Image to ASCII

Convert any image into ASCII art. Adjust width and pick color mode.

Upload Image

Width: 80 chars

Color Mode

Upload an image to generate ASCII art

About this tool

Convert any image to ASCII art - the classic text-based art form that renders images using printable characters. Adjust the resolution and character set, choose colour or monochrome output, and copy or download the result. Fun for adding personality to terminal output, READMEs, and developer blogs.

How to Convert an Image to ASCII Art

1Upload your image - faces and high-contrast photos work best.
2Adjust the width (number of characters per line) to control detail level.
3Choose a character set: standard, block, or custom.
4Toggle colour mode for coloured terminal output.
5Copy the ASCII art or download as a .txt file.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does image-to-ASCII conversion work?+

The image is scaled to a small grid. Each cell's average brightness is mapped to a character - dense characters like @ represent dark areas, while sparse characters like . represent bright areas.

What images work best?+

High-contrast images with clear subjects work best - faces, logos, silhouettes, and simple illustrations. Busy, low-contrast photos lose too much detail at ASCII resolution.

Can I use colour ASCII art?+

Yes. Toggle 'Colour mode' to render ASCII art with ANSI colour codes, useful for terminal splash screens and CLI tool branding.

What character sets are available?+

Standard (@, #, S, %, ?, +, *, ;, :, , .), block characters (█, ▓, ▒, ░), and custom character sets you define.

Looking for a deeper guide on this topic? Browse the Searchlight blog.

Visit the blog →

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