Tileset repository

You may be looking for general information on tilesets or the Graphics set repository.

A character set, or simply tileset, is an image in BMP or PNG format that contains the 256 different tiles, corresponding to the IBM Code Page 437 (sometimes called Extended ASCII). They are used to display the main graphics.

Installation

To install any of these tilesets, follow these steps:

1. Download the tileset via right-click-save-as on the the tileset. The tileset is just an image, so there's no separate download link. (The list is here)
2. Convert it into a 24-bit BMP file^{V0.28.181.40d} file or PNG file^v0.31.06. Do NOT just change the extension to .bmp; you must use a program like MS paint to save it as a .bmp.
3. Put it in the data/art directory of your Dwarf Fortress installation.
4. Open data/init/init.txt
5. If you want to use the tileset in fullscreen mode, locate and modify the [FULLSCREENX:800], [FULLSCREENY:600], and [FULLFONT:curses_800x600.bmp] configuration lines to match the specifications from the tileset list. The FULLFONT directive should match the filename of the tileset you downloaded. If you want to use the tileset in windowed mode, search for the [WINDOWEDX:640], [WINDOWEDY:300], and [FONT:curses_640x300.bmp] lines instead, and change them to the correct values.
6. It is also recommended you keep [BLACK_SPACE:YES] to prevent stretching of the graphics.
7. Save the .txt file, then you're ready to play!

Square tilesets

These are all the character sets with square tiles, except for the character sets with 16×16 tiles. Those are listed below. Text in square tilesets (as opposed to tilesets with shorter width) is usually more difficult to read, but the map is not distorted.

Anikki

Title [[#{{{filename}}}|{{{filename}}}]] Author Anikki Dated 2008-7-27 Tile Size 8×8 Resolution 640×200 native. Versions Comments Based on the original IBM CGA Character set with a lot of tweaks. The characters remain as descriptive yet universal as possible. I chose the CGA set because it is in my opinion the square set with the best readability. This set is for those who like the basic ASCII look where every pixel has meaning or (multiple meanings). Download the BMP There is also an upscaled 16x16 version of this set available for fullscreen use below.

Title [[#{{{filename}}}|{{{filename}}}]] Author Anikki Dated 2008-7-27 Tile Size 10×10 Resolution 800×250 native. Versions Comments Based primarily on Tocky and Plac1d's sets (which are brilliant). The characters remain as descriptive as possible with some tweaks to the font for better readability and some changes to symbols for more consistency. This set is for those who like the basic ASCII look where every pixel has meaning or (multiple meanings). Download the BMP (Note: The up and down ramps are reversed.)

Title [[#{{{filename}}}|{{{filename}}}]] Author Anikki Dated 2008-7-27 Tile Size 20×20 Resolution 1600×500 native. Versions Comments Based primarily on Tocky and Plac1d. This is a scaled up version of the 10x10 tileset for fullscreen use. Download the BMP (Note: The up and down ramps are reversed.)

Alloy

Title [[#{{{filename}}}|{{{filename}}}]] Author Alloy Dated 2010-12-3 - v1.1 Tile Size 12×12 Resolution 960×300 native. Versions Comments Much like Hanuman's conversion, this is based on the default curses_640x300 tileset, converted to 12x12. There are no significant modifications to the tiles, smoothing, etc - just some cosmetic changes mostly to take advantage of 4 extra horizontal pixels. For people who like the original tileset's look and size but want a square version of it.

Bisasam

Title [[#{{{filename}}}|{{{filename}}}]] Author Bisasam Dated 2010-05-15 Tile Size 20×20 Resolution 1600×500 (80x25 grid size); 1600×1000 (80x50 grid size) Versions Comments This is the 20x20 version of my 24x24 tileset. A DF version supporting transparent PNGs must be used. In order to use unscaled tiles, horizontal resolution must be at least 1600.

Title [[#{{{filename}}}|{{{filename}}}]] Author Bisasam Dated 2010-05-15 Tile Size 20×20 Resolution 1600×500 (80x25 grid size); 1600×1000 (80x50 grid size) Versions Comments This is the 20x20 version of my 24x24 tileset. Graphical tiles have been replaced by ASCII ones. A DF version supporting transparent PNGs must be used. In order to use unscaled tiles, horizontal resolution must be at least 1600.

Not shown due to size

Title [[#{{{filename}}}|{{{filename}}}]] Author Bisasam Dated 2010-01-01 Tile Size 24×24 Resolution 1920×600 (80x25 grid size); 1920×1200 (80x50 grid size) Versions Comments Inspired by the Terminus24 tileset, I created this square 24x24 tileset. Almost all symbols have been redrawn antialiased; so a DF version supporting transparent PNGs must be used. In order to use unscaled tiles, horizontal resolution must be at least 1920.

