Image to ASCII Art

Transform your images into stunning text-based ASCII art. Upload any image and watch it convert into characters - perfect for creative projects, social media, or nostalgic digital art.

Drop your image here

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PNG, JPG, ICO, SVG, WebP, GIF, AVIF, BMP supported
100% Client-Side: Your images are processed locally in your browser. Nothing is uploaded to our servers.
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How to Convert Image to ASCII Art

  1. Upload your image by dragging and dropping or clicking the upload area. Supports PNG, JPG, ICO, SVG, WebP, GIF, AVIF, and BMP.
  2. Adjust the Width setting to control how many characters wide your ASCII art will be. This determines the resolution of your output and the size of TXT/PNG files.
  3. Choose a Character Set - different sets create different visual effects and styles.
  4. Fine-tune Brightness and Contrast to optimize the output for your image.
  5. Select a Color Mode - classic monochrome, grayscale shades, or full color ASCII.
  6. Use Font Size to adjust preview display. Copy to clipboard, download as TXT for text use, or save as PNG image.

Character Sets Explained

Standard

Classic ASCII art characters with good balance of detail. Uses @%#*+=-:. and space. Best for most images and general use.

Detailed

Extended character set with 70+ characters for maximum detail and smooth gradients. Ideal for high-resolution output and photos.

Blocks

Uses Unicode block elements (█▓▒░) for a retro pixel-art look. Great for simple graphics and icons.

Simple

Minimal character set for bold, high-contrast results. Works well with logos and simple shapes.

Tips for Best Results

Use High-Contrast Images

Images with clear subjects and good contrast convert better to ASCII art than flat or low-contrast photos.

Adjust Width for Detail

More characters = more detail. Use 80-120 for social media, 150+ for detailed artwork. Width controls TXT/PNG file size.

Tweak Brightness

If your output is too dark or light, adjust brightness. Dark images often need +20-30% brightness.

Match Font to Use Case

Use monospace fonts when displaying ASCII art. The art is designed for fixed-width character spacing.

Frequently Asked Questions

ASCII art is a graphic design technique that uses printable characters from the ASCII standard to create images. It originated in the early days of computing when graphics capabilities were limited. Today, it's used for creative expression, retro aesthetics, and situations where images can't be displayed (like email signatures or code comments).

Our converter supports all major image formats: PNG, JPG/JPEG, ICO (icons), SVG (vector graphics), WebP, GIF (first frame), AVIF, and BMP. The tool processes images entirely in your browser, so any format your browser can display will work.

No! This tool runs 100% in your browser using JavaScript and the HTML5 Canvas API. Your images never leave your device - all processing happens locally. This means your images stay private and the tool works even offline once loaded.

Width controls the actual resolution of your ASCII art - how many characters across. This directly affects the detail level and file size of TXT/PNG exports. Font Size only affects how the ASCII art is displayed on screen - it doesn't change the actual character count. Use smaller fonts (2-4px) to see more of the image at once, or larger fonts (12-16px) to see individual characters clearly.

It depends on your use case. Standard works well for most images. Use Detailed for photos needing smooth gradients. Blocks creates a pixelated retro look. Simple is best for logos and high-contrast graphics. Try different options to see what works best for your specific image!

The ASCII art you generate from your own images is yours to use however you like, including commercial projects. Just ensure you have rights to the original image you're converting. The tool itself doesn't add any restrictions to your output.