Dither Studio
Convert photos to retro pixel art using advanced error diffusion and ordered patterns.
Open Photo
Drag & drop anywhere
Resolution (Pixel Size)
Pre-Contrast
Algorithm
Colors
The Science of Retro Graphics
Before HD screens and millions of colors, digital artists had to be clever. They used Dithering—a mathematical trick to simulate shading using only black and white dots. Dither Studio puts that power in your hands.
Algorithms
Choose from accurate Floyd-Steinberg diffusion or the robotic reliability of Bayer ordered grids.
- Organic Diffusion
- Structured Grids
Control
Dithering requires prep. Use our unique Pre-Contrast engine and Resolution Scaler to dial in the look.
- Smart Downscaling
- Contrast Boosting
Aesthetics
Recreate the greens of the Gameboy, the crisp B&W of the Mac SE, or create your own brand style.
- Retro Presets
- Custom Hex Codes
How to Create Dithered Art
- 1Upload Your Image
Drag and drop any photo or graphic. High contrast images with clear subjects work best.
- 2Downscale Resolution
Increase the "Scale" factor to make pixels larger. A setting of 4x-8x usually creates a nice retro look.
- 3Select Algorithm & Palette
Choose 'Floyd-Steinberg' for natural shading or 'Bayer' for patterns. Pick a palette like 'Gameboy' or define your own colors.
- 4Export
Download as PNG to preserve the crisp pixels. JPG will ruin the dither effect with blur.
A Brief History of Dots
In the early days of computing, memory was expensive. Storing a full-color image required megabytes that didn't exist. Engineers solved this with 1-bit graphics: pixels could only be On (Black) or Off (White).
To show a photo of a gray sky, they couldn't use gray pixels. Instead, they scattered black dots. A few dots looked like light gray; many dots looked like dark gray. This technique, called Dithering, allowed rich visual fidelity on primitive hardware like the original Macintosh (1984) and the Nintendo Gameboy (1989).
Choosing Your Algorithm
Floyd-Steinberg (The Standard)
The most famous error-diffusion algorithm. It pushes "error" to four neighboring pixels. It creates the smoothest result but can look a bit "wormy" in large flat areas.
Atkinson (The Mac Look)
Modified by Apple to drop some of the error rather than passing it all. This prevents the "wormy" artifacts and keeps the image higher contrast and cleaner.
Bayer (The Tech Look)
Ordered dithering uses a fixed grid. It doesn't care about neighbors. It applies a "threshold map" over the image. This results in perfect crosshatch patterns suitable for UI design and glitch art.
Privacy First
Unlike other online converters, Dither Studio processes everything locally on your device. your photos never touch our servers.
Best Formats
- PhotosJPG / WebP
- Pixel ArtPNG
- TransparentPNG
Professional Tips
1Contrast is King
Dithering loves high contrast. If your output looks muddy, increase the "Pre-Contrast" slider. This helps the algorithm decide between black and white more decisively.
2Scale for Context
Viewing on mobile? A scale factor of 2x or 4x is usually fine. For a large desktop background or print, push it to 8x or 16x so the pixels are clearly visible.
3Custom Palettes
Don't limit yourself to B&W. Use the Custom Palette feature to match your brand colors. A dark blue and light cream often looks softer and more modern than harsh B&W.
4Post-Processing
After downloading, try upscaling your result with our Pixel Art Scaler to make the pixels even chunkier without blur.
Who Is This Tool For?
Web Designers
Create lightweight, aesthetic graphics that load instantly and add a distinct retro tech vibe to your UI.
Digital Artists
Experiment with algorithmic art. Banish gradients and embrace the raw, noisy texture of pure math.
Zine Makers
Ideal for Risograph printing or cheap photocopying. 1-bit images reproduce perfectly on low-fidelity printers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is Image Dithering?
Dithering is a mathematical technique used to create the illusion of color depth in images with a limited color palette. By placing dots of two colors (like black and white) closer or further apart, the human eye blends them together to perceive shades of gray. It was essential for early computer monitors and is now a popular retro aesthetic.
What is the difference between Floyd-Steinberg and Bayer?
Floyd-Steinberg is an 'Error Diffusion' algorithm. It processes pixels one by one, pushing the 'error' (difference between ideal and available color) to neighboring pixels, creating smooth, organic, snake-like patterns. Bayer is an 'Ordered' algorithm that uses a fixed grid threshold map. It creates a distinct crosshatch or 'screen door' pattern that looks mechanical and glitchy.
Why should I downscale the Resolution?
True pixel art has a low resolution. If you dither a 4K photo at 100% scale, the dots will be microscopic and just look like noisy dust. By lowering the resolution (increasing the scale factor), you make the pixels 'chunky' and visible, mimicking the low-res screens of devices like the Gameboy (160x144px) or classic Macintosh.
What does the 'Pre-Contrast' slider do?
Dithering works by converting gradients into dots. If your image is low-contrast (muddy or gray), the dither algorithm will just fill it with messy noise. Boosting the contrast before dithering helps define the edges and shadows, resulting in a cleaner, more readable 1-bit image.
What is the Atkinson algorithm?
Developed by Bill Atkinson at Apple for the original Macintosh, this algorithm is a variation of Floyd-Steinberg. It only pushes error to a few neighbors and discards the rest. This creates high-contrast, cleaner images that hold detail better than Floyd-Steinberg, but with less smooth gradients. It is the definitive 'Macintosh Look'.
Can I use my own brand colors?
Yes! Switch the Palette mode to 'Custom'. You can select any two colors—a dark shade (Shadows) and a light shade (Highlights). This is perfect for creating branded graphics or matching a specific website theme.
Why should I export as PNG?
Dithering creates hard, sharp pixel edges. JPEG compression was designed for smooth photos and will 'smear' these sharp edges, creating blurry artifacts. PNG is lossless and preserves the exact pixel-perfect crispness of your dithered art.
Is this tool free for commercial use?
Yes, Dither Studio is 100% free for both personal and commercial projects. You own the copyright to any image you create. We do not watermark your images.
Are my photos uploaded to a server?
No. Dither Studio runs entirely in your browser using Client-Side JavaScript. Your photos never leave your device, ensuring maximum privacy and security.
How do I create the 'Gameboy Camera' look?
To simulate a Gameboy Camera: 1. Set Resolution Scale to around 4x-6x (depending on your image size). 2. Choose the 'Floyd-Steinberg' or 'Bayer 4x4' algorithm. 3. Select the 'Gameboy' palette preset. 4. Slightly boost the contrast to make the subject pop.