This Enfocus PitStop command allows us to crop the selected vector graphics to simplify them, removing non-visible parts. If no vector graphics have been previously selected, this command will affect all vector graphics within range.
Most vector graphics do not display all their elements. Like an iceberg, they only show some of them, leaving a large part of their elements and nodes hidden. These hidden elements add complexity to pages and, if not removed, could show up in later operations in a list of actions.
More often than not, graphics are partially hidden by a clipping mask (also vector).
In the image above we can see, on the left, an untrimmed vector graphic and on the right its trimmed version.
This command has three criteria for clipping vector graphics, which are not mutually exclusive.
Crop line art to clip mask
If the graphic has a vector mask that hides any of its parts, PitStop will crop the graphic by removing everything outside this mask. If the graphic has more than one mask, the one used for the operation will be the top and most general one.
Crop line art to a page box
With this option, the cropping will be done by removing everything that overflows the chosen page box.
Crop line art to forms
In this option, the vector graphic is cropped to the form (element of the PDF structure) that contains it. If such a form (that means an XForm Object) does not exist, the command has no effect.
Here, we can choose between two mutually excluyent options for the knocking out of the stroke and fill of the vectors affected:
- "
Placing the objects with stroke or fill in a knockout group": In this case, all content is placed inside a form. This is a method that Enfocus discourages (they recommend the second one). - "
Clipping the object with fill, by the object with stroke": In this case, the elements are clipped and no knckout gropu is created. Although this is a more recommended method, small lines between elements may occur on the screen (that's why there's the first option).
Finally, by activating the "Create copy" checkbox, we can request that this whole process be done in a copy that is placed in the same location, leaving the original untouched.
Warning: In some cases, due to the complexity of the graphic or for some other reason, there may be leftovers of the deleted parts witht no fill or stroke colours. Therefore, it may be a good idea to add a command to remove them later.
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