Original Usenet thread from alt.ascii-art, started 14 Dec 2001.
Archives are Back
alt.ascii-art
· 10 messages · 14 Dec 2001 - 27 Dec 2001
Google Groups http://groups.google.com/ goes back as far as 1981 now.
I've been browsing around the ASCII art archives and found this
drawing tutorial that I haven't seen any where else.
For some reason it won't cut and paste nicely into here. Seems to mess
up the bottom of each picture.
From: Normand Veilleux <nve...@emr1.emr.ca>
Newsgroups: rec.arts.ascii,alt.ascii-art,alt.binaries.pictures.ascii
Subject: The Making of an ASCII Mona Lisa
Date: 27 Jun 1994 20:26:35 -0500
Organization: WorldWide Access - Chicago Area Internet Services
312-282-8605
Lines: 572
Sender: bob...@gagme.wwa.com
Approved: bob...@gagme.wwa.com
Message-ID: <2unu8b$2e...@gagme.wwa.com>
NNTP-Posting-Host: gagme.wwa.com
I have seen several ascii versions of the Mona Lisa circulating in
alt.ascii-art but I was not happy with any of them. They all
appeared to be converted GIFs and even the best one, which was
distinctly superior to all the others, only looked decent when I
stood back at least 5 feet from it. It also had the drawback of
being stretched vertically. So I decided to make my own.
I also wanted to take this opportunity to give a concrete example
of how the special grid technique that I use, accelerates and
simplifies the creation of many ASCII drawings. I wanted to
explain, as much as possible, what was involved in drawing by
"hand" the ASCII version of a relatively complex picture while
starting from scratch.
I have described the grid technique in a previous post (in Jan.
'94), but a recapitulation is necessary before going any further.
Basically, the grid was nothing more than a series of characters
that filled up the area taken by the drawing. I realized that the
characters composing the grid would be more useful if they were
chosen to help pinpoint where a particular portion of the drawing
was located within the grid.
There was many ways of doing this, but I opted for the following
rectangle (10 x 5 characters):
1.2.3.4.5.
2.A.B.C.D.
3.E.F.G.H.
4.I.J.K.L.
5.M.N.O.P.
This rectangle was then replicated horizontally and vertically
until an area the size of an 8.5" x 11" page was filled up. I
later decided to replace the periods by spaces to "lighten" the
grid. This created an electronic grid which looked like this:
1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4
2 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D
2 A B C
3 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H
3 E F G
4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L
4 I J K
5 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P
5 M N O
1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 4
2 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D
2 A B C
3 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H
3 E F G
4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L
4 I J K
5 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P
5 M N O
The characters 1 to 5 produced horizontal and vertical guidelines.
With these guidelines, I could quickly locate the approximate area
of the grid that I wanted to work on. To pinpoint the exact
location, I relied on the letters A to P which appeared only once
inside each rectangle.
Of course, the electronic grid alone was not very useful until I
could somehow relate it to the drawing. To do so, I printed out
the grid and then photocopied it on an acetate for reusability.
Then, whenever I wanted to work on a picture, I taped a photocopy
of it to the back of the acetate and brought up the electronic grid
on the screen. By the intermediary of the grid, I automatically
had a relationship between the picture on paper and the screen.
TIP: If you ever print a grid on an acetate, make sure to cover the
acetate with clear tape afterwards to prevent your fingers
from eroding the toner. I learned the hard way.
Now, back to Mona. You may find the discussion a little difficult
to follow at times without a picture, so either find a copy of the
Mona Lisa or print out this file.
In search of a decent reproduction of the Mona Lisa I went to the
closest library and found an excellent example on page 25 of the
book "Leonard de Vinci" published by McGraw-Hill in 1974. The
picture measured about 9.5" x 12" and was in full colour.
Next, I photocopied the picture. The lowest darkness setting gave
the best result, but was still a little bit too dark in certain
areas to distinguish some of the lines. Before addressing that
problem, I decided to cut the photocopy so that the resulting
picture could fit in 55 lines by 78 columns. This was
approximately double the height of the head and was wide enough to
show a large portion of both shoulders.
To make the barely discernable lines more visible, I highlighted
them with a blue pen. I made sure to draw those lines about one
sixteenth of an inch thick so they would be clearly visible.
Experience had taught me that very fine lines were often too
difficult to distinguish from a dark background once the grid was
superimposed on the picture. The affected lines were: the lines
between veil and hair, hair and background, chin and throat, and
the lines on each side of the face and on each side of the arched
garment extending to her left shoulder (referred to as the shawl in
the rest of this document). While I was at it, I also highlighted
the contours of the lips, nose and eyes in the same manner. I then
taped the touched up photocopy behind the acetate which had the
grid.
The next step was to load the electronic version of the grid in my
favourite word processor (WordPerfect). Before starting work, I
decided to represent the dark areas of the picture with an "8" (I'm
sure you guessed that), the shawl with an "I" and the veil with an
"8" if it was covering any hair and with an "I" if it was not (or
to show its border in the hair). I chose those characters since
they contrasted very well: it was easy to distinguish a line of
I's in an area filled with 8's.
Then, I determined which character of the acetate corresponded to
the top of her left shoulder and located that character on the
electronic grid. While holding the acetate in my left hand and
marking my position on it with my thumb, I delimited the contour
(only one character wide) around the bottom of the picture (counter
clockwise) up to her right shoulder by replacing the characters of
the grid with 8's except for the ends of the shawl which needed
I's.
I then continued up the picture, line by line, while overwriting
the grid's characters with spaces until I got to the first
character delimiting the border of Mona's hair or veil, as
determined from the acetate. At that point, I typed one of four
characters: "8", "d", "`" or "," depending on which one
corresponded best to the dark portion of the picture at that
location on the acetate. I then typed two more 8's and a space;
just enough to define the contour. Of course, when I was in the
area where the veil was the first thing to be reached I used I's
instead of 8's.
I repeated that process for each line until I reached the top of
the head. There, I decided to follow the inside line of the hair
while going down the right side of the picture. So, I first
started by defining the hair line on the forehead and filling the
top of the head with 8's. Then, starting at the inside line for
the hair I typed 8's until I reached the other side of the hair and
then added a "b" or a "," if necessary. I also made sure to drop
an "I" along the way at the exact location where I had shown the
veil to start covering the hair (it was a blue line on the
photocopy). I continued this, line by line, until I reached the
top of the shawl.
So, half an hour after loading the grid I was at this stage:
_______
_,,ad8888888888bba,_
,8888888888888888888888888,
,888888888888888888888888888888,
,8888888888888888888888888888888888,
d88888PP"""""""YY888888888888888888888,
,88 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 ""Y8888888888888,
,II 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E IIII8888888888,
,II 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J `888III8888888,
,II P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N `888888I888888,
,II 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 `888888I8888b
,II C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 8888888I8888,
II8 G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H `8888888I888b
II8 K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 88888888I888
II8 O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 88888888I888,
II8 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 ,888888888I88b
,II B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 8888888888I888
II8 F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 8888888888I888,
,II J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 8888888888I888b
II8 N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 88888888888I888
II8 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 88888888888I888,
II8 B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 88888888888I888b
II8 F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 88888888888I8888,
II8 J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 88888888888I8888b
II8 N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 88888888888I88888
II8 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 88888888888I88888
`II B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 88888888888I88888
II8 F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 8888888888I888888,
`II J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 8888888888I888888b
`II O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 8888888888I8888888
`II 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 `888888888I8888888,
II8 D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 888888888I88888888,
,II G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H
`88888888I888888888,
II8 K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4
88888888I8888888888,
II8 O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 5
88888888I888888888888,
,II 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1
`8888888I88888888888888,
II8 C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 2
8888888I888888888888888b
,II F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 3
,8888888I8888888888888888
,88 J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L
4 I J I
,88 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P
5 M N I
,88 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 I
,88 C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D
2 A B I
,88 G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H
3 E F I
d88 J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L
4 I J I
8 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P
5 M N 8
8 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 8
8 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D
2 A B 8
8 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H
3 E F 8
8 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L
4 I J 8
8 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P
5 M N 8
8 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5
1 2 3 8
8 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D
2 A B 8
8 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H
3 E F 8
8 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L
4 I J 8
8888888888888888888888888888888IIIIIIIIIIIIII88888888888888888888888888888888
Here, it seemed appropriate to fill in the shawl with I's which
automatically led to filling in the bottom right corner with 8's
and adding my name. I then completed the small portion of hair at
the top of the shawl. Then, I defined the upper portion of the
garment, beside the veil, and filled in the section below that with
8's. Next, I filled the rest of the hair (on the left side of the
picture) with 8's while defining the hair's inside line. I also
filled in, with spaces, the area of skin from the top of the
garment up to the throat. Next, I drew the veil on the forehead
and filled in the rest of the forehead with spaces. And finally I
smoothed all the lines drawn so far, leaving the face for last.
