Auto crop pdf files

> > I'm using Illustrator CS3, and OpenOffice Draw 2.3.1.
> > When I export a pdf file on OODraw, the exported pdf always has a size
> > of 210x297, even if the "only export selection" case is checked.
> > I would like to use Illustrator to open the pdf file, auto-crop it,
> > and save it to pdf.

> Wouldn't it be seasier to just open the PDF file in Illustrator
> (rather than the Place command) , then use the Crop tool in AI CS3 to
> crop the file to the size you want, then save as PDF?

Is it not true that if you're talking about a vector graphics file in
which some of the objects are larger than the area you want to make
visible, all you can really ever do is, in effect, mask off the regions
of the image outside the area that you want to be visible?

That is, cropping can't really convert any existing vector objects into
"cropped objects". The full image information for all the objects is
still there, underneath the cropped off region, but you're looking at it
through a masking window you've defined.

[Unless you're really willing to delete all objects outside the visible
region and hand-edit each of the objects that cross the visible window
boundary.]

Bitmap images can of course be cropped, the outer bits permanently
thrown away, and the image dimensions permanently reduced -- but I don't
believe you can do that to a bitmap image in Illustrator, only in
Photoshop or PE (?).
 >> Stay informed about: Auto crop pdf files 

On Mar 4, 3:14 pm, AES <sieg....RemoveThis@stanford.edu> wrote:
> > > I'm using Illustrator CS3, and OpenOffice Draw 2.3.1.
> > > When I export a pdf file on OODraw, the exported pdf always has a size
> > > of 210x297, even if the "only export selection" case is checked.
> > > I would like to use Illustrator to open the pdf file, auto-crop it,
> > > and save it to pdf.
> > Wouldn't it be seasier to just open the PDF file in Illustrator
> > (rather than the Place command) , then use the Crop tool in AI CS3 to
> > crop the file to the size you want, then save as PDF?
>
> Is it not true that if you're talking about a vector graphics file in
> which some of the objects are larger than the area you want to make
> visible, all you can really ever do is, in effect, mask off the regions
> of the image outside the area that you want to be visible?
>
> That is, cropping can't really convert any existing vector objects into
> "cropped objects". The full image information for all the objects is
> still there, underneath the cropped off region, but you're looking at it
> through a masking window you've defined.
>
> [Unless you're really willing to delete all objects outside the visible
> region and hand-edit each of the objects that cross the visible window
> boundary.]
>
> Bitmap images can of course be cropped, the outer bits permanently
> thrown away, and the image dimensions permanently reduced -- but I don't
> believe you can do that to a bitmap image in Illustrator, only in
> Photoshop or PE (?).

Not using the Crop tool in Illustrator CS3. You simply draw the crop
area wanted and Save As PDF. There is no Clipping mask required, no
need to delete objects outside of the cropped region. The PDF, as
viewed in Reader or in Acrobat, shows only the cropped area.

However, if you do open up that PDF back in Illustrator CS3, the
entire file is still there, so you are right that the objects have not
been physically edited.It's simply been saved with a bounding region,
much like if you print a large file to a smaller paper size without
scaling it.

But if I understand Cedric correctly, what he needs is simply a PDF
that contains only a selection of the image he's getting when he
exports from OODraw. Using the Crop tool will deliver that.

However, I have quickly edited vector images to a specific area or
certain size, again in AICS3, using the Eraser tool. By setting the
Eraser tool options to an angle of either 0 or 90, the roundness to 0,
and setting a reasonable diameter, say 10 pts, and holding down the
Shift key while drawing to maintain a straight line, you can quickly
use the Eraser tool like a "blade" to delete the vectors quickly. The
results are a clean, straight edge of edited vector paths. It works
amazingly well.

--th
 >> Stay informed about: Auto crop pdf files 

tphinsf schreef:
> On Mar 4, 3:14 pm, AES <sieg....DeleteThis@stanford.edu> wrote:
>>>> I'm using Illustrator CS3, and OpenOffice Draw 2.3.1.
>>>> When I export a pdf file on OODraw, the exported pdf always has a size
>>>> of 210x297, even if the "only export selection" case is checked.
>>>> I would like to use Illustrator to open the pdf file, auto-crop it,
>>>> and save it to pdf.
>>> Wouldn't it be seasier to just open the PDF file in Illustrator
>>> (rather than the Place command) , then use the Crop tool in AI CS3 to
>>> crop the file to the size you want, then save as PDF?
>> Is it not true that if you're talking about a vector graphics file in
>> which some of the objects are larger than the area you want to make
>> visible, all you can really ever do is, in effect, mask off the regions
>> of the image outside the area that you want to be visible?
>>
>> That is, cropping can't really convert any existing vector objects into
>> "cropped objects". The full image information for all the objects is
>> still there, underneath the cropped off region, but you're looking at it
>> through a masking window you've defined.
>>
>> [Unless you're really willing to delete all objects outside the visible
>> region and hand-edit each of the objects that cross the visible window
>> boundary.]
>>
>> Bitmap images can of course be cropped, the outer bits permanently
>> thrown away, and the image dimensions permanently reduced -- but I don't
>> believe you can do that to a bitmap image in Illustrator, only in
>> Photoshop or PE (?).
>
> Not using the Crop tool in Illustrator CS3. You simply draw the crop
> area wanted and Save As PDF. There is no Clipping mask required, no
> need to delete objects outside of the cropped region. The PDF, as
> viewed in Reader or in Acrobat, shows only the cropped area.
>
> However, if you do open up that PDF back in Illustrator CS3, the
> entire file is still there, so you are right that the objects have not
> been physically edited.It's simply been saved with a bounding region,
> much like if you print a large file to a smaller paper size without
> scaling it.
>
> But if I understand Cedric correctly, what he needs is simply a PDF
> that contains only a selection of the image he's getting when he
> exports from OODraw. Using the Crop tool will deliver that.
>
> However, I have quickly edited vector images to a specific area or
> certain size, again in AICS3, using the Eraser tool. By setting the
> Eraser tool options to an angle of either 0 or 90, the roundness to 0,
> and setting a reasonable diameter, say 10 pts, and holding down the
> Shift key while drawing to maintain a straight line, you can quickly
> use the Eraser tool like a "blade" to delete the vectors quickly. The
> results are a clean, straight edge of edited vector paths. It works
> amazingly well.
>
> --th


Good one!!
 >> Stay informed about: Auto crop pdf files