Post
A technique that approximates colors by arranging pixels in patterns, originally for low-bit displays but now a deliberate aesthetic choice.
When you only have 16 colors and need to show a gradient, dithering is the solution: alternate pixels to create the illusion of intermediate tones. Old CRT blur helped smooth the dither into perceived color. Today, dithering is both a technical tool (alpha transparency, gradient banding reduction) and a deliberate retro aesthetic (pixel art indie games, PSX-vibe revivals).
Example
Genesis/Mega Drive era art heavily used dithering because of palette constraints. Return of the Obra Dinn's 1-bit dithered aesthetic is the modern gold standard. Modern engines dither transparency to avoid expensive alpha sorting. PSX-style indie horror games dither deliberately for retro feel.
Why it matters
Dithering is both a historical constraint and a living design vocabulary. Understanding it explains both why old games look the way they do and why certain modern indies choose to look that way on purpose.
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