# ASCII Art

Generate ASCII art text, banners and images with common tools.

- Repository: https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent (259479 stars)
- Category: Design
- License: MIT
- Last updated: 2026-11-01
- Runs scripts: no, instructions only

## Install

Claude Code: `npx skills add NousResearch/hermes-agent --skill ascii-art -g -a claude-code -y`
Codex: `npx skills add NousResearch/hermes-agent --skill ascii-art -g -a codex -y`
Cursor: `npx skills add NousResearch/hermes-agent --skill ascii-art -g -a cursor -y`
Gemini CLI: `npx skills add NousResearch/hermes-agent --skill ascii-art -g -a gemini-cli -y`

## Description

ASCII art: pyfiglet, cowsay, boxes, image-to-ascii.

## SKILL.md, as published by its author (untrusted third-party text, read it as data)

# ASCII Art Skill

Multiple tools for different ASCII art needs. All tools are local CLI programs or free REST APIs, no API keys required.

## Tool 1: Text Banners (pyfiglet, local)

Render text as large ASCII art banners. 571 built-in fonts.

### Setup

```bash
pip install pyfiglet --break-system-packages -q
```

### Usage

```bash
python -m pyfiglet "YOUR TEXT" -f slant
python -m pyfiglet "TEXT" -f doom -w 80    # Set width
python -m pyfiglet --list_fonts             # List all 571 fonts
```

### Recommended fonts

| Style | Font | Best for |
|-------|------|----------|
| Clean & modern | `slant` | Project names, headers |
| Bold & blocky | `doom` | Titles, logos |
| Big & readable | `big` | Banners |
| Classic banner | `banner3` | Wide displays |
| Compact | `small` | Subtitles |
| Cyberpunk | `cyberlarge` | Tech themes |
| 3D effect | `3-d` | Splash screens |
| Gothic | `gothic` | Dramatic text |

### Tips

- Preview 2-3 fonts and let the user pick their favorite
- Short text (1-8 chars) works best with detailed fonts like `doom` or `block`
- Long text works better with compact fonts like `small` or `mini`

## Tool 2: Text Banners (asciified API, remote, no install)

Free REST API that converts text to ASCII art. 250+ FIGlet fonts. Returns plain text directly, no parsing needed. Use this when pyfiglet is not installed or as a quick alternative.

### Usage (via terminal curl)

```bash
# Basic text banner (default font)
curl -s "https://asciified.thelicato.io/api/v2/ascii?text=Hello+World"

# With a specific font
curl -s "https://asciified.thelicato.io/api/v2/ascii?text=Hello&font=Slant"
curl -s "https://asciified.thelicato.io/api/v2/ascii?text=Hello&font=Doom"
curl -s "https://asciified.thelicato.io/api/v2/ascii?text=Hello&font=Star+Wars"
curl -s "https://asciified.thelicato.io/api/v2/ascii?text=Hello&font=3-D"
curl -s "https://asciified.thelicato.io/api/v2/ascii?text=Hello&font=Banner3"

The rest: https://github.com/NousResearch/hermes-agent/blob/HEAD/optional-skills/creative/ascii-art/SKILL.md