# 
[](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@thi.ng/pixel-dither)
[](https://mastodon.thi.ng/@toxi)
> [!NOTE]
> This is one of 205 standalone projects, maintained as part
> of the [@thi.ng/umbrella](https://github.com/thi-ng/umbrella/) monorepo
> and anti-framework.
>
> 🚀 Please help me to work full-time on these projects by [sponsoring me on
> GitHub](https://github.com/sponsors/postspectacular). Thank you! ❤️
- [About](#about)
- [Status](#status)
- [Installation](#installation)
- [Dependencies](#dependencies)
- [Usage examples](#usage-examples)
- [API](#api)
- [Custom dither kernels](#custom-dither-kernels)
- [Authors](#authors)
- [License](#license)
## About
Extensible image dithering w/ various algorithm presets. This is a support package for [@thi.ng/pixel](https://github.com/thi-ng/umbrella/tree/develop/packages/pixel).
The package provides the following dithering algorithm presets (can also be
very easily extended via definition of custom kernels):
- Atkinson
- Bayes (ordered dithering w/ customizable sizes & levels)
- Burkes
- Diffusion (1D row/column, 2D)
- Floyd-Steinberg
- Jarvis-Judice-Ninke
- Sierra 2-row
- Stucki
- Threshold
## Status
**STABLE** - used in production
[Search or submit any issues for this package](https://github.com/thi-ng/umbrella/issues?q=%5Bpixel-dither%5D+in%3Atitle)
## Installation
```bash
yarn add @thi.ng/pixel-dither
```
ESM import:
```ts
import * as pd from "@thi.ng/pixel-dither";
```
Browser ESM import:
```html
```
[JSDelivr documentation](https://www.jsdelivr.com/)
For Node.js REPL:
```js
const pd = await import("@thi.ng/pixel-dither");
```
Package sizes (brotli'd, pre-treeshake): ESM: 1.06 KB
## Dependencies
- [@thi.ng/checks](https://github.com/thi-ng/umbrella/tree/develop/packages/checks)
- [@thi.ng/math](https://github.com/thi-ng/umbrella/tree/develop/packages/math)
- [@thi.ng/pixel](https://github.com/thi-ng/umbrella/tree/develop/packages/pixel)
## Usage examples
Three projects in this repo's
[/examples](https://github.com/thi-ng/umbrella/tree/develop/examples)
directory are using this package:
| Screenshot | Description | Live demo | Source |
|:---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|:-------------------------------------------------------|:----------------------------------------------------|:---------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 
| Showcase of various dithering algorithms | [Demo](https://demo.thi.ng/umbrella/pixel-dither/) | [Source](https://github.com/thi-ng/umbrella/tree/develop/examples/pixel-dither) |
| 
| Image dithering and remapping using indexed palettes | [Demo](https://demo.thi.ng/umbrella/pixel-indexed/) | [Source](https://github.com/thi-ng/umbrella/tree/develop/examples/pixel-indexed) |
| 
| Multi-layer vectorization & dithering of bitmap images | [Demo](https://demo.thi.ng/umbrella/trace-bitmap/) | [Source](https://github.com/thi-ng/umbrella/tree/develop/examples/trace-bitmap) |
## API
[Generated API docs](https://docs.thi.ng/umbrella/pixel-dither/)
```ts
import { imageFromURL, intBufferFromImage, GRAY8 } from "@thi.ng/pixel";
import { ditherWith, ATKINSON } from "@thi.ng/pixel-dither";
// create pixel buffer from HTML image element
const img = intBufferFromImage(await imageFromURL("test.jpg"));
// apply dithering to all channels in given pixel buffer
ditherWith(ATKINSON, img);
// first convert to 8-bit gray before dithering
ditherWith(ATKINSON, img.as(GRAY8));
// ...or apply dithering to select channels only
// use custom threshold & error spillage/bleed factor
ditherWith(ATKINSON, img, { channels: [1, 2, 3], threshold: 0.66, bleed: 0.75 });
```
### Custom dither kernels
All bundled algorithm presets (apart from `orderedDither()`) are implemented as
[`DitherKernel`](https://docs.thi.ng/umbrella/pixel-dither/interfaces/DitherKernel.html)
configurations for, defining how each dithered pixel's error should be
diffused/distributed to neighbors. This approach makes it very easy to define
custom dither configs, like so:
```ts
import { ditherWith, type DitherKernel } from "@thi.ng/pixel-dither";
const CUSTOM: DitherKernel = {
// X offsets of neighbor pixels to update
ox: [1],
// Y offsets of neighbor pixels to update
oy: [1],
// error weights for updated pixels
weights: [1],
// bit shift (scale factor)
shift: 1,
};
ditherWith(CUSTOM, img);
```
The above config will distribute the error to a single pixel @ offset (1,1).
However the error will be bit-shifted by 1 bit to the right (aka division-by-2).
In code form:
```ts
pixels[i + ox + oy * width] += (err * weight) >> shift;
```
**Important:** Ensure the offset positions only refer to still unprocessed
pixels, i.e. those to the right and/or below the currently processed pixel (in
following rows).
You can see the result of this kernel in the [pixel-dither
demo](https://demo.thi.ng/umbrella/pixel-dither/).
## Authors
- [Karsten Schmidt](https://thi.ng)
If this project contributes to an academic publication, please cite it as:
```bibtex
@misc{thing-pixel-dither,
title = "@thi.ng/pixel-dither",
author = "Karsten Schmidt",
note = "https://thi.ng/pixel-dither",
year = 2021
}
```
## License
© 2021 - 2025 Karsten Schmidt // Apache License 2.0