JWKnight

LPC is a  customizable standard. Basically it's a functional sprite template maker that can be put to excellant usage. Comes with built in animations and you can make an amazing character along the way. Give it a try!
This is not mine just found it impressively fun and nice to use! Credits are listed in the files along with instructions.
 
Here's my version of King Richard The First also known as The Lionheart.
 
Embedded Video Link  

(Why is this amazing? You can take a given image in photo viewer and click through it in order to trace a given image in the Intersect Editor game window beneath it!)
This is an open source software that is free and only works on WIndows OS.
You can make large maps and split your map shape drawing into multiple square sections images. By splitting with column and row heights.