Text to image

A library for generating an image data URI representing an image containing the text of your choice.

Originally part of a Twitter bot for publishing tweets longer than 140 characters, the generator takes a string and an optional configuration object as parameters and returns a promise that will resolve to a image data URI (data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAA...)

Installation

npm install text-to-image     // --save to add it as dependency in your package.json

Note that text-to-image uses node-canvas to generate images. For text-to-image to install, you might have to fulfill the installation requirements for node-canvas. Please refer to their documentation for instructions.

Usage

var textToImage = require('text-to-image');
textToImage.generate('Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet').then(function (dataUri) {
  console.log(dataUri);
});

The above script will print the full generated data URI to the console.

data:image/png;base64,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

Copy that line into the address field of your browser and you should see the generated image.

The image generator will adjust the height of the image automatically to fit all text, while the width of the image is fixed to the specified width.

Line breaks can be forced with \n.

Configuring

The generate function takes an optional second parameter containing configuration options for the image. All configuraion parameters are optional. The available options are as follows.

Name	Default value	Description
maxWidth	400	Sets the width of the generated image in pixels.
fontSize	18	The font size to use for the text in the image.
fontFamily	Helvetica	The font family to use for the text in the image.
lineHeight	28	The line height for the generated text.
margin	10	The margin (all sides) between the text and the border of the image.
debug	false	Set to true to turn on debug mode (see below).
bgColor	"#FFFFFF"	Sets the background color of the image.
textColor	"#000000"	Sets the text color.

Example:

var textToImage = require('text-to-image');
textToImage.generate('Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet', {
  debug: true,
  maxWidth: 720,
  fontSize: 18,
  fontFamily: 'Arial',
  lineHeight: 30,
  margin: 5,
  bgColor: "blue",
  textColor: "red"
}).then(function (dataUri) {
  console.log(dataUri);
});

Debugging

Turn on debug mode to have the library store the generated image data URI as a PNG in the current working directory (where the process was started). The image name will be the current date and time.

Test

The library is tested using mocha. Run the test suit by executing

npm test

During development you may want to use the continuous testing task

gulp watch

A coverage report will be generated in coverage/lcov-report/index.html.

Contributing

Pull requests are welcome. Read the Contributing guidelines.

License

ISC License (ISC)