Image to ASCII Art
Convert any image into text-based ASCII art you can copy or download.
Higher width gives more detail. Best viewed in a monospace font.
Converted locally in your browser — the image is never uploaded.
What is Image to ASCII Art?
Image to ASCII Art is a free online tool that converts a photo into text art made of characters. It reads the brightness of every pixel, maps dark areas to dense characters like @ and bright areas to light ones like . and space, and prints the result as plain text. The finished art can be copied into a chat, pasted into code comments, or downloaded as a .txt file — it looks best in a monospace font where every character is the same width.
How to use it
- Upload an image: any JPG, PNG, WebP, or GIF works. High-contrast images with clear subjects convert best.
- Width slider (40–160 characters): wider output captures more detail but makes the art physically larger. Around 100 is a good default.
- Character set: "Detailed" uses a long ramp of characters for smoother shading; "Simple" uses ten characters for a bolder, retro look.
- Copy or download: use the buttons to copy the text to your clipboard or save it as ascii-art.txt.
Tips
Because text characters are taller than they are wide, the tool compresses the image vertically (about 50%) so faces and shapes do not look stretched. If the result looks muddy, try a simpler subject or the Simple character set. Conversion happens entirely in your browser, so it is private and instant.