Artboard Content Cropper

Script for Adobe Illustrator

✦ Available exclusively on Patreon for Pro supporters.

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Description

The Artboard Content Cropper is an Adobe Illustrator script that allows you to crop or mask content to artboard boundaries with precision and flexibility. This tool is essential for preparing artwork for export, creating clean layouts, or isolating specific content within artboard boundaries.

The script offers two main processing methods:

Crop Content: Permanently removes parts of objects that extend beyond artboard boundaries
Mask Content: Uses clipping masks to hide content outside artboard boundaries (non-destructive)

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Key Features

Dual Processing Methods: Choose between destructive cropping or non-destructive masking
Flexible Target Selection: Process all artboards, current artboard, selected artboards, or selected objects only
Margin Control: Add positive or negative margins to expand or shrink the processing area
Advanced Processing Options: Handle hidden/locked items and raster/placed/mesh objects
Resolution Control: Customize resolution for rasterized elements during cropping
Search and Filter: Quickly find specific artboards by name

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Installation

1. Download the Smart Artboard Content Cropper.jsx script file.

2. Place the script in your Adobe Illustrator Scripts folder:

⮑ Mac: /Applications/Adobe Illustrator <Version>/Presets/<Language>/Scripts

⮑ Windows: C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator <Version>\Presets\<Language>\Scripts

3. Restart Adobe Illustrator if it's already running.

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Using the Script

Open your Illustrator document with content
Access the script via File > Scripts > Artboard Content Cropper.
The dialog window will appear with multiple options:

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➊ Choose Processing Method

In the "Processing Method" panel:

Select Crop Content for permanent cropping (removes content outside boundaries)
Select Mask Content for non-destructive masking (hides content using clipping masks)

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Configure Margin Settings (Optional)

In the margin controls:

Check Add Margin to enable margin adjustment
Use the slider or input field to set margin value
Positive values: Expand the processing area beyond artboard boundaries
Negative values: Shrink the processing area within artboard boundaries
Use arrow keys in the input field for precise adjustment:
Arrow keys: ±1 unit; Shift + Arrow keys: ±10 units

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➋ Select Processing Target

In the "Processing Target" panel, choose one:

Process All Artboards: Processes every artboard in the document
Current Artboard Only: Processes only the currently active artboard
Selected Artboards: Processes artboards selected from the list below
Selected Objects Only: Processes only currently selected objects

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➌ Select Specific Artboards

When "Selected Artboards" is chosen:

Use the Search field to filter artboards by name
Click the × button to clear the search
Select artboards from the list (hold Ctrl/Cmd for multiple selections)
Double-click an artboard name to zoom to it in the document

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❹ Configure Advanced Processing Options

In the "Advanced Processing" panel:

Process Hidden & Locked Items

Checked: Temporarily unlocks and shows hidden/locked items during processing
Unchecked: Skips hidden and locked items

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Process Raster/Placed/Mesh Items (Crop mode only)

Checked: Processes raster images, placed items, and mesh objects
Unchecked: Skips these item types
Note: Only available in Crop mode

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Resolution Settings (when raster processing is enabled)

Choose from the dropdown:

Screen (72 ppi): Low resolution for screen use
Medium (150 ppi): Medium resolution for general print
High (300 ppi): High resolution for quality print
Use Document Raster Effects Resolution: Uses document's current setting
Custom Resolution: Enter a custom PPI value (16-5000)

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➎ Additional Controls

Cancel: Close the dialog without processing
✚ (Fit All): Fit all artboards in the window view
⏼ Open user guide

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☻ Tips and Best Practices

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For Crop Mode:

Backup your document before cropping, as this process is destructive
Enable "Process Raster/Placed/Mesh Items" for complete processing of all content types
Use higher resolutions (300 ppi) for print-intended artwork
Consider using margins to ensure no content is accidentally clipped at artboard edges

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For Mask Mode:

Ideal for non-destructive workflows where you might need to adjust later
Preserves original artwork while hiding content outside artboard boundaries
Creates grouped masked content for easy management
Lower performance impact as no rasterization occurs

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General Tips:

Use the search function for documents with many artboards
Double-click artboard names to quickly navigate to them
Test with a copy of your document first to understand the results
Process hidden/locked items when you want comprehensive coverage

