Apply MSX ASCII to images and videos online
Rebuild an image as glowing green characters inside a CRT-style frame. MSX ASCII combines digital distortion, noise, character rendering, and bloom for a retro computer-screen treatment.
Before
Ideas for using the effect
Terminal-style portraits
Use a close face with clear lighting so its expression reads through the characters.
Chiptune release art
Create a green-screen cover image or short loop for a retro digital release.
Science-fiction interfaces
Use the character image as a panel within a fictional computer display.
Text-based video artwork
Let source footage drive a changing grid of bright and dark character shapes.
Made with this effect
More inspiration on Instagram @effect_app
Use MSX ASCII 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 MSX ASCII online?
Open the MSX ASCII preset, add your image or video, and adjust the loaded effect layers to suit your source. Preview the result before exporting.
What is in the MSX ASCII preset?
The stack includes Cubify, noise, blur, Curves, ASCII, Bloom, Levels, and CRT Screen. ASCII supplies the characters; bloom and the screen frame create the glowing-display appearance.
Is it an exact recreation of MSX hardware?
It is a retro-computer-inspired visual preset. It does not emulate a particular MSX model, video mode, monitor, or character-generation system.
How do I make the characters more readable?
Increase ASCII grid density for more source detail, then adjust contrast and dark/light cutoffs. Reduce bloom intensity if neighboring characters merge, and lower Cubify strength for less underlying distortion.
Can I export the result as plain text?
The preset creates rendered image or video artwork, not a plain-text character document. For a simpler character treatment without the surrounding layers, start with the ASCII effect.