What does everyone use to make their own Sprite strips??

[drumdogg]

Was wondering what the best program is to create your own sprite strips. Have started to use game maker but they save them as their own format so i cant seem to use them in visual studio for an XNA game im making.

 

[mistercrabb]

For pixel art, lots of people used to use graphicsgale.
Looks like you have to buy it to get the animation bit though, I'm sure there are better free programs out there.