How to cut a shape out of a vector image?

[ambition13]

Hello,

I hope this is an easy question. I am by no means good with Illustrator, but I know my way around somewhat.

I have some vector images with several objects that I need to cut a circle or a square or other shapes out of.

So if the original image is a red square with blue verticle lines, i want to be able to cut a circle out of that, and end up with a red circle with blue vertical lines (the images are much more complex than that, this is just an example).

I know that I need to group everything in the images together, but what do I do next?

ambition13

 

[jmgalvin]

make either a duplicate of you work or use layers so you don't lose the original.

Draw a circle with no fill or stroke and move it over the square. go to window menu and show Pathfinder. Select both the square and the circle and click on Crop pathfinder. That will give you what you described.

Play around with Pathfinder to learn its other options. It's real handy.

Using OSX 10.3.9 on a G4

 

[ambition13]

Wow, that works beautifully! Thank you so much for the help.