Tilemap Editor - Quick Start Guide
Time: 5 minutes | Level: ⭐ Beginner
Quick Index
Your First Map in 5 Minutes
⏱️ Step 1: Open the Editor (30 seconds)
- Launch PixelRoot32 Tool Suite from your applications menu
- Click Launch on the Tilemap Editor card
When starting without a project, you see the Welcome Screen with:
- Create New Project: Create a new project from scratch
- Open Existing Project: Open
.pr32sceneor.pr32scene.bin
⏱️ Step 2: Create Project (30 seconds)
- Click Create New Project
- Configure parameters:
| Field | Default |
|---|---|
| Name | "New Scene" |
| Tile Size | 8 px |
| Map Width | 40 tiles |
| Map Height | 30 tiles |
| Orientation | Landscape |
- Click Create Project
- Select an empty folder
💡 Tip: Use "Fit Map to Hardware Limit" to auto-fit to ESP32 screen (320×240).
⏱️ Step 3: Import Tileset (1 minute)
Method 1 - TILESET panel:
- In TILESET panel (left sidebar), click Import tileset
- Select PNG, JPG, or BMP image
- Auto-copied to
assets/tilesets/
Method 2 - File menu:
- File → Import Tileset
- Select image
📝 Recommended: PNG, multiples of tile size, up to 16 colors for 4bpp.
⏱️ Step 4: Paint Your First Map (2 minutes)
- Select Brush - Press B or click Brush tool
- Pick a tile - Click any tile in TILESET panel (cyan border)
- Paint - Click on canvas to place, drag to paint continuously
- Undo - Use Ctrl+Z if you make a mistake
🛠️ Basic Tools:
| Key | Tool | Use |
|---|---|---|
| B | Brush | Paint tiles |
| E | Eraser | Erase tiles |
| R | Rectangle | Draw rectangles |
| P | Pipette | Copy tile from canvas |
| A | Attribute | Assign attributes |
⏱️ Step 5: Save and Export (1 minute)
- Save project: Ctrl+S or File → Save
- Export to C++: Ctrl+E or File → Export to C++
🔒 Note: C++ export requires a valid license. Without license:
- Export button shows 🔒
- Upgrade dialog appears
- Other features remain available
Next Steps
Once you've completed your first map:
- Add more layers - Click + in LAYERS panel
- Create multiple scenes - Click + in SCENE panel
- Explore advanced features - See Advanced Guide
Keyboard Shortcuts
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Ctrl+Z | Undo |
| Ctrl+Y | Redo |
| Ctrl+S | Save |
| Ctrl+E | Export C++ |
| Space+Drag | Pan view |
| Ctrl+Wheel | Zoom |
| L | Toggle animation |
Related Guides
- Usage Guide - Essential features
- Advanced Guide - Advanced features
- [Technical Reference](/tools/tilemap-editor technical-reference) - Technical specs