# libresprite.dev

> Independent, hands-on tested documentation and guides for LibreSprite (github.com/LibreSprite/LibreSprite), the free GPL-2.0 sprite editor and pixel art animation tool forked from the last GPLv2 commit of Aseprite (August 2016). Not affiliated with the LibreSprite project or Aseprite. The project's own site is libresprite.github.io. Contact: hello@libresprite.dev

## Key facts (checked 2026-11-01)

- Latest release: LibreSprite 1.3 (2026-10-02), tag v1.3, commit cdb12a3. Upstream master 98f7443 (2026-10-29), 50 commits after v1.3.
- 8,703 GitHub stars, 612 forks. Licence GPL-2.0. Fork of Aseprite's last GPLv2 commit (03be4aa); Aseprite moved to a proprietary licence on 26 Aug 2016.
- v1.3 assets: libresprite-v1.3-linux-x86_64.AppImage, libresprite-v1.3-macos-arm64.dmg, libresprite-v1.3-macos-x86_64.dmg, libresprite-v1.3-windows-x86_64-installer.exe, libresprite-v1.3-windows-x86_64.zip. No Android APK and no web build in 1.3; the latest official APK is in v1.2 (pre-release, March 2025).
- Flathub (com.github.libresprite.LibreSprite): 144,285 installs; the listing says 1.1-dev, but it builds LibreSprite 1.2 (manifest checked; the app prints 1.2-dev).
- Settings file libresprite.ini: Windows %AppData%\LibreSprite\ (portable: next to the exe), macOS ~/Library/Application Support/LibreSprite/, Linux ~/.config/libresprite/ (or $XDG_CONFIG_HOME/libresprite/).
- 23 tools, 206 keyboard bindings in data/gui.xml, 38 bundled .gpl palettes. Scripting is JavaScript (not Aseprite's Lua API).
- No layer groups (opening an .aseprite file with groups turns their layers into top-level layers, after a warning), no tilemap layers, no slices, no gradient tool.
- Tested 2026-11-01: pen pressure scales brush size on Linux (virtual uinput pen, 'Tablet support: OK'); bug: after using the pen, the mouse keeps the last pen pressure, so mouse strokes come out at minimum size.
- Tested: opening an .aseprite file with a hidden layer group makes that group's layers visible in LibreSprite 1.3 (group visibility, opacity and blend mode are lost).
- Tested: the official v1.2 Android APK installs and runs on Android 14 (tablet) and Android 11 (phone) emulators, shows 1.2-dev, works by touch (menus, OK buttons, Pencil strokes); Share... is enabled on Android, greyed out on desktop.
- Tested: Pixelorama 1.2.3 opens LibreSprite .ase files with layers, frames, tags and palette; Piskel cannot open .ase and imports a GIF's frames at one FPS (per-frame durations lost).
- Tested: Aseprite 1.3.18.6 compiles with build.sh --auto on Ubuntu 24.04, macOS 15 and Windows Server 2025 (inside a Visual Studio developer shell); reports 1.3.18.6-dev. Personal builds only; redistribution is not allowed by its EULA.
- Tested: in Sprite > Sprite Size, Bilinear gives exactly the same pixels as Nearest-neighbor at whole-number ratios (e.g. 1/8) and a smoother result at other ratios.

## Start

- [Home](https://libresprite.dev/): LibreSprite is a free, open-source sprite editor and pixel art animation tool. Download it safely, learn it fast, and fix problems: tested guides for 1.3.
- [Android, iPad & Chromebook](https://libresprite.dev/android/): Is LibreSprite on Android or iPad? The official APK, inspected and run on Android 14 and 11, installing past Play Protect, known bugs, Chromebook and iPad.
- [Download](https://libresprite.dev/download/): Download LibreSprite 1.3 from the official source only. Pick the right file for your system, check its SHA-256, and avoid unofficial download sites.
- [Install on Linux](https://libresprite.dev/install/linux/): Install LibreSprite on Linux: the 1.3 AppImage, Flatpak, and packages we tested on Arch, Fedora, openSUSE, Void and Alpine, plus Ubuntu and Debian.
- [Install on Mac](https://libresprite.dev/install/mac/): Install LibreSprite 1.3 on macOS, Apple Silicon or Intel, and fix the “Not Opened” / “is damaged and can’t be opened” message. Tested on macOS 15.
- [Install on Windows](https://libresprite.dev/install/windows/): Install LibreSprite 1.3 on Windows with the installer or the portable zip, including Windows on Arm. Tested on Windows Server 2025 and Windows 11 Arm64.
- [LibreSprite online](https://libresprite.dev/online/): Can you use LibreSprite in a browser? We tested the official web build: what works, how to save your work before it disappears, and online alternatives.

