ASCII ART TUTORIALS & GUIDES
Master the art of ASCII creation with our comprehensive tutorials
✓ Beginner to Advanced • ✓ Step-by-Step Guides • ✓ Pro Tips & Techniques
[ GETTING STARTED WITH ASCII ART ]
What is ASCII Art?
ASCII art is a graphic design technique that uses printable characters from the American Standard Code for Information Interchange (ASCII) to create images, designs, and artistic expressions. Dating back to the 1960s, ASCII art emerged when computer terminals could only display text characters, forcing creative minds to find innovative ways to create visual art within these constraints.
Today, ASCII art remains popular in terminal applications, email signatures, forum posts, source code comments, and as a nostalgic art form that celebrates the early days of computing. It represents a unique intersection of technology, creativity, and resourcefulness.
Basic Character Types
Solid Characters
Use for filled areas and shading
Line Characters
Perfect for borders and frames
Special Symbols
Add texture and detail
[ STEP-BY-STEP TUTORIALS ]
Tutorial 1: Creating Simple Shapes
Step 1: Drawing a Square
Start with the most basic shape - a square using the solid block character (█):
█████ █████ █████ █████ █████
This creates a 5x5 solid square.
Step 2: Creating a Hollow Square
Use outline techniques for more sophisticated shapes:
█████ █ █ █ █ █ █ █████
Notice how spaces create the hollow effect.
Step 3: Adding Shading
Use different density characters for realistic shading:
█████ █▓▓▓░ █▓▒▒░ █▓▒░░ █████
From darkest (█) to lightest (░) creates depth.
Tutorial 2: Drawing Simple Faces
Basic Smiley Face
Learn to create expressive characters:
┌─────┐ │ ● ● │ │ ∩ │ │ _/ │ └─────┘
Use box-drawing characters for clean outlines.
Advanced Character Expression
Create more detailed facial expressions:
╭─────╮ ╱ ◉ ◉ ╲ ╱ ∩ ╲ │ ╰─────╯ │ ╲ ╱ ╲_______╱
Curved characters add organic feeling to geometric art.
Tutorial 3: Advanced Techniques
Perspective and Depth
Create 3D-looking objects using ASCII:
┌─────────┐ ╱│ ╱│ ╱ │ ╱ │ │ │ │ │ │ └──────│──┘ │ ╱ │ ╱ │╱ │╱ └─────────┘
Use diagonal lines to suggest 3D perspective.
Text Integration
Combine text with ASCII art for banners:
╔══════════════════════════╗ ║ ░░░░░░░ ASCII ░░░░░░░ ║ ║ ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ ART ▓▓▓▓▓▓▓ ║ ║ ████████ RULES ████████ ║ ╚══════════════════════════╝
Decorative frames make text more impactful.
Tutorial 4: Creating a Simple Cat
Step 1: Draw the Ears
Start by creating the cat's ears using forward and back slashes:
/\_/\
Step 2: Add the Face
Next, add the eyes and nose. Use parentheses and periods for the eyes, and a greater-than symbol for the nose:
( o.o )
Step 3: Complete with the Mouth
Finally, add the mouth using a caret and less-than symbol:
> ^ <
Putting it All Together
Combine all parts, making sure to align them properly:
/\_/\ ( o.o ) > ^ <
This creates a simple cat face in ASCII art.
Tutorial 5: Using the ASCII Art Creator
Step 2: Choose a Canvas Size
Select from Tiny to Massive. You can resize later — existing drawing remains where it fits.
Step 3: Pick a Character
Use blocks for fill (█ ▓ ▒ ░), lines for outlines (─ │ ┌ ┐ └ ┘), symbols for details (* # @). Space acts as the eraser.
Step 4: Draw with Click and Drag
Click to place, drag to paint. Clicking the same character toggles it off for fast edits.
Step 5: Preview Your Art
Switch to the Preview tab to see your art on dark, light, and paper-style backgrounds.
Step 6: Copy or Clear
Use [ COPY ART ] to copy your ASCII to the clipboard, or [ CLEAR ALL ] to reset the canvas.
Pro Tip
Outline first with lines, then fill with blocks and add shading (▓ ▒ ░) for depth.
[ PRO TIPS & TECHNIQUES ]
💡 Planning Your Art
- • Sketch on paper first
- • Start with simple shapes
- • Plan your canvas size
- • Consider character spacing
🎨 Character Selection
- • Use █ for solid areas
- • Mix ▓▒░ for gradients
- • Try * # @ for texture
- • Use - | / \ for clean outlines
⚡ Efficiency Tips
- • Copy and paste patterns
- • Use symmetry when possible
- • Build reusable components
- • Save works in progress
🔧 Common Mistakes
- • Avoid mixed line endings
- • Don't overcomplicate small art
- • Test in monospace fonts
- • Check spacing carefully
- • Use fixed-width fonts like Courier
- • Ensure proper character alignment
[ TOOLS & RESOURCES ]
ASCII Art Creator
Our interactive canvas tool for creating ASCII art from scratch with 60+ characters.
[ START CREATING ]Image Converter
Transform any image into ASCII art automatically with our privacy-protected converter.
[ CONVERT IMAGE ]ASCII Gallery
Browse our curated collection of ASCII art for inspiration and reference.
[ BROWSE GALLERY ]External Resources
Explore more ASCII art and find inspiration from these collections:
[ HISTORY OF ASCII ART ]
Origins (1960s-1970s)
ASCII art emerged in the 1960s when computer terminals and printers could only output text characters. Early computer scientists and artists discovered they could create visual art by carefully arranging these limited characters. The technique became popular in computer labs and universities, where creativity flourished despite technological constraints. Pre-ASCII art forms, such as concrete poetry and typewriter art from the 19th century, laid the groundwork. For example, artists like Flora F.F. Stacey used typewriters to create images by overprinting characters. In 1967, Kenneth Knowlton and Leon Harmon at Bell Labs created "Computer Nude," one of the first ASCII art pieces, by converting a photograph into a grid of symbols, demonstrating the potential of text-based art.
BBS Era (1980s-1990s)
The golden age of ASCII art coincided with the rise of Bulletin Board Systems (BBS). Artists created elaborate welcome screens, signatures, and artwork that became central to BBS culture. ASCII art groups formed, developing sophisticated techniques and pushing the boundaries of what was possible with text characters.
Internet Age (1990s-Present)
With the internet's growth, ASCII art found new life in email signatures, forums, and chat rooms. While graphics became more sophisticated, ASCII art persisted as a nostalgic and practical art form. Today, it thrives in terminal applications, source code, and as a celebration of computing heritage. Events like the 2008 Wired.com ASCII art contest highlight its enduring popularity, where enthusiasts showcased their creations for a chance to be featured in an online gallery.