PLUS UI DESIGN · 4 min READ

How to convert an image to ASCII art

Choose a source image, balance character density and contrast, and export readable ASCII art with the Plus UI web editor.

Start with a clear silhouette

A small image with a distinct subject is a useful first test. A portrait against a simple background, a logo you own, or a bold illustration gives you fewer details to separate. In the editor, try the Skull sample before uploading your own PNG, JPEG or WebP. GIF files use their first frame. The upload limit is 25 MB.

The conversion runs in your browser. Selecting a file does not send the image to our server. An image can still contain more detail than a grid of characters can preserve, so crop unnecessary background in your image editor before uploading.

Set the character density

Begin with Classic at 150 columns. Each column becomes a character position, so a higher column count preserves smaller features but needs more space to display. Try 80–120 columns for a compact result. The free export tier supports up to 180 columns; Pro extends that to 400.

The renderer compensates for the proportions of monospace characters when calculating rows. Keep the result in a monospace font with tight line spacing. A proportional font changes the alignment and can make a face or outline look distorted.

Balance tones before adding effects

Use brightness to move the image toward lighter or darker characters. Increase contrast gradually if the subject blends into the background; excessive contrast can remove useful midtones. A small amount of blur can simplify noisy textures before they become characters.

Ignore white background leaves fully white processed pixels empty. It is not a general background-removal tool: off-white areas and textured backgrounds may remain. Invert tones when a subject reads better with the light and dark characters reversed. Transparent areas are composited onto white before conversion.

Choose a character set and export

Detailed uses a long ramp of characters for tonal shading. Standard produces a simpler texture, while Blocks, Binary and Hexadecimal change the visual vocabulary. Compare the preview at the size you will actually use. A dense result that looks good enlarged may lose its shape in a small social image.

Copy or TXT preserves the characters for a terminal or code block. Standard PNG preserves the selected palette as an image. Basic tonal settings are free to export; custom characters, advanced dithering, edge effects, SVG and 2× PNG require the ASCII Art Generator license. See the prepared effect examples before deciding; Pro controls unlock after license activation.

Try it on your own image.

Open the editor and compare the settings side by side with this guide.