Spectrum Experimental Image Editor — SEIE

Create authentic ZX Spectrum graphics, vector scenes and complete visual narratives

Spectrum Experimental Image Editor, or SEIE, is a graphics editor created specifically around the visual and technical characteristics of the ZX Spectrum.

SEIE combines direct bitmap editing, image conversion, attribute control, advanced selections, reusable references, multi-document projects and a command-based Vector Mode inside a single application.

It can be used to create individual loading screens and illustrations, but it can also assemble complete linear graphic novels and visual presentations and export them directly as TAP or SNA files for the ZX Spectrum.

The editor works with a real logical 256 × 192 ZX Spectrum display, including:

• The original Spectrum bitmap structure
• 8 × 8 attribute cells
• INK and PAPER
• BRIGHT and FLASH
• Colour clash
• Pixel-perfect editing
• Spectrum-compatible dithering
• Original screen limitations

SEIE is intended for pixel artists, loading-screen creators, graphic-adventure authors, visual storytellers, retro developers and anyone interested in producing new graphics and visual experiences for the ZX Spectrum.

Available editions

Free browser version

The browser version of SEIE can be used completely free of charge.

It provides direct access to the editor without requiring the purchase of a licence or a subscription.

The free browser version allows users to experiment with SEIE, create artwork and explore its bitmap, vector and project-oriented workflows.

Standalone offline version — €5

A downloadable standalone version of SEIE is available for users who prefer to run the application locally and work without an internet connection.

The standalone edition is currently available for €10.

Purchasing it provides:

• A downloadable offline version of SEIE
• Local use without depending on the browser version
• The complete editable Project Serpo source project
• The reference images used to create the Project Serpo technical demo
• A practical example of a finished multi-scene SEIE project
• Direct support for the continued development of the application

The included Project Serpo source is supplied as an editable SEIE project file in .json format.

It can be opened inside SEIE, studied, modified and used as a practical reference for understanding how a complete visual narrative is organised.

The project is already prepared for export and can be generated as a TAP or SNA file. Users can also replace its artwork, edit its scenes, change its text, modify its presentation and ending screens or use its structure as the starting point for a new project.

Project Serpo — SEIE Vectorial Technical Demo

Project Serpo is a linear graphic novel created as a technical demonstration of SEIE Vectorial and its multi-scene project system. It can be downloaded here.

It demonstrates one of SEIE’s most important current capabilities: creating a complete visual narrative and exporting the final result directly as a ZX Spectrum TAP or SNA project, without requiring an external game engine.

Project Serpo is inspired by the controversial story of an alleged exchange programme between humans and an extraterrestrial civilisation.

In 1965, twelve humans leave Earth on a secret mission. Thirteen years later, only eight return.

Through a sequence of illustrated scenes, the story follows the team’s journey, their arrival on another world, their first contact with the Ebens, the technology they encounter, the losses suffered during the mission and the eventual return of the survivors.

The technical demo includes:

• A project presentation screen
• Credits
• An ordered sequence of illustrated scenes
• Vector graphics created with SEIE
• Scene titles and narrative descriptions
• Custom Spectrum text
• Forward and backward navigation
• Reusable and mirrored graphic information
• A final project screen
• A self-contained ZX Spectrum package

Project Serpo is a linear visual narrative.

It is not a traditional game and does not contain:

• Branching paths
• Dialogue choices
• Puzzles
• Alternative endings
• Interactive story decisions

The reader moves forwards or backwards through a predetermined sequence of scenes.

Its purpose is to demonstrate that SEIE can already be used as a complete authoring environment for:

• Graphic novels
• Linear visual novels
• Illustrated stories
• Visual documentaries
• Historical presentations
• Science-fiction narratives
• Art portfolios
• Scene-based demonstrations

Project Serpo shows a real use case for SEIE Vectorial beyond creating isolated images.

The complete narrative was designed, organised and exported using SEIE as a Spectrum project ready to be loaded in an emulator or compatible original hardware.

Complete Project Serpo source included

The standalone edition includes the complete editable Project Serpo source project, not only the finished TAP or SNA demonstration.

