FreeImage Dithering
Dither an image
Floyd-Steinberg, Atkinson or Bayer dithering to 1-bit, greys, e-paper or retro palettes.
Drop an image here, or .
Runs in your browser. Nothing is uploaded.
Image Dithering: how to use it
- Drop in a photo or drawing.
- Choose the Colours (black and white, greys, e-paper, retro, or the best colours from the photo) and the Method.
- Set the pixel size, contrast and brightness, then download as PNG.
Tips
- Floyd-Steinberg looks smoothest; Atkinson keeps more contrast; Bayer gives a regular pattern that suits retro graphics.
- For an e-paper display, resize the image to the screen's exact resolution first with the Image Resizer, then dither it.
- Save as PNG: JPG blurs the dots and makes the file larger.
Image Dithering: what it does and when to use it
Image Dithering reduces a picture to a few colours, arranging them in fine patterns of dots that the eye blends back into smooth tones. It is the look of early computers, newspapers and handheld games, and it is also how pictures are prepared for e-paper displays, thermal printers, laser engraving and 1-bit screens that can only show a handful of colours.
Choose the colours: black and white, four greys, four handheld-console greens, the black, white and red or seven-colour palettes of e-paper screens, a retro PC palette, the 8 or 16 best colours from your photo, or two of your own. Then choose the method: Floyd-Steinberg spreads the error smoothly, Atkinson keeps more contrast with a crisp look, Jarvis, Judice and Ninke is the softest, and Bayer gives a regular cross-hatch pattern. Pixel size makes chunky retro pixels.
Contrast and brightness are applied before dithering, which matters a lot with two colours. Save as PNG, which keeps every dot exact and is usually smallest. Everything runs on your device. For flat colour areas without dithering, try Image to Pixel Art or the Duotone Effect.
Image Dithering: frequently asked questions
What is dithering?
A way to show more tones than a palette has, by mixing its colours in fine patterns of dots that the eye blends together. It is used for 1-bit images, e-paper displays, thermal printers, laser engraving and retro graphics. Related guide: Turn a photo into art: which style suits which photo.
Which dithering method is best?
Floyd-Steinberg is the usual choice for photos. Atkinson keeps more contrast and suits small, high-contrast images. Bayer gives a regular pattern that is predictable on screens and in retro art. Related tool: Image to Pixel Art.
How do I prepare an image for an e-paper display?
Resize it to the display's exact resolution, then dither it here with the matching palette: black and white, black, white and red, or 7 colours. Save as PNG and load it with your display's software.