Available tools
Although it is possible to put together image map information manually, it is much easier to use a tool to do it.
If you use any of the Macromedia or Adobe web design software packages, you’re in luck, because there are image map tools built into both their HTML editors and web image programs. The image map tools in Dreamweaver and GoLive are particularly handy because you can create the image map right in the current document window.
Tip
As of this writing, the future of these specific products is unclear based on the initial announcement of Adobe’s acquisition of Macromedia. It is fairly certain that some sort of image map tool will be available when the dust settles.
There are also standalone image map creation utilities available as shareware. One popular option is MapEdit, by Tom Boutell, available at http://www.boutell.com/mapedit/. It costs $10 and is available for Windows, Mac OS X, and Unix. A search for “image map tool” on your search engine of choice will turn up many more options.
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