Show HN: TitleArt – Make text like it's 1997

Commenters welcomed TitleArt as a hands-on recreation of 1990s WordArt, with its creator saying the styles were rebuilt by eye from screenshots. Many recalled school computer rooms, spending more time decorating headings than writing assignments, and making banners or cards on dot-matrix printers. Several praised the authentic menus and the fun of experimenting; one said the vector hard shadows could be useful in professional work. Others suggested additions such as shimmer effects, clip-art figures, CSS/SVG export, and broader font and language support. Requests to open-source the project reflected interest in installing it locally or reusing its retro interface, while the creator responded to suggestions by testing added support and exploring features.

The nostalgia was not entirely uncritical. Some commenters remembered WordArt and clip art as ubiquitous and overused, drawing a parallel with today’s flood of AI-generated images; one argued that novelty tends to wear off, as it did the first time around. Others said making things with WordArt felt more enjoyable than using AI, and imagined retro design returning for invitations or websites. Memories of old software, CorelDRAW, banner tools, and the distinctive feel of the 1990s internet gave the project a wider appeal: for some, it was a playful return to childhood, while for others, the appeal came with awareness that the same visual style once became tiresome.