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DESCRIPTION
HyperDither is an OS X image processing utility that converts color or grayscale images to 1 bit black & white using a sophisticated dithering routine. Specifically, HyperDither implements the ?Atkinson? dithering filter.
Years ago, during the development of the first Macintosh, Bill Atkinson (of HyperCard, QuickDraw, MacPaint & now nature photography fame) discovered a very elegant dithering filter to convert greyscale image data to the 1 bit black & white Mac video display. The dithering produced by this routine was much higher quality than the now-a-days ubiquitous Floyd-Steinberg or “Error-diffusion” filter (used by QuickTime, PhotoShop).
The dither matrix was implemented as an option in Apple’s long-lost HyperScan software (A HyperCard stack with some XCMDs/XFCNs) that would connect an early Mac to a flatbed scanner. HyperScan, and hence the most-excellent Atkinson dithering routine, has been unavailable for many, many years — but not forgotten! I was able to email Bill Atkinson in January, 2003 and inquire about the details of the algorithm; he was kind enough to respond with a brief write up of the routine — 15 minutes later I had it up and running.
It’s taken a few spare afternoons since 2003 to pack everything into a nice little application with documentation and an icon — better late than never!
WHAT'S NEW
Version 1.2: - Implemented batch processing. Batch processing also works with drag and drop: drag a folder of image into the main window; you will be prompted for a save location.
- New keyboard shortcut to clear the main window (Command-Delete)
- Can now have multiple HyperDither windows
- Image scrolling now works when the window view is zoomed
- Removed QuickTime Graphics export options when saving images; PNG is now the default file type for all save and batch operations.
REQUIREMENTS
Mac OS X 10.3 or later.
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| HyperDither User Reviews (8 posts) | Write A Review |
 | Oct 8 2008 |
MOOG MODULAR I use vers 1.1 to convert photos to b/w laser engravings. But my laser app reads only pict files, not pngs. So while I appreciate the continued work on this application, it just upgraded itself out of my ability to use it.
(Version 1.2) | |
| [ 1 Reply - Reply ] | |
Replies:
 | Oct 8 2009 |
ZANGIEF You can convert it to PICT with another app. Preview will do just fine, open the file and use File > Save As… and choose PICT in the drop-down box.
(Version 1.2) | |
| May 1 2008 |
GARLICBREATH Used to be able to select black and white as the color space for the saved file, which saved about half the file size when saving as PNG. Better for emailing. Now files are saved as 32-bit/millions of colors. Can this be changed?
(Version 1.2) | |
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 | Mar 1 2008 |
ZANGIEF YES YES YES! I used HyperDither when it first came out and I've been waiting and waiting for an update, thanks much!
(Version 1.2) | |
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| Oct 7 2007 |
MACROXX This is a great program with very nice results and I hope, that "The Future" features, which are mentioned in the ReadMe file are going to be implemented soon. | |
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| Aug 13 2006 |
DLWORMWOOD Man, the nostalgia that this app brings back is luciously painful. HyperCard was what attracted me to the Mac in the first place, and I really missed the culture the Macsphere had in those days. This app perfectly recaptured the "monochrome" asethetic that early Mac apps had. I can see this app used to make web pages and Flash apps to reclaim the 1-bit retro look.
(Version 1.0.1) | |
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| Aug 13 2006 |
ANCIENTYGER It's pretty fast, at least on smaller images. I wish this were an Image Unit for Core Image aware applications, with advanced controls. This would, then, be amazing.
(Version 1.0.1) | |
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| Aug 13 2006 |
SUZRES very nice, simple, robust. It is a pleasure to find again the very subtil black and white of Atkinson algorythm.
(Version 1.0.1) | |
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| Aug 12 2006 |
PECOS PETE For a first run very good results, so far I'm pleased. Quick & easy, no mumbo jumbo.
(Version 1.0.1) | |
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