So, after one hour of work I was at this stage:
_______
_,,ad8888888888bba,_
,ad88888I888888888888888ba,
,88888888I88888888888888888888a,
,d888888888I8888888888888888888888b,
d88888PP"""" ""YY88888888888888888888b,
,d88"'__,,--------,,,,._ ""Y8888888888888,
,8II-'" "```IIII8888888888,
,I88' `Y88III8888888,
,II88I `Y88888I888888,
,II888' `888888I8888b
,II8888 Y888888I8888,
II88888 `8888888I888b
II88888, 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 88888888I888
II88888I 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 88888888I888,
II88888' 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 ,888888888I88I
,II88888 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D d888888888I888
III88888, 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 8888888888I888,
,III88888I 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 8888888888I888I
III888888I 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 88888888888I888
II88888888, 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 88888888888I888,
II88888888I A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 88888888888I888b
]I888888888, E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 88888888888I8888,
II888888888I I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 88888888888I8888I
II8888888888b N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 88888888888I88888
II888888888888a 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 88888888888I88888
`II8888888888888b, D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 88888888888I88888
II888888888888888ba,_ E F G H 3 E F G H 8888888888I888888,
`II88888888888888888b I J K L 4 I J K L I888888888I888888b
`II88888888888888888 M N O P 5 M N O P I888888888I8888888
`II8888888888888888 `888888888I8888888,
II8888888888888888, Y88888888I8888888b,
,II8888888888888888b
`88888888I88888888b,
II888888888888888P"I
88888888I8888888888,
II888888888888P" `
Y8888888I88888888888b,
,II888888888P"
`8888888I8888888888888b,
II888888888'
8888888I888888888888888b
,II888888888
,8888888I8888888888888888
,d88888888888
d888888I8888888888IIIIIII
,ad888888888888I
8888888I8888IIIIIIIIIIIII
,d888888888888888'
888888IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
,d888888888888P'8P'
Y888IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
,8888888888888, "
,IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
d888888888888888,
,IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
888888888888888888a, _
,IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII888888888
888888888888888888888ba,_d'
,IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII88888888888888
8888888888888888888888888888bbbaaa,,,______,IIIIIIIIIIIIIII888888888888888888
88888888888888888888888888888888888888888IIIIIIIIIIIIIII888888888888888888888
8888888888888888888888888888888888888888IIIIIIIIIIIIII88888888888888888888888
888888888888888888888888888888888888888IIIIIIIIIIIIII888888888888888888888888
8888888888888888888888888888888888888IIIIIIIIIIIIII88888888888888888888888888
88888888888888888888888888888888888IIIIIIIIIIIIII8888888888888888888888888888
8888888888888888888888888888888888IIIIIIIIIIIIII88888888888888888
Normand 88
88888888888888888888888888888888IIIIIIIIIIIIII8888888888888888888
Veilleux 88
8888888888888888888888888888888IIIIIIIIIIIIII88888888888888888888888888888888
I found the shawl to be much too pale in comparison to the rest of
the garment, so I tried replacing the I's with darker characters
such as M, H, A, etc. Unfortunately, even though I could see the
difference on the screen reasonably well, I could not see any
difference between those characters and the surrounding 8's when I
used the reduced view feature of WordPerfect. I have been using
this feature to view an entire page at a time on the screen. It's
only when I tried a 'Z' that I was able to distinguish between the
two characters in the reduced view. So, 'Z' had my vote.
I then worked on the face for about half an hour, defining the
mouth, nose, eyes, etc. I tried my preferred style first, but it
looked awful so I tried line draw instead without any more success.
Nothing seemed to work, so I reverted back to my preferred style of
ASCII drawing and to be true to it I did not add any shading to the
face.
This was how the picture looked at that stage:
_______
_,,ad8888888888bba,_
,ad88888I888888888888888ba,
,88888888I88888888888888888888a,
,d888888888I8888888888888888888888b,
d88888PP"""" ""YY88888888888888888888b,
,d88"'__,,--------,,,,._ ""Y8888888888888,
,8II-'" "```IIII8888888888,
,I88' `Y88III8888888,
,II88I `Y88888I888888,
,II888' `888888I8888b
,II8888 Y888888I8888,
II88888 `8888888I888b
II88888, .aag, ,gaaP"" 88888888I888
II88888I ___"b d" ____ 88888888I888,
II88888' <^I88>I I <^I888' ,888888888I88I
,II88888 . `""" I I `""" . d888888888I888
III88888, ```` b '''' 8888888888I888,
,III88888I 8888888888I888I
III888888I , \, 88888888888I888
II88888888, I' "I 88888888888I888,
II88888888I `"baad"' ,88888888888I888b
]I888888888, ,P88888888888I8888,
II888888888I "Y88bd888P" ,d" 88888888888I8888I
II8888888888b `""""" _,8" ,88888888888I88888
II888888888888a _,P"' ,d88888888888I88888
`II8888888888888b, _,d"' ,aP"88888888888I88888
II888888888888888ba,__,,ad"" _,aP" 8888888888I888888,
`II88888888888888888b"ba,,,,aadP"' I888888888I888888b
`II88888888888888888 `""""' I888888888I8888888
`II8888888888888888 `888888888I8888888,
II8888888888888888, Y88888888I8888888b,
,II8888888888888888b
`88888888I88888888b,
II888888888888888P"I
88888888I8888888888,
II888888888888P" `
Y8888888I88888888888b,
,II888888888P"
`8888888I8888888888888b,
II888888888'
8888888I888888888888888b
,II888888888
,8888888I8888888888888888
,d88888888888
d888888I8888888888ZZZZZZZ
,ad888888888888I
8888888I8888ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
,d888888888888888'
888888IZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
,d888888888888P'8P'
Y888ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
,8888888888888, "
,ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
d888888888888888,
,ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
888888888888888888a, _
,ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ888888888
888888888888888888888ba,_d'
,ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ88888888888888
8888888888888888888888888888bbbaaa,,,______,ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ888888888888888888
88888888888888888888888888888888888888888ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ888888888888888888888
8888888888888888888888888888888888888888ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ88888888888888888888888
888888888888888888888888888888888888888ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ888888888888888888888888
8888888888888888888888888888888888888ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ88888888888888888888888888
88888888888888888888888888888888888ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ8888888888888888888888888888
8888888888888888888888888888888888ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ88888888888888888
Normand 88
88888888888888888888888888888888ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ8888888888888888888
Veilleux 88
8888888888888888888888888888888ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ88888888888888888888888888888888
Since I could not seem to improve the face, I decided to try and
experiment with shading to see if that could help. Well, it did
not turn out the way I thought it would: the shading was too pale.
So I ended up losing half an hour to get to this stage:
_______
_,,ad8888888888bba,_
,ad88888I888888888888888ba,
,88888888I88888888888888888888a,
,d88888888I88888888888888888888888b,
d88888PP""" """YY88888888888888888888b,
,d88"'__,,--------,,,;:::""Y8888888888888,
,8II:'" .,:.":::IIII8888888888,
,I88:. ...::::::Y88III8888888,
,II88I:. :..:::::Y88888I888888,
,II888'.. :.:...:::::888888I8888b
,II8888. .::::::Y888888I8888,
II88888: .:::::::8888888I888b
II88888; .aag, ,gaaP""... .:.::::::88888888I888
II88888I:::::::"b d":::::;;::, :..:::::88888888I888,
II88888'::<^I88>I I::.<^I888' ..:.::;888888888I88I
,II88888 . `""" I I:.. `""" . ..:.::d888888888I888
III88888, ```` b;. '''' ..:.:::8888888888I888,
,III88888I :. ..:.::::8888888888I888I
III888888I , :, :::.::::88888888888I888
II88888888;: I' "I :.:.:::::88888888888I888,
II88888888I:. `"baad": .:::.::::88888888888I888b
]I888888888;:.:. :.:..:.:: ..:.:.:::::88888888888I8888,
II888888888I:. ."Y88bd888P" ..::.::::::88888888888I8888I
II8888888888b::. `""""'.:.:.:.::.::::::;88888888888I88888
II888888888888a:. :::::.:. .:,aP:::::;d88888888888I88888
`II8888888888888b;. ..::.;aP":::::;aP:88888888888I88888
II888888888888888ba,__,,aP"::::::;aP::::8888888888I888888,
`II88888888888888888b"ba;;;;aadP":::::::I888888888I888888b
`II88888888888888888 .:::::::::::::::::I888888888I8888888
`II8888888888888888 .::::::::::::::..`888888888I8888888,
II8888888888888888, ..::.:::::.:.. Y88888888I8888888b,
,II8888888888888888b .::..:..
`88888888I88888888b,
II888888888888888P"I ..:.
88888888I8888888888,
II888888888888P"::.`
Y8888888I88888888888b,
,II888888888P".:::
`8888888I8888888888888b,
II888888888'
8888888I888888888888888b
Later, I decided to give line drawing another chance and started
working on the face with no shading. I managed to get a decent
looking nose in about 5 minutes so I continued and slowly but
surely the rest of the face took on a new look that was much better
than anything obtained so far. It took about half an hour of trial
and error to get to this:
_______
_,,ad8888888888bba,_
,ad88888I888888888888888ba,
,88888888I88888888888888888888a,
,d888888888I8888888888888888888888b,
d88888PP"""" ""YY88888888888888888888b,
,d88"'__,,--------,,,,._ ""Y8888888888888,
,8II-'" "```IIII8888888888,
,I88' `Y88III8888888,
,II88I `Y88888I888888,
,II888' `888888I8888b
,II8888 Y888888I8888,
II88888 `8888888I888b
II88888, ---. ..----- 88888888I888
II88888I _,,_ `. .' _,,_ 88888888I888,
II88888' <'(@@> | | <'(@@> ,888888888I88I
,II88888 `""" | | `""" d888888888I888
III88888, ` 8888888888I888,
,III88888I 8888888888I888I
III888888I , ', 88888888888I888
II88888888, (_ _) 88888888888I888,
II88888888I `--' ,88888888888I888b
]I888888888, ,P88888888888I8888,
II888888888I "Y88bd888P" ,d" 88888888888I8888I
II8888888888b `""""" _,8" ,88888888888I88888
II888888888888a _,P"' ,d88888888888I88888
`II8888888888888b, _,d"' ,aP"88888888888I88888
II888888888888888ba,__,,ad"" _,aP" 8888888888I888888,
`II88888888888888888b"ba,,,,aadP"' I888888888I888888b
`II88888888888888888 `""""' I888888888I8888888
`II8888888888888888 `888888888I8888888,
II8888888888888888, Y88888888I8888888b,
,II8888888888888888b
`88888888I88888888b,
II888888888888888P"I
88888888I8888888888,
II888888888888P" `
Y8888888I88888888888b,
,II888888888P"
`8888888I8888888888888b,
II888888888'
888888I8888888888888888b
,II888888888
,888888I88888888888888888
,d88888888888
d888888I8888888888ZZZZZZZ
,ad888888888888I
8888888I8888ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
,d888888888888888'
888888IZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
,d888888888888P'8P'
Y888ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
,8888888888888, "
,ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
d888888888888888,
,ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
888888888888888888a, _
,ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ888888888
888888888888888888888ba,_d'
,ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ88888888888888
8888888888888888888888888888bbbaaa,,,______,ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ888888888888888888
88888888888888888888888888888888888888888ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ888888888888888888888
8888888888888888888888888888888888888888ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ88888888888888888888888
888888888888888888888888888888888888888ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ888888888888888888888888
8888888888888888888888888888888888888ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ88888888888888888888888888
88888888888888888888888888888888888ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ8888888888888888888888888888
8888888888888888888888888888888888ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ88888888888888888
Normand 88
88888888888888888888888888888888ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ8888888888888888888
Veilleux 88
8888888888888888888888888888888ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ88888888888888888888888888888888
I decided to consider this the final unshaded version.
Now, the question remained: would it be worthwhile to add in the
shading? I showed the unshaded version of the picture to a friend
who is a graphic designer. It didn't take him long to mention
shading as the next step. I showed him the first attempt
(displayed above) and admitted that I had no idea how to improve
it. He suggested using a printed copy of my unshaded picture and
drawing the shading on it first, before attempting to draw it on
the computer.
Well, that almost discouraged me right there. Drawing simple stuff
on paper was not a problem, but when it came to shading I didn't
have a clue how it could be done. He helped by pointing out that
I could start by drawing the outer edge of the faintest shading as
though it were a regular object. I could then define another line
that would represent the "middle ground" of the shading. He
suggested not to use more than 2 or 3 different levels of shading.
So off to the drawing board I went.
I did not keep all the stages of the shading, but suffice to say
that it took about twice as much time then all the rest of the
picture. This was the final result of the shaded version:
_______
_,,ad8888888888bba,_
,ad88888I888888888888888ba,
,88888888I88888888888888888888a,
,d888888888I8888888888888888888888b,
d88888PP"""" ""YY88888888888888888888b,
,d88"'__,,--------,,,,.;ZZZY8888888888888,
,8IIl'" ;;l"ZZZIII8888888888,
,I88l;' ;lZZZZZ888III8888888,
,II88Zl;. ;llZZZZZ888888I888888,
,II888Zl;. .;;;;;lllZZZ888888I8888b
,II8888Z;; `;;;;;''llZZ8888888I8888,
II88888Z;' .;lZZZ8888888I888b
II88888Z; _,aaa, .,aaaaa,__.l;llZZZ88888888I888
II88888IZZZZZZZZZ, .ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ;llZZ88888888I888,
II88888IZZ<'(@@>Z| |ZZZ<'(@@>ZZZZ;;llZZ888888888I88I
,II88888; `""" ;| |ZZ; `""" ;;llZ8888888888I888
II888888l `;; .;llZZ8888888888I888,
,II888888Z; ;;; .;;llZZZ8888888888I888I
III888888Zl; .., `;; ,;;lllZZZ88888888888I888
II88888888Z;;...;(_ _) ,;;;llZZZZ88888888888I888,
II88888888Zl;;;;;' `--'Z;. .,;;;;llZZZZ88888888888I888b
]I888888888Z;;;;' ";llllll;..;;;lllZZZZ88888888888I8888,
II888888888Zl.;;"Y88bd888P";;,..;lllZZZZZ88888888888I8888I
II8888888888Zl;.; `"PPP";;;,..;lllZZZZZZZ88888888888I88888
II888888888888Zl;;. `;;;l;;;;lllZZZZZZZZW88888888888I88888
`II8888888888888Zl;. ,;;lllZZZZZZZZWMZ88888888888I88888
II8888888888888888ZbaalllZZZZZZZZZWWMZZZ8888888888I888888,
`II88888888888888888b"WWZZZZZWWWMMZZZZZZI888888888I888888b
`II88888888888888888;ZZMMMMMMZZZZZZZZllI888888888I8888888
`II8888888888888888 `;lZZZZZZZZZZZlllll888888888I8888888,
II8888888888888888, `;lllZZZZllllll;;.Y88888888I8888888b,
,II8888888888888888b
.;;lllllll;;;.;..88888888I88888888b,
II888888888888888PZI;. .`;;;.;;;..;
...88888888I8888888888,
II888888888888PZ;;';;. ;. .;. .;. ..
