How to Use ASCII Art on Facebook

Early text art was made using typewriters.

ASCII art, also known as text art, uses alphanumeric characters, punctuation marks and other keyboard symbols to make pictures and decorative text. You can use ASCII art on Facebook in place of conventional images in your notes, status updates and profile. You can make your own ASCII art by typing characters into a text editor such as JavE, found at jave.de, or using an ASCII image generator like the one at GlassGiant.com/ascii/. You can also copy and paste elements from libraries of ASCII art, such as Chris.com's ASCII art collection.

Things You'll Need

• ASCII art library
• Text to ASCII font convertor
• Image to ASCII convertor
• Scrap paper, optional
• Image editing program, such as Microsoft Paint
• Text editor, such as JavE

Instructions

Using ASCII Art Libraries

1. Open Facebook in one browser window or tab and log in.

2. Open a separate tab or window. Navigate to a text art collection. For small pieces of text art such as smileys, try Muller-Godschalk.com's emoticon collection. For decorative elements designed for Facebook status messages, try Facebook Emoticons Symbols' collection of ASCII art shapes. For large pieces of text art to place in Facebook Notes or your Facebook Profile, try Chris.com's ASCII Art Collection or The ASCII Art Dictionary.

3. Select the piece of ASCII art you want to use, making sure that you get every line and character. If there is a signature, it's good manners to include this. Copy the ASCII art to your clipboard using the "Edit" menu or by holding "Ctrl" and pressing "C."

4. Switch back to the tab or window where you have Facebook open. Paste the text art into a note or your profile using the "Edit" menu or by holding "Ctrl" and pressing "V."

Using ASCII Text Generators

1. Open Facebook in your browser, log in.

2. Open a new window or tab. Navigate to an ASCII text generator, such as Network Science's ASCII Generator.

3. Type in the text you want to convert to a decorative ASCII font. Preview the text and change the font if necessary.

4. Copy the converted text from the output field of the generator and paste into a Facebook Note, your Facebook Profile or -- if the text is small enough -- into your status.

Using ASCII Image Generators

1. Launch your browser and load Facebook. Log in. Open a second window or tab. In the new tab, navigate to an ASCII image generator, such as GlassGiant.com's ASCII Art Generator.

2. Load the picture you want to convert to ASCII into the generator; simple images with strong contrasts work best.

3. Copy the ASCII image output by the generator and post to your Facebook Profile or a Note. Large ASCII images are not suitable for use in Status updates.

Making Your Own ASCII Art

1. Download and install an ASCII text editor, such as JavE. Launch the text editor.

2. Sketch your basic design onto scrap paper or use an image editing program, such as Microsoft Paint.

3. Load your drawing into the text editor or copy it freehand using the mouse.

4. Save your drawing. Copy and paste your ASCII art into the Facebook text field where you want it to appear.

Tips & Warnings

• Facebook doesn't support color text so your ASCII art must be black and white.

• If your ASCII art distorts, try replacing all the spaces to the left of the image with an unobtrusive character, such as an underscore or a period.

• Be careful when installing Facebook apps that offer you ASCII art functionality. Some are genuine but others are scams that can compromise the security of your Facebook account or infect your computer with malware.

References

• WebCitation: Development of (Ascii) Text Art: Joan G. Stark; Oct. 24, 2009
• Chris.com: ASCII Art; Chris Johnson
• Network Science: ASCII Generator
• GlassGiant.com: ASCII Art Generator
• Fiikus: Maija's ASCII Art Tutorial; Maija Haavisto; Feb. 2005
• Facebook Emoticons Symbols: Facebook Symbols for Status

Resources

• Andreas Freise: Ascii Art Dictionary
• Muller-Godschalk.com: Emoticons & Smileys -- Items
• JavE: Java Ascii Versatile Editor