Dithering Algoithms - 1, 2, or 3?

Can someone fill me in on the differences between the three dithering Algorithms? I had someone tell me to use # 3 & I have been, but I'm pretty curious why.
thanks,

"The POW-r Dither plug-in provides three types of noise shaping, each with its own characteristics. Try each noise shaping type and choose the one that adds the least amount of coloration to the audio being processed.
Type 1 Has the flattest frequency spectrum in the audible range of frequencies, modulating and accumulating the dither noise just below the Nyquist frequency. Recommended for less stereophonically complex material such as solo instrument recordings.
Type 2 Has a psychoacoustically optimized low order noise shaping curve. Recommended for material of greater stereophonic complexity.
Type 3 Has a psychoacoustically optimized high order noise shaping curve. Recommended for
full-spectrum, wide-stereo field material. "

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Follow-up to dithering question

Hi
This is a further comment on my question about uploading a song to Reverbnation (which requires 16 bit wav format):
If I dither my 24 bit project as I convert it to 16 bit, that will add a little noise (because that, as I understand it, is what dithering does). And, given the final format will be rendered to MP3 (or 4) that will add yet more dithering/noise. So, given that, wouldn't it be best to not apply dither in going from 24 bit to 16 bit?
Incidentally, during the course of working on my project, I've listened to it bounced to CD, both with, and without, dithering -- and I'm blowed if I can tell the difference! So isn't that another reason just to leave it undithered? ("if it's not broke don't fix it").

Yeah, most only notice dithering at the quietest moments of the music. It does add noise like you said, but not much. I guess if you really want to hear the difference, make a very clean, quiet recording (like solo piano or guitar in a dead-silent room) and A/B that. Regarding uploading it to Reverbnation, your guess is as good as mine how bad it will be after the MP3 conversion. Most would say any change in bit length warrants dithering. Do both, see which sounds better and let me know!

Dithering no longer works under 1.4.2

I had this posted in the AWT forum and I was suggested that the issue was better suited to the Java 2D forum:
I am trying to convert a jpeg to a 1 bit per pixel Buffered image.
The current implementation is working fine under 1.3.1_05 but not under any of the 1.4.2 JVM's that I have tried. Any tips on what I am doing wrong?
Here is a snippet of the the code:
// input stream is from a jpeg file:
JPEGImageDecoder jpgDecoder = JPEGCodec.createJPEGDecoder(src);
// decompress to a AWT buffered image. this will be our source image in the color
// space of the original jpg.
BufferedImage srcImg = jpgDecoder.decodeAsBufferedImage();
// create an output buffered image in the color space that we need. in this case
// one bit binary.
BufferedImage destImage =null;
Graphics2D graphics=null;
int bufferedImageType = BufferedImage.TYPE_BYTE_BINARY;
// cols and rows are passed in as parameters
destImage = new BufferedImage(cols,rows,bufferedImageType);
// create a Graphics2D context out of the Output buffered image and draw the
// source image to it. This will convert the color space for us. At least it does under 1.3.1
graphics=destImage.createGraphics();
// the following commented line has the effect of inverting the color for us.
// this would be nice except it seems to have the effect of hanging 1.3.1 JVM.
//graphics.setXORMode(Color.WHITE);
graphics.drawImage(srcImg,null,0,0);
// get the data buffer from the destImage and send it back to the caller
DataBufferByte dataBuffer = (DataBufferByte)destImage.getData().getDataBuffer();
return dataBuffer;
This works great under 1.3.1 The returned data buffer is merged with some other images and the result is a nicely dithered 1 bpp output image. (I am currently generating either tiff or png at 1bpp).
Under 1.4.2 it seems that instead of dithering I get some sort of thresholding that looks awfull. No attempt to emulate grayscale is made at all.
Has anyone encounterd this problem? I have looked through the forum but nothing similar seems to be posted.
If you need a more concrete example I can post a main that reads the jpg, converts it to 1bpp and saves it as a tiff.
Thanks
Richard Seabright.

