Quote:I do want the background removed, all I want is the eagle with the ribbon & Flag, so I can than enter it into my carvewright, carving machine?
I never keep anything (other than my own projects) so another partial video, not doing the whole thing, this showing the scroll, and flag in separate paths.
Quote:I need to know for each item I trace does that go on a new layer? then when I am all done do I merge?
The paths are not layers as such. Paths are independent of layers, even the canvas. It is easier to merge paths than to separate them although Ofnuts path tools plugin can do this.
However to start a new section of path keep an eye on the path tool cursor.
For example: You can make a closed path and start a new separate path easily.
If the path is not closed, then to start a new section hold the shift key down. see how the cursor has changed.
Once the new node is in, then continue.
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Did not do that in this video https://youtu.be/BmY4CXIGcRI 3 minutes
I put each section as a new path. It might/might-not fit in with what you want.
For a CNC machine or similar I guess you will need a single SVG so merging everything is the only option. Gimp will only export a single path as an SVG at a time. That is right click in Paths dialogue Export As
More usual to do this sort of work in a vector application such as Inkscape.
edit: Just another quick look at the image.
The eagle has part of the wing missing, you can make a path that goes off the edge of the canvas.
Eagle + scroll + flag is really just a single outline with a couple of holes inside. It is going to depend on how the machine handles these. It might be direction of path, so make the main trace clock-wise and the cut-outs anti-clockwise. Real advice, ask someone who uses the same machine.