How Do you make Mini Images?

[prezpoonly]

Sorry, I'm new to this forum and also relatively a n00b at all this stuff, but could anyone let me know:

1) Does making a mini-image involve knowing programming languages, or can it be done with programs?

2) What's your general attitude to the usefulness of mini-images?

I recently got mini-images for a bunch of my games, such as Rome (forced to), the Sims2, and Call of Duty, and I thought that they were pretty useful. However, I read someone else post that they were 'lame', and I"m just interested in your guy's views.

Thanks for helping out a beginner.