Sixteen Colors: An Online Archive of ANSI/ASCII Artpacks
2025-07-27
Sixteen Colors is an online archive preserving ANSI and ASCII artpacks, a form initially designed for text-mode computer consoles. Popularized in the early 90s with the rise of dial-up Bulletin Board Systems (BBSs), artists formed groups releasing monthly artpacks, sparking fierce competition (like between ACiD and iCE). The internet's rise in the late 90s diminished BBSs and the demand for ANSI/ASCII art, yet artists continue the tradition. Sixteen Colors aims to publicly archive this legacy. For more context, watch "THE ART OF WAREZ," a short film exploring the scene's origins.
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Design
ANSI art