ASCII Art
Pictures from punctuation
ASCII art creates images using text characters, from simple emoticons to elaborate scenes that adorned BBS systems, demos, and NFO files.
Overview
Before graphics cards rendered pixels, artists rendered pictures from punctuation. ASCII art uses the 95 printable ASCII characters to create images viewable on any text terminal. The technique flourished on BBSes where graphics weren’t possible, in crack intros, and in NFO files. Some artists achieved remarkable detail within severe constraints.
Fast facts
- Medium: standard text characters.
- Origins: teletype art, 1960s.
- Peak era: BBS culture, 1980s-1990s.
- Tools: text editors, specialised art programs.
- Modern legacy: kaomoji, Steam art, retro aesthetics.
Techniques
Creating ASCII art:
- Character density: darker characters for shadow.
- Proportional spacing: accounting for character width/height.
- Line art: borders and outlines.
- Shading: gradients through character selection.
Cultural contexts
Where ASCII art appeared:
- BBS: logon screens, message separators.
- Demoscene: crack intros, NFO files.
- Signatures: email and forum signatures.
- Modern irony: intentionally retro aesthetics.