<data, algorithm> A technique used in quantisation processes
such as graphics and audio to reduce or remove the
correlation between noise and signal.
Dithering is used in computer graphics to create additional
colors and shades from an existing palette by interspersing
pixels of different colours. On a monochrome display,
areas of grey are created by varying the proportion of black
and white pixels. In colour displays and printers, colours
and textures are created by varying the proportions of
existing colours. The different colours can either be
distributed randomly or regularly. The higher the
resolution of the display, the smoother the dithered colour
will appear to the eye.
Dithering doesn't reduce resolution. There are three types:
regular dithering which uses a very regular predefined
pattern; random dither where the pattern is a random noise;
and pseudo random dither which uses a very large, very
regular, predefined pattern.
Dithering is used to create patterns for use as backgrounds,
fills and shading, as well as for creating halftones for
printing. When used for printing is it very sensitive to
paper properties. Dithering can be combined with
rasterising. It is not related to anti-aliasing.
