Image to ASCII Settings: Compare Dithering

Compare settings before converting your own image

Compare the same beach image with and without ordered dithering. Learn when to use a short character ramp, then try the settings in the image editor.

Choose Standard ASCII Art, Edge Detection Only, Character Optimization or Emoji Mosaic. Blocks is a Unicode character preset, not a separate mode. Export as text, copy to clipboard, or download as PNG.

Open beach at 80 columns Read Guide

The sample opens at 80 columns. Use the edit links below for the exact 60-column comparison settings.

Worked example: Beach

This guide uses the image-to-ASCII editor. The examples below are generated from the same source; this page is not a separate converter.

Open the beach sample in the image editor. In Options, select Standard ASCII Art and set Output Width to 60.
Use the @%#*+=-:. character ramp with a trailing space; leave brightness and contrast at 100%.
Compare None (Direct Mapping) with Ordered (Bayer Matrix), selecting Generate ASCII Art after each change. Look at the sky and sand: the pattern can preserve tonal changes but may add texture.
Choose the version that keeps the shoreline readable. Download TXT and check it in a monospace font.

No dithering: 60 columns, 50 rows

**********+++++==---===+*+***************************++++=+#
*******++++++++++=======+++***++++++++***************++++***
******++++++++++++++**+++*+++++++*+++++++*********++++=+++++
******++++++++=======+***#*==+********+++++++++++****+++++**
******++++++++=++=--=+*##%#++********+++++++++++*++++++*++*#
++++++++++++++++**+==*###%%#*#******++++++++++++++++=+++++##
+++++++++++++++**##***#%%%%###****+++++++*++++++++++++++***+
+++++++++++++++++*##**##%%#%%#%%#**++*###***++++++++++****++
++++++++++++++++++*##**#%%#%%%##****####*+**+**+++++++**+***
+++++++++++++++++++*##*#%%##%%####****++*****+++*+++********
++++++++**++++++++++*#%##%*%%#%%####**+++++++*+*#*****#***#+
++++==++**+*****++=+*########%%%###****++++*#**##*##*#%++*+=
++++=++++++**+**#**++****##**#*#***+++++++++*****##%#**=++**
++++++++++++++++***#*++*#*%##+**#******++*****#++##%#++**+%@
+++++++++++++++++++*+++*##%#***#*%%%%%###*######*##%###%##@%
++++++++++*+*+*******+###%*+###*****#####*##%%###*#%%%#**###
++++++++++*+##+*###*+*#%##**#%%%**##%#*+***#*####*##%%%+=##+
+++++++++*++++++**+++**++##%####**#+*%%%#*+*+++*###%%%#+**++
++++++++++++++==+++***+-+*#%%*+#++#***#%%#%##*+**##%%%=+%*=+
+++++++=+++=+==*+=*+++=+####%#*##%###**%#%%%%%**++##%#+#%=*+
===========+=++=-++-=+=###*###*+*%%#*+##%##%###**##%%+#@%+#+
============-=-=++-=+=+#*#*###+--=##*-++*#*=+*****#%%*#@**%=
===========-:-===--===+=***###+::-=*#+.-===::+++#*#%%#*%*##+
=======--------:-==--=*==+**#+*::::-*+::-:::=++##*##%#+*#%#*
--:::::::::-:::-==---=+===***=*+--==**+=====++##**#%%#++*#*#
---------------==+=======+***==*+====++=====+*#++*#%%#+##**#
=============-============+++==+*==========++++++**###*%%**#
-------=============-==-====---=*+-=======++=+**+*+##**##%*#
--------------------------------=*=-----===-=+*+*#++**#####*
::::::::::::::::::::::::----:----++---------++==+*=+*++*###+
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::-+=:------=+====++++=+#**#*
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::-+-::::::--::-==+==+**+###
:::::::::::::-:::::::::::::::::::::=+::::::::::---:-++=+*%*#
::::::::::::::::------::::::::---::-+=:-:::-:::-:::==:=+-*+=
:::::::--------------------::-------=+-:------:::::::-+-:===
--::::-------------------------------++------:::::-:-+*+---=
-------------------------------------=+=--------:=+++==*+==+
--------------------------------------=*=-------===*+++*++++
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++*+++++++++**++*+++++
#########******************************++*******++*+=++**+**
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++====-=*+:::::.-+++*****+*
+=++==+====+================---:::....  :+*.     .-=+==----=
==================---:::::....       ....=#*............:==-
========-----::.....       ..............=*#+::.:.......:+*+
*=-:::........  ....................... .+##@=.::::-:::-=++*
#+-:...............    ...... ...........+***=----------=++*
##*=. .............--::.........................:.::::::::--
#*#*--: .........-+++-:..............................     ..
###*++...........--..   ..... ..............................
##*+=: ..........   .....    ...............................

