Java Swing icons, animation

[clax99]

I'm developing a Monopoly-like game, and I want to draw icons to represent the pieces. Probelm is: I only have Microsoft Paint, and when I import a GIF created in Paint, it is in the standard rectangular frame, no matter how small I size the GIF in paint. How do I obtain just the outline of my GIF, so that it looks like a real piece on the board, not a small rectangle with a picture. Maybe this is wishful thinking, but is there an icon editor I can use to create icons that I could import into my Swing app? Help, please

 

[wushutwist]

Why don't you download a program like Paint Shop Pro? You can get an evaluation version from their website,

http://www.jasc.com/

 

[jmwollny]

There are a variety of free graphics packages that allow you
to set the alpha(transparent) colour in a GIF.
Have a look in

http://www.tucows.com

for a suitable application.

Hope you get rid of your rectangle blues

 

[scotth4v]

Here's a couple of cool icon-specific apps:

http://www.favicon.com/

http://www.iconforge.com/

The first one lets you build them online then e-mails it to you. (better use a hotmail account to avoid spam)

Have fun!

-Scott