The border of a vector in Illustrator can be an unsightly distraction, especially if you’re trying to create a clean and minimalist design. Fortunately, removing the border is a quick and easy process that can be completed in just a few clicks. In this article, we’ll show you how to remove the border on a vector in Illustrator, using both the Pathfinder panel and the Appearance panel.
First, select the vector that you want to remove the border from. Then, go to the Pathfinder panel (Window > Pathfinder). In the Pathfinder panel, click on the “Minus Front” button. This will remove the border from the vector and leave you with a clean, borderless design. If you don’t see the Pathfinder panel, you can open it by going to Window > Pathfinder.
In some cases, the Pathfinder panel may not be able to remove the border from the vector. This can happen if the border is part of the vector’s shape. In this case, you can use the Appearance panel to remove the border. To open the Appearance panel, go to Window > Appearance. In the Appearance panel, click on the “Stroke” tab. Then, click on the “None” button. This will remove the border from the vector and leave you with a clean, borderless design.
Identifying the Artboard Boundary
The Artboard Boundary is the visible boundary around the edge of your artwork in Illustrator. It serves as a visual guide to indicate the extent of your design and prevent objects from falling outside of its limits. Understanding how to identify and work with the Artboard Boundary is crucial for creating clean and precise designs.
Visible Artboard Boundary
By default, Illustrator displays a visible boundary around the Artboard, making it easy to identify. It is indicated by a thin black line, and its size and dimensions can be customized according to your preferences. You can access the Artboard Boundary options by selecting “Artboard Tool” from the Toolbar or by pressing “Shift + O” on your keyboard.
Hidden Artboard Boundary
In some cases, you may prefer to work with a hidden Artboard Boundary. This can be helpful when you want to focus solely on your design without the distraction of the boundary lines. To hide the Artboard Boundary, simply uncheck the “Show Artboard Bounding Box” option in the Artboard Tool Options panel.
Artboard Size and Dimensions
The Artboard Boundary also displays the size and dimensions of your artwork, allowing you to easily keep track of the scale and proportions of your design. The values displayed on the Artboard Boundary are expressed in the units you have selected in the Document Setup dialog box. You can change the unit of measurement by clicking the “Units” drop-down menu in the Toolbar.
| Units | Description |
|---|---|
| Pixels | The default unit of measurement, which represents the number of individual pixels in your design. |
| Inches | The traditional unit of measurement used in print design, which represents the physical length or height of an object. |
| Centimeters | The metric unit of measurement used in many countries, which represents the physical length or height of an object in centimeters. |
Using the Artboard Tool
The Artboard tool in Illustrator allows you to create a custom workspace for your design. By using the Artboard tool, you can create a border around your vector artwork. Here are the steps on how to remove the border using the Artboard tool:
Step 1: Select the Artboard Tool
From the Tools panel, select the Artboard tool (Shift + O). This tool is located in the same group as the Rectangle and Ellipse tools.
Step 2: Adjust Artboard Size and Position
Click and drag on the canvas to create a new artboard. Adjust the size and position of the artboard by using the bounding box handles. It is important to make sure that the artboard is slightly larger than your vector artwork to ensure that there is no border around it.
Alternatively, you can use the Artboard Options panel (Window > Artboard) to specify precise dimensions and position for the artboard:
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Width | Sets the width of the artboard. |
| Height | Sets the height of the artboard. |
| X | Sets the horizontal position of the artboard on the canvas. |
| Y | Sets the vertical position of the artboard on the canvas. |
Step 3: Remove Border
With the Artboard tool still selected, click on the “Fit to Art” button in the Control panel. This action will automatically resize the artboard to fit the dimensions of your vector artwork, removing any excess border.
Step 4: Save Changes
Once you are satisfied with the size and position of the artboard, click on the “Save” button in the Control panel to apply the changes. Your vector artwork will now be without a border.
Modifying the Artboard Dimensions
In order to execute this method, it is required to have a complete understanding of the relationship between the canvas and your artwork. In essence, the canvas is analogous to a physical piece of paper which contains the artwork. By modifying the dimensions of the canvas, the space available for artwork will be altered.
Steps to modify the artboard:
Select the ‘Artboard Tool’
The Artboard Tool can be accessed by clicking on the ‘Artboard Tool’ icon in the Tools panel (Shift + O). This tool allows you to create and modify artboards.
Resize the Artboard
Using the Artboard Tool, click and drag the handles that appear around the artboard to resize it. Alternatively, you can input specific dimensions in the Width and Height fields in the Control Panel.
Remove the White Border
Once the artboard has been resized properly, the white border may still be present around the artwork. To remove this border, follow these steps:
- Select the artboard using the Artboard Tool.
