ASCII Generator 2 - Create Text Art on Windows

The Nostalgia of Early Computing and the Resurgence of ASCII Art

As a child, around the age of nine, my brother and I eagerly bought new computer magazines. These publications were filled with intriguing programs and various "computer tricks."

At that time, computer programs were primarily written in BASIC. Users would input the code line by line into the terminal.

The programs were then saved onto floppy disks, as personal computers lacked hard drives. Running the code would then display simple, yet captivating, ASCII-based graphics or games on the screen.

Remembering the Era of ASCII Graphics

Many individuals likely cherish their own recollections of a time when ASCII text represented the entirety of computer graphics. The progression of computer graphics and animation, building upon previous achievements, has been truly remarkable.

It was previously thought that ASCII graphics were a relic of the past, destined for museum exhibits showcasing the evolution of computer technology.

Discovering the Modern ASCII Art Community

This perception changed with the discovery of the vibrant ASCII art community and a tool called ASCII Generator.

The continued existence and creativity within this community demonstrate that ASCII art is far from obsolete.

Instead, it has found a new life as a unique and expressive art form.

The Enduring Appeal of ASCII Art

The art form continues to thrive, showcasing the ingenuity and creativity of its practitioners.

It serves as a reminder of the humble beginnings of computer graphics and the power of imagination within technical limitations.

ASCII Generator and similar tools empower artists to create intricate designs using a limited character set.

This resurgence highlights the enduring appeal of a technology once considered a stepping stone to more advanced visual displays.

The Realm of ASCII Art Creation

We have previously examined several tools designed for generating ASCII art here at MakeUseOf. Many of these were relatively straightforward applications, converting images into text-based art in a single, rapid process, such as ASCII-O-Matic, ASCII Art and Text-Image. Simon also highlighted a couple of intriguing websites capable of transforming photographs into textual representations.

The appreciation of ASCII art is often developed over time. Initially, I questioned the appeal of reverting to an era where images were solely constructed from text. However, observing some of the skillfully crafted visuals, one begins to understand the attraction. A distinct aesthetic quality exists within it – a discernible image from afar, appearing as random characters when viewed closely.

ASCII Generator 2, a project originating from the UK by a developer named Jonathan, has garnered positive recommendations. It offers a range of adjustments and functionalities not commonly found in simpler ASCII conversion tools.

The tool’s interface is thoughtfully designed. The image undergoing conversion is displayed in the lower right corner, with controls and modification options situated in the lower left. The resulting ASCII image occupies the prominent central area. To begin, simply upload your preferred picture.

My initial attempt involved a Halloween-themed image, and I initially believed I had misconfigured the software. The resulting text bore little resemblance to the original image.

Subsequently, by adjusting the display size through the “Size:” settings in the menu, the entire picture came into view. A significant improvement. Nevertheless, I felt the outcome could still be enhanced. It appears that images with intricate details may not always be ideal for ASCII art conversion.

Perhaps portraits with simpler backgrounds yield superior ASCII art results. Therefore, I experimented with a stock news photograph of President Obama – a close-up facial shot. The outcome was noticeably better, suggesting that images with a white background and a clearly defined subject matter produce the most legible results.

To thoroughly evaluate the converter, I tested it with a captivating space image featuring planets and a sun surrounded by a star field. The results were quite impressive after importing the image.

Furthermore, I discovered that refining the brightness and contrast within the settings panel at the lower left enhances the clarity of the ASCII art. All adjustments are reflected in real-time on the output image.

A particularly appealing aspect of the application is the range of output formats available when printing or saving the ASCII image. For instance, a color printout option colors the text according to the original image’s color tones.

I also observed that saving the image in GIF format as black & white often produces a clearer visual than the on-screen ASCII output – though this may be subjective. Regardless, experimenting with different images stored on my hard drive proved to be highly enjoyable.

Another noteworthy feature is the ability to invert the colors, displaying white text on a dark background. This creates a unique effect not commonly seen in other ASCII art tools. In my view, it also results in a more distinct output image.

Within the menu, you can also modify the font and the default characters used in the output. Selecting a different font, or utilizing italics, can yield interesting effects in the final image.

These outputs can be saved as image files – I saved one as a GIF – and then utilized on your website, blog, or any other platform.

Do you have an interest in ASCII art? Have you had the opportunity to try ASCII Generator 2? We encourage you to test it out and share your thoughts on this ASCII art generator project in the comments below.