Verge uses the Corona image library(dev check?) to load graphics for games so supports a range of formats. Recommended image manipulation programs are Photoshop (good for textures and effects), Paint Shop Pro (good for pixel art), GIMP (is FREE!) - but there are many more that you could use.

Try to keep image file sizes as small as possible in your games, as not everyone has access to fast connections, but be aware of the difference between lossless and lossy compression. As a rule of thumb on which file types to use, 8-bit (palette based colour) .png files will be smallest for 256 or fewer colours, and .jpg will be smallest for large 24-bit (full colour) images. This in depth guide is useful for explaining some of the issues here.

Within verge all images are stored in 24 bit mode. This means any alpha (transparency values for pixels) data is ignored when images are loaded. Verge uses death magenta for transparent pixels in many of the Graphics functions, and emulates an alpha channel using greyscale bitmaps and AlphaBlit.

• .PNG - Supports a variety of formats and extensions, always in lossless and compressed format. The extra features such as the alpha channel are not supported by verge. Remember to save images with fewer that 256 colours in 8-bit mode, as this will result in considerably smaller file sizes. More information Wikipedia. It stands for "Portable Newtork Graphics"

• .JPG - A lossy (sometimes very noticeably) compressed full colour image format. If you NEED very large full colour images, it's probably the best choice, but will tend to give either large file sizes or poor quality images. More information Wikipedia. It stands for "Joint Photographic Experts Group".

• .PCX - A multi-depth format. In general, the 8-bit PNG format will give smaller file sizes than the 8-bit pcx, so use that instead. It also has a 24-bit format with similarly poor compression. More information Wikipedia.

• .BMP - The native windows bitmap format. It is lossless, uncompressed, and supports a range of bit depths. However, in all cases you should use a format that supports compression instead. More information Wikipedia.

• .TGA - Whatever. Just use something else. More information Wikipedia.

• .GIF - Compressed 8-bit palette based graphics format. It has native support for a 'transparent' colour and animation - but this is not supported by verge. There are also some copyright issues, so in general use the 8-bit PNG format instead. More information Wikipedia. It stands for "Graphics Interchange Format".