Help with partitioning ext firewire drive to use for storage/image backups

I just ordered a 2tb external hard drive.  Want to put at least 1tb of the space for normal access file storage and use between 500gb and 750gb (probably the latter if I upgrade internal drive) for image clones to use for emergency boots.  Software maybe Super Duper?  Anyway, will get pre-formatted drive tomorrow and need to make it happen quick.
Would I delete whatever partition comes on it and put 2 new ones on?  One for file storage and one for clone images?  Or can I even just use one big 2tb partition?  Want to make regular clone images for emergency booting and expand my file storage at same time.  Probably use something lIke Carbon Copy Cloner(?) or Super Duper for images and maybe do some Time Machine backups?

Yes, you can do it that way. Again, it is recommended that TM have its own partition.
It sounds like you have two 2TB HDs. Why not put three partitions on one, put the 750GB of data on one partition, and you have two more partitions to clone to (I would alternate each time).
Then you have the other 2TB HD for TM. It's recommended that you have a volume at least double the size of the amount of data you're backing up (3x or more would be even better), so that would be great.
Obviously you can do what you want, but starting out from the beginning like you are, why not do it "right?" It's the "foundation," and the better that is, the better luck you're likely to have with the structure built on top of it (your backups).

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