The included package contains:

• The complete SEIE .json project
• All project scenes
• Vector documents
• Bitmap documents where applicable
• Scene order and project structure
• Presentation-screen configuration
• Ending-screen configuration
• Scene titles and descriptions
• Custom project text
• Reference images used during the creation process
• Export configuration prepared for TAP and SNA generation

This allows users to inspect how a real multi-scene SEIE project has been constructed.

The source project can be used to:

• Learn how SEIE projects are organised
• Examine vector commands and fills
• Study the use of references and mirrored graphics
• Understand scene ordering
• Review the presentation and ending configuration
• Edit the original narrative
• Replace scenes with new artwork
• Change titles and descriptions
• Experiment with the export settings
• Generate a new TAP or SNA
• Use the project as a template for a new graphic novel

Project Serpo therefore acts both as a technical demonstration and as a complete practical learning resource for the standalone edition.

More than an image converter

SEIE can import and convert regular images, but automatic image conversion is only the beginning of the workflow.

Once an image has been imported, the result remains editable.

Artists can continue working manually to:

• Repair silhouettes
• Redraw outlines
• Improve faces and small details
• Recover thin lines
• Remove unwanted noise
• Adjust dithering
• Replace colours
• Correct attribute clashes
• Simplify complex regions
• Reconstruct missing details
• Adapt the artwork to the Spectrum display

The original image can remain visible as a movable reference while the Spectrum version is being edited.

SEIE is designed to give the artist control over the final result rather than treating image conversion as a one-click process.

Two complementary editing environments

SEIE includes two main editing environments:

• Graphic Mode, for direct bitmap and attribute editing
• Vector Mode, for command-based graphics reconstructed by a Spectrum runtime

Bitmap and vector documents can coexist inside the same project.

Graphic Mode

Graphic Mode provides direct control over the ZX Spectrum bitmap and its colour attributes.

Drawing and retouching tools

Available tools include:

• Pixel
• Smooth Stroke
• Dither
• Rubber
• Art Brush
• Spray
• Bucket Fill
• Line Shape
• Circular Line
• Circle
• Square
• Invert
• Colour
• Bright
• Flash
• Eyedropper
• Text
• Opacity Shape
• Canvas navigation

Brushes support different sizes, patterns, densities, noise levels and drawing behaviours.

Dithering can use:

• Predefined densities
• Manual percentages
• Different pattern phases
• Irregular noise
• Spatial pattern maps
• Custom pattern configurations

ZX Spectrum attribute editing

Every 8 × 8 attribute cell can be edited using:

• INK
• PAPER
• BRIGHT
• FLASH

Dedicated views make it easier to inspect:

• Bitmap pixels
• Attribute cells
• INK and PAPER combinations
• Bright colours
• Flashing cells
• Colour-clash areas

Colour tools can paint complete attributes or replace matching colour combinations.

The eyedropper can sample individual pixels or complete attribute configurations directly from the canvas.

Advanced selections

Selections remain editable until they are confirmed.

Available selection types include:

• Rectangular selection
• Circular selection
• Polygonal selection
• Automatic object selection
• Connected-area selection

Selected content can be:

• Moved
• Scaled
• Rotated
• Warped using four corner handles
• Mirrored horizontally
• Mirrored vertically
• Recoloured
• Modified with visual effects
• Copied between documents
• Converted into an opacity layer
• Saved for later reuse

Selections can contain:

• Pixels
• Attribute information
• Pixels and attributes together

Text tools

SEIE includes a pixel-based text system with support for:

• Multiple fonts
• Custom character spacing
• Scaling
• Rotation
• Perspective
• 3D angle
• Hollow text
• Borders
• Adjustable border thickness
• Dithered fills
• Dithered borders
• Spectrum colour attributes

Text is created as a temporary editable selection.

It can be positioned, transformed and previewed before being permanently added to the image.

Pattern maps

Pattern maps allow drawing and dithering patterns to vary across different areas of the screen.

Influence points can be:

• Circular
• Directional
• Positioned manually
• Generated automatically
• Mirrored
• Inverted
• Saved as presets
• Reused in other documents

This makes it possible to create more organic shading while retaining controlled Spectrum-compatible patterns.

