[Previous] [Next] [Hitlist] [Get Thread] [Author Profile] [Post] [Reply] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Article 49 of 62 Subject: Answer: What ASCII pictures use for? From: dcau@casbah.acns.nwu.edu (Daniel Au) Date: 1995/11/17 Message-Id: <48i9a6$7qs@miso.wwa.com> Sender: boba@sashimi.wwa.com References: <48fgd1$lsu@miso.wwa.com> Organization: Northwestern University, Evanston IL Newsgroups: rec.arts.ascii,alt.ascii-Art Looking at scrambled letters, Richard Denison wrote: > >I was just wondering what the ASCII pictures are used for, do people keep >them because they look good or to be used in Signatures, WHY????? > Well, signatures are one reason for ascii pictures. They help to individualize and add character to an otherwise drab signature listing of one's name, email address, and address. You make good use of it in your sig: > ___ > |___| > | > / \ > /\/ \/\ Richard Michael Denison >_______/ \ / \________________________E-mail: rmd2@coventry.ac.uk____ > E X T R E M E '95 Coventry University, England Likewise, others include it in theirs as can be seen throughout the newsgroup and in my sig below. Here's an explanation from the ASCII ART FAQ: [excerpt] * Why use ASCII art instead of a GIF? ASCII art is used because: Standard ASCII art is If you can view text, ASCII art is also the the only type of you can view ASCII art most compact form of graphics easily (as it is made up of graphics. An ASCII transmitted and standard text picture can easily be instantly viewable on characters). No less than 1 K. In any terminal, conversion or special cases where resolution emulation, or software required to is not an issue, an communications view. Non-standard ASCII graphic can take software. It should (8 bit) ASCII art the place of a bitmap, also be printable on requires that the file EPS, or GIF of 20, 50, type of printer. be saved and "cat'd". 100 or more K! * What is ASCII art used for? ASCII art is used for many things, like: o EDUCATION - A periodic table or molecular model for example. o CROSS CULTURAL COMMUNICATION - Pictures are international. o BBS & SERVER SCREENS - Login and logoff screens, MUDs, promos, etc. o ENTERTAINMENT - Like a birthday 'card', holiday greetings, invitations, congradulatory messages, children's picture stories, etc. o VISUAL AID - Such as a wiring diagram, floor plan, illustrated instructions, or flow chart, to eliminate a long involved explanation with a graphic. o SIGNATURE FILES - of course :-) [end of quoting] I guess another reason, like you stated is that it looks good as well. For me it's fun to come up with a picture using only the charactres on the keyboard - almost like a limited 'palate' from which to work with and it's a challenge to come up with something. It's quite satisfying to finally finish a picture and realize that you were able to figure out how to put it together. Hope it whets your appetite for Ascii Art and I hope that you try some of your own. It can be quite addicting once you get started on it. *grin* Regards, -- Daniel /~~~~~\~\__ ________--------~~~~~~~~~~~~~= / @`\ ___--------~~~~~~~ _-~ | ~)~)~)~)~O~~ Northwestern University Medical School ~= | / /--------'~~-__ = Chicago, Illinois = -~_ \_____/ `----' ~~=__ _= | \__\___ ~==__ Daniel C. Au _= / /"\"\ ,---. ~~==__ =_ | ____\_/_/ |_____| ~~--__ http://pubweb.acns. = | /"\"\ |`~~~'| "Going to school ~~==_ nwu.edu/~dcau ~_ /| | | | |WATER| and making peanuts." ~~==__ _= M' \dcau_______\_/_/ |_____| ~~===_________= [Previous] [Next] [Hitlist] [Get Thread] [Author Profile] [Post] [Reply] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- [ Home ] - ] [ Search ] - ] [ Contacts ] - ] [ Help ] ----------------------------------------------------------------------------