do you still use image maps and hot spots?

[tonynoriega]

i havent used this in a while an was wondering if anyone still used this technique with images?

any drawbacks in relation to SEO?

[rocknbil]

<raises hand> Sometimes you have to.

If you're designing with table-less layouts, a site requiring graphics to express it's content will often not play well, especially when the graphics are varied in size and positioning. Sometimes the only solution is to lock it up with tables or put it in an image with an imagemap.

If you use alt tags on the map, it still validates, the links are still links, so it should still be fine . . . not seeing any negatives here (?)

[Samizdata]

I use image mags where appropriate.

Sometimes they are the best solution for the challenge at hand.

...

[tonynoriega]

well, im designing a more "user friendly" 400 error page for my site...

currently its just the standard text...

"please click the back button, or go to the home page"

and after reading some good articles, and realizing this page got over 600 views in the past 30 days, i figured i would try somethign a little "spicy" and make it more visually pleasant.

but the font i want to use is not web friendly, so i flattened it into the graphic, thus the need for an image map....

i think it will turn out well, and hopefully keep users on the site, and direct them to where they need to go...

[phranque]

images maps are an accessibility issue - you should provide alternate links for navigation with images turned off.