Turn a photo into ASCII art made of characters. Adjust the width and character set to get exactly the look you want.
π Images never leave your browser β nothing is uploaded to a server.
Click or drag an image here
Supports JPG, PNG, WebP, GIF, BMP and other image files
Copied to clipboard.
GUIDE
Learn more
01
How does ASCII art conversion actually work?
Converting a photo into ASCII art happens in three steps. First, the image is downscaled onto a small canvas sized to your chosen character width. Because characters are taller than they are wide, the row count is scaled by a font aspect-ratio correction factor (roughly 0.5β0.55) so the result doesn't look stretched. Next, each cell's brightness is computed with 0.299R + 0.587G + 0.114B. Finally, each brightness value is mapped to one character from a "ramp" β a string of characters ordered from dark to light.
02
Which character set should you pick?
Character set
Traits
Simple (10 levels)
A short ramp like " .:-=+*#%@". Clear shapes even at small sizes.
Detailed (70 levels)
A much longer ramp for finer tonal gradation β pairs well with a larger output width.
Block characters
Block-style glyphs like βββββ for a bolder, higher-contrast look.
If you plan to paste the result somewhere with a dark background β a terminal, a dark-mode code block β turning on color inversion swaps light and dark cells so it still reads correctly.
03
What can you do with the result?
Use the copy button to grab the raw text and paste it into a notepad, email, or code comment. If you'd rather share it as an image, click the PNG download button to save a rendering drawn with a monospace font. A larger output width reveals more detail but also produces a longer text block and a larger PNG, so it's worth experimenting to find the right size for your use case.
No. All conversion happens entirely inside your browser and the image data is never sent anywhere.
How large can I set the output width?
You can adjust it between 40 and 300 characters. A larger value reveals more detail but also increases the result length and rendering time.
When should I use color inversion?
By default the output assumes a light background with dark characters. If you're pasting into a terminal or dark-mode surface, turning on inversion swaps the tones so it still looks correct.
Does the downloaded PNG match the original image size?
No. The PNG is a brand-new image drawn character by character in a monospace font, so its dimensions depend on your chosen width and character set, not the original photo's size.