Remove selection from layer in an svg

Question

I'm a complete amateur and just googling my way around but I'm a bit lost with the current task.

I'm editing the following SVG graphic in Inkscape: https://chaosdata.deviantart.com/art/BackTrack-Dragon-SVG-206730858

The goal is a vector graphic of the dragon alone, with it's eye cut out, so it is transparent. I'm trying to select the eye and delete the selection on the body layer of the dragon. At least that's what I would do with a non-vector graphic. I can simply delete the eye, but that leaves a solid area beneath.

How can I remove the eye from the graphic and delete the shape from the layer beneath?

Answer 1

1. select the eye and copy it using CTRL+C (Copy)

2. select both the grey dragon shape and the yellow triangle, by clicking on each with the Nodes tool F2, while holding down Shift to make a multiple selection.

3. click Path > Difference

4. Press CTRL+Alt+V (Paste in Place) and the eye will be pasted back in the same position as it was previously

5. select both the black background and the yellow eye

6. click Path > Difference

Now the eye is cut out of both the grey dragon shape, and the black background behind, leaving the space fully transparent.

If instead you want to remove the entire black background select it with the Nodes tool F2 and then switch to the Select tool F1 and hit Delete

Example showing background completely removed