libresprite.dev
v1.3

About

About libresprite.dev

An independent, hands-on guide to LibreSprite, the free and open-source pixel-art and animation editor. We are not the LibreSprite project, and we are not affiliated with Aseprite or Igara Studio.

Why this site exists

LibreSprite’s official home is its GitHub repository, which is great for code but light on step-by-step help. People search for how to install it on a Mac, why a BMP won’t open, how to export a sprite sheet for Godot, or whether it is the same as Aseprite. This site answers those questions, accurately and for the current version (1.3).

How we test

We don’t rewrite other people’s tutorials. Every page is checked against the real program and its source code:

  • Linux: the official 1.3 AppImage on Ubuntu 24.04 (with a virtual display for screenshots), distribution packages in clean containers, and a build from source following INSTALL.md.
  • Windows: the installer and the portable zip on Windows Server 2025 (x64) and Windows 11 on Arm, using GitHub-hosted machines.
  • macOS: both DMGs on macOS 15 (Apple Silicon and Intel), including Gatekeeper’s quarantine warning and its fix.
  • Android: the official APK in Android 14 (tablet) and Android 11 (phone) emulators, driven by touch.
  • Drawing tablets: a virtual pen device with pressure under a real X server on Linux (we have no physical tablet in our lab).
  • Other programs: Pixelorama, Krita, GIMP and GrafX2 on a clean Linux machine, Piskel and Pixelorama in a browser, and Godot 4.7.2 for the game-engine guide, each opening files exported by LibreSprite. We compiled Aseprite on Linux, macOS and Windows to report the real steps.
  • Source code: menus, shortcuts, tools, file formats and error messages are read from the 1.3 source (data/gui.xml and the C++ code), so tables are generated rather than typed.
  • Files: the demo sprites “Sprout” and “Pip” were drawn for this site, and every export, sheet and GIF made from them was produced by LibreSprite itself.

Every screenshot carries a label saying which system, which version and how it was taken. Where we could not test something, such as a physical Android device, a specific tablet model or the Unity editor, we say so and link the upstream report or official documentation instead.

Where facts come from

  • Versions, release dates, download files and SHA-256 hashes: LibreSprite’s GitHub releases. We download and hash the files ourselves.
  • Package versions: Repology and Flathub, with the date checked.
  • Aseprite facts: Aseprite’s own repository files (its EULA, INSTALL.md, gui.xml) and official pages, with dates. We compiled Aseprite for facts only, on throwaway machines, and never share those builds.
  • Known bugs: LibreSprite’s issue tracker, with issue numbers.

Keeping it current

Each page shows the LibreSprite version it was checked with and the date it was last updated. When a new LibreSprite release comes out, we re-run our tests and update the generated tables first.

Corrections

If something here is wrong or out of date, please tell us at hello@libresprite.dev. We fix confirmed errors quickly and note significant corrections on the page. Bugs in LibreSprite itself belong on its issue tracker; our troubleshooting page explains how to report one well.

Independence and money

libresprite.dev is run independently. It has no ads, no sponsored placements and no affiliate links, and nobody paid for any recommendation. If that ever changes, this page and the privacy policy will say so first. If you want to support LibreSprite itself, see the options on community.