Scan Lines Text Overview
Lay thin bars above and below each glyph to echo retro CRT refresh: s̅c̲a̅n̲ l̅i̲n̅e̲s̅. The pair of macron/low-line (◌̅ ◌̲) imitates top/bottom scan passes for a classic monitor vibe in plain text.
Give your text a retro CRT feel—each character carries a thin bar above and a low bar below, echoing old interlaced scan lines: scan → s̲̅c̲̅a̲̅n̲̅, TEXT → T̲̅E̲̅X̲̅T̲̅, 2025 → 2̲̅0̲̅2̲̅5̲̅.
Scan Lines — interlace rhythm with x̲̅
The mapping adds a macron over each glyph and a low underline beneath it—literal pattern x̲̅—to simulate the stacked bands of a vintage display while leaving letterforms intact.
Use for
- Stream overlays, synthwave headers, and emulator-themed captions.
- UI chips, status labels, and short promo slugs needing tech nostalgia.
- Dates and short codes where a screen-read vibe helps the concept.
How to style it
- Keep it brief (1–6 words) so the bands stay crisp and readable.
- ALL-CAPS delivers poster strength; mixed case feels more terminal-like.
- Increase line-height slightly on stacked lines to avoid bar collisions.
Craft notes
- Pattern is literal
x̲̅for letters/digits; spaces remain spaces and punctuation passes through as typed. - Bar weight can vary by platform and font—preview tight headings.
- Dense paragraphs of bands reduce scan speed; use as an accent.
Similar tools to explore: Glitch for signal-tear energy, Matrix Style for terminal cascades, Pixelated for blocky 8-bit tiles, and Retro for broader old-school styling.
more text generators
here are some more text generators for you to try out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does it animate?
No—this is static text that visually suggests scanning.
Will it stack with bold?
Yes—though more effects can reduce legibility.
Digits included?
0–9 carry the same ◌̅ and ◌̲ overlays.
Dark mode support?
Works in any theme; lines are drawn by the font.
Best uses?
Tech throwbacks, terminal jokes, and UI labels.