Opacity layers

Opacity layers provide reusable masks that remain separate from the main image.

They can be:

• Created from selections
• Enabled or disabled
• Renamed
• Inverted
• Reused while drawing
• Applied to different tools and effects

Vector Mode

Vector Mode is a command-based graphics environment designed to create scenes that can be reconstructed by a ZX Spectrum runtime.

Instead of storing every scene exclusively as a complete bitmap, compatible artwork can be represented using compact commands for:

• Drawing
• Erasing
• Filling
• Colour attributes
• Bright attributes
• Flash attributes
• Mirroring
• Reusing existing graphic information

Vector Mode is an editor-driven environment.

Scenes are constructed and refined manually using explicit commands, giving the artist direct control over their visual structure, approximate data size and drawing behaviour.

Vector drawing tools

Available Vector Mode tools include:

• Canvas and inspection mode
• Select and Edit
• Line Shape
• Circle
• Fill
• Colour
• Bright
• Flash

Vector elements can be selected directly from the canvas or from the command list.

Lines and circles can be:

• Moved
• Reshaped using editable handles
• Changed between drawing and erasing modes
• Used as visible boundaries
• Used as invisible boundaries
• Reordered
• Deleted

Fill regions can be selected through the area they affect and edited independently.

Undo and Redo support vector additions, deletions, movements and attribute changes.

Vector fills and boundaries

Fill commands operate inside regions enclosed by vector boundaries.

Available fill behaviours include:

• Solid fill
• 25% dithering
• 50% checker dithering
• 75% dithering
• Boundary-based region separation

Invisible boundaries can control fills without drawing an unwanted visible line in the final scene.

They are useful for:

• Preventing fill leaks
• Dividing complex regions
• Separating nearby areas
• Creating hidden internal structures
• Controlling large background fills

Vector colour attributes

Vector scenes retain ZX Spectrum attribute information.

INK, PAPER, BRIGHT and FLASH can be painted directly using an adjustable 8 × 8 attribute brush.

Colour Replace mode can substitute matching INK or PAPER values across the affected cells.

The editor can display different aspects of the scene separately, including:

• Final Spectrum colours
• Vector commands
• Line structures
• Fill regions
• Colour attributes
• Filtered vector layers

Vector Work Areas

A Vector Work Area restricts editing and output to a selected portion of the 256 × 192 screen.

Work Areas support:

• Editable X and Y positions
• Editable width and height
• Direct canvas handles
• Moving the complete area
• 8 × 8 snapping
• Clipping
• Dimming outside the active region
• Reusable presets
• Optional external frames
• Local vector coordinates

Work Areas are useful for:

• Dialogue panels
• Character portraits
• Interface areas
• Scene windows
• Partial-screen illustrations
• Repeated layouts
• Game graphics occupying only part of the display

Reference documents

Vector documents can use another open project document as a graphic reference.

This allows projects to be organised around reusable source scenes, common backgrounds or repeated visual elements.

Reference documents can remain linked or be detached using Make Independent and Editable.

Where compatible, linked information can be reused during Spectrum export instead of duplicating the same graphic data.

Mirroring

Compatible vector graphics can be mirrored horizontally or vertically.

Mirroring can use:

• The complete screen
• A directional source region
• A selected Work Area
• Geometry only
• Geometry together with colour attributes

Colours can remain linked to the source or be customised independently.

This makes it possible to create symmetrical scenes and visual variations while using very little additional project data.

Spectrum-style drawing simulation

Vector scenes can be progressively reconstructed inside the editor to simulate their approximate drawing behaviour on a ZX Spectrum.

SEIE also displays estimated command counts and data sizes, helping artists balance:

• Visual complexity
• Vector stream size
• Available memory
• Fill usage
• Repeated information
• Approximate drawing time

Image import and conversion

SEIE includes a complete image-import workspace rather than a simple conversion dialog.

Images can be imported as movable elements or adapted as full-screen backgrounds.

