Workflows & Recipes
Creative recipes for common looks using Ditheron.
Workflows & Recipes
Here are some starting points for popular looks. Every value is a suggestion — tweak to taste.
Retro Game Boy
That 4-color handheld console look.
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Preset | Retro Game Boy (or start from scratch below) |
| Category | Grid |
| Style | Bayer 4x4 |
| Scale | 3-4 |
| Strength | 100% |
| Enable Color | On |
| Palette | Custom — 4 greens from dark to light |
| Color Depth | 2 |
| Downscale | 240p or 160p |
Key: The Downscale + Scale combo creates the chunky pixel grid. Color Depth 2 limits to pure light/dark per color, just like the original hardware.
VHS Nostalgia
Warm, degraded tape look with tracking artifacts.
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Category | Glitch |
| Style | VHS |
| Scale | 1 |
| Strength | 70-85% |
| Enable Color | On |
| Palette Group | Decade |
| Palette | 1980s Neon or 1990s Grunge |
| Contrast | 80% |
| Saturation | 130% |
| Enable Glow | On |
| Glow Mode | Simple |
| Intensity | 30% |
| Radius | 25 px |
Key: Don't go 100% Strength — blending some of the original image back in sells the analog quality. The slight glow simulates tube TV phosphor bloom.
Cyberpunk Neon
Hot neon colors glowing against dark backgrounds.
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Category | Creative |
| Style | CRT Shadow Mask or Scanline H |
| Scale | 2 |
| Enable Color | On |
| Palette Group | Decade |
| Palette | 1980s Neon |
| Color Depth | 3-4 |
| Contrast | 140% |
| Enable Glow | On |
| Glow Mode | Per-Color |
| Intensity | 100-150% |
| Radius | 30-50 px |
| Threshold | 20% |
Key: Per-Color glow is what makes this work. Each palette color blooms independently, creating the neon sign effect. Push Intensity hard.
Film Noir / Darkroom Print
High-contrast black-and-white with visible dither grain.
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Category | Scatteral |
| Style | Atkinson |
| Scale | 1 |
| Strength | 100% |
| Enable Color | On |
| Palette | Tri-X Grain |
| Color Depth | 2 |
| Contrast | 180% |
| Gamma | 0.8 |
| Brightness | -10% |
Key: Atkinson is the star here — it was designed for the original Macintosh and it retains sharp detail while dropping smooth gradients. High contrast + low gamma pushes everything into deep shadow with bright highlights punching through.
Living Texture (Animated Dither)
A dither pattern that shifts every frame, creating an organic, breathing texture.
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Category | Grid |
| Style | STBN (Temporal) or Golden Ratio Temporal |
| Scale | 1 |
| Strength | 100% |
Key: Temporal algorithms change their noise pattern each frame. On a still image, this creates visible movement in the dither itself. On video, it adds a subtle film-grain-like quality that's impossible to achieve with static patterns.
Abstract / Music Video
Maximum visual impact. Rules off.
- Hit Randomize a few times until something catches your eye
- Lock whatever you like
- Enable Glow > Per-Color or Directional
- Set Downscale to 96p or 64p for extreme pixelation
- Keyframe Strength between 30% and 100% on beat drops
- Keyframe Glow Intensity to pulse
Key: Keyframing is your friend. Animate between looks for transitions that feel alive.
Subtle Film Grain (for Color Grading)
Not every use needs to be extreme. Ditheron can add barely-perceptible texture.
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Category | Grid |
| Style | Blue Noise |
| Scale | 1 |
| Strength | 15-25% |
| All other sections | Off / Default |
Key: Blue Noise at low Strength adds organic texture without any visible pattern. Stack it after your color grade for a filmic finish.