I have been searching for a while for a solution to this, to no avail. Perhaps somebody out there in GIMPland can help - as a newbie, I would be eternally grateful. The problem is that if one has defined a selected area in an image, using either selection by color or contiguous selection using the 'magic wand' facility, is possible to copy this selection to the Image Map facility of the image, so as to automatically define a set of coordinates as a polygon that can be used for link purposes? Perhaps there is some interim step that is required, or perhaps a special script is required? Would really appreciate some help on this one - many thanks.

Hi mbs. Welcome to the forum.
In GIMP there is no way to create a linkable area using the color select tools. However you can use Filters>Web>Image Map and use straight edged polygons, rectangles or circles to create linkable areas. It would be nice to see Gimp adopt a new Image map tool that could use the color select tools such as the wand and free select.

You can transform your selection into a path ("Select/To path") and use a script to export the Path (for instance my "path-csv" script) and then do a little bit of editing. This could be usable for fuzzy selections, but color selection that can select random pixels in the image may generate plenty of unusable paths.

Hi Rod and ofnuts - thank you for your advices, appreciated. You've confirmed what I suspected and that many webmasters in all likelihood see this as a major failing of GIMP (as well as many other products, too). Nonetheless, GIMP remains a good example of what may be achieved through Open Source - have a good day!

So, the fact that you can do it is a major failing? Interesting...

Actually, no. My original posting enquired about the possibility of copying a selected area defined by colour selection tools into the Image Map facility. Sure, you've indicated that this should be possible using path transformation/CSV text editing, but that is probably as bad as painstakingly defining a polygon area point-by-point, which is what I'm trying to avoid. This is particularly relevant for GIS-type area location mapping, for example, where every little kink in a meandering stream is relevant, or where prevailing wind direction is affected by topographical features. For your edification, I'm not alone in this <snp>

You misread my post then... and if you are asking on StackOverflow, then you may not be above some scripting, in which case the whole thing can get pretty simple: the script can generate the image map code directly, and can even filter out selection areas that are too small (stray selected pixels). I was only indicating how you could use existing tools I know about (there may be others).

The easiness with which you can write such as script if needed is also a major benefit of open source (both because the Gimp authors aren't hiding anything from anybody, and because you can take my path-csv script and adapt it to your purposes).

@ofnuts - OK, point taken. Although I'm by no means a scripting expert, I'll certainly give it a bash ('scuse the unintended pun) when time permits...

If you're interested I can give it a whirl. PM me what you need exactly (explanations, URL to sample images, etc...). Some boring project meetings and rainy weekends ahead, so some time to look into it.

Filters->Web->Save Path(s) as HTML poly map...
http://chiselapp.com/user/saulgoode/rep ... th-as-poly

• Make your selection
• Convert it to a path ("Select->To Path")
• Use the script to save your path(s) to a .map file
• Open the Image Map plug-in
• Open the .map file

Poor Saulgoode ninjad thrice trying to post this fabulous new script. Nicely done Saulgoode! That was very quick by the way.

Ahh the beauty of opensource.

@Rod - indeed!
@saulgoode - many thanx to you - will apply to the problem in due course and will post to the forum if any issues arise.

Maybe you can add a call to plug-in-sel2path?

http://chiselapp.com/user/saulgoode/rep ... th-as-poly

I've also added options to only use either visible or linked paths.

The command is also added to the Paths context menu available by right-clicking on a path in the Paths Dialog.

Sweet!