GIMP Version: 2.10.20 1
Operating System: Windows
GIMP Experience: Intermediate Level

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Example: irregular contour like a map of continental Europe. All borders and text in the same color as the border of Europe as a whole.

So my question is there an easy way to detect just the outer border of Europe minus the stuff inside, and turn it into a path. Same color seems to deny methods of select by color or tools dependent on same.

I've searched for this topic here and on the net in general. Obviously there are tedious methods of manually deleting the objects/text inside. And I have tried to use edge detect filters but they don't seem to be able to only select the outer edge/silhouette.

Can anyone point me to an easy method or tut on this? Thanks in advance.

May be...

There are 10^googol different methods to detour, contour, detect edges... You might also need to prepare your image before, like removing the text, feathering the colors...
Without visual references, I can't tell, I do need to see what are colors, how they are dispatched, and so many more things.
Please upload that image.

On the other hand, about turning "things" into path, it's so simple, that's just one click away once you're done with the above

Hi crus, have you tried 'fuzzy select' instead of colour select ? You may have to do a few selections but if the outside border is all one colour and joined up you should end up with one selection. Only trouble you will have there is if your other borders or text join the outside border. Then I would do as PixLab suggested. Just make a copy of it before you do.

Thanks for the replies. I am trying not to do a lot of prep and would like to have a replicable method not to. Regarding the magic wand I did try that. But having other lines connecting with the outer one makes that not work. I'm guessing this is a lost cause as for an easy method.

Difficult to say without seeing your image. There is no one size fits all solution. Post an image of your map and there may be an easy solution for this image.

Something to try: select the area outside the land (the blue sea?) and invert the selection. Difficult to say without seeing your image.

We were waiting for an image... But if you say so...

Anyway it's late in my time zone, I going to have a diner, watch TV, and so...

I still don't have perms for attachments but I don't have a particular image to share. I was playing around with several the other day and didn't save the GIMP file or the images. Thanks for the offers though.

One way is to take the problem from the other side. Select what is outside of Europe.