How do I cut out part of a vector in Illustrator?

To cut out part of a vector in Adobe Illustrator, use the Vector Crop tool.

Steps to Crop a Vector

Here's how to use the Vector Crop tool in Illustrator to remove a section of a vector object:

Select the Vector: First, choose the vector object you want to modify. Click on it using the Selection tool.
Activate the Vector Crop Tool: In the left toolbar, locate and click the Vector Crop tool. The vector will then display a bounding box with handles at the corners and edges.
Crop the Vector: Click and drag any of the handles on the bounding box to crop the vector to the desired size.
Finalize: Once you have dragged the handles to where you want them and are satisfied, the cropped portion of your vector object will remain. The parts outside the boundaries will be removed.

Let’s say you have a vector circle, and you only want a semi-circle. Here’s how you could use the Vector Crop tool:

Select the circle.
Click the Vector Crop Tool.
Drag one of the side handles of the bounding box to the center of the circle to cut the circle in half.

Precision: For more precise cropping, you can use guides to help align your crop precisely.
Multiple Crops: If you need to make complex crops that go beyond a simple rectangle, use the Pathfinder tools to divide and cut shapes. However, the crop tool is effective for quick and basic cropping needs.
Non-Destructive Editing: Using the vector crop tool is not a destructive method, because you can always undo your crop and go back to the original shape of the vector.

By using the Vector Crop tool you can easily adjust vector shapes to meet your design needs.