Merging pictures freeware

Does anyone know of simple freeware that allows you to merge two separate picture files into one where the images are to be horizontally or vertically adjacent? I really could use that for my blog.

you can download IrfanView from here: http://www.irfanview.com/main_download_engl.htm

when installed, you go here:

and you get this:


as you can see i browsed (with the "add picture" tab") inside my computer for two pictures that will be merged horizontally. the resulting picture looks like this:

you can make various combinations of the way you merge the pictures. my former signature image was made by vertically merging two horizontal merged lines of album covers; here it is:

just click on the thumbnails to enlarge.
hope that helps.

Yes, Paint works but is a bit tedious. I'll check out the programmes you two recommended, thanks a lot.

Dragon Phoenix wrote: Irfanview does the trick, as long as you give the images alphabetical names in the order that you want to merge them. Thanks!

hmm, my Irfan keeps the seleted pictures in the same order that i pick them and doesn't align them in alphabetical order, but i guess you still don't have to rename them but use the "Up" and "Down" buttons from this window -->

andu wrote: