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Convert Pictures to Text Images with ASCGEN
Posted by Kevin Purdy at 1:00 AM on December 28, 2007
Windows only: Free application ASCGEN, or Ascii Generator dotNET, takes in standard pictures and puts out images generated entirely from simple computer text. While free web apps like ASCII-O-Matic do a decent job with small face portraits, ASCGEN can handle larger files and offers the same kind of brightness, contrast and level modifications as standard image editors—it just changes letters instead of pixels. Once you're done tweaking, you can output to picture, text or HTML files. ASCGEN is a free download for Windows systems only.
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
lawksalih
Posted 7:59 AM 27/12/07
This is an awesome web app.
lawksalih
Pinny
Posted 7:59 AM 27/12/07
Another online version here: [www.pagecurve.com]
Pinny
Therevan
Posted 7:23 AM 27/12/07
I have to note here that the "test" picture I posted was done very quickly. From the looks of it, you can get much better (and definitely better-detailed) pictures with a bit more time and more straight-on pictures.
Therevan
laroi
Posted 7:07 AM 27/12/07
so cool, i was actually looking for something like this! thanks!
laroi
Veign
Posted 6:55 AM 27/12/07
If you don't want to install software to do this check out the online version at:
[www.makeascii.com]
Veign
mlhoward516
Posted 8:32 AM 27/12/07
Can you tell it specific words to use? My dad actually hand typed something like this in the 70's using his and my mom's names and it was pretty cool.
mlhoward516
HeartBurnKid
Posted 9:42 AM 27/12/07
Ahhhhhhhhhhhh... Ascii art. That takes me back.
I actually have an NES emu that renders entirely in ASCII. Doesn't work for many games, but it is awesome.
HeartBurnKid
bk
Posted 9:21 AM 27/12/07
Please tell me I'm not the only one having flashbacks from 1994. I suspect it's one of those, "when I was a kid" stories that will include how long you had to wait to download pictures on a 28K modem and Wolfenstein.
bk
nikoPSK
Posted 10:37 AM 27/12/07
cool. I would like the link for the pic to ascii please.
nikoPSK
Veign
Posted 12:26 PM 27/12/07
@mlhoward516: I could modify my application ([makeascii.com]) to do this. If someone wants it just let me know and I will see what I can do.
Veign
shane_mckinley
Posted 2:19 PM 27/12/07
Open source program here:
[sourceforge.net]
shane_mckinley
cmotdibbler
Posted 1:24 PM 27/12/07
Back in 1983 I paid $5 for a four foot asci image of the USS Enterprise. Saw the ad in the back of a magazine.
cmotdibbler
Veign
Posted 5:57 PM 27/12/07
@mlhoward516: I update MakeAscii.com to allow for a User Defined Characterset. Enjoy!
Veign
monoself
Posted 1:58 AM 28/12/07
Are some images in the *.nfo file made from this stuff? Awesome!
monoself
kftgr
Posted 10:34 AM 28/12/07
Anyone remember the Outer Limits and Twilight Zone ASCII (or ANSI) animations? Those were impressive!
Ugh. My google-fu is weak...can't find them anymore :(
@VEIGN: makeascii's pretty nice. Is there an option to use no color codes? Or do I need to convert images to greyscale before converting? I notice that larger images get unweildly with the many color codes.
kftgr
Veign
Posted 1:42 PM 28/12/07
@kftgr: Ok, That will be much more difficult that I first thought since if its grey scale it still needs to provide the color code. Therefore the only way is to use lighter characters for colors approaching white (like a .) and darker characters for colors approaching black (like a @).
My fear is that this would add alot of compputing overhead.
Veign
Veign
Posted 1:28 PM 28/12/07
@kftgr: Hmm. I don't see why I couldn't provide an option to remove all color codes. I will have the option coded either tonight or something this weekend.
Veign