Placeholder Graphics Tools

[doodaddy]

Do y'all have a list of favorite tools for "getting by" when it comes to placeholder graphics?

Obviously, MSPaint and maybe even the GIMP, but the GIMP is getting kind of complicated. I'm particularly interested in tools which make an easy matte. Or allow simple transarency and empty pixels. Or rotate or make a shiny edge or whatever. Or menus buttons. Or game data display areas... You get the idea.

Also interesting would be a nice, easy font tool that could color the inside of the font, make arched or whatever.

Again, I have played with PhotoShop and the GIMP before, but I was hoping for something easier with less ramp up time.

[luggage]

I use photoshop - especially the layer effects. You can add a simple bevel for buttons, drop shadows and all sorts. Can't see how it could be much easier to be honest.

[Abscissa]

I always just pull up MSPaint for that sort of thing. Photoshop is nice for certain things, but quick-n-dirty is just not one of them.

[Pallav Nawani]

You could try these:

ArtWeaver (Free)
Inkscape (Vector drawing tool, free, opensource)

Vector tools are good for quick drawing of beveled buttons etc.

[gpetersz]

I always just pull up MSPaint for that sort of thing. Photoshop is nice for certain things, but quick-n-dirty is just not one of them.

I think Photoshop is just great for anything, naturally as for anything else, you need experience.
The only thing one won't like in Photoshop is its price... ;)

[electronicStar]

Paint shop pro has a library of pre-designed shapes.

[digriz]

There are plenty of places on the internet where you can grab sprite sheets from very old games or that people have just made for fun.

For place holder graphics they can be ideal, just so long as you don't forget to take out an animating mario or sonic before you release it.

[mahlzeit]

http://images.google.com and some cleanup in Paint Shop Pro.

[Screwball]

I personally use Graphics Gale.

http://www.humanbalance.net/gale/us/

GIF's, Icons, Cursors, Animations and all that other fun stuff.

[whisperstorm]

There's a relatively new program called Paint .NET which is like a suped up MS Paint -- You might give that a try:

http://www.eecs.wsu.edu/paint.net/

Note that you'll have to have .net installed as well. However, despite that somewhat bitter pill, it's actually a pretty nice program.