Here is a sample class that demonstrates the issue (behaves differently under 1.4.2 than it does under 1.3.1):
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.color.*;
import java.awt.image.*;
import javax.swing.*;
public class ColorConvert {
public static void main(String[] args) {
BufferedImage image0 = createSample();
BufferedImage image1 = convert(image0);
display(image0, image1);
public static BufferedImage createSample() {
BufferedImage result = new BufferedImage(450, 150, BufferedImage.TYPE_INT_RGB);
Graphics2D g = result.createGraphics();
g.setPaint(Color.yellow);
g.fillOval(10, 25, 100, 100);
g.setPaint(Color.red);
g.fillOval(80, 25, 100, 100);
g.setPaint(Color.green);
g.fillOval(150, 25, 100, 100);
g.setPaint(Color.blue);
g.fillOval(220, 25, 100, 100);
g.dispose();
return result;
public static BufferedImage convert(BufferedImage image) {
int w = image.getWidth(), h = image.getHeight();
BufferedImage result = new BufferedImage(w, h, BufferedImage.TYPE_BYTE_BINARY);
Graphics2D g = result.createGraphics();
g.drawImage(image, null, 0, 0);
g.dispose();
return result;
public static void display(BufferedImage image0, BufferedImage image1) {
JPanel panel = new JPanel(new GridLayout(0,1));
panel.add(createLabel(image0));
panel.add(createLabel(image1));
JFrame f = new JFrame("ColorConvert");
f.setDefaultCloseOperation(JFrame.EXIT_ON_CLOSE);
f.setContentPane(panel);
f.pack();
f.setVisible(true);
public static JLabel createLabel(BufferedImage image) {
JLabel label = new JLabel(new ImageIcon(image));
label.setOpaque(true);
label.setBackground(Color.white);
label.setBorder(BorderFactory.createEtchedBorder());
return label;
}

Dithering no longer seems to work under 1.4.2_03

I am trying to convert a jpeg to a 1 bit per pixel Buffered image.
The current implementation is working fine under 1.3.1_05 but not under any of the 1.4.2 JVM's that I have tried. Any tips on what I am doing wrong?
Here is a snippet of the the code:
// input stream is from a jpeg file:
JPEGImageDecoder jpgDecoder = JPEGCodec.createJPEGDecoder(src);
// decompress to a AWT buffered image. this will be our source image in the color
// space of the original jpg.
BufferedImage srcImg = jpgDecoder.decodeAsBufferedImage();
// create an output buffered image in the color space that we need. in this case
// one bit binary.
BufferedImage destImage =null;
Graphics2D graphics=null;
int bufferedImageType = BufferedImage.TYPE_BYTE_BINARY;
// cols and rows are passed in as parameters
destImage = new BufferedImage(cols,rows,bufferedImageType);
// create a Graphics2D context out of the Output buffered image and draw the
// source image to it. This will convert the color space for us. At least it does under 1.3.1
graphics=destImage.createGraphics();
// the following commented line has the effect of inverting the color for us.
// this would be nice except it seems to have the effect of hanging 1.3.1 JVM.
//graphics.setXORMode(Color.WHITE);
graphics.drawImage(srcImg,null,0,0);
// get the data buffer from the destImage and send it back to the caller
DataBufferByte dataBuffer = (DataBufferByte)destImage.getData().getDataBuffer();
return dataBuffer;
This works great under 1.3.1 The returned data buffer is merged with some other images and the result is a nicely dithered 1 bpp output image. (I am currently generating either tiff or png at 1bpp).
Under 1.4.2 it seems that instead of dithering I get some sort of thresholding that looks awfull. No attempt to emulate grayscale is made at all.
Has anyone encounterd this problem? I have looked through the forum but nothing similar seems to be posted.
If you need a more concrete example I can post a main that reads the jpg, converts it to 1bpp and saves it as a tiff.
Thanks
Richard Seabright.

I think this is 2D issue. Try to ask in 2D forum.

Dithered Colors in iPhoto 6 on iMac 20" Intel Core Duo with 1.5GB RAM

Hi.
I have a 20" iMac Intel Core Duo. Shoot at 100 ISO, sRGB, with a Canon Digital Rebel XT in a studio setting. When viewing the images in iPhoto they have a noticeable dithering on the colors, especially on the seamless. Sometimes it's bad.
If I view them full screen in Comparison mode I see it there, too. Detail is intact, but the colors dither. Doesn't happen in Photoshop CS2, and I don't remember if it happens in Preview...
Any ideas of what is going on?

