Rusty at this. Can't figure out how to delete part of a group of objects.

[TonyMiller567]

I've never been very good at Illustrator, and haven't used it in three years, but now I have a new job and I need to redo the company logo since they don't have a higher resolution copy or one that's a vector file. The part I'm haveing trouble with is a group of boxes that has a swoop cut out of it.

 

I have tried making a group of square objects, grouping them, then using the pen tool I draw the area I want to cut out and applying a clipping mask, but that takes away everything I want to keep. I've tried other things too, but nothing works. I'm sure I'm just missing some criticle step. I appreciate any help you can pass along. 

Frustratedly,

Tony

[michelew83603738 · Accepted solution]

I think you are doing it in reverse. Use the clipping mask to keep what you want to show, rather than what you want to hide. That should resolve the problem if I am understanding you correctly.

[Monika Gause · Accepted solution]

Select all the squares and make a compound path.

Select the squares and the swoosh and use Pathfinder panel: Subtract.

[TonyMiller567]

I found a ai file burried in a drive with a logo in it I was able to take the elements I needed from and it worked out with a little fiddling. Thanks for all the help though!