jayson asked:
>   Can anyone give me any specifics about how I can 
>   make a picture with transparent areas? 
>   Any suggestions as to image editors that will help me do this?

well, for already-existing picts (or any pict on the clipboard),
"vanishing cream" 
-- a cheap ($10?) program by rustle laidman --
will turn any color in a pict into a transparent area.
it's cool.
try <http://users.aol.com/raymeow> for rustle's site.

-bowerbird