Available controls include:

• Scale
• Rotation
• Position
• Horizontal mirroring
• Vertical mirroring
• Stretch fitting
• Proportional fitting
• Brightness
• Contrast
• Saturation
• Colour levels
• Simplification
• Noise
• Checker dithering
• Dither density
• Colour-clash optimisation
• Edge enhancement
• Directional edge control
• Edge smoothing
• Outline preservation
• Thin-line preservation
• Thin-line recovery
• Pixel cleanup
• Pixel edge snapping
• Diagonal assistance
• Corner bevel
• Pattern 88 processing
• Automatic colour limits
• Manual colour limits
• Colour-replacement rules

Processing effects can be reordered, allowing different conversion pipelines to be tested.

Import configurations can be saved as presets and reused later.

Local light and shadow influence points can also be positioned directly over the import preview.

Supported workflows include:

• Common raster image formats
• SVG graphics
• Native ZX Spectrum .SCR screens

Reference images

Every document can maintain its own visual reference image.

Reference images can be:

• Shown or hidden
• Moved
• Scaled
• Automatically fitted
• Stretched to the canvas
• Locked to prevent accidental editing
• Inverted
• Displayed with adjustable opacity
• Temporarily revealed at full opacity
• Temporarily hidden

The reference remains separate from the Spectrum artwork until it is explicitly imported or used as a source for the image-conversion workflow.

Reference images can also be stored inside a project, allowing the original source material to remain available when the project is reopened and edited later.

This is demonstrated by the complete Project Serpo source included with the standalone edition.

Multi-document projects

SEIE projects can contain multiple bitmap and vector documents in separate tabs.

Documents can be:

• Created
• Loaded
• Duplicated
• Cleared
• Closed
• Saved individually
• Reordered
• Copied between projects
• Merged from another project
• Used as references by other documents

Project files preserve the complete editable workspace, including:

• Document contents
• Spectrum attributes
• Vector commands
• Reference images
• Work Areas
• Selections
• Pattern maps
• Opacity layers
• Scene order
• Scene text
• Presentation settings
• Ending-screen settings

A complete project can therefore be saved, reopened, modified and exported again without losing its original structure or reference material.

Project Center

The Project Center turns a collection of documents into an organised ZX Spectrum presentation or linear visual experience.

It allows authors to:

• Choose which documents will be included
• Exclude unfinished or auxiliary documents
• Drag scenes into the desired playback order
• Set the project name
• Add a project description
• Design a presentation screen
• Design a final project screen
• Add an image area to the presentation or ending
• Configure INK and PAPER colours
• Add individual scene titles
• Add individual scene descriptions
• Position text using character-based layout areas
• Load a custom Spectrum UDG font
• Preview the presentation screen
• Preview the ending screen
• Configure the complete scene sequence

This means SEIE can already be used to create complete graphic novels and visual narratives without requiring a separate game engine.

An author can prepare the illustrations, organise the scenes, add the text, configure the presentation and ending screens and export the complete project directly from SEIE.

Create graphic novels directly as TAP or SNA files

One of SEIE’s most distinctive current features is its ability to create complete linear visual narratives and export them directly to ZX Spectrum formats.

Using the Project Center and Export Center, authors can:

• Arrange multiple scenes in a specific order
• Combine vector and bitmap documents
• Add a presentation screen
• Add scene titles and descriptions
• Use custom UDG fonts
• Create a final screen
• Provide forward and backward navigation
• Export the finished project directly as TAP or SNA

No external visual-novel engine is required.

No external game engine is required.

No additional programming is required for the basic linear presentation workflow.

The resulting file is a complete Spectrum project that can be loaded in an emulator or compatible original hardware.

This makes SEIE suitable for creating:

• Graphic novels
• Linear visual novels
• Illustrated short stories
• Historical narratives
• Science-fiction stories
• Educational presentations
• Visual reports
• Art exhibitions
• Graphic documentaries
• Scene-based demonstrations

Project Serpo is the first complete technical demonstration of this workflow.

Users of the standalone edition can also open its original source project, examine how it was created and export it again as TAP or SNA.

Export Center

The Export Center analyses the selected project documents before generating a Spectrum package.

