"How to draw ASCII" by Christian 'CeeJay' Jensen
Website at http://CeeJay.dk (practicly never updated - I'm lazy)

[Lines]

Lines in general are made by putting characters with different "height"
next to each other in a way that simulates a line.

Most characters suitable for creating a line fall in 4 heightcategories.
For some heights there are a choice between different characters.
It's important to choose a character for your height with a form and
position that seems to match the line.


Suitable characters are :

High   : ` ' "
Middle :  - =
Low    :  . ,
Bottom :   _

You might think that ~ would be a good character too, but since ~ can
be displayed very differently from system to system it is best not to
use it when drawing lines

Some of theese are best for lines slanting ..

.. right :

_,.-'"

and some for slanting ..

.. left :

"`-._

And then there are / and \ and |  .. all characters which forms restrict
their usability to lines that closely resembles their shape.


The best characthers are entirely a personal preference.

Here are some different types of lines.. which do you like the best ?


    |   |   /      .'      .-'     _.-'
    |  .'  /     .'     .-'    _.-'
    |  |  /    .'    .-'   _.-'          __..--""
    | .' /   .'   .-'  _.-'      __..--""
    | | /  .'  .-'  .-'  __..--"" _______________



    |   |   /      ,'     _,'      _,-'
    |  ,'  /     ,'    _,'     _,-'
    |  |  /    ,'   _,'    _,-'          __..--'"
    | ,' /   ,'  _,'   _,-'      __..--'"
    | | /  ,'  ,'   ,-'  __..--'" _______________


    |   |   ;      ,"      ,-"     _.-"
    |   ;  ;     ,"     ,-"    _.-"
    |  |  ;    ,"    ,-"   _.-"          __..--'"
    |  ; ;   ,"   ,-"  _.-"      __..--'"
    | | ;  ,"  ,-"  .-"  __..--'" _______________



Here are some people's favourite linestyles :

     3/1    2/1     1/1     2/3     1/2
|    |      /      /      .'      .'
|    |     |      /      /      .'
|    /     /     /     .'     .'          1/3
|   |     |     /     /     .'         .-'
|   |     /    /    .'    .'        .-'
|   /    |    /    /    .'       .-'       1/4
|  |     /   /   .'   .'      .-'      _.-'
|  |    |   /   /   .'     .-'     _.-'       1/5
|  /    /  /  .'  .'    .-'    _.-'      _.--'
| |    |  /  /  .'   .-'   _.-'     _.--'      1/6
| |    / / .' .'  .-'  _.-'    _.--'    __.--'     1/7
| |   | / / .' .-' _.-'   _.--'   __.--'    __..--'
              _.-'  _.--'   __.--'   __..--'    1/8
               _.--'  __.--'  __..--'   __..--''
                __.--' __..--'  __..--''
                __..--' __..--''
                __..--''
[VK]            -------------------------- 0




   6/1   3/1    2/1     1/1     2/3     1/2
 |  J    J     J       /      .'      .'
 |  J    |     F      /      /      .'
 |  |    F    J      /     .'     .'          1/3
 |  |   J     F     /     /     .'         .-'
 |  F   |    J     /    .'    .'        .-'
 |  F   F    F    /    /    .'       .-'       1/4
 | J   J    J    /   .'   .'      .-'      _.-'
 | J   |    F   /   /   .'     .-'     _.-'       1/5
 | |   F   J   /  .'  .'    .-'    _.-'      _.--'
 | |  J    F  /  /  .'   .-'   _.-'     _.--'      1/6
 | F  |   J  / .' .'  .-'  _.-'    _.--'    __.--'     1/7
 | F  F   F / / .' .-' _.-'   _.--'   __.--'    __..--'
                  _.-'  _.--'   __.--'   __..--'    1/8
                   _.--'  __.--'  __..--'   __..--''
                    __.--' __..--'  __..--''
                    __..--' __..--''
                    __..--''
[HS]                -------------------------- 0

...and if the line slopes the other way use L instead of F.



               2\1     3\2     1\1     1\2   1\3 12infinity
                  `.      `.      \      \    |   |
                    `.      \      \      |   |   |
         3\1          `.     `.     \     \   \   |
            `-.         `.     \     \     |   |  |
               `-.        `.    `.    \    \   |  |
        4\1       `-.       `.    \    \    |  \  |
           `-._      `-.      `.   `.   \   \   | |
     5\1       `-._     `-.     `.   \   \   |  | |
        `--._      `-._    `-.    `.  `.  \  \  \ |
    6\1      `--._     `-._   `-.   `.  \  \  |  ||
7\1     `--.__    `--._    `-._  `-.  `. `. \ \  ||
   `--..__    `--.__   `--._   `-._ `-. `. \ \ | ||
   8\1    `--..__   `--.__   `--._  `-._         _=_
      ``--..__   `--..__  `--.__  `--._        q(-_-)p
              ``--..__  `--..__ `--.__         '_) (_`
                      ``--..__ `--..__         /__/  \
                              ``--..__       _(<_   _/)_
     infinity21 -----------------------     (__\_\_|_/__) [mic]



[Sun of directions]

My "Sun of directions"

It show my (CeeJay) favourite linestyles

The first number is the change in the X value.
The second number is the change in the Y value.

