5.9 KiB
Dithering Patterns Library
Comprehensive reference of dithering patterns for pixel art.
2-Color Patterns (50% Mix)
Checkerboard
A B A B A B A B
B A B A B A B A
A B A B A B A B
B A B A B A B A
A B A B A B A B
B A B A B A B A
A B A B A B A B
B A B A B A B A
Use: Even 50/50 mix, very regular, obvious pattern.
Diagonal Lines
A B . . A B . .
B A . . B A . .
. . A B . . A B
. . B A . . B A
A B . . A B . .
B A . . B A . .
. . A B . . A B
. . B A . . B A
Use: Directional texture, fabric weave.
Crosshatch
A B A . A B A .
B . B A B . B A
A B A . A B A .
. A . B . A . B
A B A . A B A .
B . B A B . B A
A B A . A B A .
. A . B . A . B
Use: Rough texture, sketch-like appearance.
2-Color Patterns (25% Mix)
Sparse Dots
A A B A A A B A
A A A A A A A A
B A A A B A A A
A A A A A A A A
A A B A A A B A
A A A A A A A A
B A A A B A A A
A A A A A A A A
Use: Subtle texture, 25% darker/lighter.
Diagonal Sparse
A A A B A A A A
A A A A A A A B
A A B A A A A A
A A A A A B A A
B A A A A A A A
A A A B A A A A
A A A A A A B A
A B A A A A A A
Use: Gentle diagonal flow.
2-Color Patterns (75% Mix)
Dense Dots (Inverse of 25%)
B B A B B B A B
B B B B B B B B
A B B B A B B B
B B B B B B B B
B B A B B B A B
B B B B B B B B
A B B B A B B B
B B B B B B B B
Use: Mostly lighter color, subtle darkening.
3-Color Patterns
Smooth Gradient (A → B → C)
A A A A B B B B
A A A B B B B C
A A A B B B C C
A A B B B C C C
A B B B C C C C
B B B C C C C C
B B C C C C C C
B C C C C C C C
Use: Smooth transition between 3 colors.
Stepped Gradient
A A A A A A A A
A A A A B B B B
A A B B B B B B
B B B B B B C C
B B B B C C C C
B B C C C C C C
C C C C C C C C
C C C C C C C C
Use: Clear separation between color zones.
Bayer Matrices
Bayer 2×2 (4 Threshold Levels)
Thresholds:
0 2
3 1
Pattern visualization (0=darkest, 3=lightest):
0/4 2/4
3/4 1/4
Use: Basic ordered dithering, very coarse.
Bayer 4×4 (16 Threshold Levels)
Thresholds:
0 8 2 10
12 4 14 6
3 11 1 9
15 7 13 5
Pattern visualization (0-15 scale):
0/16 8/16 2/16 10/16
12/16 4/16 14/16 6/16
3/16 11/16 1/16 9/16
15/16 7/16 13/16 5/16
Use: Standard ordered dithering, balanced regularity and smoothness.
Bayer 8×8 (64 Threshold Levels)
Thresholds:
0 32 8 40 2 34 10 42
48 16 56 24 50 18 58 26
12 44 4 36 14 46 6 38
60 28 52 20 62 30 54 22
3 35 11 43 1 33 9 41
51 19 59 27 49 17 57 25
15 47 7 39 13 45 5 37
63 31 55 23 61 29 53 21
Use: Fine ordered dithering, near-gradient quality.
Artistic Patterns
Hatching (Single Direction)
A A A B A A A B
A A A B A A A B
A A A B A A A B
A A A B A A A B
A A A B A A A B
A A A B A A A B
A A A B A A A B
A A A B A A A B
Use: Pen-and-ink style, directional shading.
Cross-Hatching
A A B A A A B A
A A B A A A B A
B B A B B B A B
A A B A A A B A
A A B A A A B A
A A B A A A B A
B B A B B B A B
A A B A A A B A
Use: Heavier ink-style shading.
Stippling
A A B A A A A B
A A A A B A A A
B A A A A A B A
A A A B A A A A
A A A A A B A A
B A B A A A A A
A A A A B A A B
A B A A A A A A
Use: Random-looking texture, organic.
Vertical Lines (Fabric)
A B A B A B A B
A B A B A B A B
A B A B A B A B
A B A B A B A B
A B A B A B A B
A B A B A B A B
A B A B A B A B
A B A B A B A B
Use: Fabric weave, vertical texture.
Horizontal Lines (Metal Brushing)
A A A A A A A A
B B B B B B B B
A A A A A A A A
A A A A A A A A
B B B B B B B B
A A A A A A A A
A A A A A A A A
B B B B B B B B
Use: Brushed metal, horizontal grain.
Brick Pattern
A A B A A A B A
A A B A A A B A
B B A B B B A B
B B A B B B A B
A A B A A A B A
A A B A A A B A
B B A B B B A B
B B A B B B A B
Use: Masonry texture, tiled surfaces.
Woven Fabric
A A B B A A B B
A A B B A A B B
B B A A B B A A
B B A A B B A A
A A B B A A B B
A A B B A A B B
B B A A B B A A
B B A A B B A A
Use: Basket weave, cloth texture.
Retro Console Dithering
NES-Style (Coarse Checkerboard)
A B A B A B A B
B A B A B A B A
A B A B A B A B
B A B A B A B A
A B A B A B A B
B A B A B A B A
A B A B A B A B
B A B A B A B A
Use: Classic 8-bit look, very visible pattern.
Game Boy-Style (Dense Stippling)
A A B A A B A A
A B A A B A A B
B A A B A A B A
A A B A A B A A
A B A A B A A B
B A A B A A B A
A A B A A B A A
A B A A B A A B
Use: 4-shade Game Boy aesthetic.
SNES-Style (Fine Bayer)
(Use Bayer 8×8 matrix)
Use: Smooth 16-bit era gradients.
Pattern Selection Guide
| Desired Effect | Recommended Pattern |
|---|---|
| Smooth gradient | Floyd-Steinberg or Bayer 8×8 |
| Retro/obvious | Checkerboard or Bayer 2×2 |
| Fabric texture | Woven or Vertical Lines |
| Metal surface | Horizontal Lines |
| Stone/rough | Stippling or Sparse Dots |
| Ink drawing | Hatching or Cross-Hatching |
| Subtle shading | Bayer 4×4 or Diagonal Sparse |
| Dramatic contrast | Brick or Bold Checkerboard |
Color Percentage Mix Table
| Pattern | % of Color A | % of Color B |
|---|---|---|
| Sparse Dots (25%) | 75% | 25% |
| Checkerboard (50%) | 50% | 50% |
| Dense Dots (75%) | 25% | 75% |
| Single Line (12.5%) | 87.5% | 12.5% |
| Double Line (25%) | 75% | 25% |
| Triple Line (37.5%) | 62.5% | 37.5% |
Implementation Notes
Tiling: All patterns above are 8×8 and tile seamlessly. Repeat pattern across larger areas.
Color Mixing: "A" and "B" represent two colors being mixed. Use actual hex colors from palette.
Customization: Modify patterns by:
- Rotating 90°/180°/270° for directional change
- Inverting (swap A and B) for opposite density
- Combining patterns for complex textures
Tool Support:
- Manual: Use
mcp__aseprite__draw_pixelsto place pattern pixels - Automatic: Use
mcp__aseprite__apply_ditheringwith algorithm name