4-Bit graphics editor? (for SAM Coupé)

[flatduckrecords]

I’ve been getting to grips with ZXPaintbrush and SevenuP for creating Spectrum sprites but now I’m looking for a way to doodle some 4-bit graphics for SAM’s display mode 4. ZXPaint supports Timex mode which is nice (that should work in SAM mode 2?) but that’s not quite what I’m after.

I’m not too worried about handling palettes yet, but what I’m looking for is something (web based, macOS or Wine) that can export the graphic data as binary or asm in a two-pixels-per-byte format.

So far I’ve been using Remy Sharp’s ZX Next Sprite Tools in the “4-bit” setting which does the job but is fixed to 8x8 or 16x16 sprites in a sprite sheet. It does what it does really well though. (And is actively updated).



I also tried ChibiAkuma’s AkuSpriteEditor but I couldn’t get much out of it. I’m running it under wine/mono though so it’s maybe not working properly. (Keith’s SAM and Z80 tutorials are really informative though, and he pointed out it’s the same raw format used by the MSX…so maybe there’s some MSX tools out there that would suit? I didn’t find anything but let me know if you know more.)

Another thing I could look at is a JavaScript or Python script to handle 16-colour PNG images.

I’d be grateful to hear suggestions. Thanks!

[AndyC]

It's hard to beat ProMotion for pixel art work, it's a modern graphics editor but geared around pixel work including palette support etc.

[flatduckrecords]

Excellent, thanks Andy. I’ll check it out.

[g0blinish]

now Graphics Gale is freeware. I would create a 4bit image, save and use mtpaint to export to xpm for parser

[Stefan]

Have you tried the obscurely named http://www.spriteeditor.com/ ?

[flatduckrecords]

Thanks, I hadn’t heard of any of these!

[flatduckrecords]

[via Facebook]

Pete Gallagher has shared a nice browser-based sprite editor:



I like that you can edit the asm code directly and reimport it into the sprite.

Pete has also written a very comprehensive SAM graphics tutorial. Source code for the sprite editor is available on GitHub.

Great stuff all round!

[azesmbog]

export to xpm for parser

Can you make me a parser for XPM and back to numbers?
I will explain what is needed at the entrance and out, even with examples.

[p13z]

A bit obscure, old, bugged and quirky - but I use "GraphX2" for a lot of retro "art" work.
(Anything on the Speccy I tend to go native and use Animator).
GraphX2 is styled on the old Dpaint interface, so it has a nice nostalgic feel for those retro projects.

[azesmbog]

I’m not too worried about handling palettes yet, but what I’m looking for is something (web based, macOS or Wine) that can export the graphic data as binary or asm in a two-pixels-per-byte format.

Maybe exporting directly to SSX or SS4 format will suit you?

[flatduckrecords]

Maybe exporting directly to SSX or SS4 format will suit you?

Do those formats support different sizes, or whole-screen only?

I was thinking mainly of small individual sprites and maybe masks as well.

I’m really just getting started though so I don’t have particular plans for a game or anything. I’m just playing around and getting used to SAM!

[azesmbog]

then this utility will not suit you. Especially it for Win. I myself have not advanced further than the standard zx screen (mode 0) in studying Sam Coupe. And I didn’t come across good examples in assembler at one time)

[g0blinish]

Can you make me a parser for XPM and back to numbers?
I will explain what is needed at the entrance and out, even with examples.

Later. Busy on Yandex RetroGame Battle which starts April, 24.