When you erase an area in an object, the area becomes transparent. You can adjust the amount of transparency to create more subtle effects.
When you crop an area, you cut away elements that you don't want.
Microsoft PhotoDraw features the following erasing and cropping options:
Remove unwanted areas around a subject You can trim unwanted or distracting elements around an area. For example, you might want to crop out a distracting background. Crop an object
Erase by tracing around an area with the Edge Finder You can use the Edge Finder to select the edges of the area you want to erase. This method works best when you're working with areas of high contrast. Erase an area with the Edge Finder
Erase by manually tracing around an area You can click or drag around an area on your own. Erase an area by drawing
Erase in a predefined shape You can erase an area by choosing from a variety of ready-made shapes. Erase an area by using a simple shape
Erase all areas based on color You can erase areas composed from the same color or a similar color. Erase an area by using color matching