Note that the lines in the upper half of the sun
differs from the ones in the lower half.
I prefer the ones in the upper half but there are
different lines for different occasions.

                                 1/3  |  1/3
                             1/2  |   |   |  1/2
                      1/1     |   |   |   |   |     1/1
                  3/2   \     `.  `.  |  ,'  ,'     /    3/2
             2/1   \     \     |   |  |  |   |     /     /   2/1
               .    `.    \    `.  |  |  |  ,'    /    ,'    ,
         3/1    `.    \    \    |  `. | ,'  |    /    /    ,"    3/1
           .      `.   `.   \   `.  | | |  ,'   /   ,'   ,"      ,
     4/1    `-.     `.   \   \   |  | | |  |   /   /   ,"     ,-"    4/1
        -._    `-.    `.  `.  \  `. `.|,' ,'  /  ,'  ,"    ,-"    _.-
   5/1     `-._   `-.   `.  \  \  |  |||  |  /  /  ,"   ,-"   _.-"     5/1
      `--._    `-._  `-.  `. `. \ `. ||| ,' / ,' ,"  ,-"  _.-"    _.--"
  6/1.__   `--._   `-._ `-. `. \             / ," ,-" _.-"   _.--"   __.6/1
        `--.__  `--._  `-._`        _____        "_.-"  _.--"  __.--"
 7/1 `--..__  `--.__ `--._       .-'     `-.       _.--" __.--"  __..--" 7/1
    --..__  `--..__ `--.__     ,'           `.     __.--" __..--"  __..--
 8/1      ``--..__ `--..__    /    _     _    \    __..--" __..--'"      8/1
                  ``--..__   ;    (_)   (_)    :   __..--'"
  -----------------------    |                 |   ------------------------
                  ..--''""   :    |       |    ;   ""``--..
 8/1      ..--''"" .--''""    \    `.___.'    /    ""``--. ""``--..      8/1
    --''""  .--''"" .--'""     `.           ,'     ""`--. ""``--.  ""``--
 7/1 .--''""  .--'""  ,--'       `-._____.-' CJ    ``--. ""`--.  ""``--. 7/1
        .--'""   ,--'" _,-".                     . `-._ ``--.  ""`--.
  6/1'""    ,--'"  _,-" .-' ,' /             \ `. `-.  `-._  ``--.   ""`6/1
       ,--'"   _,-"  .-'  ,' .' / .' ||| `. \ `. `.  `-.   `-._   ``--.
   5/1"    _,-"   .-'   ,'  /  /  |  |||  |  \  \  `.   `-.    `-._    5/1
        ,-"    .-'    ,'  .'  /  .' .'|`. `.  \  `.  `.    `-.     `-.
     4/1    .-'     ,'   /   /   |  | | |  |   \   \   `.     `-.     4/1
           '      ,'   .'   /   .'  | | |  `.   \   `.   `.      `
        3/1     ,'    /    /    |  .' | `.  |    \    \    `.     3/1
               '    .'    /    .'  |  |  |  `.    \    `.    `
             2/1   /     /     |   |  |  |   |     \     \    2/1
                 3/2    /     .'  .'  |  `.  `.     \    3/2
                      1/1     |   |   |   |   |     1/1
                            1/2   |   |   |   1/2
                                 1/3  |  1/3

[Special purpose lines & steps]

   ,8            ;"           _|           ,;'           .oO          |
  ,8'          ;"           _|           ,;'          .o0008        __|
 ,8'         ;"           _|           ,;'         .o0008888       |
,8'        ;"            |           ,;'        .o0008888888       |


 98b      080      d8P           .o0P'
  98b     080     d8P         .oOP'
   98b    080    d8P       .o0P'
    98b   080   d8P     .o0P'
     98b  080  d8P   .o0P'

     _||      _(
   _||"     _(
 _||"     _(
||"      (




[Circular shapes]
                                             _____             __
                                          .-'     `-.       ,dP""Yb,
                                        ,'           `.   ,d"      "b,
                                       /               \  d'    _   `Y,
                              __      ;                 : 8     8    `b
                    __     ,'"  "`.   |                 | `b,_,aP     P
            __    ,'  `.  /        \  :                 ;   """"     d'
          ,'  `. :      | |        |   \               /           ,P"
       _  |    | |      ; \        /    `.           ,'    a,.__,aP"
  . o (_) `.__.'  `.__.'   `.____.'       `-._____.-'       `"""''

                _______
           .-'""       ""`-.
        .-'                 `-.
      ,'                       `.
    ,'                           `.
   /                               \
  /                                 \
 ;                                   :
 :                                   :
 |                                   |
 :                                   :
 :                                   ;
  \                                 /
   \                               /
    `.                           ,'
      `.                       ,'
        `-.                 ,-'
           `-.,,_______,,.-'


