How to dither an image
- Drop a photo; Dither is selected.
- Choose the algorithm and palette: 1-bit black and white, Game Boy, CGA, PICO-8, 4-level grey or sepia.
- Raise the pixel size for a chunkier retro look and tweak contrast.
- Download as PNG to keep the pixels crisp.
Dithering explained
Dithering creates the illusion of more shades than a palette contains by mixing the available colours in fine patterns. Error-diffusion methods process pixels one by one and pass the rounding error on to neighbours: Floyd–Steinberg (1976) spreads all of it, giving smooth gradients; Atkinson, used on the original Macintosh, spreads only three quarters, so highlights and shadows stay clean and contrast is higher. Bayer ordered dithering compares each pixel against a fixed threshold matrix, producing the regular cross-hatch texture of early video games and printers.
Dithered art is popular in indie games, zines, e-ink displays and minimalist posters, and 1-bit images compress to tiny files. All processing happens in your browser.
FAQ
Which algorithm is best for photos?
Floyd–Steinberg for detail, Atkinson for a crisp, high-contrast look.
Why save as PNG?
JPG compression blurs the sharp pixel patterns that make dithering work.
Can I use the Game Boy palette?
Yes, choose Game Boy for the classic four greens.