Scott:
Are you running the latest Quicktime version, 7.1.5? If not that may have something to do with it. Also what color profile are the files assigned? You can check that out by viewing them with Preview and using the Summary pane of the Info window there. Are you shoot RAW and importing those files? If so there may be addition issues that I can't help you with although as I understand it iPhoto creates a jpg file from the RAW file upon import and that's what you're working with.
Make sure your monitor is set to millions. Although since CS2 doesn't show that effect I'm guessing it is set to that. But check anyway.
Do you Twango?
TIP: For insurance against the iPhoto database corruption that many users have experienced I recommend making a backup copy of the Library6.iPhoto database file and keep it current. If problems crop up where iPhoto suddenly can't see any photos or thinks there are no photos in the library, replacing the working Library6.iPhoto file with the backup will often get the library back. By keeping it current I mean backup after each import and/or any serious editing or work on books, slideshows, calendars, cards, etc. That insures that if a problem pops up and you do need to replace the database file, you'll retain all those efforts. It doesn't take long to make the backup and it's good insurance.
I've written an Automator workflow application (requires Tiger), iPhoto dB File Backup, that will copy the selected Library6.iPhoto file from your iPhoto Library folder to the Pictures folder, replacing any previous version of it. You can download it at Toad's Cellar. Be sure to read the Read Me pdf file.

(How) can I turn off dithering in paint(Graphics g)?

Is there a way to turn on/off dithering?

public void paint(Graphics g) {
   Graphics2D g2 = (Graphics2D)g;
   g2.setRenderingHint(RenderingHints.KEY_DITHERING,
      RenderingHints.VALUE_DITHER_DISABLE);
}VALUE_DITHER_DEFAULT or VALUE_DITHER_ENABLE

Display Dithering (poor quality?)

A couple display observations:
- On light gray screens, such as the first bootup screen, noise/grain is detectable.
- Once in Leopard, display dithering is apparent. For example, hide the dock and look at the darker gradients towards the bottom of the default screen background. Also, look at gradients, such as those in iPhoto's fullscreen viewing mode's toolbar
Have you noticed display dithering on the Macbook Air?

Hiya!
Gee...this is beginning to remind me of the screen problems that people were initially reporting with the iPod touch when they managed to get them . :S Perhaps you might want to try a monitor test of some kind to see how the colors on your screen are supposed to look? Something like this:
http://www.lagom.nl/lcd-test/
Maybe you'll want to see how your screen does if you load up that page first and look at the graphics on it. If something's wrong and you have to go to the Apple Store to have a Genius look at your MBA, you can try loading up this page to show them what's going on.

Color dithering on 20" iMac

Can someone inform me more on this color dithering issue with the 20" iMac.
Ever since I bought my early 2008 iMac it appears that hte colors are more washed out then my older 2006 iMac. After some searching online I find that the color rendering on the 20" iMac is dithered compared to the 24". From those complaints it does sound like the problem I am experiencing. Has anyone talked to Apple support about this issue and I gather this cannot be solved by software because Apple used a cheaper LCD screen in the 20". I would like to know if anything can be done to improve this issue (except for selling on eBay). I am certainly disappointed that Apple choose to downgrade the monitor just to keep prices down.

I have tried that, even tried some custom calabrated profiles. I see a slight improvement but nothing to brag about. I guess what weighs on my mind is Apple implies that their hardware is better then anyone elses. I have felt in the past Apple is making the best hardware choices for the money. Now I am second guessing that. Especially since the MAcBooks and Macbook Pro's had similar issues not too long ago. I do not understand why would Apple skimp.
I will go back and try some more things with calabrating.

I have windows 8 and I have the most updated version of Itunes, my iphone 4s connects, but nothing plays from my itunes all items have the cloud next to it, and they are dithered out

I have windows 8 and I have the most updated version of Itunes, my iphone 4s connects, but nothing plays from my itunes all items have the cloud next to it, and they are dithered out

In the course of your troubleshooting to date, have you worked through the following document?
No content shows up in iTunes after updating

"Create Ringtone" option is dithered--can't purchase ringtones at all

I want to purchase a ringtone. I highlight the song I want to buy--it has a bell--but when I go up to Store---the "create ringtone" option is dithered--don't have the option to buy it. What is up?
Message was edited by: ErinFG

You have to buy the song first, then you can buy the ringtone for songs where ringtones are available (easiest to do that from your Purchased playlist). Also, note that ringtones are only available when logged into the US iTunes Store (check the popup menu at the bottom of the main page of the iTunes Store).

