SPEdit
SPEdit is a free, open-source pixel art editor and sprite library manager for 2D games.
What SPEdit is
SPEdit is a free, open-source pixel art editor and sprite library manager for 2D games. It runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows. Drawing options include pencil, line, rectangle, filled rectangle, circle, flood fill, eraser, pipette, and rectangular selection. Multiple layers and frame creation are supported, while animation composition is listed as future work. Palettes can be imported from HEX files or images and are limited to 256 indexed colors. Mouse and drawing-tablet input are supported. Images can be exported as PNG files; export to SPEdit’s own JSON format is planned. The interface can use PO translation files, and localization changes do not require a restart. The maker describes version 4.0 as still in development. GitHub Releases are listed for precompiled binaries when ready, while source compilation requires CodeTyphon Studio with Free Pascal Compiler. Planned format work includes ASE and Piskel imports. Community discussion is available through Discord and Telegram, with issues and contributions handled on GitHub.
Good
- Free and open-source software
- Runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows
- Multiple layers and frame creation
- Imports HEX or image palettes
- Exports images as PNG
Watch out
- Animation composition is future work
- Palettes limited to 256 indexed colors
- JSON export is future work
- Version 4.0 remains in development
Who it suits
SPEdit suits pixel-art game creators who need layered drawing, frame creation, indexed palettes, and sprite organization on Linux, macOS, or Windows. It also fits users who prefer free, open-source software and can work with a project still in development.
Verdict
SPEdit covers core pixel-art drawing, palette, layer, and frame tasks across desktop platforms. Its unfinished animation and format plans matter if those workflows are required now.
Plans and prices
From SPEdit's own pricing page, checked 11 Oct 2001.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| SPEdit | Free | Free and open source · development software |
The facts
Each one read from SPEdit's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Color palettes
- Users can import palettes from HEX files or images, and palettes are currently limited to 256 indexed colors.checked 11 Oct 2001
- Development status
- The maker describes SPEdit 4.0 as still in development.checked 11 Oct 2001
- Download and build
- The README directs users to GitHub Releases for precompiled binaries when ready and says compiling from source requires CodeTyphon Studio with Free Pascal Compiler.checked 11 Oct 2001
- Drawing tools
- Available drawing tools include pencil, line, rectangle, filled rectangle, circle, flood fill, eraser, pipette, and rectangular selection.checked 11 Oct 2001
- Export
- The README says an image can be exported as a PNG file; export to SPEdit's own JSON format is listed as future work.checked 11 Oct 2001
- Integrations and formats
- The maker mentions HEX palette files, image files, PNG export, and a planned import path for formats such as ASE and Piskel.checked 11 Oct 2001
- Layers and frames
- The editor supports multiple layers and includes frame creation, while animation composition is listed as future work.checked 11 Oct 2001
- Localization
- The interface supports localization using PO translation files, which can be activated without restarting the program.checked 11 Oct 2001
- Purpose
- SPEdit is a pixel art editor and sprite library manager for pixel art based 2D games.checked 11 Oct 2001
- Security and privacy
- The project page and README opened for this research do not state security certifications, privacy practices, or compliance claims.checked 11 Oct 2001
- Support and community
- The maker points users to the SPEdit Discord server and Telegram for community discussion and accepts issue reports and contributions through GitHub.checked 11 Oct 2001
Where it runs
- Input devices
- The maker says SPEdit supports drawing tablets as well as mouse input.checked 11 Oct 2001
- Platforms
- The maker identifies Windows and Linux as supported and says macOS may work but has not been tested by the maker.checked 11 Oct 2001
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