Y8888888I88888888888b,
,II888888888PZ;;'
`8888888I8888888888888b,
II888888888'
888888I8888888888888888b
,II888888888
,888888I88888888888888888
,d88888888888
d888888I8888888888ZZZZZZZ
,ad888888888888I
8888888I8888ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
,d888888888888888'
888888IZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
,d888888888888P'8P'
Y888ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
,8888888888888, "
,ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
d888888888888888,
,ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
888888888888888888a, _
,ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ888888888
888888888888888888888ba,_d'
,ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ88888888888888
8888888888888888888888888888bbbaaa,,,______,ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ888888888888888888
88888888888888888888888888888888888888888ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ888888888888888888888
8888888888888888888888888888888888888888ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ88888888888888888888888
888888888888888888888888888888888888888ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ888888888888888888888888
8888888888888888888888888888888888888ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ88888888888888888888888888
88888888888888888888888888888888888ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ8888888888888888888888888888
8888888888888888888888888888888888ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ88888888888888888
Normand 88
88888888888888888888888888888888ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ8888888888888888888
Veilleux 88
8888888888888888888888888888888ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ88888888888888888888888888888888
As you can see, the grid system that I have been working with since
January '94 allows to very quickly transfer the large details from
paper to screen while keeping the proportions of the original
picture. This eliminates a lot of the time-consuming
experimentation otherwise required to get the right proportions.
You can't go wrong with the grid: the characters that compose it
allow you to "see" where you should start and where you should
stop. The skills required to use it are fairly simple as well,
although they do need to be practiced. One thing the grid cannot
do though, is eliminate the experimentation needed for the
finishing touch: the smaller details, the smoothing, the shading,
etc.
---<-<@ ---<-<@ ---<-<@ ---<-<@ ---<-<@
A big thank you goes to Rowan Crawford who spent time revising an
earlier draft of this document and who provided many useful
suggestions to improve its contents.
The pictures I post are at their best when printed with a
'Line Printer 16.67 cpi' font or equivalent.
___ _______
,88888, ,d88888888a
,88" `Y8, ,88"' `"Y8i ,ggggg, ,ggggg, ,ggg,,ggg,,ggg,
I8b, `8b ,88' d8I dP" "Y8ggg8""""8I ,8" "8P" "8P" "8,
`Y8P 88.88' ,88' i8' ,8I 8I I8 8I 8I 8I
(8V8' d8P I8, ,d8' Y8,,dP 8I 8I Yb,
(88P ,8P `Y8888P" `Y88P' 8I 8I `Y8ba
d88 d8'
,88' ,8P _,,ggdd888bbgg,,_
d8P I8I _,gd8888P"""""""""Y8888bg,_
,88 I8b _,gd88P"""' `"""Y88bg,_
88' `Y8b,__,gd8P""' Normand Veilleux `""Y8bg,_
d8P `Y88888P"' nve...@emr1.emr.ca
`"Y88ba
\_/ http://wz.com/business/ASCIIart.html
--(_)-- http://www.geocities.com/theshedragon/
/ \ |> v-v-v-v |>
, , /_\ | | /_\
|\_/| | |'''''''''''| | |\
(q p),-| | || _ || | |'-._ ))
\_/_(/| | |#| | | ) '-.___//
--w-w---'-'----'-'----'-'----------'-----------ldb---
In article <q0m...@4ax.com>, Laura T. <she...@lycos.com> wrote: Your tutorial on the Mona Lisa looked interesting but line wrap has made it difficult to follow. Could you, say, report it with the left-hand side of the picture removed so that the rhs doesn't get wrapped? -- Jeremy C B Nicoll - my opinions are my own.
"Laura T." <she...@lycos.com> wrote in message news:q0m...@4ax.com... > Google Groups http://groups.google.com/ goes back as far as 1981 now. > I've been browsing around the ASCII art archives and found this > drawing tutorial that I haven't seen any where else. [snip] I knew it already .. Allen Mullen have had it on his site for ages : http://users.inetw.net/~mullen/veiteach.htm Check his site .. http://www.afn.org/~afn39695/ There are more tutorials under "Ascii Art Information"
In article <q0m...@4ax.com>, "Laura T." <she...@lycos.com> wrote: > > Google Groups http://groups.google.com/ goes back as far as 1981 now. > I've been browsing around the ASCII art archives and found this > drawing tutorial that I haven't seen any where else. > > For some reason it won't cut and paste nicely into here. Seems to mess > up the bottom of each picture. > It seems like Google did a little line wrapping for the reallly long lines. I think that this is how it should look: -----------------repaste of Normand's message-----------: From: Normand Veilleux (nve...@emr1.emr.ca) Subject: The Making of an ASCII Mona Lisa Newsgroups: rec.arts.ascii, alt.ascii-art,alt.binaries.pictures.ascii Date: 1994-06-27 18:34:02 PST I have seen several ascii versions of the Mona Lisa circulating in alt.ascii-art but I was not happy with any of them. They all appeared to be converted GIFs and even the best one, which was distinctly superior to all the others, only looked decent when I stood back at least 5 feet from it. It also had the drawback of being stretched vertically. So I decided to make my own. I also wanted to take this opportunity to give a concrete example of how the special grid technique that I use, accelerates and simplifies the creation of many ASCII drawings. I wanted to explain, as much as possible, what was involved in drawing by "hand" the ASCII version of a relatively complex picture while starting from scratch. I have described the grid technique in a previous post (in Jan. '94), but a recapitulation is necessary before going any further. Basically, the grid was nothing more than a series of characters that filled up the area taken by the drawing. I realized that the characters composing the grid would be more useful if they were chosen to help pinpoint where a particular portion of the drawing was located within the grid. There was many ways of doing this, but I opted for the following rectangle (10 x 5 characters): 1.2.3.4.5. 2.A.B.C.D. 3.E.F.G.H. 4.I.J.K.L. 5.M.N.O.P. This rectangle was then replicated horizontally and vertically until an area the size of an 8.5" x 11" page was filled up. I later decided to replace the periods by spaces to "lighten" the grid. This created an electronic grid which looked like this: 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O The characters 1 to 5 produced horizontal and vertical guidelines. With these guidelines, I could quickly locate the approximate area of the grid that I wanted to work on. To pinpoint the exact location, I relied on the letters A to P which appeared only once inside each rectangle. Of course, the electronic grid alone was not very useful until I could somehow relate it to the drawing. To do so, I printed out the grid and then photocopied it on an acetate for reusability. Then, whenever I wanted to work on a picture, I taped a photocopy of it to the back of the acetate and brought up the electronic grid on the screen. By the intermediary of the grid, I automatically had a relationship between the picture on paper and the screen. TIP: If you ever print a grid on an acetate, make sure to cover the acetate with clear tape afterwards to prevent your fingers from eroding the toner. I learned the hard way. Now, back to Mona. You may find the discussion a little difficult to follow at times without a picture, so either find a copy of the Mona Lisa or print out this file. In search of a decent reproduction of the Mona Lisa I went to the closest library and found an excellent example on page 25 of the book "Leonard de Vinci" published by McGraw-Hill in 1974. The picture measured about 9.5" x 12" and was in full colour. Next, I photocopied the picture. The lowest darkness setting gave the best result, but was still a little bit too dark in certain areas to distinguish some of the lines. Before addressing that problem, I decided to cut the photocopy so that the resulting picture could fit in 55 lines by 78 columns. This was approximately double the height of the head and was wide enough to show a large portion of both shoulders. To make the barely discernable lines more visible, I highlighted them with a blue pen. I made sure to draw those lines about one sixteenth of an inch thick so they would be clearly visible. Experience had taught me that very fine lines were often too difficult to distinguish from a dark background once