How to Erase Parts of an Image in Adobe Illustrator

Erasing parts of an image allows you to remove unwanted areas while keeping the rest intact. This technique is useful for refining designs and focusing on specific elements.

• Adobe Illustrator installed on your device
• The image you want to edit

• Start Adobe Illustrator and open the image you want to edit.
• Lock the image layer by clicking the blank space next to the eye icon in the Layers panel.

• Select the Pen Tool (hotkey: P).
• Click points around the part of the image you want to erase, creating a path.
• Close the path by connecting the last point to the first.

• Select the path you created and the image layer.
• Go to Object > Clipping Mask > Make.
• This will hide everything outside the selected area.

• Save your edited image by exporting it as a PNG to preserve transparency.

• Use the Eraser Tool (hotkey: Shift+E) for freehand erasing, but note that it works best with vector objects, not raster images.
• Combine the Pen Tool with the Zoom Tool (Z) for detailed edits.