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Dither Image

Let the Dots Do the Shading.

Turn a photo into a field of tiny dots. Make crisp 1-bit images or limited-color artwork, right in your browser.

Drop an image here

Or click to browse · Ctrl/Cmd + V to paste

JPG, PNG, WEBP · Up to 10 MB · Paste with Ctrl+V / ⌘V
No photo? Try this one

Your photos stay on your device. Always.

Original sample portrait
OriginalDithered
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Fewer colors. A different kind of detail.Slide to compare
Quick looks
Preparing your sample…

Choose black & white for a 1-bit look. PNG preserves the exact palette; JPG compression can introduce extra colors.

What Is Image Dithering?

Dithering uses nearby pixels of a small set of colors to suggest tones that are not in the palette. In a black-and-white image, changing the density of dark and light pixels creates the impression of gray. It is a useful way to make retro portraits, graphic textures, and printable-looking monochrome images.

Floyd–Steinberg distributes each pixel’s color error to its neighbors, creating an irregular dot texture that follows the photo. Ordered Bayer uses a repeating 4 × 4 threshold pattern for a more geometric look. Atkinson spreads a smaller share of the error to six neighbors, producing a different dot texture. All three options map pixels to the palette you choose.

Choose the dot pattern

Floyd–Steinberg suits continuous-tone photos. Ordered Bayer makes a regular, screen-like texture that can suit graphics and intentional patterns.

Use brightness to shape the image

A photo with deep shadows can become mostly black. Raise brightness to open those regions, or lower it to bring more detail into bright areas.

Export exact colors with PNG

Black & white produces two visible RGB colors. PNG preserves them; JPEG may add gray or colored pixels around edges because it is a lossy format. The PNG file itself is not packed as a 1-bit bitmap.

How to Use Dither Image

1

Choose your image

Upload a portrait, landscape, or graphic. You can start with the sample.

2

Set the pattern and palette

Pick Floyd–Steinberg, Atkinson, or Bayer, then adjust width, brightness, and dither strength.

3

Download your dithered image

Use PNG for exact palette colors. Zoom in to examine the individual dots.

Try Dither Image

Dither Image: Your Questions, Answered

How do I dither an image online?

Upload a photo, select a palette, and choose Floyd–Steinberg or Ordered Bayer. Adjust brightness and width until the dot pattern shows the detail you want, then download the result.

What is a 1-bit image converter?

A 1-bit image has two possible color values per pixel, often black and white. This tool creates that two-color appearance in Black & white mode, but exports a regular PNG, WEBP, or JPG rather than a packed 1-bit file.

How does Floyd–Steinberg dithering work?

After a pixel is mapped to its nearest palette color, its color error is distributed to four nearby pixels using weights of 7/16, 3/16, 5/16, and 1/16. This helps preserve the overall impression of tone.

Can I make a color dither image?

Yes. Choose PICO-8 for 16 colors or Game Boy greens for a four-color look. Dithering distributes the quantization error across neighboring pixels.

Why use PNG instead of JPG?

PNG is lossless and retains the exact output palette. JPG can add colors and soften small dots. Transparent areas are retained with PNG and WEBP; JPG places them on white.

Let the Dots Do the Shading.

Upload Your Image

Free to use. No account. All processing stays in your browser.

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