Typewriter art is a picture built from typed characters, and a good result depends far more on the photo and a few settings than on any special skill. Here is how to get a clean, striking result the first time.
How a photo becomes typed characters
A typewriter can only place one character in each cell of a fixed grid, so Inkstrike shrinks your photo until each pixel matches one cell. It then measures how dark each cell is and picks a character to match. A full stop leaves almost no ink, while an @ or an M leaves a lot. The darkest areas can also be struck twice, or have a second character typed over the first, exactly as a typist would to get a heavier mark.
Choose a photo that suits the medium
Typed characters are coarse, so simple pictures read best. Look for a clear subject, strong contrast between light and dark, and an uncluttered background. Portraits taken in side light, silhouettes, buildings, animals and landscapes with a bright sky all work well. Busy scenes with lots of mid-grey tones tend to turn muddy.
The three settings that matter most
- Detail sets how many characters wide the picture is. Around 80 suits most photos. Go higher for portraits and lower for bold, graphic results.
- Contrast pushes darks darker and lights lighter. If your result looks flat, raise it. If highlights disappear, lower it.
- Lighter or darker shifts the whole picture. Typed art usually needs to be a little lighter than a normal photo, because ink builds up quickly.
Pick the keys and the font
The classic set of symbols gives the smoothest tones. Letters and numbers look more like a real typed page, and repeating a single word gives a personal touch. The font matters too. Courier Prime is faithful and clean, while Special Elite has the uneven, inky look of a worn machine.
Fixing common problems
- Face looks like a blob: increase Detail and Contrast, or try a photo with lighter background.
- Subject fades into the paper: try Invert, especially for light subjects on dark backgrounds.
- Too messy: lower Wobble and turn off Type over the darkest areas.
Saving your work
Save a PNG for sharing, or an SVG with outlined letters for print and design tools. You can also save the plain text, or export a typing animation that types the picture out one key at a time.