Artgen
Artgen

Free effect

Free ASCII art generator

Turn an image into characters you can copy, paste and download. Start with a photo or try the sample; no AI credits are needed.

Sign in to use this fixed effect for free. No AI model or credits are needed.

Start ASCII art from an ideaUse AI to create a source image from your description, then convert it to text and PNG. The AI step uses credits; ASCII conversion is free.

Choose an image

PNG, JPEG or WebP · up to 5 MB

Your image is sent only when you create or convert, resized as needed for the selected model or conversion. The original preview is preserved. Use an image you have permission to edit.

Images are resized proportionally to at most 512 px on the longest edge. Transparent areas become white.

Effect settings

The same image and settings produce the same result. Click “Convert image” to apply your changes.

Per artwork Free

Your canvas

ASCII art

Room for your next idea.

Upload an image, choose a style and adjust its effect. Your conversion will appear here.

Keep the layout of your image and apply a repeatable effect. No credits needed.

How to use this tool

Brightness becomes character density, so silhouettes and shadows remain recognizable in a plain-text grid. The PNG and TXT represent the same characters, making this useful for README artwork, terminal illustrations and text-based experiments.

  1. Choose your starting point

    Sign in and upload a PNG, JPEG or WebP image up to 5 MiB, or try the sample image.

  2. Shape the result

    Adjust the effect controls, then run the conversion. Images are resized to at most 512 px on the longest edge; transparency becomes white.

  3. Keep what you made

    Copy the character grid or download TXT and PNG. Keep line breaks and use a monospaced font when pasting text.

See the conversion

An actual fixed-effect conversion of the source image shown, using the saved example settings.

Source image
Source image
Free ASCII art generator: Converted result
Converted resultASCII art

What you can make

  • Copy editable characters or keep matching TXT and PNG files.

  • Adjust the column count and invert brightness without changing your source image.

Questions about this tool

Can I paste the result into a README or terminal?

Yes. Copy the real ASCII text or download the TXT file. In Markdown, use a fenced code block; in a terminal or editor, use a monospaced font and disable line wrapping. PNG is available when you need a fixed visual layout.

Do fixed effects use credits?

No. Sign in to use the six fixed conversion tools for free, including their downloads. AI generation is a separate option that uses credits.

When is my image sent, and is the history saved?

Your image or description is sent when you run the tool. Fixed effects run on our server; AI requests go to the selected model provider. The on-page history lasts only for this session, so download results before refreshing or leaving.

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