HTML Export
Export your ASCII animations as self-contained HTML files that play directly in any web browser without dependencies.
Overview
HTML export creates a single .html file containing:
- All animation frames embedded as data
- Rendering logic in JavaScript
- CSS styling for appearance
- Playback controls (optional)
The exported HTML file is completely self-contained. Just open it in a browser - no server or internet connection needed.
Accessing HTML Export
HTML Settings
Include Metadata
Embeds project information in HTML meta tags:
- Project name
- Creation date
- App version
- Author info
Animation Speed
Control playback speed multiplier:
| Speed | Effect |
|---|---|
| 0.25x | Quarter speed (slow motion) |
| 0.5x | Half speed |
| 1.0x | Original speed |
| 2.0x | Double speed |
| 4.0x | Four times faster |
Background Color
Choose the page background:
- Use canvas background color
- Custom color picker
- Transparent (shows through to page)
Font Settings
| Setting | Options |
|---|---|
| Font Family | Monospace, Courier, Consolas |
| Font Size | 8-24px |
For best results, stick with Monospace font family to ensure proper character alignment.
Loop Settings
| Option | Behavior |
|---|---|
| Infinite | Loops forever |
| 1-10 | Specific number of loops |
Output Structure
The exported HTML includes:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<meta charset="UTF-8">
<title>ASCII Animation</title>
<style>
/* Embedded CSS for canvas and controls */
</style>
</head>
<body>
<div id="ascii-canvas">
<!-- Animation renders here -->
</div>
<script>
// Embedded frame data and playback logic
const frames = [...];
// Animation controller
</script>
</body>
</html>Use Cases
Standalone Viewing
- Open directly in any browser
- No server required
- Works offline
- Share via email attachment
Website Embedding
<!-- Using iframe -->
<iframe src="animation.html" width="800" height="600"></iframe>Presentations
- Embed in slides
- Open fullscreen for demos
- Works without internet
Archiving
- Single file contains everything
- Easy to store and share
- Future-proof format
Workflow Examples
Quick Share
Website Embed
Presentation Demo
Customization
After Export
The HTML file is editable. You can:
- Modify CSS styling
- Adjust JavaScript behavior
- Add custom controls
- Change colors and fonts
Embedding Options
<iframe
src="animation.html"
width="600"
height="400"
style="border: none;">
</iframe>- Isolated from parent page
- Easy to implement
- Size controlled by iframe
Comparing to Other Formats
| Feature | HTML | Video | React |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self-contained | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ (needs React) |
| Interactive | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Editable | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
| File size | Medium | Large | Small |
| Browser only | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
Shaders
When your project uses shaders, the exported HTML file includes a self-contained WebGL2 runtime that reproduces all shader effects in the browser. All GLSL shader sources are embedded — no external dependencies required.
Tips
Performance
- Keep animations under 100 frames
- Moderate canvas sizes work best
- Complex animations may be slower
Compatibility
- Works in all modern browsers
- IE11 not supported
- Mobile browsers work but may be slower
File Size
Factors affecting size:
- Number of frames
- Canvas dimensions
- Whether empty cells are included
Typical sizes:
- Simple animation: 10-50 KB
- Complex animation: 100-500 KB
- Very large: 1+ MB
Troubleshooting
Animation Doesn't Play
- Ensure JavaScript is enabled
- Try a different browser
- Check browser console for errors
Wrong Speed
- Adjust Animation Speed setting before export
- Or modify the JavaScript after export
Display Issues
- Verify font is available
- Try different font family
- Check font size setting
File Too Large
- Reduce frame count
- Simplify canvas content
- Consider video export for very large animations