Dither generator for images and video frames
Dither Lab rebuilds an image from a few colors, pixels and print marks. Upload a PNG, JPG or WebP and dither it with Floyd-Steinberg, Atkinson, Bayer, blue noise or a halftone screen into 1-bit, Game Boy, CGA, PICO-8, Riso or neon palettes, draw it as a screen of dots and shapes, or switch to Photo art for print and pixel styles such as CMYK print, LED matrix, engraving and stained glass. Every change shows live in your browser.
How it works
Upload an image
Add a PNG, JPG or WebP up to 20 MB or pick a sample photo, then keep its own shape or crop it to 1:1, 4:5, 3:2, 16:9 or 9:16.
Choose a mode
Dither with 14 algorithms and 13 palettes, Shapes with dots, squares, lines, crosses and diamonds, or Photo art with 18 pixel and print styles from LED matrix to stained glass.
Style and use it
Set pixel size and contrast, add scanlines, bloom, grain or a vignette, then sign in with a free UX Pilot account to use it on the canvas or export it.
What you can make
Dithered images
Floyd-Steinberg, Atkinson, Bayer and blue noise dithering for a crisp retro bitmap look.
Retro console palettes
Game Boy, CGA, PICO-8 and CRT starting points for game and nostalgia themes.
Print effects
Riso, Newsprint, CMYK print, engraving and comic book screens for posters and editorial art.
Pixel art and glitch
Pixel art, mosaic tiles, voxel cubes, pixel sort and datamosh for bold hero visuals.
FAQ
What is dithering?
Dithering recreates shades with a limited set of colors by arranging pixels in patterns. This tool includes 14 methods, among them Floyd-Steinberg, Atkinson, Jarvis-Judice-Ninke, Stucki, Burkes, Sierra, Bayer matrices, blue noise and halftone screen.
Which dithering algorithm should I use?
Error diffusion such as Floyd-Steinberg or Atkinson gives a soft, organic grain that suits photos and portraits. Ordered Bayer patterns give the regular crosshatch of old computers and consoles, and blue noise spreads its dots evenly without a visible pattern.
Can I dither a video?
Yes. Upload a short video and it plays dithered in the preview; on the canvas you can place it or a still frame of it. You can also add Flicker, Ripple or Scan motion to any image and set its speed.
Is the dither generator free?
Exploring is free and runs in your browser. Using your result on the UX Pilot canvas or exporting it needs a free UX Pilot account.