SmallTools

ASCII85 / Base85

Encode/decode Ascii85 (Adobe variant). Optionally wrap with <~ ~>.

Result
Ascii85

How to Use

01

Pick Your Mode

Choose 'Encode' to turn your text into ASCII85 or 'Decode' to convert ASCII85 back to its original text form.

02

Configure Wrapping

Use the 'Wrap' option to automatically add the standard Adobe markers '<~' and '~>' to your encoded output.

03

Instant Conversion

The tool processes your input in real-time. Use the copy button to save your encoded or decoded results instantly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is ASCII85 (Base85)?

ASCII85 is a form of binary-to-text encoding. By using 85 different ASCII characters, it is more efficient than Base64, representing 4 bytes of data with only 5 characters.

Why use ASCII85 over Base64?

ASCII85 results in a smaller encoded size compared to Base64 (about 25% overhead vs 33% for Base64). It is widely used in PostScript and PDF files for this reason.

What are the '<~' and '~>' markers?

These are traditional Adobe delimiters used to signify the start and end of an ASCII85-encoded data stream, helping parsers identify where the encoding begins and ends.