Creating Image Maps

Basics	Image Maps	Slices	Rollovers	Animation

Introduction	Introduction	Introduction	Introduction	Introduction
Jumping	Creating	Creating	Creating	Working with Frames
File Formats	Modifying	Modifying	Previewing	Working with Layers
Optimization	Image Map Palette	Slice Palette	Matching Layers	Animation Palette
Saving				Saving Animations

How do I create
an image map?

You can create an image map by using the Image Map tools in the toolbox (see the picture to the left).

Follow these steps to create an image map area:

1) Select the desired tool. You can select either the Rectangle, Circle, or Polygon Image Map tool from the toolbox, depending upon what shape you want the area to be.

2) If you are using the Circle or Rectangle tool, drag within the graphic over the area you want to define. Shift-drag if you want to constrain the Rectangle tool to a square. (You don't need to shift-drag to constrain the Circle tool to a circle rather than an oval, because HTML cannot handle oval image map areas.)

OR

If you are using the Polygon tool, click once at the starting point of your image map area, then click at the endpoint of each segment. When you get back to the beginning, position the pointer over the starting point and click to close the shape.

Repeat this process for each image map area you want to define on your graphic. When you are done, you should have a graphic where each image map area is outlined in pale blue. The currently selected image map area has a red outline with all of the “handles” of the image showing as dots:

(photo courtesy of www.amgmedia.com)

Tip: You can define as many image map areas as you wish. But if you have overlapping areas, the top-most area is the one that is active at the intersection; the parts of other image map areas underneath are ignored.

How do I view
image map areas?

If you do not see the image map areas, you need to tell ImageReady to show them. You can do this in one of two ways:

Image maps areas are displayed automatically when you select the Image Map Select tool in the toolbox.

You can show or hide image map areas by clicking the Image Map Visibilility button on the toolbox.