Bitmap Font Editor
Bitmap Font Editor is a free desktop tool for creating monochrome bitmap fonts, particularly for retro computers and embedded targets such as the SAM Coupe.
What Bitmap Font Editor is
Bitmap Font Editor is a free desktop tool for creating monochrome bitmap fonts, particularly for retro computers and embedded targets such as the SAM Coupe. It supports fixed-width and variable-width fonts, with an adjustable advance width for each glyph. Users can draw or erase pixels in cells up to 32×32, then copy, paste, clear, invert, flip, or shift glyphs. Editable sample text can be previewed at three zoom levels in white on black or black on white. Raw font bitmap import includes settings for starting codepoint, geometry, and byte layout. Projects use the losslessly round-trippable .fnt.json format. Export produces a bitmap binary and JSON files for widths and codepoint mapping. Release 0.1.3 provides Windows, macOS for Intel and Apple Silicon, and Linux builds; the repository source is MIT-licensed. Windows and macOS builds are unsigned and may show first-run security warnings. Filling glyphs from an installed system font is disabled because Canvas 2D does not provide real TrueType hinting.
Good
- Supports fixed-width and variable-width fonts.
- Edits glyphs in cells up to 32×32 pixels.
- Imports raw font bitmaps with configurable layout.
- Projects use a losslessly round-trippable format.
- Free, with Windows, macOS, and Linux builds.
Watch out
- Windows and macOS builds are unsigned.
- System-font glyph filling is disabled.
- macOS and Linux paths are not regularly exercised.
Who it suits
This editor suits people making monochrome bitmap fonts for retro computers or embedded projects. It is available on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Verdict
Bitmap Font Editor offers focused tools for drawing and exporting monochrome bitmap fonts, with both fixed and variable widths. Its unsigned builds and disabled system-font filling are worth noting before downloading.
The facts
Each one read from Bitmap Font Editor's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Disabled feature
- Filling glyphs from an installed system font is currently disabled because Canvas 2D lacks TrueType hinting access.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Download verification
- Release 0.1.3 includes SHA-256 checksums for its downloadable builds.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Drawing
- Glyphs can be drawn in cells up to 32×32 pixels, with draggable font guides and pinned reference glyphs.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Editing tools
- The editor includes undo and redo, glyph copy and paste, clear, invert, flip, and shift operations.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Export
- Font export writes a 1bpp bitmap plus JSON sidecar files for widths and character mapping.checked 7 Oct 2026
- File formats
- Projects use losslessly round-trippable .fnt.json files, and export produces a bitmap binary plus widths and codepoint mapping JSON files.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Font types
- It supports variable-width and fixed-width fonts.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Font widths
- It supports variable and fixed-width fonts, with an adjustable advance width for each glyph.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Glyph drawing
- Glyphs can be drawn in cells up to 32×32 pixels by clicking or dragging to paint and erase.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Import
- Raw font bitmap import lets users configure the starting codepoint, geometry, and byte layout.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Intended audience
- The maker describes the editor as intended for bitmap fonts for old home computers and retro or embedded targets.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- The project describes itself as aimed at old home computers, particularly the SAM Coupe, and retro or embedded targets.checked 7 Oct 2026
- License
- The repository source is covered by the MIT license.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Notable limitation
- Fill From System Font is disabled because Canvas 2D lacks real TrueType hinting and the small-size results are not good enough.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Preview
- Editable sample text can be previewed at three zoom levels in white-on-black or black-on-white.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Font Editor is a desktop editor for monochrome bitmap fonts, aimed at retro and embedded targets.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Saved projects
- Projects use the `.fnt.json` format, which the project describes as lossless.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Signing
- The maker says builds are not code-signed; Windows may show a SmartScreen warning and macOS requires removing quarantine after download.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Unsigned builds
- Windows and macOS builds are unsigned, so first run shows a SmartScreen or Gatekeeper warning.checked 7 Oct 2026
The company
- Maker
- The GitHub profile identifies spectecjr as Simon Cooke and lists Seattle, WA.checked 7 Oct 2026
Where it runs
- Platform caveat
- The maker says macOS and Linux paths should work but are not regularly exercised.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Platform downloads
- Release 0.1.3 provides Windows, macOS for Intel and Apple Silicon, and Linux builds.checked 7 Oct 2026
- Platforms
- The project describes Windows, macOS, and Linux packaging targets, and says it was developed and used on Windows 11.checked 7 Oct 2026
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