pip install numpy opencv-python pillow

python ascii_art.py

import os, platform
import numpy as np
import cv2
from PIL import Image, ImageFont, ImageDraw

DENSITY_MAP = {
    "1": "@%#*+=-:. ", 
    "2": "MWNXK0Okxdolc:;,. ", 
    "3": [chr(i) for i in range(32, 127)] 
}

def load_monospace_font(size=20):
    system = platform.system()
    mac = ["/System/Library/Fonts/Menlo.ttc", "/System/Library/Fonts/Monaco.ttf"]
    win = [r"C:\Windows\Fonts\consola.ttf", r"C:\Windows\Fonts\cour.ttf"]
    linux = ["/usr/share/fonts/truetype/dejavu/DejaVuSansMono.ttf"]

    search = mac if system == "Darwin" else win if system == "Windows" else linux
    for p in search:
        if os.path.exists(p):
            try: return ImageFont.truetype(p, size)
            except: pass
    return ImageFont.load_default()

font = load_monospace_font(20)

def get_font_cell(font):
    bbox = font.getbbox("M")
    return (bbox[2] - bbox[0], bbox[3] - bbox[1])

CELL = get_font_cell(font)

def glyph_bitmap(ch, font, cell):
    w, h = cell
    im = Image.new("L", (w, h), 0)
    d = ImageDraw.Draw(im)
    d.text((0, 0), ch, font=font, fill=255)
    return np.array(im, dtype=np.float32) / 255.0

def enhance_contrast(gray, gamma_val=1.2):
    clahe = cv2.createCLAHE(clipLimit=3.0, tileGridSize=(8,8))
    g = clahe.apply((gray * 255).astype(np.uint8)) / 255.0
    return np.clip(np.power(g, gamma_val), 0, 1)

def image_to_ascii_dynamic():
    path_input = input("Enter image path: ").strip()
    img_path = path_input.replace('"', '').replace("'", "")
    
    if not os.path.exists(img_path):
        print(f"File not found: {img_path}"); return

    print("\nSelect Density:\n1: Simple (@%#*+=-:.)\n2: Medium (Balanced)\n3: Full (Standard ASCII)")
    d_choice = input("Choice [1-3]: ")
    charset = DENSITY_MAP.get(d_choice, DENSITY_MAP["2"])

    is_grayscale = input("Enable Grayscale output? (y/n): ").lower() == 'y'
    cols = int(input("Width in characters (default 160): ") or 160)
    gamma_boost = float(input("Brightness/Gamma boost (default 1.2): ") or 1.2)
    
    glyphs = [(ch, glyph_bitmap(ch, font, CELL)) for ch in charset]

    img = cv2.imread(img_path)
    if img is None:
        print("Error: Could not decode image."); return
        
    img = cv2.cvtColor(img, cv2.COLOR_BGR2RGB)
    h, w = img.shape[:2]
    cw, ch = CELL
    rows = int(cols * (h/w) * (cw/ch))
    target_px = (cols*cw, rows*ch)
    img_small = cv2.resize(img, target_px, interpolation=cv2.INTER_AREA)

    gray = cv2.cvtColor(img_small, cv2.COLOR_RGB2GRAY) / 255.0
    gray = enhance_contrast(gray, gamma_boost)

    out = Image.new("RGB", target_px, (0,0,0))
    draw = ImageDraw.Draw(out)

    print(f"Generating {cols}x{rows} ASCII art...")

    for r in range(rows):
        for c in range(cols):
            x0, y0 = c*cw, r*ch
            patch = gray[y0:y0+ch, x0:x0+cw]

            best_char = min(glyphs, key=lambda g: np.sum(np.abs(patch - g[1])))[0]

            color_sample = img_small[y0:y0+ch, x0:x0+cw].mean(axis=(0,1))
            if is_grayscale:
                avg = int(sum(color_sample)/3)
                color = (avg, avg, avg)
            else:
                color = tuple(int(v) for v in color_sample)

            draw.text((x0, y0), best_char, font=font, fill=color)

    out_name = "output_ascii.png"
    out.save(out_name)
    print(f"Done! Saved to: {os.path.abspath(out_name)}")

if __name__ == "__main__":
    image_to_ascii_dynamic()

distance = sum(|pixel_patch - character_bitmap|)