Available targets include:

• 48K compatible
• 128K optimised — experimental

The report can display information such as:

• Included document count
• Vector scene count
• Bitmap scene count
• Vector stream size
• Bitmap payload size
• Runtime requirements
• Loader size
• Scene-table size
• Estimated package size
• 128K memory-bank usage
• Remaining bank capacity
• Export warnings
• Export blockers

Warnings can be copied as a detailed technical report.

Compatible vector scenes are preserved as vector information.

Scenes that require bitmap storage can remain available as bitmap scenes inside the same exported project.

Linked references are validated before export to prevent missing dependencies or incorrect output.

Export formats

SEIE can export:

• Native ZX Spectrum .SCR
• .PNG
• .JPG
• Reference images
• Multi-scene .TAP
• Multi-scene .SNA

TAP and SNA projects can include:

• A presentation screen
• An ordered sequence of scenes
• Scene titles
• Scene descriptions
• Custom UDG text
• A final screen
• Keyboard navigation
• A native vector drawing runtime
• Bitmap scenes where necessary
• Spectrum colour attributes
• Vector fills
• Mirrored graphics
• Reused project resources

Generated presentations can provide controls for moving forwards and backwards through the complete scene sequence.

Road to the Future

SEIE will continue expanding both as an artistic tool and as a practical graphics-production environment for ZX Spectrum developers.

One of the main long-term goals is to allow SEIE Vectorial artwork to be exported as reusable graphic data for external games and applications.

At present, SEIE’s vector system is primarily used inside projects exported by the application itself.

In the future, the objective is to allow programmers to design graphics visually in SEIE and then import the resulting vector data into their own engines and software.

Possible future development directions include:

• Exporting vector scenes as reusable graphic assets
• Generating documented vector data streams
• Exporting drawing commands independently
• Exporting fill commands independently
• Exporting attribute information independently
• Allowing graphics to be imported into custom Z80 projects
• Providing programmer-oriented export formats
• Creating reusable characters and objects
• Creating reusable backgrounds
• Exporting interface elements
• Supporting game-specific Work Areas
• Improving partial-screen graphic export
• Improving vector data compression
• Improving runtime drawing speed
• Improving memory allocation
• Expanding 48K support
• Expanding 128K memory-bank support
• Reusing repeated graphic elements
• Reusing mirrored graphic elements
• Providing greater control over data placement
• Providing greater control over exported routines

The objective is not only to generate complete SEIE presentations.

The long-term goal is for SEIE to become a dedicated visual authoring tool whose graphics can be integrated into games, graphic adventures and other ZX Spectrum programs.

A developer could create and refine artwork visually inside SEIE, export the resulting commands and integrate them into a separate project without having to recreate the same graphics manually as Z80 drawing data.

This programmer-oriented export workflow is a future objective and is not yet available as a completed feature.

What is already possible today

Although reusable vector export for external game engines remains a future goal, SEIE can already create and export complete linear graphic novels and visual experiences.

The current version can already:

• Create multi-scene projects
• Combine bitmap and vector scenes
• Add narrative text
• Use custom UDG fonts
• Design introduction and ending screens
• Organise the complete scene order
• Add forward and backward navigation
• Analyse project memory usage
• Export the final result directly as TAP or SNA

This is not a theoretical future possibility.

It is a feature available in the application today and demonstrated through Project Serpo.

The standalone edition also provides Project Serpo as an editable source project, allowing users to study a complete example instead of starting from an empty project.

The future of SEIE therefore follows two complementary paths:

1. Making it easier for artists and authors to create complete visual narratives directly as TAP and SNA files.
2. Developing SEIE Vectorial into a graphics exporter for programmers who want to integrate its artwork into their own games and software.

SEIE aims to become a bridge between visual creation and real ZX Spectrum development.

Tutorials and documentation

The author plans to create and publish tutorials explaining the main SEIE workflows.

These tutorials will progressively cover subjects such as:

• Getting started with the editor
• Importing and adapting images
• Correcting colour clash
• Working with Spectrum attributes
• Using advanced selections
• Creating and transforming text
• Working with patterns and opacity layers
• Creating vector lines and fills
• Using visible and invisible boundaries
• Organising vector commands
• Reusing and mirroring graphic information
• Creating multi-scene projects
• Designing presentation and ending screens
• Creating graphic novels
• Exporting TAP and SNA files
• Understanding export reports
• Optimising projects for 48K and 128K machines
• Opening and studying the included Project Serpo source
• Using Project Serpo as the basis for a new visual narrative

The objective is to make SEIE easier to learn for both new users and experienced Spectrum creators.

