@@ -225,9 +225,14 @@
 				$(map).unbind('.maphilight').find('area[coords]').unbind('.maphilight');
 			}
 
+			// patch alex: to keep the aspect ratio the a
+			// 'background-size': '100% auto', would be simple
+			// but this is not supported by IE8, instead we remove the
+			// background:'url("'+this.src+'")',
+			// part here.
+			
 			wrap = $('<div></div>').css({
 				display:'block',
-				background:'url("'+this.src+'")',
 				position:'relative',
 				padding:0,
 				width:this.width,
@@ -240,10 +245,20 @@
 					wrap.addClass(options.wrapClass);
 				}
 			}
+			
+			// patch alex:
+			// create a clone of the image, remove its id and usemap
+			var img_clone = img.clone();
+			img_clone.attr("id", "").attr("usemap", "");
+			
 			img.before(wrap).css('opacity', 0).css(canvas_style).remove();
 			if($.browser.msie) { img.css('filter', 'Alpha(opacity=0)'); }
 			wrap.append(img);
 			
+			// patch alex:
+			// add the image clone before the image
+			img.before(img_clone);
+			
 			canvas = create_canvas_for(this);
 			$(canvas).css(canvas_style);
 			canvas.height = this.height;