Edit no dithering settings

Ordered dithering: 60 columns, 50 rows

+*+*+*+*+*++++=+---=-==++++*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+++*+=+#
*+*+*+*+*++++++++====-==++++*+*+*+*+++***+***+*+*+*+*+++++#*
+*+*+*++++=+++=+++=++*=++#+++++++*++=++++*+*+*+*+*+*++=++*++
***+***+*+++++==+====+*+*##=++*****+***+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+**
+*+*+*+*++++++=+==-==+*#*%#*=***+***+++*+++*+++*+++++++*+**#
*+*+++++*+*+++++***=++##%%%#*#*******+*+*+*+*+*++=+=++*+++##
++=++++++*+++++**###+**%#%%###****+++++++*++++=+=+=++++*****
*+*+*+*+*+*+*+++**##**##%%%#%#%##**+**###****+++*+++++****++
+++++++*+++*++++=+*#***#%%#%%%##*****#*#**+*+*+*++++=+**=***
*+*+*+*+*+*+++*++=+*####%%##%######*#*++*+*+*+*+*+*+**#***#*
+*+++++++*+++*++++=+*####%*%#%%%####**+++*+++*+***+*+#*#*#*+
*+*++=*+***+**#+*+++##%######%%%%##****+*+*+#***%*#**#%+++*=
++++=+++=++*+++***+++*+**##**#*#+*++++++=+++**+*+##%#*+==++*
++*+++*+*+*+++++#*##*++*#*%##+**#*#**+*++*#***#++*#%#+***+%@
++++++++++++++=++++*+++*####+**#*%#%%%####*#####*##%###%*#%%
++++*+++++*+*+**#*#**+##%%*+##%*****#*#*%*##%#%#%*#%%%%**#%#
=+++=+=+++++*#+**#**=*#%##**#%%%***###**+*+#*##%#**##%%+=##+
+++++=+++*++++++**+++**++*%%##%#**%+#%%%#*++*+**####%%#+#*+=
=+=+=+=+++=+=+==+++*+*+-+##%%#+#+*##**#%%%###*+**#*%%%=*#*-+
+++=+++=+++=+=+**=*+++++%###%#*#%%%*%*#%%%%%%%#**+##%#+#%=*+
===+===+===+=++=-++==+=###*###++*%##++*###*%##***##%%+*@#+#+
+=+=+=+=+====-==+=-=+=+##*####+--=##*-*+*#*=+***#*%%%*%@#*%=
===========-:===---===+++#*###+::--*#+.-===::+++###%%%*%*##+
=======-=---=--:-==:==*=++**#+#:::--*+-:-:::=++##*%#%#+*%%#*
:-::::::.::-::.-==---==+-=+*+=+*:--=+*==-===++*#**#%%#=+*#*#
--=---=---=----====-======#**-+*+===+++=====+*#++*##%#+##**#
-=-=-=-===-=-=-=-=-===-=-==+==-++=-=-======++++++*+%##*%%**#
=-=-=-=-===-===-===-=-=-=-===-==*+========++=+******#*#*#%*#
:-:-:-:-:--------------=----:---=*-------=-=-+***#+*+**###**
::::::::::::::::::-:-:-:-:-:-----+*---=-=---+++=*+++*=**###+
::::::::::::::.:::.:::.:::.:::.::-+=:-:----===-==++++=+#+***
-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:::-:::::::::::::=+-:::-::--:--==+==+****#*
:::::::::::::-:::::::::::::::::::::++::::::::::-:-:-++=++%*#
-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:---:-:-:-:-:---:--+=-:-:-:-:-:-:-=+:++=**=
:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:---:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-=*--:-:-:-:::::-:-+-:===
-:-:-:-:-----------------------------++:-----:::::-:-+#+--==
------------------------------------:=++:---:-:-:=+++=-*+==+
--=-----------=-----------=---=-------++=-------==+**++**+++
+*+++*+++*+++*+++*++++++++++++++++++++=++++++*+++*+*++++++=+
###*###*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#+****#***++#+++**#+**
++++++++++++++++++++=+++=+=+=+=+=+=+==--=*=:::::.-+++***+*+*
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+======--::::.. . :+#.  .  .==+==-=-==
=========+=+=+====--:-::::.... . . . . ..+** ......... .:+--
+=+======-=--::.:.. . . . . ... ... ... .=*#+::.:.:.....-+*+
+=:-::.... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . +*#%=.:.::-:::--++*
#=-...... ... ... . . ... ... . . ......:+#**==-=-=--:=-=+**
##+=.. . . . . . ..-::.. . . . . . .............:..::::::---
#*#*--: ....... .-*++--........ ... . ......:.....:.. . . . 
##**++.. . . . . -:.   . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....... ...
##*+=.... ....... . ... . . . . ... . . . ... ... ..........

Edit ordered dithering settings

All comparisons use the @%#*+=-:. ramp (including its final space). Settings not mentioned stay neutral. Previews use the same conversion algorithm with build-time sampling; browser pixels may differ slightly.

