Photo to ASCII Art Converter

Turn a photo into ASCII art with adjustable columns, character density, scale, and color output.

Photo to ASCII Art Converter

Input Preview

Image

Upload an image to start conversion.

ASCII Text Output

Read-only

ASCII Image Output

Preview

Generate output to preview ASCII image.

How to use

  1. Upload an image file.
  2. Choose mode, columns, render mode, background, and scale, then press Generate.
  3. Copy the ASCII text or download the text/image output.

Recommended Settings

  • Fast Preview: Mode = Simple, Columns = 80-120, Scale = 1
  • Balanced Quality: Mode = Complex, Columns = 120-180, Scale = 1-2
  • High Detail: Mode = Complex, Columns = 180-260, Scale = 2-3

What Each Setting Does

  • Character Mode: Simple is cleaner and faster; Complex has more symbol density for detail.
  • Columns: Higher columns increase detail but produce larger outputs and slower rendering.
  • Render: Grayscale uses one tone; Color paints each character with source image colors.
  • Background: Choose black for terminal-like look or white for document-friendly exports.
  • Scale: Controls output character size; larger values make the final image bigger.

Quick Tips

  • For portraits, start with Columns around 140-180 to preserve facial detail.
  • For logos/icons, use Simple mode to keep edges crisp and readable.
  • If text output looks too dense, lower Columns or switch to Simple mode.

Supported Image Formats

This tool supports the following web-compatible image formats:

  • JPEG (.jpg, .jpeg)
  • PNG (.png)
  • WebP (.webp)
  • AVIF (.avif)
  • SVG (.svg)

Note: Camera RAW formats (.CR2, .NEF, .ARW, etc.) and animated formats (GIF) are not supported. Please convert to JPEG or PNG first.

Image to ASCII FAQ

How do I turn a photo into ASCII art?

Upload a photo, tune the column count and rendering settings, then generate ASCII text or an ASCII PNG version of the image.

Does color mode work for photo-to-ASCII output?

Yes. Color mode renders each character with sampled image colors, while grayscale uses one tonal character output.

Will the original photo be changed?

No. The tool creates new ASCII output files and leaves your uploaded photo unchanged.

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