Create JSON Art
Convert images to valid JSON strings that look like ASCII art. Runs entirely in your browser, so your data never leaves your device.
Drop a file here, or click to browse
Files never leave your device
Output
The result appears here as you type.
How to use Create JSON Art
- 1. Add an image. Drop or browse for the image file you want turned into art. Any common image format works, since it gets sampled pixel by pixel to build the output.
- 2. Set the Columns and Characters. Choose how many Columns wide the result should be, and pick Characters as ASCII for a classic look or Blocks for a denser, more solid appearance.
- 3. Decide on inverting brightness. Turn on Invert brightness if the image is dark on light or you want the character density mapping flipped, which often helps light subjects on a dark background read better.
- 4. Copy the JSON string array. Copy the resulting array of strings, where each entry is one row of art, and paste it wherever you want a valid JSON representation of the image.
When to use Create JSON Art
Create JSON Art converts an image into an array of strings that render as ASCII or block art, while still being completely valid JSON. It is for turning a picture into something you can embed in a JSON payload, a code block, or a chat message.
- Embedding a logo in a test fixture. A terminal-output test needs a recognizable logo baked into its expected JSON result. Convert a logo image into a string array and drop it straight into the fixture file.
- Generating a novelty chatbot payload. You want to send a piece of ASCII art through a bot or API that only accepts JSON strings, so you need the art already formatted as an array of lines.
- Making printable art that's still valid JSON. You want a fun demonstration piece that doubles as both a picture and a technically correct JSON document, useful for talks about creative uses of a strict format.
- Decorating a README with a JSON code block. A project's README could use a bit of visual flair inside a fenced JSON code block. Convert a small image and paste the resulting array straight into the markdown file.
Examples
Turn a photo into a JSON string array
Input
photo.png
Output
[ " .:-=+*# ", " .:==++**# ", … ]
About the Create JSON Art tool
Create JSON Art runs as plain JavaScript in your browser tab, with no server behind it. Convert images to valid JSON strings that look like ASCII art. Whatever you put in stays on your device from start to finish.
The tool is part of EditSafely's JSON Tools section, 90 single-purpose utilities built around the same idea: open the page, get the result, keep your data to yourself.
You can shape the output with 3 settings, including Columns, Characters and Invert brightness, and the result refreshes the moment you change one. A worked example further down the page shows exactly what the tool produces for a real input.
That local-first design has practical benefits beyond privacy. The tool keeps working on a flaky connection once the page has loaded, results are instant because nothing round-trips to a server, and it is safe to use with confidential material.
Frequently asked questions
Is Create JSON Art free to use?
Yes, it is completely free. All 2,658 tools on EditSafely work without an account, a subscription or usage limits.
Are my files uploaded to a server?
Everything happens locally. Your browser downloads the tool's code once, then does all the processing itself; nothing you enter is transmitted, stored or logged. You can even go offline after the page loads and it will still work.
Which files does Create JSON Art accept?
It accepts images in any common format (PNG, JPG, WebP, GIF and more). There is no file size cap imposed by a server; very large files are limited only by your device's memory.
Do I need to sign up or install anything?
No. The tool works in any modern browser on desktop, tablet or phone. There is no account to create, no extension to add and no software to install.
How do I use the result?
The output panel has a one-click copy button, and you can keep refining the input while you work; the result updates in place as you type.