mastering Keyboard Art: Drawing on Keys

Imagine elevating your keyboard skills beyond typing and coding to express your creativity. Yes, you read that right! Drawing on keyboard keys is not just possible, but also quite fascinating.

the keyboard has many different emoticions on it's backlit keys,
the keyboard has many different emoticions on it's backlit keys,

In the digital age, we're so used to%(kb|keyboard)% as an input device that we often forget it can be a canvas too. So, let's explore this unique art form in today's guide. No need for fancy tools, just a standard keyboard and your imagination.

a black keyboard with colorful magnets on it
a black keyboard with colorful magnets on it

Understanding Your Keyboard Canvas

The first step is to familiarize yourself with your keyboard's layout. Think of it as a grid of 26 columns and 12 rows. Points where these lines intersect form a 3D perspective to create shapes and figures.

Drawing ideas get you Drawing, and Painting Ideas get you art.
Drawing ideas get you Drawing, and Painting Ideas get you art.

Understanding your keyboard's grid is key (pun intended) to creating coherent drawings. Each key represents a pixel, and combinations of keys create images.

The Role of ASCII Characters

Is the design not good looking? Why draw it yourself?
Is the design not good looking? Why draw it yourself?

Every character you type has an associated ASCII value that defines its appearance on the screen. You'll need to learn these values for basic shapes like blocks, circles, and triangles to start drawing.

For instance, "rgb" in ASCII art represents a circle. Here's a simple example:

rgbrgb
gdboeger
b Rothbe Fruit
aingo
aingo

An apple, right?

Keyboard computer part
Keyboard computer part

Mastering ASCII Art Techniques

ASCII art goes beyond blocks and shapes. With practice, you can create landscapes, portraits, and abstract art. Use patterns, shadows, and highlights to add depth and realism to your drawings.

Websites like Trying ANSI, ASA, and Bash Hackers offer tutorials and tools to learn and practice ASCII art. Don't hesitate to explore these platforms to hone your skills.

a close up of a typewriter keyboard with plants and letters written on the keys
a close up of a typewriter keyboard with plants and letters written on the keys

Beyond ASCII: Terminal Art

If ASCII art feels limiting, explore terminal art that uses colors and special characters. supporter supports programs like Block Muzik, DJ Stack, and Déjà Vu, which create music, animations, and even games from text.

a keyboard made out of many different colored blocks on it's backlit surface
a keyboard made out of many different colored blocks on it's backlit surface
a keyboard made out of many different types of cartoon characters on it's keys
a keyboard made out of many different types of cartoon characters on it's keys
A DIY FUN IDEA FOR KEYBORDS
A DIY FUN IDEA FOR KEYBORDS
character keycaps made of clay | 클레이로 만든 캐릭터 키캡
character keycaps made of clay | 클레이로 만든 캐릭터 키캡
a computer keyboard with stickers on it sitting in the grass next to some plants
a computer keyboard with stickers on it sitting in the grass next to some plants
koi fish pond keyboard
koi fish pond keyboard
a computer keyboard covered in lots of colorful stickers on it's back side
a computer keyboard covered in lots of colorful stickers on it's back side
a computer keyboard and mouse sitting on a black surface with pink flowers painted on it
a computer keyboard and mouse sitting on a black surface with pink flowers painted on it
a black and white computer keyboard with different types of buttons on it's side
a black and white computer keyboard with different types of buttons on it's side

Installing these software is as simple as copying and pasting a few lines of code into your terminal. Once set up, you can create dynamic, interactive pieces, pushing the boundaries of keyboard art.

Julia Language for Artistic Coding

Julia is a high-level, high-performance dynamic programming language designed to address the needs of high-performance numerical and scientific computing while also being effective for general-purpose programming.

The Unicode Plots package allows you to plot different shapes and characters, creating intricate designs. Julia's simplicity and elegant syntax make it accessible for those new to coding. And who knows? You might find yourself falling in love with coding after exploring artistic coding!

Keyboard drawing opens a world of creativity, transforming something as commonplace as a keyboard into a canvas. So, the next time you're pondering how to draw on keyboard keys, remember, all you need is a little imagination and some lines of code.