ASCII Magic
Open tool

/STYLE · LINES

CRT Effect, VHS Effect & Scanlines from a Photo or Video

Turn any photo or video into a CRT effect, VHS effect or scanline retro-screen look, the 80s arcade, NES TV and VCR aesthetic built from line strokes that read like rain or barcode static. Real-time, minimal and graphic, export PNG, GIF or MP4 at up to 4×. Free, no signup, runs entirely in your browser.

Open the editor →

/SEE IT

From photo to line strokes in one click

Drop any photo into the editor and pick the Lines style. Each column becomes a vertical line stroke weighted by brightness, a CRT / scanline texture that turns your image into a retro-screen render.

Original colour photograph, before the line strokes effect is applied
Original
The same photograph rendered in the Lines style
Lines output

/MORE EXAMPLES

Line strokes from any photo

Six photos rebuilt as vertical line strokes, a CRT / scanline retro-screen look from the source.

Photo rendered in the Lines style, Vertical strokes
Vertical strokes
Photo rendered in the Lines style, Fine scanlines
Fine scanlines
Photo rendered in the Lines style, CRT lines
CRT lines
Photo rendered in the Lines style, Bold strokes
Bold strokes
Photo rendered in the Lines style, Rain lines
Rain lines
Photo rendered in the Lines style, Barcode static
Barcode static

Every image is a real ASCII Magic export, drop your own photo to get the same look, then tune and export up to 4×.

/HOW IT WORKS

Make line strokes in four steps

  1. Drop your image

    Drag any JPG, PNG, WebP, GIF or MP4 into the editor. No upload, your file stays in the browser.

  2. Pick the Lines style

    Switch the render mode to Lines, your photo is instantly redrawn in the line strokes look.

  3. Tune the look

    Adjust line density, contrast and colour in real time, from fine scanlines to bold vertical strokes.

  4. Export

    Save as PNG, JPG, animated GIF or MP4, at up to 4× source resolution. No watermark.

/WHY ASCII MAGIC

Built for retro-screen lines

Brightness-weighted lines

Vertical strokes thicken and thin with the image, a true scanline texture, not a flat overlay.

CRT / VHS look

Pair with the CRT-curvature, scan-line and grain post-effects for a full retro-screen aesthetic.

Minimal & graphic

A clean, hypnotic line render that works for posters and album art.

Video + 4× exports

Line every frame of a clip and export a looping MP4 or GIF; stills export up to 4× source resolution.

/COMPARISON

VHS vs CRT vs scanline, which one do you actually want?

The three terms are often used interchangeably online but they are distinct ingredients you can stack independently. A scanline effect is just thin horizontal dark lines on top of the image, the simplest retro layer, perfect for typography where heavy curvature would distort the design. A CRT effect stacks scanlines on top of barrel curvature, phosphor glow when bright pixels bloom, and corner vignetting, the look of an old cathode-ray-tube television. A VHS effect stacks the CRT screen plus tape-specific noise on top: chroma bleed (red/blue fringing), tracking wobble (slight vertical jitter), and tape grain. Pick one, two, or all three depending on the look you want.

Best uses for the VHS, CRT and scanline looks

Tips for a believable VHS / CRT look

/FAQS

Common questions about VHS & CRT effects

How do I make a VHS effect from a photo or video?
Open ASCII Magic, drop your photo or video in, and pick the Lines style for vertical line strokes. For the full VHS look, stack the CRT Curvature, Scan Lines and Film Grain post-effects, then turn on Color. Export as PNG, GIF or MP4. Free, no signup, no upload.
What is the difference between VHS, CRT and scanline effects?
A CRT effect mimics the look of an old TV tube, slightly curved, with visible horizontal scanlines. Scanlines are the thin dark lines themselves. A VHS effect adds the chroma bleed, the colour fringing and the slight wobble of magnetic tape. ASCII Magic stacks all three so you can dial each one to taste.
Can I apply it to video?
Yes. Drop an MP4, MOV or WebM, pick the Lines style, and every frame renders with the same VHS / CRT settings. Export as an MP4 (H.264) or animated GIF, no watermark.
Does ASCII Magic upload my photos to a server?
No. Every conversion runs locally in your browser using HTML5 Canvas. Your image or video never leaves your device, no upload, no cloud processing.
Is it really free?
Yes, completely free. No signup, no watermark, no export limit, no ads. Export stills up to 4x source resolution.
Can I use the output commercially?
Yes. The output is yours, use it in client work, social posts, prints, music videos, commercial sites, anything. You only need rights to the source image you uploaded.
Can I use the VHS effect on a video, not just a photo?
Yes. Drop an MP4, MOV or WebM into the editor, pick the Lines style with the VHS post-effects stacked on top, and every frame renders with the same VHS settings. Export as MP4 (H.264) or animated GIF, no watermark, up to 4x resolution.
What are the four ingredients of a VHS effect?
Scanlines (the thin horizontal lines from CRT raster), CRT curvature (the slight barrel from the tube), chroma bleed (red/blue fringing from drifting magnetic tape), and grain or tape noise. Stack all four in ASCII Magic and you get the classic VHS look. Each one is a separate post-effect so you can dial it to taste.
Is the VHS effect free? Can I use it commercially?
Yes to both. Free with no signup, watermark or export limit. The output is yours, use it in client work, album covers, music videos, prints, commercial sites; you only need rights to the source image or video.
How do I add a VHS effect to a photo or video?
Open ASCII Magic, drop your photo or clip in, and pick the Lines style to add a VHS effect in your browser. Horizontal line strokes plus the CRT and scanline treatment give that worn analogue-tape look. It works on video too, so every frame gets the same VHS effect, then export as PNG, GIF or MP4 with no watermark.
Can I make a retro or old photo effect?
Yes. The Lines style, combined with scanline and CRT post-effects, turns any image into a retro photo effect that reads like an old TV screen or vintage tape. Dial the line spacing and contrast for anything from a subtle old photo effect to a heavy broken-signal look.

/CREATE ART IN SECONDS

Photos into CRT / scanline art, in your browser.

Vertical strokes, CRT and VHS looks, every change previews instantly, export at up to 4× resolution. Free forever.

Try it out now

/RELATED STYLES

Or try a different art style

ASCII Art → Pixel Art → Mosaic → Voxel →

Each opens the editor with that style ready. Explore the full styles index.