## Site

- [About](https://libresprite.dev/about/): Who runs libresprite.dev, how we test LibreSprite on Linux, Windows and macOS, where our facts come from, and how to send corrections.
- [Contact](https://libresprite.dev/contact/): Send corrections, questions or feedback about libresprite.dev by email. For LibreSprite bugs, use the project's GitHub issue tracker.
- [Disclaimer](https://libresprite.dev/disclaimer/): libresprite.dev is an independent guide, not the LibreSprite project, and not affiliated with Aseprite or Igara Studio. Trademarks and accuracy notes.
- [Privacy](https://libresprite.dev/privacy/): libresprite.dev measures visits with Google Analytics (sets cookies) and Cloudflare Web Analytics (cookieless). What they collect and how to opt out.
- [Terms](https://libresprite.dev/terms/): Terms for using libresprite.dev: information provided as is, how you may reuse our text and images, and links to LibreSprite downloads.

## Compare

- [Best free pixel art software](https://libresprite.dev/best-free-pixel-art-software/): LibreSprite, Pixelorama, Piskel, GrafX2, Krita and GIMP compared for pixel art and animation: features, platforms, licences, and which free editor to pick.
- [Is Aseprite free?](https://libresprite.dev/is-aseprite-free/): Aseprite costs $19.99 once, but its EULA lets you compile it free for yourself. We read the licence, compiled it, and list the free alternatives.
- [LibreSprite vs Aseprite](https://libresprite.dev/libresprite-vs-aseprite/): LibreSprite 1.3 vs Aseprite 1.3: shared history, feature differences, opening .aseprite files (tested), scripts, shortcuts, price and licence.
- [LibreSprite vs Piskel](https://libresprite.dev/libresprite-vs-piskel/): LibreSprite 1.3 vs Piskel, tested: tools, layers, frame timing, import and export, files, and when the free browser editor is enough.
- [LibreSprite vs Pixelorama](https://libresprite.dev/libresprite-vs-pixelorama/): LibreSprite 1.3 vs Pixelorama 1.2.3, both run on Linux and in the browser: features, .ase files, effects, export, scripting and which free editor to pick.
- [Review](https://libresprite.dev/review/): Our LibreSprite 1.3 review after testing it on Windows, macOS and Linux: what it does well, where it falls short, the bugs we hit, and who should use it.

## Help

- [Build from source](https://libresprite.dev/build-from-source/): Compile LibreSprite yourself on Ubuntu, Windows (MSYS2 UCRT64) and macOS (Homebrew). We built it on all three: exact commands, times, and the CMake 4.1 trap.
- [Community](https://libresprite.dev/community/): Where the LibreSprite community meets (Discord, Matrix, GitHub), how to report bugs, contribute code or translations, donate, and the Dotto and Besprited forks.
- [FAQ](https://libresprite.dev/faq/): Short, tested answers to the most-asked LibreSprite questions: is it free and safe, download and install, layers, animation, export, files, themes and scripts.
- [Is it safe?](https://libresprite.dev/is-libresprite-safe/): Is LibreSprite safe or a virus? What we checked in the 1.3 downloads (hashes, Defender, code signatures), why Windows and macOS warn, and which sites to avoid.
- [Releases](https://libresprite.dev/releases/): Every LibreSprite release in plain words: what changed in 1.3, 1.2, 1.1 and 1.0, what is coming on master, how to update, and Dotto and Besprited explained.
- [Troubleshooting](https://libresprite.dev/troubleshooting/): LibreSprite won’t open, says “damaged”, can’t load a BMP, lags or has a huge interface? Exact error messages, their causes and tested fixes for 1.3.