Desktop Background Images Dithering

All of my desktop background images have been dithering, despite the fact that my display is set to 32-bit color. This can be demonstrated by opening up the image used for the desktop in an image-editing application and viewing them both side-by-side. Here's a screenshot of such a comparison:
This is a major bummer - anyone have an idea what is wrong?

I should have mentioned that the dimensions of the background image exactly match the resolution of the monitor (1280x1024).
Also, yes, it is an LCD monitor, but it is hooked up via DVI.
I am wondering if it might have to do with the display card hardware (GeForce FX 5200), as I did not have this problem under the same circumstances, in tiger, but under different hardware...
So, no, still not solved - but thanks for your input.

Gradient Dithering

I realise Illustrator is a vector drawing program, but a lot of us use it to build dynamic user interfaces to output bitmap graphics. There are tools to export bitmap images (save for web and export as PNG) to this should also be optimised for it. One area that illustrator is really lacking in outputting good quality bitmap graphics is the lack of gradient dithering that can be found in photoshop.
Marc Edwards has a great writeup on this.
http://bjango.com/articles/illustratorandappdesign/
I'm sure it could be implemented as an Appearance Effect since dithering occurs at a pixel level.

They don't list Layer style gradient dither in Photoshop's feature list, but it is in CS6. I don't have acces to Illustrator CS6 and would like to know if these features/issues have been addressed. Have searched high and low on the net to see if anyone has mentioned any of these things and have found nothing, hence me asking on the forum.
I wouldn't expect Adobe to put 'Now with better circles!' on the feature list.

When to use dithering?

Hey everybody,
Right now I am exporting roughly 100 titling effecs, one at a time, in 16 bit depth at 1920x1080 resolution. Do I need to be using dithering? I remember reading somewhere (the Motion help manual, I think) that dithering should only be used for 8 bit depth projects. Is this the case? Or is it necessary to to use dithering on 16 bit and 32 bit projects? BTW, my project is mostly monochromatic, white text with an indent filter and drop shadow. The only color is the various shades of white, red and blue on some notepaper images I'm using. The final output will at one point be up on a 50 foot screen, so it needs to be pretty high res. Thanks.
-G
1.6 GHz G5 1.5GB RAM Mac OS X (10.4.3) Final Cut Studio

8 bit projects with shallow monochromatic gradients to lessen/avoid banding.
Patrick

Dithering (gradient banding) in 32 bit Win 7 on iMac

Heyo, all!
Love my Mac but some things, mostly games, aren't available except on the PC.
When I use boot camp and boot up using Windows 7, I am seeing dithering (gradient banding) on the desktop and in some applications. Generally anything that displays unbroken color gradients and shading. I've tried updating the video drivers but nothing has worked, to date. I'm using a ATI Radeon HD 4850.
Odd thing: In VMWare fusion, no problem, shows fine. When I was using WinXP, no problem, shows fine.
Am I missing setting, somewhere?

sorry if I ask a few silly question :o) :
I assume you are running Eclipse version is 3.5.2 (help/about eclipse platform) ?
And you do "file-new-Other" (don't forget the "other") and you don't see a tab "Oracle Service Bus"?
And if you do "servers, new, server" can you see "Oracle WebLogic Server 11gR1 PatchSet 2 " ?
pierre

Apogee Dither in Logic 9: Should there be a status window that says "Dithering" and a progress bar like in Logic 8?

When I used Logic 8 there was a status window post bounce for the application of dithering from 24 to 16 bit. In Logic 9 there is not a status window: After the bounce it's done processing audio. I'm using the Apogee dither. Is this a change, i.e. can the dither be applied real-time or something else that I haven't considered, or is this an error? I've bounced a bunch of audio since I downloaded Logic 9 on a clean box, and it never shows a status window for the dither. I enjoy using a dither because I can hear a difference in quality in how the dither preserves some data from the 24 bit spectrum, instead of truncating ("removing," or "leaving out") the 24 bit data (I believe that it's the lower 8 bits that are truncated, if no dither is applied). I'd appreciate anyone who knows leaving a reply, because I'd hate to release audio and find out later that the quality bits were left out. Thanks!

This seems to be integrated into the bounce process. Try it out with a sine wave @ -80 dB or lower.
Best,
DaCaptain

Dithering Algoithms - 1, 2, or 3?

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