How to Convert an Image to ASCII Art and Export It from TextPaint

To turn an image into ASCII art in TextPaint, open the Image to ASCII tool from the sidebar, upload your image, and let the tool convert it into character art on the canvas. When you're satisfied with the result, export it as a plain text file, HTML, or a JavaScript string. If you also want to combine two existing pieces, use Merge two texts to join two text files into one. For the artwork to display correctly on other websites, view it in a monospace font such as Courier or Lucida Console.

TextPaint runs in the browser with no account or install required, so you can start from a demo in the sidebar and experiment before committing to a final piece.

Convert an Image to ASCII Art

What you need first

• An image file you want to convert.
• A browser session on TextPaint (no signup or installation per the site).
• A rough idea of the canvas size you want, since the converted art will sit on the canvas you're working on.

Steps

1. Open the Image to ASCII tool from the sidebar. The sidebar is where TextPaint groups its tools, including Pencil, Paint Bucket, Text Input, Select Area, Character Picker, Find & Replace, Draw Line, Image to ASCII, and Merge two texts.
2. Upload your image through the Image to ASCII tool. The tool converts the image into character art placed on your canvas.
3. Adjust the canvas as needed. Canvas features let you resize and shift the canvas as your art grows, and you can flip or rotate the artwork with a click.
4. Tidy the result with editing tools. Use Select Area to highlight parts of the workspace to copy, delete, or move; use Find & Replace to swap characters instantly; use the Character Picker to grab any character from the canvas and reuse it.
5. Check formatting risks. TextPaint can highlight characters that might break formatting, such as wide or odd-width ones. Fix or replace these before exporting if the art will be displayed elsewhere.

Expected result: your uploaded image appears as character-based art on the canvas, editable with the same tools used for hand-drawn ASCII art.

Common sticking points

• Wide or odd-width characters can misalign the art when pasted into other sites. Use the formatting warning highlight and replace problem characters.
• Font choice matters. Pick a clean monospace font; the site notes Courier or Lucida Console work best. Non-monospace fonts will distort the alignment of character art.
• Canvas size limits detail. If the converted art looks cramped or too coarse, resize the canvas and re-check the result.

Merge Two Text Files into One

If you have two pieces of text-based art or text files and want a single combined work, use Merge two texts in the sidebar. It combines two text files into one, which is useful when you've created parts of a design separately or want to assemble a larger composition from existing pieces.

After merging, you can still use Select Area, Find & Replace, and the shift/rotate/mirror settings to align the combined result.

Export Your Artwork

When the canvas looks right, export it in one of three formats:

The export options are listed among the canvas and sidebar settings. Before publishing anywhere, confirm the display font is monospace so the art keeps its shape across websites.

Quick Checklist Before You Export

• The image conversion or merged text looks correct at your chosen canvas size.
• Wide or odd-width characters flagged by the tool have been reviewed.
• A monospace font (Courier or Lucida Console) is selected for display.
• You've chosen the export format that matches where the art will live: text file, HTML, or JavaScript string.

TextPaint is aimed at people making retro-style designs, forum signatures, and creative projects, and the same workflow applies whether you start from an uploaded image, a merged text file, or freehand drawing with the Pencil and Paint Bucket tools.