understand your question correctly:
- Take the source layer and make a copy of it.
- Take the copy and add a mask to it. This is done from the transparency window. Doing this will make it disappear temporarily.
- From the transparency window, you will click on the "mask". Now you're in a different set of layers.
- Create a white square over the copied layer (where the image was earlier).
- Changing the size of the square (the mask) will alter what's viewed. Clicking back on the thumbnail of the image will take you to the regular layer mode
- On the transparency window you will see a chain link, unclick this. Now you can move/resize the copied layer inside of the mask.
- Next, draw lines from the corners to the parts of the image you intend to designate "zoomed in"