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Preview Images in the Terminal With chafa

Convert JPEG or PNG images into colored ANSI/Unicode blocks.

macOSimagesmediaASCII artLow risk
Run chafa image.png to print the image as colored terminal characters.

01Command

Command
$ chafa photo.jpg

02What it does

chafa decodes an image and redraws it with Unicode block or braille characters, using true color when the terminal supports it. Set the output size with -s 80x40 or force a symbol set with --symbols. It is ideal for quick previews over SSH without opening a GUI viewer.

03Risk

RiskLow risk
Requirementsbrew install chafa
CompatibilitymacOS with Homebrew installed
!Warning: Rendering large or animated images repeatedly can be CPU-heavy; reduce the size with -s.

04Undo

✓No undo needed — this command does not change persistent state.

05Sources

  • Homebrew formula: chafa
    Homebrew · vendor-doc · 2026-09-20
    Evidence: Installs chafa, a fast Unicode/ANSI graphics renderer for terminals.
  • Chafa — Image to ANSI/Unicode
    Hans Petter Jansson · vendor-doc · 2026-09-20
    Evidence: Documents chafa symbols, sizes and color modes.

Last verified: 2026-09-20 · Category: Media

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