Illustrator selecting an object using illustrator

[iDad]

I have gotten PS down really well
now it is time to get a better grasp on Ai (I use it just not satisfied with the level I am at with it)
can someone tell me the best way to select an object from a jpg file (or any other for that matter)
Here is a relatively easy example.View attachment 853WOULD ANYONE CARE TO EXPLAIN HOW TO REMOVE JUST THE BRUSH FROM THE BALL using Ai

 

[chet webley]

1) place the image in illustrator
2) select it with the black arrow, then press <ctrl>+2 (this locks the image so it doesn't move if you select it accidentally).
3) draw a path around the brush with the pen tool (just like the pen in p/shop).
4) press <crtl>+<alt>+2 (this unlocks all the locked objects)
5) select both the brush image, and your new brush path (the path has to be on top of the image).
6) press <crtl>+7 - this makes a clipping mask from the brush path that you just made. you can put as many objects inside the mask as you like, just make sure that the shape you want to have as the mask is the topmost shape.

The clipping mask works in a very similar way to layer masks. if you want to edit the shapes at any time, double click on the mask shape, and illustrator will "drill down" into the mask, alowing you to edt them.

 

[iDad]

Awesome, thanks Chet