## Docs

- [Documentation](https://libresprite.dev/docs/): The complete LibreSprite 1.3 manual: getting started, tools, layers, animation, palettes, export, shortcuts, scripting and the command line.
- [Animation](https://libresprite.dev/docs/animation/): Animate in LibreSprite 1.3: add frames, use the timeline and onion skin, set frame duration and FPS, play loops and use tags for several animations.
- [Canvas & selection](https://libresprite.dev/docs/canvas-and-selection/): Sprite Size vs Canvas Size, crop and trim, rotate and flip, selections, transforming with RotSprite, copy and paste, and centring art in LibreSprite 1.3.
- [Command line](https://libresprite.dev/docs/cli/): LibreSprite 1.3 command line with a CLI Builder: batch-export GIFs, PNGs and sprite sheets with JSON, scale, split layers, run scripts. Every option tested.
- [Drawing tablets](https://libresprite.dev/docs/drawing-tablet/): How LibreSprite 1.3 supports drawing tablets: pen pressure scales brush size, setup per system, known tablet issues and fixes, and pixel-art tips.
- [Export & import](https://libresprite.dev/docs/export/): How to export from LibreSprite 1.3: PNG and numbered frames, animated GIF, sprite sheets with JSON for game engines, scaling, and importing images and sheets.
- [File formats](https://libresprite.dev/docs/file-formats/): Every format LibreSprite 1.3 opens and saves, tested: .ase/.aseprite, GIF, PNG, WebP, QOI, BMP, TGA, ICO, PCX, FLC and palettes, plus converting ASE to PNG.
- [Getting started](https://libresprite.dev/docs/getting-started/): Learn LibreSprite in 15 minutes: create a sprite, pick a palette, draw pixel-perfect lines, add layers and frames, use onion skin and export a GIF.
- [The interface](https://libresprite.dev/docs/interface/): A labelled tour of the LibreSprite 1.3 window: menus, tabs, tool options, colour bar, canvas, toolbar, timeline, preview window, status bar and Tiled Mode.
- [Layers](https://libresprite.dev/docs/layers/): How layers work in LibreSprite 1.3: add, rename, reorder, hide and lock layers, blend modes, background layers, merging, linked cels, and layer groups.
- [MCP server (AI)](https://libresprite.dev/docs/mcp-server/): LibreSprite's development branch has an MCP server so AI assistants can inspect and edit sprites. We built and tested it: setup, all 11 tools, security notes.
- [Menu reference](https://libresprite.dev/docs/menus/): All LibreSprite 1.3 menus, File to Help, item by item: what each command does and its shortcut, generated from the app's own gui.xml.
- [Palettes & colour](https://libresprite.dev/docs/palettes-and-color/): Load built-in or Lospec palettes, edit and sort colours, replace a colour, shift hues, switch to indexed mode and dither in LibreSprite 1.3. Tested.
- [Preferences](https://libresprite.dev/docs/preferences/): Every LibreSprite 1.3 Preferences tab explained, how to fix UI scaling, change the language, find, back up and reset your settings on each system.
- [Scripting](https://libresprite.dev/docs/scripting/): Write and run JavaScript scripts in LibreSprite 1.3: the Scripts folder, console, events, dialogs, batch mode, safety notes, and tested scripts to download.
- [Scripting API](https://libresprite.dev/docs/scripting/api/): Every object, property and method in the LibreSprite 1.3 JavaScript API: app, sprite, layers, cels, images, palettes, dialogs, storage and timers.
- [Themes](https://libresprite.dev/docs/themes/): The two built-in LibreSprite themes, where to put community themes on Windows, macOS and Linux, switching and removing them safely, and making your own.
- [Tools](https://libresprite.dev/docs/tools/): All 23 LibreSprite tools explained: pencil, pixel-perfect, brushes, eraser, bucket, shapes, selection, symmetry, inks and shading, with their keys in 1.3.
- [Keyboard shortcuts](https://libresprite.dev/shortcuts/): All 206 LibreSprite 1.3 keyboard shortcuts from its own gui.xml: live keyboard map, searchable list, Mac keys, Aseprite differences and a printable sheet.

