Petmate
Petmate edits Commodore 64 PETSCII images in a cross-platform desktop app that runs locally on macOS, Windows, and Linux.
About Petmate
Petmate is a cross-platform C64 PETSCII image editor that runs locally on Mac, Windows, and Linux without requiring an internet connection. It supports standard character mode graphics with upper/lower case system ROM character sets and custom .64c charsets, with drawing, colorizing, brush, text, and pan/zoom tools, multiple screens with separate undo stacks, and native .petmate workspace files.
It imports and exports PNG and PETSCII .c files, exports .prg, .asm for KickAssembler, 64tass and ACME, and JSON, and imports Dir art .d64 files. PNG import requires a pixel-perfect match to the ROM charsets and specific image dimensions, and directory art editing is described as experimental.
Key features
- Edit Commodore 64 standard character mode PETSCII graphics
- Use upper/lower case ROM charsets and custom .64c charsets
- Draw, colorize, select brushes and use text and pan/zoom tools
- Maintain multiple screens with separate undo/redo stacks
- Save and load workspaces as native .petmate files
- Import and export PNG and .c; export .prg, .asm, JSON; import .d64
Best for: People creating or editing Commodore 64 PETSCII images on a local desktop computer.
Good for
- Runs locally on Mac, Windows, and Linux without requiring an internet connection
- Supports multiple import and export formats including PNG, .c, .prg, .asm, and JSON
- Includes keyboard shortcuts, grid toggle, pan/zoom, and configurable palettes
Watch out for
- PNG import looks for pixel-perfect matches and cannot import scaled images
- PNG import expects VICE dimensions of 320x200 borderless or 384x272 with border
- Directory art support is experimental and does not validate directory entries
Petmate at a glance
- Website
- nurpax.github.io/petmate
- Category
- Software & Utilities › Text Editors
- Type
- Website
- Pricing
- Not confirmed. Check the site
- Platforms
- Linux, macOS, Web, Windows
- Open source
- Not stated
- Language
- English
- Last checked
- Oct 5, 2026 · Online when checked
- Listed
- Oct 5, 2026
Guides for Text Editors
Popular in Text Editors
Well-known listings from the same topic.
Google Docsgoogle.com/docs/aboutProton Docsproton.me/drive/docsVertex42vertex42.comNotepad++notepad-plus-plus.orgLibreOfficelibreoffice.orgSublime Textsublimetext.com
Petmate FAQ
What file formats can Petmate import and export?
It imports and exports Bitmap .png and PETSCII .c, exports executable .prg, assembler .asm for KickAssembler, 64tass and ACME, and JSON, imports Dir art .d64, and saves/loads native .petmate workspace files.
What PNG files can be imported as PETSCII?
The importer matches pixel data against the C64 ROM upper and lower case fonts with no fuzzy matching, so scaled images cannot be imported. It expects 320x200 for borderless images or 384x272 for images with border.
How is directory art made with Petmate?
Create a 16xN screen, export it as a .json file, then use c1541js to patch it into a .d64 file that already contains an appropriate number of directory entries.
Is something wrong or out of date?
Tell us and an editor will check it.
Own this website?
Claim this listing
Claim the listing and suggest updates yourself. An editor checks every claim first.