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Artboard Content Cropper

Version: 1.0.0

Updated: August 30, 2025

Download Artboard Content Cropper

1.0.0 – Initial release.
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Tested on MacOS:
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- Adobe Illustrator 2023 (27.0)
- Adobe Illustrator 2024 (28.1)
- Adobe Illustrator 2025 (29.0)
Supported Versions:
- Compatible with Adobe Illustrator CS6 and later, including Adobe Illustrator CC versions.
Operating Systems:
- Works on both macOS and Windows platforms.
End User License Agreement (EULA)
Last Updated: 21.12.2024
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This End User License Agreement (“Agreement”) is a legal agreement between you (“User” or “Licensee”) and Samolevsky.com (“Licensor”) regarding the use of the Adobe Illustrator scripts (“Software”). By downloading, installing, or using the Software, you agree to be bound by the terms of this Agreement.
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1. Grant of License
Licensor grants the User a non-exclusive, non-transferable, and revocable license to use the Software in accordance with this Agreement.
- Free Software: If the Software is provided for free, you may use it for personal or commercial purposes without payment, subject to the restrictions outlined in this Agreement.
- Paid Software: If the Software is provided for a fee, you may use it only after payment has been made in full.
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2. Usage Rights
You are permitted to:
- Install and use the Software on devices you own or control.
- Use the Software in your personal or commercial projects, subject to compliance with this Agreement.
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3. Restrictions
You may NOT:
- Reverse engineer, decompile, or otherwise attempt to discover the source code, underlying ideas, or algorithms of the Software.
- Reuse, incorporate, or integrate any portion of the Software into any other software, product, or project, except as expressly permitted by the Licensor in writing.
- Resell, redistribute, or share the Software, whether in its original or modified form, without prior written consent from the Licensor.
- Claim ownership of the Software or its underlying code.
- Use the Software in any way that violates applicable laws or regulations.
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4. Ownership
The Software and all intellectual property rights therein remain the exclusive property of the Licensor. This Agreement does not transfer ownership of the Software or any intellectual property rights to the User.
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5. Disclaimer of Warranties
THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED “AS IS”, WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE LICENSOR BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES, OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT, OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
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6. Limitation of Liability
To the maximum extent permitted by law, Licensor shall not be liable for any damages, including but not limited to direct, indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages, arising out of or related to the use or inability to use the Software.
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7. Termination
This Agreement is effective until terminated. Licensor may terminate this Agreement immediately if you breach any term of this Agreement. Upon termination, you must cease all use of the Software and destroy any copies in your possession.
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8. Updates and Support
Licensor is not obligated to provide updates, support, or maintenance for the Software. However, updates may be provided at the sole discretion of the Licensor.
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9. Governing Law
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to its conflict of law principles.
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10. Entire Agreement
This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between you and the Licensor concerning the Software and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous understandings regarding such subject matter.
By using the Software, you acknowledge that you have read this Agreement, understand it, and agree to be bound by its terms.
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For any questions or concerns regarding this Agreement, please contact us at hello@samolevsky.com

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Introducing ScriptBox

Your Complete Adobe Illustrator Productivity Hub

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Load and manage third-party scripts from custom folders.

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➍ Favourites

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➎ Code Editor

Write, edit, and execute custom ExtendScript/JavaScript code.

➏ Task Manager

An integrated to-do list that helps you track design tasks and jot down your ideas.

➐ Video Player

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➑ Image Gallery

A visual moodboard allowing you to keep inspiration and reference materials right in your workspace while you design.

☻ Info

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Required Software

Adobe Illustrator

Learn more

Adobe Illustrator is a professional vector graphics software developed by Adobe Inc. It is widely used by designers, illustrators, and artists for creating a variety of digital artwork, including logos, icons, illustrations, typography, and complex design layouts. Illustrator is known for its precision and scalability, allowing users to create high-quality graphics that can be resized without losing clarity. Its features include powerful drawing tools, customizable brushes, advanced typography options, and seamless integration with other Adobe Creative Cloud applications. Illustrator is a go-to tool for creative professionals working on projects for print, web, and multimedia platforms.

🅰 Locating the Scripts Folder
To install a Artboard Content Cropper.jsx script in Adobe Illustrator, you need to place it in the correct directory where Illustrator can recognize it. Follow these steps to locate the Scripts folder:
1. MacOS:
  Open Finder and navigate to:
  Applications/Adobe Illustrator <Version>/Presets/<Language>/Scripts
2. Windows:
  Open File Explorer and navigate to:
  C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator <Version>\Presets\<Language>\Scripts
3. Replace <Version> with your Adobe Illustrator version (e.g., 2025).
4. Replace <Language> with your language folder (e.g., "de_DE" for German, "en_US" for English).
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🅱 Installing the Script
1. Copy the Script File: Copy the Artboard Content Cropper.jsx file to the Scripts folder located in the path above.
2. On some systems, you may need administrator permissions to modify the Scripts folder.
3. Restart Adobe Illustrator: To refresh the scripts menu, close and reopen Adobe Illustrator.
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Explore our complete guide to mastering Adobe Illustrator scripts.
1. Open Adobe Illustrator and ensure a document is active.
2. Go to the top menu bar and select File > Scripts.
3. If the script is installed in the Scripts folder, it will appear in the dropdown list.
4. Click the Artboard Content Cropper script to run it.
5. The Artboard Content Cropper script will execute, and any dialog boxes or results will appear based on the script’s functionality.
☻ Before running any scripts, it’s strongly advised to save your work — especially when working with complex or large documents.

🅰 Locating the Scripts Folder
To install a Artboard Content Cropper.jsx script in Adobe Illustrator, you need to place it in the correct directory where Illustrator can recognize it. Follow these steps to locate the Scripts folder:
1. MacOS:
  Open Finder and navigate to:
  Applications/Adobe Illustrator <Version>/Presets/<Language>/Scripts
2. Windows:
  Open File Explorer and navigate to:
  C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Illustrator <Version>\Presets\<Language>\Scripts
3. Replace <Version> with your Adobe Illustrator version (e.g., 2025).
4. Replace <Language> with your language folder (e.g., "de_DE" for German, "en_US" for English).
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🅱 Installing the Script
1. Copy the Script File: Copy the Artboard Content Cropper.jsx file to the Scripts folder located in the path above.
2. On some systems, you may need administrator permissions to modify the Scripts folder.
3. Restart Adobe Illustrator: To refresh the scripts menu, close and reopen Adobe Illustrator.
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Explore our complete guide to mastering Adobe Illustrator scripts.

1. Open Adobe Illustrator and ensure a document is active.
2. Go to the top menu bar and select File > Scripts.
3. If the script is installed in the Scripts folder, it will appear in the dropdown list.
4. Click the Artboard Content Cropper script to run it.
5. The Artboard Content Cropper script will execute, and any dialog boxes or results will appear based on the script’s functionality.
☻ Before running any scripts, it’s strongly advised to save your work — especially when working with complex or large documents.

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