Select File > Place to place an image in your document or select an existing placed image.
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Add and manage text
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Crop images in Illustrator
Last updated on
Oct 22, 2026
Learn how to crop placed images directly in Adobe Illustrator.
The Crop Image command allows you trim linked or embedded images. Cropping a linked image embeds it in the document, and the cropped areas are permanently removed.
Crop the image
Select the placed image using the Selection tool.
Select Crop Image from the Control panel or select Object > Crop Image from the menu.
If the image is linked, select OK to embed it.
Adjust the crop area by dragging the crop handles or repositioning the crop box.
(Optional) In the Control panel, specify the crop dimensions, resolution, or reference point.
Select Apply, or press Enter (Windows) or Return (macOS).
Note
To cancel the operation without applying the crop, press Esc or select any tool except the Zoom or Hand tool.
Cropping options
While cropping an image, you can adjust the following options in the Control panel:
|
Option |
Description |
|
PPI |
Sets the image resolution after cropping. |
|
Reference Point |
Specifies the fixed point used when changing the crop dimensions or position. |
|
X and Y |
Display the coordinates of the selected reference point. |
|
Width and Height |
Specify the dimensions of the cropped image. Select the link icon to maintain proportions. |
Content-aware defaults
By default, Illustrator analyzes the selected image and suggests an initial crop based on the image content.
To turn off this behavior, Select Enable Content Aware Defaults in Edit > Preferences > General (Windows) or Illustrator > Preferences > General (macOS) and deselect Enable Content Aware Defaults.
Design with precision in Illustrator
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