Cheepicus

Title [[#{{{filename}}}|{{{filename}}}]] Author Cheepicus Dated 2010-8-4 Tile Size 12×12 Resolution 960×300 Versions Comments I wanted a 12x12 ASCII graphics set, sharp, with pleasant text, so I wound up making one myself from scratch. It's a little influenced by Guybrush, which I love, but after awhile the blurriness got to me. (This tileset is not entirely ASCII; I changed the equals sign to a pattern, so that stockpiles would look the way I like.)

Title [[#{{{filename}}}|{{{filename}}}]] Author Cheepicus Dated 2012-5-6 Tile Size 15×15 Resolution 1200×375 Versions Comments I find the text hard to read in most other tilesets, so I made a new one. Mostly ASCII with a few graphical nods. Lower right char is for PILLAR:255 in df_init.

Ddw

Title [[#{{{filename}}}|{{{filename}}}]] Author Ddw Dated 2011-03-10 Tile Size 10×10 Resolution 800×250 native Versions Comments Based on Anikki, with some simplifications and modifications. I like Markavian's walls, so I did something similar. The bottom right tile, number 255, I use for pillars. You can set that in your d_init.txt, the line should look like [PILLAR_TILE:255] Example.

DDR

A dwarf practicing archery. He died later.

Title [[#{{{filename}}}|{{{filename}}}]] Author DDR & Others Dated 2010-9-3 Tile Size 12×12 Resolution 960×300 native Versions Comments A remix of the Unknown 12x12 curses with Markvii's diagonal walls. Works quite nicely together.

Dorten

Title [[#{{{filename}}}|{{{filename}}}]] Author Dorten Dated 2009-2-13 Tile Size 9×9 Resolution 720×225 Versions Comments It's improved Savok's tileset, which is changed to make walls look smooth. Plus another little differences.

Title [[#{{{filename}}}|{{{filename}}}]] Author Dorten Dated 2009-2-13 Tile Size 9×9 Resolution 720×225 Versions Comments Minor tweak so the 7's don't look like question marks.

Title [[#{{{filename}}}|{{{filename}}}]] Author Qjet Dated 2009-2-13 Tile Size 9×9 Resolution 720×225 Versions Comments Mod of Dortens super sexy 9*9 tileset, this time to provide solid backgrounds to tiles, avoids designation problems by using PNG transparency.

Gekz

Terminus Tileset

Title [[#{{{filename}}}|{{{filename}}}]] Author Gekz Dated 2010-1-08 Tile Size 11×11 Resolution 880×275 Versions Comments This works great on my EeePCs shoddy resolution of 1024x600, and this is why I made it. This is basically the Terminus font converted for use on DF. I chose this font due to its readability at a low resolutions, and soon I'll convert some of the non-letter characters into actually objects like beds and dwarves, so keep a look out for an updated version that I'll add below. This forum thread has the slightly 'graphical' test version. Quite amusing. Check there for updates.

Hanuman

Title [[#{{{filename}}}|{{{filename}}}]] Author Hanuman Dated 2008-7-23 Tile Size 12×12 Resolution 900×300 Versions Comments This is basically the curses_800x600.bmp file converted to 12x12. It may be slightly different but it is close enough for me. Get the .BMP here. Note: If the tileset doesn't look right played at 900x300, try changing the resolution to 966x325.

Haowan

Title [[#{{{filename}}}|{{{filename}}}]] Author Haowan Dated 2007-11-2 Tile Size 18×18 Resolution 1440×450 Versions Comments An enlarged version of a square version of the default set.

Herrbdog

Title [[#{{{filename}}}|{{{filename}}}]] Author Herrbdog Dated 2007-10-30 Tile Size 12×12 Resolution 960×300 Versions Comments A larger version of this tileset is available below.

Jdpage

Title [[#{{{filename}}}|{{{filename}}}]] Author Jdpage Dated 2010-09-15 Tile Size 8×8 Resolution 640×200 native. Versions Comments Modified version of the Anikki 8x8 tileset. Just prettifies it a bit; some characters are tweaked to make them work slightly better for one of their jobs without disturbing the rest. Others are redesigned entirely. Most importantly, dwarves were given beards.

Lord Dullard

Title [[#{{{filename}}}|{{{filename}}}]] Author Lord Dullard/Exponent Dated 2009-3-30 Tile Size 12×12 Resolution 960×300 native Versions Comments Adjusted by Exponent, and with new dwarf characters added. A version of the Unknown 12×12 tileset with smoothed walls. Example: Wiltedblight.

