String to Base64 Converter

Base64 is the encoding that turns arbitrary bytes into a string made of only letters, digits, and two punctuation marks - the stuff that survives email, JSON, URLs, and your average puzzle clue without corruption. You've used it a thousand times without thinking: it's why images embed in web pages and why every "decode this" ARG rabbit hole starts with a string ending in =. This node does the string→base64 direction so you can produce those strings inside a ComfyUI workflow.

It's an encoding, not an encryption - anyone can decode it in two seconds. For an ARG that's a feature: it's the "obfuscation with a hint of techno-mystique" step that hides the message from casual readers while staying trivially recoverable for anyone who recognizes the format.

How it works

Two inputs, one optional:

• text - the string to convert.
• encoding_format - the text encoding used to turn the string into bytes before base64. Options: utf-8, utf-16, utf-32, ascii, latin-1, cp1252, utf-8-sig, or Other. This matters more than it looks: "hello" in utf-8 and "hello" in utf-16 produce different base64 strings, so you must use the same encoding to decode as was used to encode.
• other_encoding_format - when you pick Other, type any Python codec name here (utf-32be, shift_jis, whatever).

Output: converted_txt, the base64 string.

The pipeline is: string → bytes (via your chosen encoding) → base64 text.

The inputs that matter

text and encoding_format. Stick to utf-8 unless the puzzle tells you otherwise - it's the modern default and what 99% of decode tools expect. Only reach for other_encoding_format when a clue deliberately specifies an exotic encoding (which is itself a decent puzzle move, since utf-16 base64 strings have a telltale padding pattern).

Where it fits

Pair this with the pack's Base642String sibling for encode/decode round-trips, or use it to turn a short secret into a "coded message" for a clue. It also shows up as a bridge: base64 is how many ARG tools and APIs hand off small blobs, so converting inside the graph keeps everything in one place.

Installing it

Part of ComfyUI ARG Toolkit - ComfyUI Manager (search "ComfyUI ARG Toolkit") or:

cd ComfyUI/custom_nodes
git clone https://github.com/AzelusLightvale/ComfyUI-ARG-Toolkit

Restart ComfyUI. No model files; deps handled by Manager.

Common issues

• Wrong output vs. an online tool - almost always an encoding mismatch. If the online tool assumed utf-8 and you picked utf-16, the strings won't match.
• Trailing = - that's standard base64 padding, not an error.
• It's not encryption - if you need secrecy, run the string through SymmetricEncryptDecrypt first, then base64 the ciphertext. Base64 alone is just obfuscation.