/AI15h ago

Builder Uses GPT Image 2 To Simulate Dot Matrix Printer In Browser

514351580216K
#840@levelsio
Original post
@levelsio@levelsio#840inAI

🖨️🖼️ Big progress: it can now print images too

I had to install a different printer driver, Claude Code recommended Epson FX-86e which supported images

Then I printed an image, it helped me dump a .bin from the printer raw data output, then it decoded the .bin and figured out how to draw images on a canvas (in the printer) from that data

So crazy I'd have no clue how to do this without AI ever!

@levelsio@levelsio

🖨️ Little progress: I generated a dot matrix printer with GPT Image 2 and then some Photopea'ing to make the paper go through

And I got COM1 to work for dial up internet to http://pieter.net (my ISP) while COM2 still works for the printer (that was a challenge)

Which means I can now print anything from the internet, like Hacker News!

Some todo fixes: - page should scroll out not already be there - we need some perspective so the paper slowly goes into distance - integrate it into pieter .com page fully - add a local print command so you can actually IRL print your printed dot matrix print

You can try it the current WIP here: https://pieter.com/assets/dosbox/serial-test/

8:21 AM · Jun 7, 2026 · 83.8K Views
Sentiment

Users celebrate AI-assisted simulation and image printing on vintage dot-matrix printers as cool retro magic that cleverly revives obscure hardware protocols with nostalgic creative flair.

Pos
100.0%
Neg
0.0%
19 comments with sentiment.
Cluster Engagement
Posts from X
Most Activity
Most Activity
VIEWS52.4K
@levelsio@levelsio

Ok deployed it on http://pieter.com and integrated into the full site

Only thing is perspective is a bit off, so I'll try edit the printer with GPT Image 2 to get a slightly left view of it so it fits better

But it works, fucking crazyyyyy

@levelsio@levelsio

🖨️🖼️ Big progress: it can now print images too

I had to install a different printer driver, Claude Code recommended Epson FX-86e which supported images

Then I printed an image, it helped me dump a .bin from the printer raw data output, then it decoded the .bin and figured out how to draw images on a canvas (in the printer) from that data

So crazy I'd have no clue how to do this without AI ever!

14hViews 52.4KLikes 71Bookmarks 10
BOOKMARKS37LIKES170RETWEETS6REPLIES9
@levelsio@levelsio

By far my most autistic project ever 🤓🤓🤓

http://pieter.com

@levelsio@levelsio

Ok deployed it on http://pieter.com and integrated into the full site

Only thing is perspective is a bit off, so I'll try edit the printer with GPT Image 2 to get a slightly left view of it so it fits better

But it works, fucking crazyyyyy

10hViews 29KLikes 170Bookmarks 37
@levelsio@levelsio

I also made it so you can actually print your matrix printer print to your real printer :D

@levelsio@levelsio

🖨️🖼️ Big progress: it can now print images too

I had to install a different printer driver, Claude Code recommended Epson FX-86e which supported images

Then I printed an image, it helped me dump a .bin from the printer raw data output, then it decoded the .bin and figured out how to draw images on a canvas (in the printer) from that data

So crazy I'd have no clue how to do this without AI ever!

15hViews 29.5KLikes 60Bookmarks 10
@levelsio@levelsio

Extreme autism

@levelsio@levelsio

I also made it so you can actually print your matrix printer print to your real printer :D

14hViews 11.3KLikes 34Bookmarks 1
@levelsio@levelsio

Here's the WIP https://pieter.com/assets/dosbox/serial-test/

Next is integrating it to the frontpage

@levelsio@levelsio

🖨️🖼️ Big progress: it can now print images too

I had to install a different printer driver, Claude Code recommended Epson FX-86e which supported images

Then I printed an image, it helped me dump a .bin from the printer raw data output, then it decoded the .bin and figured out how to draw images on a canvas (in the printer) from that data

So crazy I'd have no clue how to do this without AI ever!

15hViews 10KLikes 8Bookmarks 1
Matthew Collison@MrCollison

@levelsio Why does it actually sound like a laser printer - or at least from what I remember

I haven't heard one of those since I was a kid and my brother worked in the school IT department... Jeez

15hViews 115Likes 1
??????????????🐍@NabZO560

@levelsio make ur next project open source , and watch us the ADHD super autistic nerds join the party

10hViews 102Likes 1
@levelsio@levelsio

@MrCollison Laser printer is a constant hum

14hViews 93Likes 1
@levelsio@levelsio

@iamkylebalmer Can you explain?

14hViews 74Likes 1
@levelsio@levelsio

@MrCollison Ah yes I see, so this is like 1 page per second while a matrix printer is 1 line per second or smth

It should sound more like this, I'll fix it thx:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=718b64LuuDc

14hViews 41Likes 1
Kyle Balmer@iamkylebalmer

@levelsio is that extra piece at the bottom the right hand side of the pic?

this is cool. what’s the printer?

14hViews 88
Matthew Collison@MrCollison

@levelsio https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEg59K9j8Tk

Looked it up straight after I posted the comment lol

Mandela Effect?? Or the clunking sound is that of a printer and I'm not going crazy

14hViews 28
@levelsio@levelsio

@knewter Ah weird, which browser?

9hViews 26
@levelsio@levelsio

@NabZO560 Yesss I think soon I will make http://pieter.com OSS

10hViews 44Likes 3
larry@LaireLaFlare

@levelsio reverse engineering a 1994 printer is the most unhinged claude code project i've seen. respect

14hViews 49Likes 2
Kosdan@kossy_daniel

@levelsio This is so cool man 😎

14hViews 86Likes 1
Trevin Chow@trevin

This is the kind of Claude Code use case that still feels like magic.

Not “write app code for me” but more “come chase this weird hardware output rabbit hole with me.”

I recently created a CLI for my @walkingpad treadmill to control it over BT.

Did it figure out the printer escape codes from the .bin, or did you point it at docs?

13hViews 243
Load more posts