Dithering in One Sentence
Image dithering turns a photo into a limited-color (palette-based) image by converting missing colors into a deliberate pixel pattern — the classic secret behind many retro and pixel-art looks.
What You Can Do With This Tool
This dither tool is designed for people who want both retro vibes and real control:
- Choose from many iconic palettes (Game Boy, ANSI/EGA, PICO-8, C64, DB16, Endesga, grayscale, and more)
- Edit the palette to match a brand, game art direction, or thumbnail system
- Tune how intense the effect is with Strength
- Control the pixel texture with Diffusion
- Enable Linear color for smoother gradients
- Keep transparent backgrounds (PNG/WebP) or flatten onto a solid color
Everything runs locally in your browser — fast, private, and instant.
Workflow & Usage
1. Add an image
Drag & drop, paste, or click to select a JPEG / PNG / WebP.
2. Pick a palette preset
Choose a preset palette that fits your goal:
- Black & White / Grayscale → clean poster looks and strong contrast
- Game-style palettes → instant retro game feel
- Computer palettes (ANSI/EGA/CGA) → nostalgic “old terminal / CRT” aesthetics
- Pixel-art palettes (PICO-8, DB16, Sweetie, Endesga) → modern pixel-art standards
3. Edit the palette (optional)
Click Edit to customize:
- Add colors to preserve more detail
- Remove colors for a more stylized look
- Tweak individual colors to match your identity or theme
4. Tune the effect
- Strength: blend original ↔ dithered
- Diffusion: pixel texture amount
- Linear color: smoother gradients
- Preserve transparency / Background color: control how alpha is handled
5. Download
Export instantly. The output keeps the original format and a clear filename like:
my-photo-dithered.webp
What Is Dithering?
When you restrict an image to a palette (for example 2, 4, 16, or 32 colors), most pixels can’t be represented exactly. Without dithering, that usually creates:
- Banding: visible steps in gradients (especially skies)
- Posterization: flat patches of color
- Loss of detail: subtle shading disappears
Dithering solves this by turning “missing colors” into a texture. It spreads the color difference to neighboring pixels so your eye blends the pattern into a smoother tone at a distance.
In other words: dithering transforms a technical limitation into a style.
How It Works (Simple Explanation)
This tool uses palette-based error diffusion:
-
Nearest color match
Each pixel is mapped to the closest color available in your palette. -
Compute the difference
The difference between the original pixel and the chosen palette color becomes an “error.” -
Spread the error
A portion of that error is distributed to nearby pixels so the overall image keeps the right average brightness and color.
The result is the classic dither texture that feels retro, pixelated, and intentionally patterned.
The Controls (What They Actually Change)
Palette
Your palette is your “allowed ink set.” It’s the most important decision.
- 2 colors: maximum retro, bold graphic style
- 4 colors: classic handheld / early computer vibes
- 8–16 colors: balanced look (retro + detail)
- 16–32 colors: more realism while keeping a pixel texture
Rule of thumb: fewer colors = more style, more colors = more detail.
Strength
Strength blends between the original image and the fully dithered result.
- 100%: full dither look
- 80–95%: strong, but slightly softer
- 50–75%: subtle dither texture layered over the original
- 0–25%: barely noticeable (useful for a hint of texture)
If you want a “retro filter” feel without destroying the original, reduce Strength.
Diffusion
Diffusion controls how much the error is spread across the image.
- Low diffusion: flatter, more posterized, less texture
- High diffusion: more texture, more classic dither pattern
If your result is too noisy, lower diffusion. If it feels too flat, increase it.
Linear color
Most images are stored in sRGB, which is not linear to human brightness perception. Linear color converts values into a more physically correct light space for matching/spreading.
- ON: smoother gradients, more natural transitions
- OFF: harsher, more classic “digital” feel
For skies, shadows, portraits, and soft shading — linear is often the better default.
Preserve transparency / Background color
If your image contains transparency (common with PNG/WebP):
- Preserve transparency (ON): keeps alpha and avoids spreading patterns into fully transparent pixels
- Preserve transparency (OFF): flattens the image onto a chosen background color first
Flattening is useful when:
- you need a consistent background for thumbnails
- you’re exporting for platforms/workflows that don’t handle alpha well
- you’re preparing assets for print
Which Palette Should I Choose?
Here are quick “best of” picks based on intent:
Clean graphic poster
- Black & White (2)
- Grayscale (4/8)
- Sepia (warm editorial)
Pixel-art standards
- PICO-8 (iconic, saturated)
- DB16 (super popular, versatile)
- Sweetie16 (soft but expressive)
- Endesga32 (more detail with a pixel feel)
Pure nostalgia
- Game Boy / DMG (handheld look)
- C64 (classic home computer)
- ANSI / EGA / CGA (terminal / CRT vibe)
Modern “tasteful retro”
- Zeitgeist16
- Vinik24
Tip: if you don’t know where to start, DB16 is a strong default for photos.
Tips for Better Dithers
Start with the right image
- High-contrast photos dither beautifully.
- Very noisy images can get chaotic — consider compressing/cleaning first.
Choose the palette size deliberately
- If it looks too “busy,” increase palette size or lower diffusion.
- If it looks too “normal,” reduce palette size and raise strength.
Strength and diffusion work together
- Strong + high diffusion: maximum retro texture
- Strong + low diffusion: bold posterization
- Medium + high diffusion: stylized texture without total loss
Gradients: use Linear color
If you see ugly banding, toggle Linear color on.
Transparent assets
- Keep Preserve transparency on for stickers/icons.
- Flatten onto a background for thumbnails or print.
Common Problems (Quick Fixes)
“It’s too noisy / speckled.”
Lower Diffusion (try 50–75), or increase palette size.
“It’s too flat / posterized.”
Increase Diffusion, enable Linear color, or add a few palette colors.
“Gradients look stepped/banded.”
Enable Linear color and use at least 8–16 palette colors.
“Details disappeared.”
Increase palette size or lower Strength slightly (try 85–95%).
“My transparent edges look weird.”
Turn Preserve transparency on. If you flatten, choose a background close to the intended final background.
Perfect For
- Retro thumbnails for YouTube, courses, playlists
- Pixel-art posters and album covers
- Game dev mockups and UI screens
- Brand visuals that must follow a strict palette
- Social content sets with a cohesive “crunchy” style
- Stickers/icons (especially with preserved transparency)
