Dithering for Beginners
In DithX, dithering is the core technique: lasers are binary—ON (burning) or OFF. They cannot natively create shades of gray. Dithering is the mathematical trick that turns a photo into a series of dots that your eyes perceive as gray.
Optical Mixing
The human brain blends tiny black dots on a white background into shades of gray. This is why a dithered photo looks like a real photo from a distance.
1-Bit Image
A standard photo has 256 levels of gray. A 1-bit dithered image has only 2: Black or White. This is the only language your laser speaks.
Why 27 Algorithms?
Different materials react differently to heat. Wood might need a random pattern to hide the grain, while slate needs a sharp, consistent grid to pop. DithX gives you the tool for every material.
Core Error Diffusion (10 Algorithms)
These algorithms "diffuse" the rounding error of one pixel to its neighbors, creating smooth gradients.
- 1. Floyd–Steinberg: The gold standard. Balanced, fast, and works on almost anything.
- 2. Atkinson: High-contrast style. Keeps shadows clean; great for retro looks.
- 3. Stucki: Retains tiny details. Sharper than Floyd; perfect for intricate work.
- 4. Burkes: A fast, sharp alternative to Stucki. Great for logos.
- 5. Sierra (3-Row): The smoothest transitions. Ideal for glossy surfaces like glass.
- 6. Sierra Lite: Ultra-fast. Perfect for quick draft engravings.
- 7. Sierra Two-Row: Balanced speed and quality for general engraving.
- 8. Jarvis-Judice-Ninke: Wide diffusion (12 pixels). Ultra-smooth for slate and stone.
- 9. Filter Lite: Minimal power usage. Good for slower computers or simple shapes.
- 10. Zigzag Floyd: Serpentine scan pattern. Eliminates horizontal "worm" artifacts.
Advanced & Organic (9 Algorithms)
Specialized math for complex textures and avoiding repetitive "digital" looks.
- 11. Shiau–Fan: Specifically designed to stop "worms" in mid-tones. Very natural.
- 12. Stevenson–Arce: Uses honeycomb (hexagonal) patterns. Smoothest curves and diagonals.
- 13. Ostromoukhov: Artistic and smart. Variable math based on brightness levels.
- 14. Zuderhoff: Woven, structured look. Adds unique texture to fabrics and wood.
- 15. Nova: High-frequency grain. Almost dust-like; perfect for 400+ DPI work.
- 16. Helix: Spiral-path scanning. Hides mechanical machine lines perfectly.
- 17. Adaptive: Content-aware. Sharpens edges while smoothing soft sky/skin areas.
- 18. Blue Noise: The peak of organic noise. No visible structure; very pleasing to the eye.
- 19. Knoll: Created by Photoshop's co-creator. Clumps dots for a hand-drawn stipple feel.
Patterns & Grids (5 Algorithms)
Predictable, structured distributions. Great for geometric art and technical designs.
- 20. Bayer (Ordered): Classic cross-hatch. Perfect for "old-school" and retro aesthetics.
- 21. NeoMatrix: Complex repeating matrix. Structured but more detailed than Bayer.
- 22. DeltaGrid: Triangular/Diamond grid. Fantastic for diagonal lines and geometric art.
- 23. Zircon: Crystalline texture. Makes edges pop with a "shattered glass" look.
- 24. Dot Diffusion: Donald Knuth's parallel block dither. Mimics high-end mezzotint prints.
The Lab: Experimental & Settings
Research Algorithms
- 25. Custom: Define your own parameters. Ideal for learning how dithering works.
- 26. Custom Error Diffusion: Manually adjust kernel weights for your own signature look.
- 27. Grayscale: No dithering. Darker = Deeper. Only for lasers with 8-bit power control.
Real-World Benchmarks
Common community settings (254 DPI):
- Jarvis: 5000 mm/min | 63% Power (Paper + Borax)
- Stucki: 6000 mm/min | 90% Power (Matte Tile)
- DeltaGrid: 4500 mm/min | 90% Power (Ceramic)
- Filter Lite: 6000 mm/min | 75% Power (Paper)
Gamma & Dot Gain
Lasers cause "Bloom" (heat spread). Use the Lab tools to test how your material responds. Always apply Gamma 2.2 to "open" shadows before dithering, or your engraving will be too dark.