Making Banners

[Shadowstar [LovesMaydayParade]]

So I was curious, what does everyone here use (like Photoshop, Ulead, ect) to make banners? I used to have a free trial photo editor, but it ran out and I needed a banner for my characters on this one site.

I use Microsoft Paint if you'd believe it. Here's an example of one of the banners I made on it

Well I didn't exactly make the background or the images, but I did remove the BG from the two images (one for each side) by myself, which took a while, and then I put them against the background and added the text.

By the way the dude in the picture, it's Alex Evans and I suppose you could call him Matt's celebrity face, but I can find a picture where he looks a lot more... Matt-like.

The banner was for my Twilight RPG site

[Lightningstar]

It's very spiffy looking, Shadowstar! *clap* I don't make many banners, but I only have MS Paint... so if I have to make graphics, that's what I use. But I suck at making graphics. xP

[Shadowstar [LovesMaydayParade]]

Thanks! Here's another version, just different text on this one, more simple and sort of neater looking...

[Autumnstorm]

Oo I like it!

I would help with your problem, but I suck at art of all kinds, and don't know how to make it on the computer. I just stare at other peoples' jealously.