the grid was superimposed on the picture. The affected lines were: the lines between veil and hair, hair and background, chin and throat, and the lines on each side of the face and on each side of the arched garment extending to her left shoulder (referred to as the shawl in the rest of this document). While I was at it, I also highlighted the contours of the lips, nose and eyes in the same manner. I then taped the touched up photocopy behind the acetate which had the grid. The next step was to load the electronic version of the grid in my favourite word processor (WordPerfect). Before starting work, I decided to represent the dark areas of the picture with an "8" (I'm sure you guessed that), the shawl with an "I" and the veil with an "8" if it was covering any hair and with an "I" if it was not (or to show its border in the hair). I chose those characters since they contrasted very well: it was easy to distinguish a line of I's in an area filled with 8's. Then, I determined which character of the acetate corresponded to the top of her left shoulder and located that character on the electronic grid. While holding the acetate in my left hand and marking my position on it with my thumb, I delimited the contour (only one character wide) around the bottom of the picture (counter clockwise) up to her right shoulder by replacing the characters of the grid with 8's except for the ends of the shawl which needed I's. I then continued up the picture, line by line, while overwriting the grid's characters with spaces until I got to the first character delimiting the border of Mona's hair or veil, as determined from the acetate. At that point, I typed one of four characters: "8", "d", "`" or "," depending on which one corresponded best to the dark portion of the picture at that location on the acetate. I then typed two more 8's and a space; just enough to define the contour. Of course, when I was in the area where the veil was the first thing to be reached I used I's instead of 8's. I repeated that process for each line until I reached the top of the head. There, I decided to follow the inside line of the hair while going down the right side of the picture. So, I first started by defining the hair line on the forehead and filling the top of the head with 8's. Then, starting at the inside line for the hair I typed 8's until I reached the other side of the hair and then added a "b" or a "," if necessary. I also made sure to drop an "I" along the way at the exact location where I had shown the veil to start covering the hair (it was a blue line on the photocopy). I continued this, line by line, until I reached the top of the shawl. So, half an hour after loading the grid I was at this stage: _______ _,,ad8888888888bba,_ ,8888888888888888888888888, ,888888888888888888888888888888, ,8888888888888888888888888888888888, d88888PP"""""""YY888888888888888888888, ,88 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 ""Y8888888888888, ,II 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E IIII8888888888, ,II 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J `888III8888888, ,II P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N `888888I888888, ,II 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 `888888I8888b ,II C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 8888888I8888, II8 G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H `8888888I888b II8 K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 88888888I888 II8 O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 88888888I888, II8 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 ,888888888I88b ,II B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 8888888888I888 II8 F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 8888888888I888, ,II J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 8888888888I888b II8 N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 88888888888I888 II8 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 88888888888I888, II8 B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 88888888888I888b II8 F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 88888888888I8888, II8 J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 88888888888I8888b II8 N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 88888888888I88888 II8 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 88888888888I88888 `II B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 88888888888I88888 II8 F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 8888888888I888888, `II J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 8888888888I888888b `II O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 8888888888I8888888 `II 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 `888888888I8888888, II8 D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 888888888I88888888, ,II G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H `88888888I888888888, II8 K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 88888888I8888888888, II8 O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 88888888I888888888888, ,II 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 `8888888I88888888888888, II8 C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 8888888I888888888888888b ,II F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 3,8888888I8888888888888888 ,88 J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I JI ,88 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M NI ,88 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3I ,88 C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A BI ,88 G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E FI d88 J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I JI 8 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N8 8 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 38 8 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B8 8 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F8 8 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J8 8 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N8 8 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 38 8 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B8 8 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F8 8 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J8 8888888888888888888888888888888IIIIIIIIIIIIII8888888888888888888888888888888 Here, it seemed appropriate to fill in the shawl with I's which automatically led to filling in the bottom right corner with 8's and adding my name. I then completed the small portion of hair at the top of the shawl. Then, I defined the upper portion of the garment, beside the veil, and filled in the section below that with 8's. Next, I filled the rest of the hair (on the left side of the picture) with 8's while defining the hair's inside line. I also filled in, with spaces, the area of skin from the top of the garment up to the throat. Next, I drew the veil on the forehead and filled in the rest of the forehead with spaces. And finally I smoothed all the lines drawn so far, leaving the face for last. So, after one hour of work I was at this stage: _______ _,,ad8888888888bba,_ ,ad88888I888888888888888ba, ,88888888I88888888888888888888a, ,d888888888I8888888888888888888888b, d88888PP"""" ""YY88888888888888888888b, ,d88"'__,,--------,,,,._ ""Y8888888888888, ,8II-'" "```IIII8888888888, ,I88' `Y88III8888888, ,II88I `Y88888I888888, ,II888' `888888I8888b ,II8888 Y888888I8888, II88888 `8888888I888b II88888, 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 88888888I888 II88888I 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 88888888I888, II88888' 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 ,888888888I88I ,II88888 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D d888888888I888 III88888, 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 8888888888I888, ,III88888I 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 8888888888I888I III888888I 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 88888888888I888 II88888888, 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 88888888888I888, II88888888I A B C D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 88888888888I888b ]I888888888, E F G H 3 E F G H 3 E F G H 88888888888I8888, II888888888I I J K L 4 I J K L 4 I J K L 88888888888I8888I II8888888888b N O P 5 M N O P 5 M N O P 88888888888I88888 II888888888888a 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 1 2 3 4 5 88888888888I88888 `II8888888888888b, D 2 A B C D 2 A B C D 88888888888I88888 II888888888888888ba,_ E F G H 3 E F G H 8888888888I888888, `II88888888888888888b I J K L 4 I J K L I888888888I888888b `II88888888888888888 M N