ascii-image-converter

Convert images to ASCII art text

TLDR

Convert an image into ASCII

$ ascii-image-converter [path/to/image|URL]

Colorize the output

$ ascii-image-converter [[-C|--color]] [path/to/image|URL]

Create a tresholded image using braille (if the image is barely visible, try changing the terminal font)

$ ascii-image-converter [[-b|--braille]] [path/to/image|URL]

Create a dithered image using braille (if the image is barely visible, try changing the terminal font)

$ ascii-image-converter [[-b|--braille]] --dither [path/to/image|URL]

Display the image with negative colors

$ ascii-image-converter [[-Cn|--color --negative]] [path/to/image|URL]

Use a wider range of characters to display an image (may improve image accuracy)

$ ascii-image-converter [[-c|--complex]] [path/to/image|URL]

-h, --help
    Show help message and exit.

-W, --width
    Set output width (default: auto).

-H, --height
    Set output height (default: auto).

-C, --colors
    Enable color output (if supported by terminal).

-S, --symbols
    Use custom symbols (default: " .:-=+*#%@").

-r, --reverse
    Reverse the order of symbols.

--version
    Show program's version number and exit.

    The path to the image file to convert.

DESCRIPTION

The `ascii-image-converter` command is a command-line tool that converts images into ASCII art. It takes an image file as input and outputs a text representation of the image composed of ASCII characters. The output can be displayed in the terminal or saved to a file. The tool supports various image formats including JPEG, PNG, GIF, and others, leveraging image libraries such as PIL (Pillow) in Python.

The quality and detail of the ASCII art depend on several factors, including the size of the image, the character set used, and the level of contrast. The user can typically adjust these parameters through command-line options to optimize the output. `ascii-image-converter` is often used for fun, adding a retro aesthetic to terminal displays, or for systems where graphical displays are limited or unavailable. A feature rich implementation will also allow to control color output to allow true terminal images.

CAVEATS

The quality of the ASCII art depends heavily on the image resolution and the chosen character set. Color output may not be supported by all terminals. The results can be unpredictable for highly detailed images or images with subtle color variations.

DEPENDENCIES

Most implementations of `ascii-image-converter` rely on image processing libraries, such as PIL (Pillow) in Python or similar libraries in other programming languages. These dependencies must be installed before the command can be used.

HISTORY

The `ascii-image-converter` command's history is tied to the broader history of ASCII art. Early versions likely involved simple algorithms for mapping pixel intensities to ASCII characters. As terminal capabilities and image processing techniques evolved, more sophisticated implementations emerged, incorporating color support and advanced dithering algorithms. The command is often developed by individual programmers or open-source communities, resulting in various implementations with different features and capabilities. Its usage has increased with interest in retro computing and the desire to personalize terminal environments.