Expert: Amy - 10/29/2009

Question
I have Adobe Illustrator CS. I want to create flash cards for my infant son of various different things (colors, animals, etc.). I have created a template for the flash card with the name of the object at the bottom and a specific sized rectangle for the image to fit into (2 3/4" x 4 1/2").

Photography is my hobby. I would like to take my hi-res photos and place them into the rectangle above. Is there a way to do this in illustrator? Or would it be best to use photoshop to size the images first and then place them in illustrator? Or is there a better way you can recommend?

I'm no expert when it comes to any of this :) but I would like to make all of the flash cards have the same look.

Answer
Hi Nick

I would create the specific size rectangle - it can be solid or outlined, it doesn't matter because it will lose its stroke and fill by the end of this process.

Place the rectangle exactly where you want it to be on the card.

Size and crop your photos in PS so that they are approximately what you need. If you're printing professionally, 300dpi at the final dimensions (your card size). If not, you can relax that a bit to 250dpi. You don't have to crop them exactly but shaving them down in file size will ultimately help you create a manageable document.

Since you are a photo hobbyist, you probably want to work in RGB color mode or you'll see a shift.

Then using File > Place, place each photo into Illustrator. You can choose Link when you make your selection. This will also help keep your file size down. Keep in mind that you may see a rough preview image when working with linked images* but it will print clearly.

Move the photo over to the general area of the rectangle you made.

*Send it "to back" by hitting Shift + Ctrl + [ or using the equivalent menu command, Object > Arrange > Send to back.

Select both the photo and the rectangle and hit Ctrl + 7 or Object > Clipping Mask > Make
You've made a mask. A window for your photo to appear in.

That's it! If you want to fine tune the placement of the photo in the mask window, use the WHITE ARROW TOOL to grab only the photo and move it around within its mask.

Good luck!
Amy

* I can't remember some details about your version's interface, I haven't worked with CS in a long time.