O P 5 M N O P I888888888I8888888 `II8888888888888888 `888888888I8888888, II8888888888888888, Y88888888I8888888b, ,II8888888888888888b `88888888I88888888b, II888888888888888P"I 88888888I8888888888, II888888888888P" ` Y8888888I88888888888b, ,II888888888P" `8888888I8888888888888b, II888888888' 8888888I888888888888888b ,II888888888 ,8888888I8888888888888888 ,d88888888888 d888888I8888888888IIIIIII ,ad888888888888I 8888888I8888IIIIIIIIIIIII ,d888888888888888' 888888IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ,d888888888888P'8P' Y888IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII ,8888888888888, " ,IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII d888888888888888, ,IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 888888888888888888a, _ ,IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII888888888 888888888888888888888ba,_d' ,IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII88888888888888 8888888888888888888888888888bbbaaa,,,______,IIIIIIIIIIIIIII88888888888888888 88888888888888888888888888888888888888888IIIIIIIIIIIIIII88888888888888888888 8888888888888888888888888888888888888888IIIIIIIIIIIIII8888888888888888888888 888888888888888888888888888888888888888IIIIIIIIIIIIII88888888888888888888888 8888888888888888888888888888888888888IIIIIIIIIIIIII8888888888888888888888888 88888888888888888888888888888888888IIIIIIIIIIIIII888888888888888888888888888 8888888888888888888888888888888888IIIIIIIIIIIIII88888888888888888 Normand 88 88888888888888888888888888888888IIIIIIIIIIIIII8888888888888888888 Veilleux88 8888888888888888888888888888888IIIIIIIIIIIIII8888888888888888888888888888888 I found the shawl to be much too pale in comparison to the rest of the garment, so I tried replacing the I's with darker characters such as M, H, A, etc. Unfortunately, even though I could see the difference on the screen reasonably well, I could not see any difference between those characters and the surrounding 8's when I used the reduced view feature of WordPerfect. I have been using this feature to view an entire page at a time on the screen. It's only when I tried a 'Z' that I was able to distinguish between the two characters in the reduced view. So, 'Z' had my vote. I then worked on the face for about half an hour, defining the mouth, nose, eyes, etc. I tried my preferred style first, but it looked awful so I tried line draw instead without any more success. Nothing seemed to work, so I reverted back to my preferred style of ASCII drawing and to be true to it I did not add any shading to the face. This was how the picture looked at that stage: _______ _,,ad8888888888bba,_ ,ad88888I888888888888888ba, ,88888888I88888888888888888888a, ,d888888888I8888888888888888888888b, d88888PP"""" ""YY88888888888888888888b, ,d88"'__,,--------,,,,._ ""Y8888888888888, ,8II-'" "```IIII8888888888, ,I88' `Y88III8888888, ,II88I `Y88888I888888, ,II888' `888888I8888b ,II8888 Y888888I8888, II88888 `8888888I888b II88888, .aag, ,gaaP"" 88888888I888 II88888I ___"b d" ____ 88888888I888, II88888' <^I88>I I <^I888' ,888888888I88I ,II88888 . `""" I I `""" . d888888888I888 III88888, ```` b '''' 8888888888I888, ,III88888I 8888888888I888I III888888I , \, 88888888888I888 II88888888, I' "I 88888888888I888, II88888888I `"baad"' ,88888888888I888b ]I888888888, ,P88888888888I8888, II888888888I "Y88bd888P" ,d" 88888888888I8888I II8888888888b `""""" _,8" ,88888888888I88888 II888888888888a _,P"' ,d88888888888I88888 `II8888888888888b, _,d"' ,aP"88888888888I88888 II888888888888888ba,__,,ad"" _,aP" 8888888888I888888, `II88888888888888888b"ba,,,,aadP"' I888888888I888888b `II88888888888888888 `""""' I888888888I8888888 `II8888888888888888 `888888888I8888888, II8888888888888888, Y88888888I8888888b, ,II8888888888888888b `88888888I88888888b, II888888888888888P"I 88888888I8888888888, II888888888888P" ` Y8888888I88888888888b, ,II888888888P" `8888888I8888888888888b, II888888888' 8888888I888888888888888b ,II888888888 ,8888888I8888888888888888 ,d88888888888 d888888I8888888888ZZZZZZZ ,ad888888888888I 8888888I8888ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ ,d888888888888888' 888888IZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ ,d888888888888P'8P' Y888ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ ,8888888888888, " ,ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ d888888888888888, ,ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ 888888888888888888a, _ ,ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ888888888 888888888888888888888ba,_d' ,ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ88888888888888 8888888888888888888888888888bbbaaa,,,______,ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ88888888888888888 88888888888888888888888888888888888888888ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ88888888888888888888 8888888888888888888888888888888888888888ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ8888888888888888888888 888888888888888888888888888888888888888ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ88888888888888888888888 8888888888888888888888888888888888888ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ8888888888888888888888888 88888888888888888888888888888888888ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ888888888888888888888888888 8888888888888888888888888888888888ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ88888888888888888 Normand 88 88888888888888888888888888888888ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ8888888888888888888 Veilleux88 8888888888888888888888888888888ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ8888888888888888888888888888888 Since I could not seem to improve the face, I decided to try and experiment with shading to see if that could help. Well, it did not turn out the way I thought it would: the shading was too pale. So I ended up losing half an hour to get to this stage: _______ _,,ad8888888888bba,_ ,ad88888I888888888888888ba, ,88888888I88888888888888888888a, ,d88888888I88888888888888888888888b, d88888PP""" """YY88888888888888888888b, ,d88"'__,,--------,,,;:::""Y8888888888888, ,8II:'" .,:.":::IIII8888888888, ,I88:. ...::::::Y88III8888888, ,II88I:. :..:::::Y88888I888888, ,II888'.. :.:...:::::888888I8888b ,II8888. .::::::Y888888I8888, II88888: .:::::::8888888I888b II88888; .aag, ,gaaP""... .:.::::::88888888I888 II88888I:::::::"b d":::::;;::, :..:::::88888888I888, II88888'::<^I88>I I::.<^I888' ..:.::;888888888I88I ,II88888 . `""" I I:.. `""" . ..:.::d888888888I888 III88888, ```` b;. '''' ..:.:::8888888888I888, ,III88888I :. ..:.::::8888888888I888I III888888I , :, :::.::::88888888888I888 II88888888;: I' "I :.:.:::::88888888888I888, II88888888I:. `"baad": .:::.::::88888888888I888b ]I888888888;:.:. :.:..:.:: ..:.:.:::::88888888888I8888, II888888888I:. ."Y88bd888P" ..::.::::::88888888888I8888I II8888888888b::. `""""'.:.:.:.::.::::::;88888888888I88888 II888888888888a:. :::::.:. .:,aP:::::;d88888888888I88888 `II8888888888888b;. ..::.;aP":::::;aP:88888888888I88888 II888888888888888ba,__,,aP"::::::;aP::::8888888888I888888, `II88888888888888888b"ba;;;;aadP":::::::I888888888I888888b `II88888888888888888 .:::::::::::::::::I888888888I8888888 `II8888888888888888 .::::::::::::::..`888888888I8888888, II8888888888888888, ..::.:::::.:.. Y88888888I8888888b, ,II8888888888888888b .::..:.. `88888888I88888888b, II888888888888888P"I ..:. 88888888I8888888888, II888888888888P"::.` Y8888888I88888888888b, ,II888888888P".::: `8888888I8888888888888b, II888888888' 8888888I888888888888888b Later, I decided to give line drawing another chance and started working on the face with no shading. I managed to get a decent looking nose in about 5 minutes so I continued and slowly but surely the rest of the face took on a new look that was much better than anything obtained so far. It took about half an hour of trial and error to get to this: _______ _,,ad8888888888bba,_ ,ad88888I888888888888888ba, ,88888888I88888888888888888888a, ,d888888888I8888888888888888888888b, d88888PP"""" ""YY88888888888888888888b, ,d88"'__,,--------,,,,._ ""Y8888888888888, ,8II-'" "```IIII8888888888, ,I88' `Y88III8888888, ,II88I `Y88888I888888, ,II888' `888888I8888b ,II8888 Y888888I8888, II88888 `8888888I888b II88888, ---. ..