Apply Marathon to images and videos online
Build a dense computer-screen treatment from green-cyan tones, signal texture, and layered characters. Marathon combines CRT styling with two ASCII passes for complex, retro-futuristic imagery.
Before
After
Ideas for using the effect
Science-fiction graphics
Use a portrait or environment as the basis for a fictional computer-display image.
Electronic music artwork
Build a textured cover with multiple scales of character detail.
Experimental interface panels
Place the treated image inside a larger graphic layout with clear supporting labels.
Moving terminal textures
Apply the preset to footage so changing shapes feed the character overlays.
Made with this effect
More inspiration on Instagram @effect_app
Use Marathon in Photoshop, Figma or on your desktop
One account, the same effect everywhere.
In Photoshop
Apply it to a layer in Photoshop 2022 and later, on macOS or Windows. The plugin renders on your own GPU and hands the result back as pixels on a new layer.
get the Photoshop plugin →In Figma
Run it on images and frames without leaving the canvas. The Figma plugin is this same editor, pointed at whatever you have selected.
get the Figma plugin →On desktop
Install the macOS or Windows app when you want a window of its own, with your account and your presets already there.
download the desktop app →Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply Marathon online?
Open the Marathon preset, add your image or video, and adjust the loaded effect layers to suit your source. Preview the result before exporting.
What creates Marathon's layered appearance?
Modulation, blur, noise, monochrome tinting, CRT Screen, and Paper Scan build the base. Two ASCII layers at different densities surround Texture Blur, adding character patterns at different scales.
How can I simplify the result?
Toggle one ASCII layer off first. Then reduce noise or modulation if the background remains too busy. This preserves the main screen treatment while removing some competing detail.
Are the characters a readable transcription of the image?
They are visual marks selected from the image's tonal information. The preset does not recognize words in the source or export a meaningful textual description of the scene.
How is it different from MSX ASCII?
MSX ASCII emphasizes a green character display with bloom and CRT framing. Marathon combines two character passes with a more extensive modulation and texture stack.