Dither filter for Photoshop

[James Aldrich]

For the Photoshop users that would like different dither method than the standard PS 1-bit Bitmap Dither, I found this freeware filter for different dither effects (Threshold dithering, Error Dithering). I have not fully played with it, but it does a great job on the Stucki and Jarvis dither that is found in CD Photopaint. Offers many different Dithering forms.
Jim

http://www.ximagic.com/g_index.html

(Go to "download & Info" to download filter)

[Frank Corker]

Nice one Jim, always worth the investigation.

[Michael Simpson Virgina]

Thanks for the filter. I have been playing with it and honestly cant see where it will help when using the Epilog driver. Since the Epilog driver applies its own dither method when rastering there is no way to effectivly use this filter as double dithering does not work too well.

I found by just converting to Black and White then adjusting the levels works pretty wel with the Epilog driver. Some times tone mapping will also help.

[Lee DeRaud]

It says it's compatible with Corel PhotoPaint...
anybody want to walk me through the procedure for installing/using a plugin like this in Corel?

[Chris J Drew]

Thanks for the filter. I have been playing with it and honestly cant see where it will help when using the Epilog driver. Since the Epilog driver applies its own dither method when rastering there is no way to effectivly use this filter as double dithering does not work too well.

I've never seen "double-dithering"...
In my experience the Epilog driver only applies the dithering when it sees levels of greyscale.
If you've already converted to 1-bit black&white in PS or CDR then there's no greyscales in the image for the Epilog driver to apply the dithering to, you've effectively overridden the Epilog dithering.

[Michael Simpson Virgina]

Im not sure that is what the driver does. Need Epilog to verify that. In any case I dithered my heart out with the filter I used all kinds of DPI and power settings and it still could not match the quality of a color imaged converted to black and white and then sent to the epilog drivver. I just never got the detail that showed up in the filtered dither. The darks were too dark and the lights were too light.

[Doug Griffith]

a color imaged converted to black and white.

I think you mean grayscale. I agree that the driver does not dither something that is already black and white. That would cause all sorts of issues. I'm sure if the driver recognizes 100% black, it leaves it alone.

[Michael Simpson Virgina]

In photoshop its called converting to Black and White. In any case I could not get any dithered (filter) photo to come out as good as just letting the Epilog driver do its thing.

[Doug Griffith]

In my Photoshop (CS3), it goes from color to Grayscale and then to Bitmap.

[Dave Johnson29]

It says it's compatible with Corel PhotoPaint...
anybody want to walk me through the procedure for installing/using a plugin like this in Corel?

Lee,

Save the .8bf file in the "Program files\Corel\Corel??\Plugins" folder.

The "??" is the version of Corel.

Go to Tools - Options - Workspace - Plug ins and make sure the above folder is there and checked. If it is not there then Add it.

Check the "Initialize plug ins on start up."

Click OK.

Close and restart Corel, load a pic then got to Effects and the Ximagic filter should be on that menu.

[Lee DeRaud]

Lee,

Save the .8bf file in the "Program files\Corel\Corel??\Plugins" folder.

The "??" is the version of Corel.

Go to Tools - Options - Workspace - Plug ins and make sure the above folder is there and checked. If it is not there then Add it.

Check the "Initialize plug ins on start up."

Click OK.

Close and restart Corel, load a pic then got to Effects and the Ximagic filter should be on that menu.Ah, got it...thanks.