- Go to the ‘Properties’ panel (Window > Properties).
- In the ‘Background Color’ section, click on the color swatch and select ‘None’.
- Click ‘OK’ to apply the changes.
Resetting the Artboard to Default Size
If you find yourself with an artboard that’s larger than you need or want, there’s an easy way to reset it to its default size in Illustrator. Here’s how:
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Go to the “Artboard” menu in the menu bar.
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Select “Fit Artboard to Artwork Bounds.” This will resize the artboard to fit around the objects on your artboard.
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If you want to reset the artboard to a specific size, go to the “Artboard” menu again and select “Edit Artboards.” In the “Edit Artboards” dialog box, enter the desired width and height in the “Size” section. Click “OK” to save your changes.
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Manually Resetting the Artboard Size
If you prefer a more hands-on approach, you can manually reset the artboard size using the Artboard tool. Here’s how:
- Select the Artboard tool from the Tools panel.
- Click on the artboard to select it.
- Drag the artboard handles to resize it to the desired size.
- Press Enter to apply the changes.
Removing the Artboard Outline
The artboard outline acts as a visual boundary of the Illustrator document and can be easily removed. Here’s how:
- Select the Artboard tool (Shift + O) from the Toolbar.
- Right-click (Windows) or Control-click (Mac) on the artboard and select “Unmount All”.
- Alternatively, go to View > Release All Clipping Masks to unmount the artboard.
Viewing the Canvas Outline
If you still see the artboard outline, it may be due to the canvas outline setting. Follow these steps to remove it:
- Go to View > Canvas Outline.
- Uncheck the “Canvas Outline” option.
Removing the Pasteboard Outline
The pasteboard is the area outside the artboard. To hide its outline:
- Go to View > Hide Pasteboard.
Changing the Artboard Size
To change the artboard size:
- Select the Artboard tool.
- Click and drag the artboard corners or edges to resize.
Customizing the Artboard Appearance
You can customize the artboard’s appearance by right-clicking (Windows) or Control-clicking (Mac) on the artboard and selecting “Artboard Options”. This allows you to:
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Choose between Solid Color, Gradient, or Pattern |
| Center Guides | Enable or disable center guides |
| Fit to Artwork Bounds | Resizes the artboard to fit the artwork |
Using the Crop Tool
The Crop Tool is a versatile tool that allows you to trim excess space from around your vector, effectively removing the border. Here’s how to use it:
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Select the vector you want to crop.
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Click on the Crop Tool (located in the Toolbar, typically under the Knife Tool).
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A bounding box will appear around the vector. Drag the handles of the box to adjust the desired crop area.
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Double-click inside the bounding box to confirm the crop.
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Note: You can also use the Crop Area Preview Tool (located in the Options Bar) to get a real-time preview of how the crop will look.
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Advanced Cropping Options:
Option Description Constrain Proportions Maintains the original aspect ratio of the vector while cropping. Anchor Point Specifies the reference point for the crop box. Delete Cropped Areas Removes the cropped portions of the vector permanently. Opacity Adjusts the transparency of the crop box for better visibility. Selecting the Vector Shape
Once you have opened your Illustrator file and have the vector shape you want to remove the border from selected, you can proceed with the following steps:
1. Select the Appearance Panel
Go to the “Window” menu in the top menu bar and select “Appearance” to open the Appearance panel. The Appearance panel will display a list of all the appearance attributes that have been applied to the selected vector shape, including fills, strokes, and effects.
2. Select the Stroke Attribute
In the Appearance panel, locate the stroke attribute that you want to remove. The stroke attribute will typically have a small line icon next to it. If there is more than one stroke applied to the vector shape, you may need to click on the triangle next to the “Stroke” heading to expand the list of strokes.
3. Click on the “None” Option
Once you have selected the stroke attribute you want to remove, click on the “None” option from the drop-down menu next to the stroke color. This will remove the stroke from the vector shape.
4. Repeat for Multiple Strokes
If there are multiple strokes applied to the vector shape, you will need to repeat steps 2 and 3 for each stroke that you want to remove.
5. Clear the Appearance Panel
Once you have removed all of the strokes from the vector shape, you can clear the Appearance panel by clicking on the “Clear Appearance” button at the bottom of the panel. This will remove all of the appearance attributes from the vector shape, leaving it with no border.
6. Save Your Changes
Once you are satisfied with the changes you have made, save your Illustrator file to apply the changes permanently.