## Guides & tools

- [Guides](https://libresprite.dev/guides/): Practical LibreSprite guides: your first character, image to pixel art, outlines, tilesets, walk and idle animations, sprite sheets for Godot and Unity.
- [Your first character](https://libresprite.dev/guides/first-pixel-art-character/): Draw a 32×32 pixel art character in LibreSprite 1.3: canvas and palette, silhouette, flat colours and outline, shading, then details and selective outline.
- [Gradients & dithering](https://libresprite.dev/guides/gradients-and-dithering/): LibreSprite has no gradient tool. Make colour ramps with the palette's Gradient command, dither by hand or with a pattern brush, shade with the Shading ink.
- [Idle animation](https://libresprite.dev/guides/idle-animation/): Make a 4-frame idle (breathing) animation in LibreSprite 1.3: the 1-pixel bob, head moving a frame after the body, timing, onion skin and GIF export.
- [Image to pixel art](https://libresprite.dev/guides/image-to-pixel-art/): Convert a photo or drawing to pixel art in LibreSprite 1.3: Sprite Size, Bilinear vs nearest, a 16-colour palette, Indexed mode with and without dither.
- [Outline a sprite](https://libresprite.dev/guides/outline/): LibreSprite has no outline button. Outline a sprite by hand, with a selection trick, or in one click with our tested outline script for every frame.
- [Pixel art canvas size](https://libresprite.dev/guides/pixel-art-canvas-size/): What size to make pixel art: 16×16, 32×32 or 64×64 sprites, game resolutions that scale cleanly to 1080p and 4K (calculator), and LibreSprite setup.
- [Reference image](https://libresprite.dev/guides/reference-image/): LibreSprite has no reference layer, but a locked, faded layer does the job: import a reference image, scale it, lower its opacity and keep it out of exports.
- [Sprite sheets for Godot](https://libresprite.dev/guides/sprite-sheets-for-godot/): Export a sprite sheet from LibreSprite 1.3 and animate it in Godot 4 with AnimatedSprite2D or Sprite2D + AnimationPlayer, with crisp pixels and correct timing.
- [Sprite sheets for Unity](https://libresprite.dev/guides/sprite-sheets-for-unity/): Export a sprite sheet from LibreSprite 1.3 and use it in Unity: Point filtering, slicing by cell size, animation clips and pixel-perfect settings.
- [Add text](https://libresprite.dev/guides/text/): How to add text in LibreSprite 1.3: the Insert Text dialog, choosing system or downloaded fonts, turning off anti-aliasing for crisp pixels, and editing text.
- [Make a tileset](https://libresprite.dev/guides/tileset/): LibreSprite has no tilemap layers, but Tiled Mode and the grid make seamless tiles and tilesets. Step by step, plus exporting for Tiled, Godot and Unity.
- [Transparent background](https://libresprite.dev/guides/transparent-background/): Make a transparent background in LibreSprite 1.3: start transparent, convert a Background layer, remove a white background, and export PNGs that stay clear.
- [Walk cycle](https://libresprite.dev/guides/walk-cycle/): Animate a 4-frame pixel art walk cycle in LibreSprite 1.3: contact and passing poses, the 1-pixel bob, onion skin, timing in milliseconds, and export.
- [ASE file viewer](https://libresprite.dev/tools/ase-viewer/): Open .ase and .aseprite files in your browser: see layers, frames, tags and tilemaps, play the animation, and export PNG, GIF or a sprite sheet.
- [Palette browser](https://libresprite.dev/tools/palettes/): Browse the 38 colour palettes that ship with LibreSprite (NES, Game Boy, PICO-8, DB32, AAP-64…), preview them on a sprite, and download .gpl, .pal, PNG or hex.
- [Pixel art upscaler](https://libresprite.dev/tools/pixel-art-upscaler/): Upscale pixel art 2×–16× with crisp nearest-neighbour scaling in your browser, undo blurry pre-scaled art, and fix blur in Godot, Unity, GameMaker and CSS.
- [Sprite sheet maker](https://libresprite.dev/tools/sprite-sheet/): Make a sprite sheet from PNG frames or a GIF, cut a sheet into frames, preview it and export GIF, ZIP or LibreSprite-style JSON, all in your browser.