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Photo to Text Art

Turn a photo into characters

Choose a photo

Drop a file hereTap to choose a fileDrop it hereOne photo, up to 20MB. Your photo is never uploaded.One photo, up to 20MB. Your photo is never uploaded.

Options

8-200. Larger is more detailed. Use 30-40 for chat, 120+ for a photo-like result.

Result

Pick a photo and it will appear here.

The photo is processed in your browser and never sent to a server. Lines match up in CJK fonts such as Notepad or messaging apps.
How to use
Reads the light and shade of a photo and redraws it out of characters. Choose the width in characters and the character set, then copy the result or save it as a text file. The photo is processed in your browser and never uploaded.
When to use it
  • Turning a picture into text art for a profile or a chat.
  • Dropping a small picture into code comments or a README.
  • Sharing an image as plain text where pictures are not welcome.
How to use it
  1. Choose a photo — one image, up to 20MB.
  2. Set the width in characters: 30–40 for chat, 120 or more for something photo-like.
  3. Pick a character set — half blocks (sharpest), blocks (softer) or squares (decorative).
  4. Turn on invert brightness if you will paste onto a dark background.
  5. Copy the result or save it as a text file.
Good to know
  • It only looks right in a monospace font. Elsewhere the proportions stretch.
  • A greater width captures more detail, but if the destination is narrow the lines wrap and the picture breaks.
  • The zoom buttons change how big it looks on screen only — the saved character count does not change.
  • Pictures with clear contrast work best; a busy background turns to noise.
  • Neither the photo nor the result leaves this device.
Frequently asked questions
The picture is distorted after pasting.
The destination is not monospace, so characters of different widths stretch the image sideways or break the rows. A code editor, a terminal or a monospace chat window displays it properly.
What width should I use?
Match the place you are pasting into: 30–40 for messengers, 60–80 for a blog or code comment, 120 or more for detail. Longer lines wrap on narrow screens.
Which character set is best?
Half blocks give the sharpest, most photographic result; blocks are softer; squares look decorative. Check that the destination can display the characters you choose.
Can I make the characters bigger?
The zoom affects only the on-screen size; the result itself is unchanged. For more detail, raise the width in characters.