( An example of what you can achive by using
  curves from ever smaller/bigger circles - A spiral )
               _______
          .-'""       ""`-.
       .-"                 `-.
     ,"                       `.
   ,"                           `.
  /                               \
 /                                 \
;               _                   :
:            ,'" "`.                ;
|           (  ,    \               |
;            `'     |               ;
 \                 /
  `.             ,"
    `-.,_____,.-"

( ..  and in this case a seashell)
                    _______
               .-'""       ""`-.
            .-"                 `-.
          ,"                       `.
        ,"                           `.
       /                               \
      /                                 \
     ;               _                   :
     :            ,'" "`.                :
     |           (  ,    \               |
     ;            `'     |               |
      \                 /                |
       `.             ,"                 :
         `-.,_____,.-"                   ;
           ,'   `.                      /
          /       \                    /
         ;         :                  /
         |         |                 /
         |         |               ,"
         |         |             ,"
         :         :          ,-"
          \       /       _,-"
           `.   ,"   _.--"   CJ
             `""---'"


[Sentence drawing] - ( Drawing with characters aligned so they actually spell something! )

            ught i
          ca       n
        m            a
       '      ...     t
      I      .   .     i
             !         m
      !       !       e
       p       !pool
        l
         e
           h


[Geometric figures]


( Mirrored cubes )
                 |
      _______    |    _______
     /\      \   |   /      /\
    /  \      \  |  /      /  \
   /    \______\ | /______/    \
  /     /      / | \      \     \
  \    /      /  |  \      \    /
   \  /      /   |   \      \  /
    \/______/    |    \______\/
_________________|___________________
     _______     |     _______
    /\      \    |    /      /\
   /  \      \   |   /      /  \
  /    \      \  |  /      /    \
  \     \______\ | /______/     /
   \    /      / | \      \    /
    \  /      /  |  \      \  /
     \/______/   |   \______\/
                 |
                 |               CJ


(Pyramid)
     ___________________________
    /\__\/\__\/\__\/\__\/\__\\\\\
    \/\__\/\__\/\__\/\__\/__/_\\\\
     \/\__\/\__\/\__\/\__\__\__\\\\
      \/\__\/\__\/\__\/__/__/__/_\\\
       \/\__\/\__\/\__\__\__\__\__\\\
        \/\__\/\__\/__/__/__/__/__/_\\
         \/\__\/\__\__\__\__\__\__\__\\
          \/\__\/__/__/__/__/__/__/__/_\
           \/\__\__\__\__\__\__\__\__\__\
         CJ \/__/__/__/__/__/__/__/__/__/



If you keep at it long enough you can create
some pretty amazing and sometimes confusing stuff.

( Two very similar drawings with very different
  illusions of depth )
    _________
   / ___    /\
  / /__/\  /  \
 /  \__\/ / ___\
/________/ /__/\\
\    ___ \ \__\//
 \  /__/\ \    /
  \ \__\/  \  /
   \________\/  CJ


    _________
   / ___    /\
  / /\__\  /  \
 /  \/__/ / ___\
/________/ /\__\\
\    ___ \ \/__//
 \  /\__\ \    /
  \ \/__/  \  /
   \________\/  CJ



And sometimes ... REALLY confusing stuff.
Here f.x is a Escher-style geometric form ..
Dont look too long trying to figure it out.
It's an impossible form .. it cannot not exist in RealLife(tm)


          ______________
         /\  __________ \
        /  \ \______  /\ \
       / /\ \ \    / /  \ \
      / / /\ \ \  / / /\ \ \
     / / /  \ \ \/ / /  \ \ \
    / / /    \ \ \/_/____\_\ \
   / / /      \ \____________ \
  / / /______/_\ ___________  /
  \ \  _________/ /      / / /
   \ \ \_______ \ \     / / /
    \ \ \ / / /\ \ \   / / /
     \ \ / / /  \ \ \ / / /
      \ V / /____\_\ / / /
       \ / /_________\/ /
        \______________/  lgbeard/KPB/ap



Another variation .. an endless staircase


"Slinky Heaven"       _______
by CeeJay   _\|/_____/\      \
      ______=/\=     \ \  ____\__
     /\     =\ \      \ \/\      \
    /  \    = \ \______\/  \  ____\__
   /    \______\/      /    \/\      \
  /     / _____/_     /     /  \  ____\__
 /     / /\      \   /     / ___\/\_     \
/     / /  \      \ /   __/__\_     \     \
\    / /    \______\____\_     \     \_____\
 \  / /     / _____/_     \     \_____\    /
  \/_/     / /\      \     \_____\    /   /
    /     / /  \      \_____\    /   /   /
   /     / /    \______\    /   /   /   /
   \    / /     /      /   /   /   /   /
    \  / /     /      /   /   /   /   /
     \/_/     /      /   /   /   /   /
       /     /      /   /   /   /___/CJ
      /     /      /   /   /___/
      \    /      /   /___/
       \  /      /___/
        \/______/