How do I convert an image to ASCII art?

Upload any image (PNG, JPG, GIF, WebP) by clicking the upload button or dragging and dropping. Adjust resolution and character set, then copy or download the result.

Is this tool free to use?

Yes. Browser conversion is free with no sign-up required, and trusted PlatPhorm or Vercel Blob image artifact conversion is public. Untrusted external image URLs and protected write actions require PLATPHORM_API_KEY.

Does this tool support MCP (Model Context Protocol)?

Yes. The tool exposes an MCP endpoint at /api/mcp with tools for inline image conversion, trusted artifact URL conversion, BrowserOps screenshot conversion, artifact manifests, health checks, charset listing, and webhook management. Discovery at /.well-known/mcp.json.

Can BrowserOps or AgentUI publish screenshot artifacts to ASCII without a key?

Yes. Trusted *.platphormnews.com and Vercel Blob image artifact URLs can be converted without PLATPHORM_API_KEY. External or untrusted image URLs require PLATPHORM_API_KEY and SSRF, type, and size guardrails.

ascii.platphormnews.com

Automation Guide

The primary UI stays focused on human image-to-ASCII conversion. Automation uses public REST routes, chunked artifact manifests, NDJSON streams, and MCP tools around the same real conversion engine. Text payloads stay compact; color travels as rich clipboard, local deASCII handoff, or API sidecar metadata.

Transport Matrix

Capability	Status	Routes	Use
REST synchronous conversion	implemented	/api/convert, /api/convert/url, /api/convert/browserops, /api/convert/agentui	Small and medium conversions, trusted artifact URL intake, and standard request/response automation.
Chunked artifact manifests	implemented	/api/convert/chunked, /api/artifacts/{id}/manifest, /api/artifacts/{id}/chunks	Large output, proof artifacts, continuation links, hashes, and export formats.
NDJSON conversion stream	implemented	/api/convert/stream	Line-delimited manifest and chunk records for agents that want progressive reads without SSE.
MCP JSON-RPC tools	implemented	/api/mcp, /.well-known/mcp.json	Agent tool calls, resources, prompts, conversion previews, artifact manifests, and public-safe introspection.
Atom/RSS update feeds	implemented_for_updates	/atom.xml, /rss.xml, /feed.xml	Public change discovery and capability updates. These feeds are not conversion transports.
Server-Sent Events	not_implemented_not_required	none	Not needed for current conversion because NDJSON streaming, chunk manifests, and MCP cover automation needs.
Async queued conversion jobs	planned	none	Future durable jobs for long-running, persisted, or multi-step conversions once durable storage is configured.

Recommended Flows

Human Use

Use the converter screen for upload, tuning, preview, copy, local text/PNG/Markdown export, and the explicit deASCII action when reconstruction should open with compact text and chroma attached.

Agent Use

Prefer MCP for tool calling and artifact discovery. Use REST for direct integration. Use /api/convert/stream when the client wants line-delimited records.

Workflow Proof

BrowserOps and AgentUI should send a real screenshot image artifact URL or inline image payload. A run URL without screenshot evidence is not enough to claim ASCII conversion.

Public Boundary

Trusted *.platphormnews.com and Vercel Blob image artifact URLs convert without PLATPHORM_API_KEY. Untrusted external image URLs, persistence, publishing, outbound handoffs, webhook mutation, and report generation require the shared platform key. Atom/RSS feeds at https://ascii.platphormnews.com/atom.xml and https://ascii.platphormnews.com/rss.xml are for public update discovery, not conversion transport.