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Bitmap Font Editor
What it is
Bitmap Font Editor is a free desktop application for creating monochrome bitmap fonts, particularly for retro computers and embedded targets such as the SAM Coupe. It runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, and handles both fixed-width and variable-width fonts with an adjustable advance width per glyph. Users paint or erase glyphs in cells up to 32×32 pixels, with tools to undo, redo, copy, paste, clear, invert, flip, and shift. Draggable font guides and pinned reference glyphs support drawing. An editable sample text preview is available at three zoom levels in white on black or black on white. Raw bitmap import lets users set the starting codepoint, geometry, and byte layout. Projects use the losslessly round-trippable .fnt.json format; export produces a 1bpp bitmap plus JSON sidecars for widths and character mapping. Release 0.1.3 includes platform builds and SHA-256 checksums. Windows and macOS downloads are unsigned, and filling glyphs from installed system fonts is disabled because Canvas 2D lacks TrueType hinting access.
For and against
For
- Free and available for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
- Supports variable-width and fixed-width fonts.
- Projects use a lossless .fnt.json format.
- Exports a bitmap with width and character-mapping JSON files.
Against
- Windows and macOS builds are unsigned.
- System-font glyph filling is disabled.
- The maker says macOS and Linux paths are not regularly exercised.
The verdict
Bitmap Font Editor provides focused drawing, preview, import, and export tools for monochrome bitmap fonts. Its unsigned downloads and disabled system-font filling are worth noting before choosing it.
Who it suits
This editor suits people making bitmap fonts for retro computers or embedded targets. It is also suitable for users who need to edit fixed-width or variable-width monochrome glyphs.
On the record
- Disabled feature
- Filling glyphs from an installed system font is currently disabled because Canvas 2D lacks TrueType hinting access.github.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Download verification
- Release 0.1.3 includes SHA-256 checksums for its downloadable builds.github.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Drawing
- Glyphs can be drawn in cells up to 32×32 pixels, with draggable font guides and pinned reference glyphs.github.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Editing tools
- The editor includes undo and redo, glyph copy and paste, clear, invert, flip, and shift operations.github.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Export
- Font export writes a 1bpp bitmap plus JSON sidecar files for widths and character mapping.github.com · read 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.github.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Font types
- It supports variable-width and fixed-width fonts.github.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Font widths
- It supports variable and fixed-width fonts, with an adjustable advance width for each glyph.github.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Glyph drawing
- Glyphs can be drawn in cells up to 32×32 pixels by clicking or dragging to paint and erase.github.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Import
- Raw font bitmap import lets users configure the starting codepoint, geometry, and byte layout.github.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Intended audience
- The maker describes the editor as intended for bitmap fonts for old home computers and retro or embedded targets.github.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- The project describes itself as aimed at old home computers, particularly the SAM Coupe, and retro or embedded targets.github.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- License
- The repository source is covered by the MIT license.github.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Maker
- The GitHub profile identifies spectecjr as Simon Cooke and lists Seattle, WA.github.com · read 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.github.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Platform caveat
- The maker says macOS and Linux paths should work but are not regularly exercised.github.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Platform downloads
- Release 0.1.3 provides Windows, macOS for Intel and Apple Silicon, and Linux builds.github.com · read 7 Oct 2026
- Preview
- Editable sample text can be previewed at three zoom levels in white-on-black or black-on-white.github.com · read 7 Oct 2026
