PNG Format Editing

I'd appreciate if someone could advise on what resource editor is ideal for editing PNG extension image files, especially for the group files.

 

I'm using MFC in MS Visual Studio 2003 and like what I see with the ribbon sample of Xtreme Toolkit Pro.  However, the default resource editor used by MS VS 2003 will not recognise these files.  It would be nice to build my own image groups and/or edit existing ones. 

 

I've read this format is smaller in size and this has great appeal. 

 

I need to keep using Windows XP.

 

 

Thanks in advance

 

Adobe photshop.  I understand one of the best but also expensive.  I haven't used it so I've never been able to evaluate it and justify it's cost. 

 

Also, I assume COREL PAINT SHOP PRO is another one that would be good to edit png files - and better priced.

 

However, I tried paint.net and it seems simple to use.  It doesn't appear to have too many bells and whistles to make it complicated.  Simple is good.

 

Well I compared both paint.net and Icon Workshop and paint.net wins out for me.  I couldn't find how to resize the canvas in icon workshop amongst other things although I can see how it would be useful for editing icons...  I like the idea of being able to create multiple image png file.

 

Also, I was wondering...

 

The MS VS 2003 resource viewer shows the PNG files in the ribbonsample demo using the binary editor.  I assume these items have each been added via the 'Add Resource - Import ...' option of the MS VS Resource viewer.

 

Is there an improvement on this available eg. a known add in or something, that can be integrated in with the MS VS 2003 IDE.  Otherwise I need a separate screen open just to show the actual image via an external editor eg. paint.net while looking at a list of resource ids in the MS VS Resource viewer.

 

Thanks in advance.