----- 88888888I888 II88888I _,,_ `. .' _,,_ 88888888I888, II88888' <'(@@> | | <'(@@> ,888888888I88I ,II88888 `""" | | `""" d888888888I888 III88888, ` 8888888888I888, ,III88888I 8888888888I888I III888888I , ', 88888888888I888 II88888888, (_ _) 88888888888I888, II88888888I `--' ,88888888888I888b ]I888888888, ,P88888888888I8888, II888888888I "Y88bd888P" ,d" 88888888888I8888I II8888888888b `""""" _,8" ,88888888888I88888 II888888888888a _,P"' ,d88888888888I88888 `II8888888888888b, _,d"' ,aP"88888888888I88888 II888888888888888ba,__,,ad"" _,aP" 8888888888I888888, `II88888888888888888b"ba,,,,aadP"' I888888888I888888b `II88888888888888888 `""""' I888888888I8888888 `II8888888888888888 `888888888I8888888, II8888888888888888, Y88888888I8888888b, ,II8888888888888888b `88888888I88888888b, II888888888888888P"I 88888888I8888888888, II888888888888P" ` Y8888888I88888888888b, ,II888888888P" `8888888I8888888888888b, II888888888' 888888I8888888888888888b ,II888888888 ,888888I88888888888888888 ,d88888888888 d888888I8888888888ZZZZZZZ ,ad888888888888I 8888888I8888ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ ,d888888888888888' 888888IZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ ,d888888888888P'8P' Y888ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ ,8888888888888, " ,ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ d888888888888888, ,ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ 888888888888888888a, _ ,ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ888888888 888888888888888888888ba,_d' ,ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ88888888888888 8888888888888888888888888888bbbaaa,,,______,ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ88888888888888888 88888888888888888888888888888888888888888ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ88888888888888888888 8888888888888888888888888888888888888888ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ8888888888888888888888 888888888888888888888888888888888888888ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ88888888888888888888888 8888888888888888888888888888888888888ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ8888888888888888888888888 88888888888888888888888888888888888ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ888888888888888888888888888 8888888888888888888888888888888888ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ88888888888888888 Normand 88 88888888888888888888888888888888ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ8888888888888888888 Veilleux88 8888888888888888888888888888888ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ8888888888888888888888888888888 I decided to consider this the final unshaded version. Now, the question remained: would it be worthwhile to add in the shading? I showed the unshaded version of the picture to a friend who is a graphic designer. It didn't take him long to mention shading as the next step. I showed him the first attempt (displayed above) and admitted that I had no idea how to improve it. He suggested using a printed copy of my unshaded picture and drawing the shading on it first, before attempting to draw it on the computer. Well, that almost discouraged me right there. Drawing simple stuff on paper was not a problem, but when it came to shading I didn't have a clue how it could be done. He helped by pointing out that I could start by drawing the outer edge of the faintest shading as though it were a regular object. I could then define another line that would represent the "middle ground" of the shading. He suggested not to use more than 2 or 3 different levels of shading. So off to the drawing board I went. I did not keep all the stages of the shading, but suffice to say that it took about twice as much time then all the rest of the picture. This was the final result of the shaded version: _______ _,,ad8888888888bba,_ ,ad88888I888888888888888ba, ,88888888I88888888888888888888a, ,d888888888I8888888888888888888888b, d88888PP"""" ""YY88888888888888888888b, ,d88"'__,,--------,,,,.;ZZZY8888888888888, ,8IIl'" ;;l"ZZZIII8888888888, ,I88l;' ;lZZZZZ888III8888888, ,II88Zl;. ;llZZZZZ888888I888888, ,II888Zl;. .;;;;;lllZZZ888888I8888b ,II8888Z;; `;;;;;''llZZ8888888I8888, II88888Z;' .;lZZZ8888888I888b II88888Z; _,aaa, .,aaaaa,__.l;llZZZ88888888I888 II88888IZZZZZZZZZ, .ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ;llZZ88888888I888, II88888IZZ<'(@@>Z| |ZZZ<'(@@>ZZZZ;;llZZ888888888I88I ,II88888; `""" ;| |ZZ; `""" ;;llZ8888888888I888 II888888l `;; .;llZZ8888888888I888, ,II888888Z; ;;; .;;llZZZ8888888888I888I III888888Zl; .., `;; ,;;lllZZZ88888888888I888 II88888888Z;;...;(_ _) ,;;;llZZZZ88888888888I888, II88888888Zl;;;;;' `--'Z;. .,;;;;llZZZZ88888888888I888b ]I888888888Z;;;;' ";llllll;..;;;lllZZZZ88888888888I8888, II888888888Zl.;;"Y88bd888P";;,..;lllZZZZZ88888888888I8888I II8888888888Zl;.; `"PPP";;;,..;lllZZZZZZZ88888888888I88888 II888888888888Zl;;. `;;;l;;;;lllZZZZZZZZW88888888888I88888 `II8888888888888Zl;. ,;;lllZZZZZZZZWMZ88888888888I88888 II8888888888888888ZbaalllZZZZZZZZZWWMZZZ8888888888I888888, `II88888888888888888b"WWZZZZZWWWMMZZZZZZI888888888I888888b `II88888888888888888;ZZMMMMMMZZZZZZZZllI888888888I8888888 `II8888888888888888 `;lZZZZZZZZZZZlllll888888888I8888888, II8888888888888888, `;lllZZZZllllll;;.Y88888888I8888888b, ,II8888888888888888b .;;lllllll;;;.;..88888888I88888888b, II888888888888888PZI;. .`;;;.;;;..; ...88888888I8888888888, II888888888888PZ;;';;. ;. .;. .;. .. Y8888888I88888888888b, ,II888888888PZ;;' `8888888I8888888888888b, II888888888' 888888I8888888888888888b ,II888888888 ,888888I88888888888888888 ,d88888888888 d888888I8888888888ZZZZZZZ ,ad888888888888I 8888888I8888ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ ,d888888888888888' 888888IZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ ,d888888888888P'8P' Y888ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ ,8888888888888, " ,ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ d888888888888888, ,ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ 888888888888888888a, _ ,ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ888888888 888888888888888888888ba,_d' ,ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ88888888888888 8888888888888888888888888888bbbaaa,,,______,ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ88888888888888888 88888888888888888888888888888888888888888ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ88888888888888888888 8888888888888888888888888888888888888888ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ8888888888888888888888 888888888888888888888888888888888888888ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ88888888888888888888888 8888888888888888888888888888888888888ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ8888888888888888888888888 88888888888888888888888888888888888ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ888888888888888888888888888 8888888888888888888888888888888888ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ88888888888888888 Normand 88 88888888888888888888888888888888ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ8888888888888888888 Veilleux88 8888888888888888888888888888888ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ8888888888888888888888888888888 As you can see, the grid system that I have been working with since January '94 allows to very quickly transfer the large details from paper to screen while keeping the proportions of the original picture. This eliminates a lot of the time-consuming experimentation otherwise required to get the right proportions. You can't go wrong with the grid: the characters that compose it allow you to "see" where you should start and where you should stop. The skills required to use it are fairly simple as well, although they do need to be practiced. One thing the grid cannot do though, is eliminate the experimentation needed for the finishing touch: the smaller details, the smoothing, the shading, etc. ---<-<@ ---<-<@ ---<-<@ ---<-<@ ---<-<@ A big thank you goes to Rowan Crawford who spent time revising an earlier draft of this document and who provided many useful suggestions to improve its contents. The pictures I post are at their best when printed with a 'Line Printer 16.67 cpi' font or equivalent. ___ _______ ,88888, ,d88888888a ,88" `Y8, ,88"' `"Y8i ,ggggg, ,ggggg, ,ggg,,ggg,,ggg, I8b, `8b ,88' d8I dP" "Y8ggg8""""8I ,8" "8P" "8P" "8, `Y8P 88.88' ,88' i8' ,8I 8I I8 8I 8I 8I (8V8' d8P I8, ,d8' Y8,,dP 8I 8I Yb, (88P ,8P `Y8888P" `Y88P' 8I 8I `Y8ba d88 d8' ,88' ,8P _,,ggdd888bbgg,,_ d8P I8I _,gd8888P"""""""""Y8888bg,_ ,88 I8b _,gd88P"""' `"""Y88bg,_ 88' `Y8b,__,gd8P""' Normand Veilleux `""Y8bg,_ d8P `Y88888P"' nve...@emr1.emr.ca `"Y88ba END-------------------------------------------------- Google archives are at http://groups.google.com/advanced_group_search -- llizard aka ejm >%^7^^^7^^ llizard@idirec+.ca ASCII-art & ASCII-animation http://llizard.crosswinds.net/ascii-art/ NOTE: I never pick up my mail from the yahoo address. If you are e-mailing and hit the reply button, add an "e" to "idirct"; its absence is to stop the torment of automatic mailers.
