How else can it be done? Any attempt to convert images or text into ASCII art automatically looks at best uninspired and boring and at worst like trash.

[–] Wootz@lemmy.world 5 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

I think "by hand" implies making ascii art in a text editor, rather than in a dedicated drawing tool that lets you paint characters etc.

[–] flying_sheep@lemmy.ml 2 points 11 months ago

That's exactly what I'm saying. Using pre-made characters looks cheap. Good enough for a 13-year-old’s geocities website, not good for something pretty.

[–] voidMainVoid@lemmy.world 5 points 11 months ago

There was an app for MacOS...7? I think. It was called ASCIIPaint, and it allowed you to draw these pictures using a mouse.