Dithering3D

🎨 Dithering3D - Surface-Stable Fractal Dithering

🖼️ Screenshots

✨ A Revolutionary Visual Experience

Transform your Minecraft world with Surface-Stable Fractal Dithering — a groundbreaking rendering technique where dither dots stick to 3D surfaces instead of the screen, creating a unique manga/comic book aesthetic that feels alive.

🎬 Based on the innovative work by Rune Skovbo Johansen — Watch the explainer video

🖼️ What Makes This Shader Special?

📌 **Surface-Stable Dots

Unlike traditional dithering where patterns "swim" on screen, Dither3D anchors each dot to the actual 3D surface. Walk around blocks, and the dots stay perfectly attached!

🔄 **Fractal Scaling Magic

As you move closer or farther from surfaces, dots dynamically split or merge to maintain constant screen-space density. It's mesmerizing to watch!

🎨 **Three Color Modes

Mode · Description
Grayscale · Classic black & white dithering — clean, minimalist, timeless
RGB · Each color channel gets its own dot layer — vibrant and unique
CMYK Halftone · Authentic newspaper/comic print simulation with rotated dot angles

⚡ Features at a Glance

Feature · Description
🎯 Precision Dithering · SVD-based frequency analysis for mathematically perfect dot placement
🌀 Anti-Stretch Technology · Anisotropic smoothing keeps dots circular even on oblique surfaces
🎥 Camera Stable · Radial compensation prevents dot swimming during camera rotation
⚙️ Highly Configurable · 10+ parameters to fine-tune your perfect look
🚀 Performance Optimized · Efficient 3D texture sampling for smooth gameplay
📱 Universal Compatibility · Works with OptiFine AND Iris on virtually any Minecraft version

🎛️ Customization Options

Fine-tune every aspect of the dithering effect with our intuitive in-game sliders:

🔧 Dither Settings

Parameter · Range · Effect
Dot Scale · 2 - 10 · Control overall dot size (exponential)
Size Variability · 0 - 1 · 0 = Bayer pattern, 1 = Halftone style
Dot Contrast · 0 - 2 · Sharpen or soften dot edges
Stretch Smooth · 0 - 2 · Combat stretched dots on angled surfaces

💡 Input Controls

Parameter · Range · Effect
Exposure · 0 - 5 · Brightness multiplier
Offset · -1 to 1 · Brightness offset adjustment

🎮 Additional Options

• Inverse Dots — Flip dot colors for a negative effect
• Radial Compensation — Stabilize during camera rotation (recommended!)
• Quantize Layers — Prevent dot morphing for a more "classic" look
• Debug Mode — Visualize fractal layers for development

📦 Installation

For OptiFine Users

1. Download and extract the shader pack
2. Place the shaders folder in .minecraft/shaderpacks/
3. Launch Minecraft → Options → Video Settings → Shaders
4. Select Dithering3D and enjoy!

For Iris Users (Fabric/Quilt)

1. Install Iris Shaders mod (1.2.0+)
2. Download and extract the shader pack
3. Place the shaders folder in .minecraft/shaderpacks/
4. