What's the official ESRI solution for serving up static map images (i.e. png, jpg, etc)?
I need to write a map service that returns a single, static map image (png, jpg, etc).  In the old days (i.e. before Google Maps took off) this was the default way that server software like ArcIMS worked.  Now, those packages default serving tiled map services, which usually are the appropriate solution in most cases.  However, in this case, my requirements are to return a single image that can be accessed by a URL.  

I know that the Google Maps solution is their [static map API](http://code.google.com/apis/maps/documentation/staticmaps/).  This works fine if you are creating a simple map, but my map will have polygon and point overlays, and probably to add as markers and encoded polygons w/in the confines of a 1024 char URL.

I have access to ArcGIS Server, and can create a map service that includes the above data, but I can't tell what is the best way to get the service to return a single image.  The only thing I found in the ESRI online help was the ability to add OGC Web Map Service (WMS) capabilities to a map service.  You can the [request the map as an image](http://help.arcgis.com/en/arcgisserver/10.0/help/arcgis_server_dotnet_help/index.html#//009300000059000000.htm), but this seems like a bit of a hack to me.

Does anyone know if there is a better/more official way?

TIA

Tom

What's the official ESRI solution for serving up static map images (i.e. png, jpg, etc)?
===

I need to write a map service that returns a single, static map image (png, jpg, etc).  In the old days (i.e. before Google Maps took off) this was the default way that server software like ArcIMS worked.  Now, those packages default serving tiled map services, which usually are the appropriate solution in most cases.  However, in this case, my requirements are to return a single image that can be accessed by a URL.  

I know that the Google Maps solution is their [static map API](http://code.google.com/apis/maps/documentation/staticmaps/).  This works fine if you are creating a simple map, but my map will have polygon and point overlays, and probably to add as markers and encoded polygons w/in the confines of a 1024 char URL.

I have access to ArcGIS Server, and can create a map service that includes the above data, but I can't tell what is the best way to get the service to return a single image.  The only thing I found in the ESRI online help was the ability to add OGC Web Map Service (WMS) capabilities to a map service.  You can the [request the map as an image](http://help.arcgis.com/en/arcgisserver/10.0/help/arcgis_server_dotnet_help/index.html#//009300000059000000.htm), but this seems like a bit of a hack to me.

Does anyone know if there is a better/more official way?

TIA

Tom
