Dither an image to a limited palette
Dithering reduces an image to a few colours while scattering pixels to fake the missing shades — the classic look of 1-bit art, Game Boy games and newspaper print. This free tool applies Floyd–Steinberg or ordered (Bayer) dithering to any image in your browser and exports a PNG.
Floyd–Steinberg or ordered
Floyd–Steinberg error diffusion gives an organic, photographic dither, while ordered (Bayer) dithering produces a regular cross-hatch pattern. Pick a target palette — black & white for true 1-bit, grayscale, or a retro set like Game Boy, PICO-8 or Sweetie16.
Free, private, no upload
Everything runs locally in your browser — no sign-up, no watermark and no file limit — so your image never leaves your device. Hold the compare button to see the original at any time.
Frequently asked questions
How do I dither an image?
Upload an image, choose an algorithm (Floyd–Steinberg or ordered) and a target palette such as black & white or Game Boy, and export the dithered PNG — all in your browser.
What is dithering?
Dithering approximates colours an image's limited palette can't show by mixing available colours in a pattern, so a few colours still look like smooth shading from a distance — the basis of 1-bit and retro art.
What's the difference between Floyd–Steinberg and ordered?
Floyd–Steinberg diffuses the quantization error to neighbouring pixels for an organic, noise-like result. Ordered (Bayer) dithering uses a fixed threshold matrix, giving a regular, repeating cross-hatch pattern.
Can I make a 1-bit black-and-white image?
Yes. Choose the black & white palette with Floyd–Steinberg or ordered dithering for the classic 1-bit look used in early games and e-ink displays.
Is the dithering tool free?
Yes, completely free with no sign-up, no watermark and no limit on how many images you process.
Are my images uploaded to a server?
No. Dithering runs locally in your browser, so your images stay on your device.