Getting started
What txtfx is, how to build your first scene, and the full keyboard shortcut reference
This page covers what txtfx does, how to create your first animated scene, and how the editor is laid out.
txtfx turns images into animated ASCII art. It converts a photo into a character grid, then composites animated effects — rain, fire, glitch, and more — on top. It is free, open source, and runs entirely in your browser. Rendering is deterministic: every effect is seeded, so the same scene always produces the same frames, in the preview and in every export.
Quick start
Open the editor
Go to /editor. No account or install is needed.
Upload an image
Click the canvas or drag an image onto it. txtfx builds the ASCII grid from the image's brightness.
Add an effect
Click Add Effect in the right panel and pick one of the 18 built-in effects. See the effects reference, or preview them all in the effects gallery.
Adjust settings
Use the sliders to tune colors, speed, and glow. Tweak the text overlay itself under ASCII settings.
Export or share
Use Export for files (PNG, GIF, WebM, APNG, HTML) or Share for a link you can also embed.
Editor layout
- Left panel — tools (select, brushes, pan), mask controls, and layer visibility toggles
- Center — canvas with your image and the ASCII overlay
- Right panel — ASCII settings, effect controls, and presets
- Bottom — timeline with playback controls and per-effect timing bars
Keyboard shortcuts
Shortcuts are ignored while you are typing in an input field.
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
Space | Play / pause (restarts from the beginning if the playhead is at the end) |
S | Select tool |
B | Foreground brush |
N | Background brush |
V | Pan tool |
M | Toggle mask overlay |
[ / ] | Decrease / increase brush size |
Home | Jump playhead to start (pauses) |
End | Jump playhead to end (pauses) |
Cmd/Ctrl + Z | Undo |
Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + Z or Cmd/Ctrl + Y | Redo |
On the timeline, ← / → nudge a focused effect-bar handle — see Timeline.
Guides
Effects
All 18 built-in effects with their parameters and defaults
ASCII settings
Font size, character ramp, blend mode, and the text overlay
Masks
Paint regions to control where effects appear
Timeline
Playback, effect timing bars, and one-shot vs continuous modes
Exporting
PNG, GIF, APNG, WebM/MP4, standalone HTML, and scene files
Sharing
Generate a public link to your scene
Embedding
Put a scene on your own site with a web component or inline snippet