7. Advanced Tips for Removing Vector Borders
Here are some advanced tips for removing vector borders in Illustrator:
Tip Description Use the Direct Selection Tool (A) To remove a border from a specific part of a vector shape, use the Direct Selection Tool (A) to select the individual anchor points or segments of the border and delete them. Create a Clipping Mask To hide the border of a vector shape without removing it, you can create a clipping mask. This will allow you to show only the portion of the vector shape that you want visible. Use Pathfinder Operations Pathfinder operations can be used to remove borders from vector shapes by combining or subtracting shapes. This is a more advanced technique but can be useful for complex shapes. Expanding the Vector Shape
To remove the border on a vector in Illustrator, you need to expand the vector shape. This process converts the vector shape into a group of individual paths that can be edited separately. Once the vector shape is expanded, you can easily remove the border by deleting the outline path.
Here are the steps on how to expand the vector shape:
- Select the vector shape.
- Go to the “Object” menu.
- Select “Expand Appearance.”
- In the “Expand Appearance” dialog box, check the “Paths” option.
- Click “OK.”
The vector shape will now be expanded into a group of individual paths. You can see this by selecting the vector shape and then going to the “Object” menu and selecting “Ungroup.” This will separate the outline path from the rest of the paths.
To remove the border, simply select the outline path and delete it. You can do this by pressing the “Delete” key on your keyboard or by going to the “Edit” menu and selecting “Delete.” The border will now be removed from the vector shape.
Before After 
Troubleshooting Common Issues
1. The border is still visible after expanding the art
Ensure that you select the entire art, including the applied stroke and fill. Double-click the Selection tool (V) to quickly select the entire artwork. Alternatively, use the Direct Selection tool (A) to select the stroke and hit the Backspace/Delete key to remove it.
2. The border is not fully removed when using the Eraser tool
The Eraser tool removes portions of the artwork based on the selected brush size. Ensure that the brush size is large enough to cover the border completely. Adjust the brush size in the Eraser tool options (Window > Brush Libraries > Brush Libraries).
3. The border reappears after saving and reopening the file
In some cases, the border may reappear due to a software glitch or corrupted file. Try saving the file in a different format (e.g., PDF or EPS) and reopening it. Additionally, ensure that you are using the latest version of Illustrator to avoid compatibility issues.
4. The art becomes transparent after removing the border
The removal of the border may also remove the fill color, resulting in a transparent object. To fix this, select the art and choose Object > Expand Appearance. This will convert the stroke and fill into separate objects, allowing you to adjust the fill color as needed.
5. The border is still visible on export
Verify that the “Trim” option is selected in the Export dialog box. This ensures that the exported image is cropped to the art’s boundaries, removing any surrounding borders or transparent areas.
6. The border remains in the appearance panel
Even after removing the border using the methods above, it may still appear in the Appearance panel. This is a visual representation of the art’s history. To remove it from the panel, click on the “Clear Appearance” button at the bottom of the panel.
7. The border is not fully removed when using the Path Eraser tool
The Path Eraser tool follows the path of an open or closed path to erase artwork. Ensure that the path is completely enclosed and does not intersect with the artwork you want to keep. Adjust the path’s anchor points or use a different path if necessary.
8. The border reappears after rasterizing the art
Rasterizing the art converts it into a bitmap image, which may introduce aliasing or jagged edges around the borders. To prevent this, apply a slight blur to the rasterized image using the Gaussian Blur effect (Effects > Blur > Gaussian Blur).
9. The border is visible in print
When printing a vector art, ensure that the printer is set to the highest quality resolution (e.g., 600 dpi or higher). A lower resolution may result in visible borders due to pixelation.
10. The border is still visible after using the “Remove Border” script
If the “Remove Border” script does not fully remove the border, it could be due to specific characteristics of the artwork. Try the following additional steps:
Step Description 1 Create a copy of the art and delete the original. 2 Expand the art (Object > Expand Appearance). 3 Select the expanded art and run the “Remove Border” script again. 4 If the border persists, manually remove it using the direct selection tool (A) or the Eraser tool. How To Remove The Border On A Vector In Illustrator
To remove the border on a vector in Illustrator, follow these steps:
- Select the vector with the Selection Tool (V).
- Go to the “Window” menu and select “Appearance”.
- In the Appearance panel, select the “Stroke” option.
- Set the “Weight” value to “0 pt”.
- Click on the “Apply” button.
The border of the vector will now be removed.
People Also Ask
How do I remove the border on a shape in Illustrator?
To remove the border on a shape in Illustrator, follow the same steps as described above for removing the border on a vector.
How do I make a vector borderless?
To make a vector borderless, set the “Weight” value of the stroke to “0 pt” in the Appearance panel.
How do I get rid of the white border around a vector?
To get rid of the white border around a vector, make sure that the stroke color is set to “None” in the Appearance panel.