Documentation and tutorial material will continue growing alongside the application.

Additional workflow features

SEIE also includes:

• Zoom levels up to 3000%
• Fine zoom control
• Canvas panning
• Pixel grids
• Attribute grids
• Custom grid colours
• Undo and Redo
• Recent documents
• Contextual mouse help
• Contextual keyboard help
• Tool-specific cursors
• Live previews
• A built-in Quick Start guide
• An integrated Help system
• A development log
• Touch-safe alternatives for controls that normally use the middle mouse button

Pattern 88

Pattern 88 remains available as an experimental image-processing mode.

It generates a pattern-based interpretation of the current artwork and allows the intensity of the effect to be adjusted before applying the result to a new editable document.

Experimental previews never modify the active document until they are explicitly applied.

Who is SEIE for?

SEIE may be useful for:

• ZX Spectrum loading-screen artists
• Pixel artists
• Retro game developers
• Graphic-adventure creators
• Graphic-novel authors
• Linear visual-novel authors
• Demo and presentation creators
• Developers exploring procedural Spectrum graphics
• Artists adapting illustrations or photographs
• Creators interested in colour clash
• Creators interested in attribute graphics
• Anyone interested in producing new content for original ZX Spectrum hardware

No knowledge of Z80 assembly is required to create graphics or assemble a linear visual project.

The vector and export tools also provide technical information for advanced users who want to optimise memory usage, command complexity and runtime performance.

Development status

SEIE is an actively evolving experimental project.

Some advanced features—especially 128K packaging, vector runtime optimisation, project memory management and semantic data reuse—are still under development and may change between versions.

The experimental automatic bitmap-to-vector conversion tool is currently disabled because its results do not yet meet the visual standards expected for the application.

Vector scenes can still be created and edited manually using the complete SEIE Vectorial toolset.

Saving the editable project before generating a final export is strongly recommended.

TAP and SNA builds should also be tested using the intended emulator or original hardware environment.

Feedback is especially welcome from the ZX Spectrum, retro-development, pixel-art, loading-screen, graphic-novel and graphic-adventure communities.

AI disclosure

SEIE does not use artificial intelligence to generate images, artwork or project content.

AI assistance has been used during the development of parts of the application code, and some branding or promotional material may have been created with generative tools.

All image editing, drawing, conversion and export operations inside SEIE are deterministic tools controlled by the user.

SEIE is an editor for artists—not an AI image generator.

Please support SEIE’s development

SEIE is an independent project developed and maintained by a single author.

The browser application is offered free of charge so that Spectrum artists, developers and enthusiasts can access it without barriers.

However, creating new tools, improving the Spectrum runtimes, testing exports, fixing compatibility problems, writing documentation, producing tutorials and extending the project system all require a considerable amount of development time.

If SEIE is useful to you, please consider supporting the project by purchasing the €10 standalone offline version or making an optional contribution through itch.io.

The standalone edition also includes the complete editable Project Serpo source project, its reference images and a project configuration ready to study, modify and export as TAP or SNA.

Your support can help make possible:

• New Graphic Mode tools
• New Vector Mode commands
• Improved TAP and SNA exporters
• Better 48K and 128K optimisation
• Improved project memory management
• New graphic-novel features
• Better documentation
• New tutorials
• More technical demonstrations
• Programmer-oriented vector export formats
• Continued maintenance and bug fixes

Every purchase or contribution, regardless of its size, helps the author dedicate more time to SEIE and continue adding new features.

You can also support the project by:

• Sharing SEIE with other Spectrum users
• Publishing artwork created with the editor
• Testing TAP and SNA exports
• Reporting reproducible bugs
• Providing constructive feedback
• Mentioning SEIE in retro-development communities

The browser version remains free.

Supporting the project is optional, but it is greatly appreciated.

Thank you for helping SEIE continue growing and for supporting the creation of new tools for the ZX Spectrum community.