Atkinson dithering online

Get the crisp, high-contrast 1-bit look of the original 1984 Macintosh — Bill Atkinson's algorithm, with live preview and full contrast control.

Atkinson dithering example (1-bit, Great Wave)
Atkinson
Floyd–Steinberg dithering example (1-bit, Great Wave)
Floyd–Steinberg
Bayer (ordered) dithering example (1-bit, Great Wave)
Bayer (ordered)

Try it on your image ↓

What is Atkinson dithering?

Atkinson dithering is an error-diffusion algorithm by Bill Atkinson, used in the original Apple Macintosh (1984), that spreads 1/8 of each pixel's error to six neighbours — diffusing only 75% of the error, which gives crisper, higher-contrast results than Floyd–Steinberg.

How to do it

Get the crisp, high-contrast 1-bit look of the original 1984 Macintosh — Bill Atkinson's algorithm, with live preview and full contrast control.

  1. Open or drop an image (a sample is preloaded).
  2. The preset above is already applied. Adjust contrast, palette and strength to taste.
  3. Compare with other algorithms from the Algorithm menu.
  4. Download PNG (free up to 1000px) or SVG/GIF with Pro.

Frequently asked questions

Why does Atkinson dithering look so crisp?

Because a quarter of the error is thrown away, small tonal differences near pure white or black are not propagated. Highlights stay clean white and shadows solid black, which reads as sharper.

Atkinson vs Floyd–Steinberg?

Use Atkinson for a retro, graphic, high-contrast look and for images with strong lines. Use Floyd–Steinberg when you need accurate tones in smooth gradients.

How do I get the classic Mac look?

Use a 1-bit black/white palette, Atkinson, a slight contrast boost and pixel scale 2. That is what this page loads by default.

Is my image uploaded?

No. The dither runs locally in your browser; nothing is sent to a server.

Is it free?

Yes. Every algorithm previews free and PNG exports up to 1000px are free with no watermark or signup. Pro ($5 for 30 days, USDC) adds print-resolution exports, SVG, GIF and video.