Lord Nightmare

Title [[#{{{filename}}}|{{{filename}}}]] Author Lord Nightmare/IBM Dated 2007-10-30 Tile Size 8×8 Resolution 640×400 Versions Comments The original IBM CGA Character set, thick variant, dumped from addresses 0x1800-0x1fff the 5788005 IBM Character Generator ROM. This is the far more common 'thick' variant. Best viewed at 8:5 aspect ratio.

Lord Nightmare's 8×8 CGA tileset

Title [[#{{{filename}}}|{{{filename}}}]] Author Lord Nightmare/IBM Dated 2008-6-6 Tile Size 8×8 Resolution 640×400 Versions Comments The original IBM CGA Character set, thin variant, dumped from addresses 0x1000-0x17ff the 5788005 IBM Character Generator ROM. This is the less common 'thin' variant, which required soldering on two pins and jumpering them on the CGA card to use. Best viewed at 8:5 aspect ratio.

Title [[#{{{filename}}}|{{{filename}}}]] Author Lord Nightmare/IBM Dated 2007-10-30 Tile Size 8×8 Resolution 640×400 Versions Comments The IBM EGA 8×8 Character set, dumped from the 6277356 IBM EGA BIOS ROM. This is ALMOST 100% IDENTICAL to the CGA thick font, but has minor modifications (23 pixels total) done to four characters: the capital 'S', the club sign, the spade sign, and the large asterisk (the one with a hole in the middle, char 0x0f, not the shift-8 one which is char 0x2a). There is no thin variant of this font. Best viewed at 8:5 aspect ratio.

Maus

Title [[#{{{filename}}}|{{{filename}}}]] Author maus Dated 2007-10-30 Tile Size 9×9 Resolution 720×225 Versions Comments Another square tileset that's usable on low resolutions, modeled after a common font used on the Nintendo Entertainment System. I also made a 18x18 version to fit my 1440x900 screen, back when the aspect ratio of DF was locked. If you like your set a bit more graphical, check out Teeto_K's version.

Markavian

Title [[#{{{filename}}}|{{{filename}}}]] Author Markavian Dated 2007-12-4 Tile Size 12×12 Resolution 960×300 Versions Comments This revision is designed to work with DF version 0.27.169.33a with special tiles for stairs and ramps, as well as the changes present in the earlier version such as bones, walls, trees and swords. Available in mkv curses 12×12 and 6x6 v2.zip. As seen in the fortress of Axegear.

Title [[#{{{filename}}}|{{{filename}}}]] Author Markavian Dated 2007-10-30 Tile Size 12×12 Resolution 960×300 Versions Comments An older revision of my square tileset, featuring more detailed symbols, with alterations to certain text characters to look more like ingame items. The walls are infilled now. Available in mkv curses 12×12 and 6x6 v2.zip. As seen in the fortress of Inkflew.

Nagidal

Nagidal's 24×24 tileset

Title [[#{{{filename}}}|{{{filename}}}]] Author Nagidal Dated 2012-06-07 Tile Size 24×24 Resolution 1920×600 (80×25 grid size); 1920×1080 (80×45 grid size) Versions Comments I love the original curses_640x300, but could not find anything like it for full HD gameplay, so I made this. There is also a non-shaded version. For further info see this forum thread.

Paul

Title [[#{{{filename}}}|{{{filename}}}]] Author Paul Dated 2008-9-5 Tile Size 10×10 Resolution 800×250 for 80×25 grid size, others just multiply grid by 10. Versions Comments Custom tileset I made for my own use when the adjustable grid sizes were released for DF. Some accented letters cut slightly to allow for larger letter display. Contains several of Tocky's tiles (barrels, some trees, dimple cups, coins, slightly modified armor stand). Others are either made by me or adjusted from curses_800x600 tiles.

Savok

Savok's tiny, non-updated tileset

Title [[#{{{filename}}}|{{{filename}}}]] Author Savok Dated 2007-10-30 Tile Size 9×9 Resolution 720×225 Versions Comments There is no doubt that this tileset is old. This must be distinctly understood if anything wonderful is to come of your use of it. You may like Dorten's revision more. The following is the original description: I dislike curses_640x300.bmp due to its lack of any kind of graphics for things like a bed or a barrel and the fact that it distorts my beautiful circles, so I made a similarish tileset to fix those.

Sir Henry

Not shown due to size

Title [[#{{{filename}}}|{{{filename}}}]] Author Sir Henry Dated 2009-8-19 Tile Size 32×32 Resolution 2560×800 Versions Comments Recently I learned of a monitor displaying 2560 pixels horizontally, and I decided it needed a tileset to put to use. Taking the tileset I use (Kelora 16x16 diagonal) and doubling it, I was able to get a decent tileset. Smoothing the edges, and redoing some glyphs to get a better look (or just messing up some to bad to fix), I was able to achieve this.

