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Introduction

p5.asciify is a powerful add-on library for p5.js and the most advanced open-source ASCII conversion library available, designed to transform canvases and textures in WEBGL mode into dynamic ASCII/textmode representations in real-time. With p5.asciify, you can create intricate ASCII art, textmode games, interactive ASCII experiences, and much more in the web browser with ease.

p5.asciify is used in live coding performances, installations, interactive art projects and more, allowing artists and developers to explore the unique aesthetic of ASCII art in a modern context. The library is designed to be flexible, efficient, and easy to use, offering a comprehensive range of tools to help you develop unique and engaging ASCII projects.

Features​

  • Renderer management: Create and manage multiple ASCII renderers with different settings to create a unique rendering pipeline.
  • Pre-built renderers: Add pre-built renderers, like 'brightness'- or 'edge'-based ASCII converters, to your pipeline.
  • Custom renderers: Add your own custom ASCII renderers to the pipeline through code to create unique effects by controlling each cell's ASCII character, character color, background color, and more individually.
  • Asciifier management: Create and manage multiple asciifiers to apply different ASCII rendering pipelines to different textures or the main canvas in parallel.
  • Font management: Set the font and font size for all ASCII renderers in the pipeline of an asciifier.
  • Grid management: Apply a perfect and responsive grid based on the canvas/texture dimensions, font size, and font metrics, or create a custom grid with a specific number of columns and rows.
  • WebGL1/WebGL2 support: All shader code provided by p5.asciify is written in GLSL ES 1.0, making it compatible with both WebGL1 and WebGL2 contexts, allowing for a wide range of devices to run your ASCII projects.
  • Export functionality: Export your ASCII art as .txt, .svg and .json files for easy sharing and printing, complementing the native image and GIF saving capabilities of p5.js.

Playground​

p5.asciify is designed to be easy to use, and any p5.js sketch in WEBGL mode that uses the supported p5.js versions can be converted to ASCII just by importing the library, no additional code is needed.

Just paste your favorite p5.js sketch into the editor below and watch the magic happen! (◕‿◕)

info
  • Sketch must be in WEBGL mode.
  • Sketch must run in p5.js versions 1.8.0 to 1.X.X.
  • Sketch must be in GLOBAL mode.
function setup() {
  setAttributes('antialias', false);
  createCanvas(windowWidth, windowHeight, WEBGL);
}

function draw() {
  background(32);
  fill(255);
  rotateX(radians(frameCount * 3));
  rotateZ(radians(frameCount));
  directionalLight(255, 255, 255, 0, 0, -1);
  box(400, 100, 100);
}

function windowResized() {
  resizeCanvas(windowWidth, windowHeight);
}

Credits​

Behind every great library stands the work of talented individuals and resources that make it all possible. p5.asciify wouldn't be what it is today without these valuable contributions. While the Contributors page honors the amazing people who've helped shape this project, this section celebrates the outstanding resources that are woven directly into the fabric of the p5.asciify codebase.

The development of p5.asciify owes tremendous gratitude to the creators who've shared their work under generous licenses, making this library possible. These core components deserve a spotlight of their own:

Font​

p5.asciify uses UrsaFont as its default font, created by UrsaFrank. This font is available under the CC0 (Creative Commons Zero) license, meaning it's dedicated to the public domain and can be freely used for any purpose.

Though not required by the license, I greatly appreciate UrsaFrank's contribution to the open-source community by making this high-quality textmode font freely available.

UrsaFont font sample

UrsaFont

256+ glyphs
CC0 (Creative Commons Zero)

An 8x8 pixel monospaced font inspired by the ANSI text standard, created specifically for textmode art and games. Available in two versions: UrsaFont ANSI, closely adhering to the standard ANSI set, and UrsaFont, featuring additional unique shapes for extended creativity. Both variants include inverted color options, offering versatile artistic possibilities. Distributed freely under the permissive CC0 1.0 Universal Licence.

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