Bayer (Ordered) dithering online

About Bayer (Ordered) dithering

Ordered dithering compares each pixel against a repeating threshold map — the Bayer matrix, introduced by Bryce Bayer in 1973. No error is carried between pixels, so every pixel is processed independently.

This creates the unmistakable crosshatch pattern of early PCs, Game Boy titles and modern indie games like Return of the Obra Dinn. Because the pattern is stable, ordered dithering is also perfect for animation and GIFs — nothing "crawls" between frames. Switch between 2×2, 4×4 and 8×8 in the algorithm menu.

Diffusion matrix

   0   8   2  10
  12   4  14   6
   3  11   1   9
  15   7  13   5   (÷16)

“*” marks the current pixel; numbers show how much of its quantization error each neighbour receives.

Best for

• Retro game graphics
• Animations and GIFs
• Stylised crosshatch art

How to dither an image

1. Add your image. Click Upload image, drag a file onto the preview, or paste with Ctrl/⌘+V. JPG, PNG, WebP and GIF work.
2. Pick an algorithm and palette. Error diffusion (Floyd–Steinberg, Atkinson…) for photos, Bayer for a retro crosshatch.
3. Tune it. Raise pixel size for chunkier pixels; adjust brightness and contrast to control which tones become dark or light.
4. Download. Export a lossless PNG at up to 8× with crisp nearest-neighbour scaling.

FAQ