Taffer

Title [[#{{{filename}}}|{{{filename}}}]] Author Taffer Dated 2012-03-07 Tile Size 10×10 Resolution Looks decent at almost any resolution. Versions Comments A sharp looking, vanilla styled tileset that strives to strike a good balance between nice, attractive graphics, while avoiding graphical oddities. I find the cumulative differences from the ASCII add to the game. Feel free to leave me a note. This has turned into a graphics set, and includes alternate walls, fonts, and racial graphics.

Talryth

Title [[#{{{filename}}}|{{{filename}}}]] Author Talryth Dated 2010-06-18 Tile Size 15×15 Resolution 1440×900 (96×60 grid size) 1680×1050 (112×70 grid size) Versions Comments Built from scratch, this ASCII tileset is made with two common 16:10 resolutions in mind. The odd tile size fills the above resolutions without artifacts and it gives an advantage in design, making for sharp features and equal spacing between characters. The manual anti-aliasing gives the set a nice and clean look. Transparent PNG support is needed for this one.

Teeto_K

Title [[#{{{filename}}}|{{{filename}}}]] Author Teeto_K Dated 2008-10-24 Tile Size 18×18 Resolution 1440×450 Versions Comments A tileset based on Maus's 18x18 version of his "Nostalgia" tileset, however, it has been heavily revised. The entire font has been "smoothed over", and many of the symbols changed to more "graphical" representations of the items they represent. An attempt to fill the void of "graphic heavy" tilesets in the 18x18 tile-size. A special emphasis is placed on maximizing the text's readability, while still providing a "graphics enhanced" play area. Special thanks to Maus for the font, and Guybrush for the inspiration.

Terbert

Title [[#{{{filename}}}|{{{filename}}}]] Author Terbert Dated 2009-6-30 Tile Size 10×10 Resolution 800×250 Versions Comments This is Terbert's First tileset

Tocky

Title [[#{{{filename}}}|{{{filename}}}]] Author Tocky Dated 2007-11-15 Tile Size 10×10 Resolution 800×250 native, 800×500 for fullscreen. Versions Comments I tried to make all the pictographic symbols as descriptive as possible: the only ones I've spotted that show up in odd places are the staircase symbols, '<' and '>', which are used as tags on barrel descriptions, and don't match -- but I'm willing to live with that in order to be able to tell up-stairs from down- ones. With everything else, I just tried to maximize clarity and readability and to keep them consistent. I'm really very pleased with how this set turned out.

Turnip

Title [[#{{{filename}}}|{{{filename}}}]] Author Turnip Dated 2009-7-9 Tile Size 12×12 Resolution 960×300 Versions Comments My revision of Markavian's tileset, made to be more "curvy"

Unknown

Title [[#{{{filename}}}|{{{filename}}}]] Author Unknown Dated 2007-10-30 Tile Size 12×12 Resolution 960×300 Versions Comments This is a tileset submitted by an unknown user from the IP address 86.43.81.125.

Unknown 12×12 v2

Title [[#{{{filename}}}|{{{filename}}}]] Author Unknown Dated 2007-11-24 Tile Size 12×12 Resolution 960×300 Versions Comments This is very similar to the above tileset, but has some noticeable differences. I have no idea where I got it from. It's great on a 1024x768 CRT monitor in windowed mode. I use it in a 1000x500 window with [BLACKSPACE:YES]. --JT

Vidumec

Title [[#{{{filename}}}|{{{filename}}}]] Author Vidumec Dated 2013-01-30 Tile Size 12×12 Resolution 960×300 native Versions Comments This tileset is a square version of Plac1d's tileset with some modifications, like duller ground tiles and other.

Title [[#{{{filename}}}|{{{filename}}}]] Author Vidumec Dated 2011-09-05 Tile Size 15×15 Resolution 1440×900 (96×60 grid size) 1680×1050 (112×70 grid size) Actually looks good on any resolution Versions Comments I liked the great Talryth square 15x15 very much! However dwarves tiles were a litlle bit out of the style, so I changed them to default-like ones. Also added background so the there is no more black background which with bright ASCII was hard to my eyes. Again thanks to Talryth for his amazing job!

Xenomorph

Title [[#{{{filename}}}|{{{filename}}}]] Author Xenomorph Dated 2008-8-9 Tile Size 8×8 Resolution 640×200 Versions Comments This is the tileset used by Acorn computers, starting with the BBC Micro. This version is as it would have appeared in 40-column modes (and shuffled a little to adapt it to CP437). It also looks nice at double resolution. Download the BMP.