> It seems like Google did a little line wrapping for the > reallly long lines. =v= You can fix that by clicking on the "original format" link. <_Jym_> .----------. :: The stolen "The Scream" was finally / .-. .-. \ :: found, thanks to an alert Usenetter / | | | | \ HAVE :: who recognized it from this .sig -> \ `-' `-' _/ YOU :: Remember this the next time anybody /\ .--. / | SEEN :: tells you your .sig is too long. :: \ | / / / / ME? :: jy...@econet.org :: / | `--' /\ \ :::: http://www.things.org/~jym/ ::::: / /`-------' \ \
Laura T. <she...@lycos.com> wrote in message news:<q0m...@4ax.com>... > Google Groups http://groups.google.com/ goes back as far as 1981 now. Can't figure out how old the nwsgrp a.a-a ("ascii-art as we know it") exactly is. The moderated group rec.arts.ascii was born on monday 6th june 1994, it seems. A.a-a was earlier... when? What newsgroups in the google- (former deja-)archives are to be tracked down to spread light upon the descent of a.a-a? rec.arts.ascii? alt.binaries.pictures.ascii? rec.humor? misc.*? alt.*? bbs.*? big7.*? This sudden interest in the "history of ASCII-art" is not to be taken as a death-sentence. > I've been browsing around the ASCII art archives and found this > drawing tutorial that I haven't seen any where else. Normand Veilleux... Tua Xiong, Rowan Crawford, Allen Mullen, Felix Lee, Valkyrie, Joan Stark, Veronica Karlsson, Joris, llizard, Shanaka. The masters. Some of them had a go at a tutorial (Veilleux, Row, Mullen, jgs, VK, Joris, llizard). A glimpse behind the screens. ---===favs #1===--- /T /I / |/ | .-~/ T\ Y I |/ / _ /T | \I | I Y.-~/ I l /I T\ | | l | T / T\ | \ Y l /T | \I l \ ` l Y __ | \l \l \I l __l l \ ` _. | \ ~-l `\ `\ \ \\ ~\ \ `. .-~ | \ ~-. "-. ` \ ^._ ^. "-. / \ | .--~-._ ~- ` _ ~-_.-"-." ._ /._ ." ./ >--. ~-. ._ ~>-" "\\ 7 7 ] ^.___~"--._ ~-{ .-~ . `\ Y . / | <__ ~"-. ~ /_/ \ \I Y : | ^-.__ ~(_/ \ >._: | l______ ^--.,___.-~" /_/ ! `-.~"--l_ / ~"-. (_/ . ~( /' "~"--,Y -=b-. _) (_/ . \ : / l c"~o \ \ / `. . .^ \_.-~"~--. ) (_/ . ` / / ! )/ / / _. '. .': / ' ~(_/ . / _ ` .-<_ , /_/ . ' .-~" `. / \ \ ,z=. /| __ ~( / ' : | K "-.~-.______// / | ,-~ / "-,. l I/ \_ __{--->._(==. Y :| // / //( \ < ~"~" // | jj /( .^ /' /\ \ \ ,v=. (( >-"~"-v" .^. / /\ " }__ //===- ` / Y / / ' ' "-.,__ {---(==- jo o | .^ ' : T ~" ll -Row ( ~T~ j / . . . : | :! \\ >._-' _./ (_/ / | | j-" ~^ / "~" | ~-<_(_.^-~" Y _, | /| ;-"~ _ l / l/ ,-"~ \ \//\/ .- \ Y / Y l I ! ]\ _\ /"\ (" ~----( ~ Y. ) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ bye, mic
Hi Mic, nice to see you. On 24 Dec 2001, Mic wrote: > Laura T. <she...@lycos.com> wrote in message news:<q0m...@4ax.com>... > > Google Groups http://groups.google.com/ goes back as far as 1981 now. > > Can't figure out how old the nwsgrp a.a-a ("ascii-art as we know it") > exactly is. The moderated group rec.arts.ascii was born on monday 6th > june 1994, it seems. A.a-a was earlier... when? What newsgroups in the > google- (former deja-)archives are to be tracked down to spread light > upon the descent of a.a-a? rec.arts.ascii? > alt.binaries.pictures.ascii? rec.humor? misc.*? alt.*? bbs.*? big7.*? Read <2lvpa6$jc...@Mercury.mcs.com> (from Jorn Barger in 1994), do a little research, find <2cgc8e$g5...@Notwerk.mcs.com> (again Jorn) and learn that a.a-a was born in September 1993. Since some news-admins were not happy with it's creation it took some time to travel trough the system, i.e. to become visible on most servers. So I believe that the start of the archive in Google (Deja) actually does mark a good starting point: it's the second Novembver 1993. Depending on your news server you may have been able to see the group a couple of weeks earlier. [linewrapped pic] Is it just me or are you out of practise? :) Andreas ________________________________________________ http://www.ascii-art.de
On 24 Dec 2001 22:26:14 -0800, mi...@dataweb.nl (Mic) provoked the following text: >> I've been browsing around the ASCII art archives and found this >> drawing tutorial that I haven't seen any where else. > >Normand Veilleux... Tua Xiong, Rowan Crawford, Allen Mullen, Felix >Lee, Valkyrie, Joan Stark, Veronica Karlsson, Joris, llizard, Shanaka. >The masters. > >Some of them had a go at a tutorial (Veilleux, Row, Mullen, jgs, VK, >Joris, llizard). A glimpse behind the screens. So what was the first piece of ASCII-art that was posted in this NG? -- __ ___ / ) _/_ _(_ /'_ _ _ /(_/()/)(/(-/ / (/(-(/(-/) _/ Castrate me to reply by e-mail A crowd counts many heads but few brains.
On Tue, 25 Dec 2001, Donderfliegen wrote:
[...]
> So what was the first piece of ASCII-art that was posted in this NG?
Don't know. The first in the Google archives (not quoted) was posted
by the (now) famous Bob Allison :
---------
From: Bob Allison (bob...@gagme.chi.il.us)
Subject: From A BBS
Newsgroups: alt.ascii-art
Date: 1993-11-06 04:22:32 PST
Here's a piece from a local board:
__ _-==-=_,-.
/--`' \_@-@.--<
`--'\ \ <___/.
\ \\ " /
>=\\_/`<
____ /= | \_\\
_' `\ _/=== \__/\\\
`___/ //\./=/~\====\ \ \
\ // / | ===: \_)
| ._/_,__|_ ==: __
\/ \\ \\`--| / \\
| _ \\: /==:-\
`.__' `-____/ |--|==:
\ \ ===\ :==:`-'
_> \ ===\ /==/
/==\ | ===\__/--/
<=== \ / ====\ \\/
_`-- \/ === \/--'
| \ ==== |
-`------/`--' /
\___-'
--------
:)
Andreas
________________________________________________ http://www.ascii-art.de
Hi Andreas, Good to see you (all) again. Thanks for the info. I'll take up my search for the Holy ASCII-Grail again :) and --if results...-- report later. > Read <2lvpa6$jc...@Mercury.mcs.com> (from Jorn Barger in 1994), do a > little research, find <2cgc8e$g5...@Notwerk.mcs.com> (again Jorn) > and learn that a.a-a was born in September 1993. Since some > news-admins were not happy with it's creation it took some time > to travel trough the system, i.e. to become visible on most > servers. That's what struck me most, reading some of those old (well, 1993 isn't that oalde) posts... People in rec.humor weren't (at) all pleased with those "typewriter pictures" and threads about "the socio-Freudian meaning of the smiley". I reckoned ASCII-art (the fun part) was as old as the Usenet, but that's probably not the case. Though Vint Cerf and other ARPA-pioneers drew tables and simple diagrams and occasionally sprout poems in their RFC's, they weren't (yet?) into Mickey and Donald. Was ASCII-art more popular on BBS's (DOS) than on the Usenet (Un*x)? And in what area's of Usenet (in a niche in the alt.* hierarchy? or earlier in one of the big7?) was ASCII-art accepted first? > So I believe that the start of the archive in Google > (Deja) actually does mark a good starting point: it's the second > Novembver 1993. Depending on your news server you may have been > able to see the group a couple of weeks earlier. Who RFD'd alt.ascii-art? Bob Allison? > [linewrapped pic] > Is it just me or are you out of practise? :) Definitely out of practice :) mic obASCII found on wuarchive.wustl.edu after reaction to <268...@sactoh0.UUCP> Chris Behrens Anonymous FTP ASCII poster locations : ux.acss.umn.edu tolsun.oulu.fi 2) wuarchive.wustl.edu - In the pub/graphics/lpr_art subdirectory there are 200+ files with neat pics and other items within them. Most of what is here is different from the other sites, but as with all good things, some is copied here also. A better collection of pics and pieces. ,. ., ,: ':. .,. .:' :, ,', '.:' ':.' ,', : '. ' ' .' : ', : ' ' : ,' '.' .,:,. .,:,. '.' ,: V '. .' V :, ,: / ' :, ,: :, ,: =:= :, ,: , : , :, :' ',.,' ',.,:' ': :' ':WW::' '. .:' '::::' ': ,: '::::' :, :' ':::' ': ,: ':'' :. .:' '. ',. ,:' '' '. .:' .', ': .:' .'., : .: .,'' : :: .,'' ,: :: .,'',' .:' .,::'. .,',' ::::. .:' ',. ,:, ,WWWWW, :' : :W:' :WWWWWWW, .,. : ', WWW WWWWWWWWW '::, '. ', WWW :WWWWWWWWW '::, '. : WWW :WWWWWWWW' ::: '. ,: WWW :WWWWWWW' .::: '. .W: WWW :WWWWWW' .,:::' '. :WW: WWW :WWWWW' .,,:::::'' .,' '':: :W: :WWWWW. .,::::'' ,' ''','',',','','''WWWWW::::'' ':,,,,,,,': : : : : : :WWWW'''
Related ASCII art in the Gallery
Explore these categories from our collection of 11,000+ artworks:
Make your own ASCII art
Turn images, text or 3D into ASCII, or draw your own – right in your browser.
About this thread.
These messages were posted publicly to the newsgroup
alt.ascii-art
in 2001 and are mirrored here unchanged as part of the Historic Archives – only email addresses are masked.
The artwork and text belong to their original authors: if you copy a piece, keep the artist's initials or signature intact and credit them where you can.
Are you one of the authors? Contact us to get your posts attributed, connected to your artist profile, or removed.
Report this message
Help us keep the archive clean and accurate. Reports are reviewed by a person – nothing is changed automatically.