Open beach in the editor View original image

The link selects the image only. Apply the listed mode and settings in the editor.

In Options, choose a mode and width, then select Generate ASCII Art. Open Advanced image settings for adjustments, character sets and mode-specific controls. In Result, use Copy, Download TXT or Download PNG. Generate again after changing settings to update the full result. ASCII Preview is reduced: up to 60 columns for character modes, or a fixed 32-pixel sampling width for Emoji Mosaic. Generate the full result to apply the selected Output Width or Sampling Width.

How to Convert Images to ASCII Art

Quick Start Guide:

Open the editor: Follow the image-editor link, then select or drop a supported image in Upload.
Configure Settings: Try 50-80 columns as a starting point for a narrow text area; compare against the 100-column default.
Select Character Set: Pick standard ASCII, detailed, or custom characters
Adjust Appearance: Fine-tune brightness, contrast, and color effects
In Options, choose a mode and width, then select Generate ASCII Art. Open Advanced image settings for adjustments, character sets and mode-specific controls. In Result, use Copy, Download TXT or Download PNG. Generate again after changing settings to update the full result.

Supported Image Formats:

JPGJPEG images, most common format

PNGHigh-quality images with transparency

GIFSingle-frame GIF only; export one animation frame to PNG first

WebPModern web-optimized format

Advanced Image to ASCII Conversion Features

Luminance and glyph mapping

Standard maps luminance to your character ramp. Character Optimization compares sampled cells with rendered glyphs; it does not recognize subjects.

• Brightness-based character selection
• Edge Detection uses directional Unicode lines
• Emoji Mosaic matches cell colors to emoji, not plain-text color

Manual image controls

Adjust brightness, contrast and saturation, then generate again. Check which details disappear as well as which become easier to distinguish.

• Brightness adjustment (0-200%)
• Contrast adjustment
• Color saturation control

📤 Multiple Export Options

Export your converted ASCII art in multiple formats suitable for different use cases and platforms.

• Copy to clipboard
• Download as text file
• Export as image (PNG)

Choose the Right Character Set for Your Image

Standard ASCII Set

@%#*+=-:. (final space included)

These printable ASCII characters give a short dark-to-light ramp. Keep the trailing space and use preformatted monospace text without wrapping when sharing.

Detailed Character Set

$@B%8&WM#*oahkbdpqwmZO0QLCJUYXzcvunxrjft/\|()1{}[]?-_+~<>i!lI;:,"^`'. (final space included)

More ramp symbols provide more luminance mapping levels. Compare them at the same width; extra symbols do not guarantee that small shapes remain recognizable.

Block Characters

█▓▒░ (final space included)

Unicode shading blocks give a different texture from punctuation. They require a font with the relevant glyphs and are not strict ASCII.

Image to ASCII Conversion FAQ

What's the best image size to convert to ASCII?

Choose one image up to 10 MiB (10,485,760 bytes) and 24 million decoded pixels. Conversion allows at most 40,000 sampling cells and 1,000 sampling rows. Reduce width or resize/crop the input if a limit is exceeded. Crop to the subject first; more source pixels do not guarantee more recognizable text at a small output width.

How can I keep important details when converting a large image?

ASCII conversion reduces the image to a character grid, so some detail is lost. Crop around the subject, then compare widths that fit your destination. More columns than your current setting can retain smaller shapes but make the result wider. Compare Standard and Detailed character sets at the same width; extra symbols do not guarantee more recognizable detail.

Can I convert multiple images to ASCII at once?

Convert one image at a time. Download the result before selecting another image. You can explicitly save one settings slot on this device; images and output are not saved. There is no batch conversion.

Why does my converted ASCII art look different in different text editors?

ASCII art appearance depends on font type and character spacing. For consistent results, use monospace fonts like Consolas, Courier New, or Monaco where each character takes the same width.

Tips for Better Image to ASCII Conversion

Image Preparation

• Crop around the subject rather than choosing an orientation by itself.
• Check whether background details compete with the subject at your chosen width.
• Keep a source copy before cropping or changing tones.
• Inspect both light and dark features in the generated result.

Conversion Settings

• Compare widths: Try 50-60 columns for a narrow destination, then compare a wider result if it fits.
• Compare contrast: Start at 100%; check whether a change merges shadows or removes highlights.
• Experiment with character sets: Different sets work better for different images
• Use preview: Check real-time preview while adjusting settings

What Can You Convert to ASCII Art?

Brand Logos

Convert company logos into ASCII text art for READMEs, terminal apps, and creative projects. See how iconic brands look as text.

Browse logo examples →

Photos & Artworks

Compare how photos, paintings and illustrations become character grids. Fine details and source colors may be lost.

View image examples →

Emoji Mosaics

Emoji Mosaic converts sampled colors into emoji grids. Check glyphs and spacing in the receiving app, or export PNG.

Explore emoji art →

Related tools and guides