[java] Wrathnut

use gimp "http://www.gimp.org/", and checkout the gimp user group "http://gug.sunsite.dk/"

Gimp is a great FREE drawing tool, but but just about any drawing program(aside from MS Paint) can create transparent gifs. I personally prefer paint shop pro but it is fairly spendy I think the one I have was $70 USD. photo shop is another good one too. I think there was an article posted about a year ago on cheap to free programming tools. It mentioned a whole slew of free to cheap image creation apps. Check the archives for it if gimp is not to your liking.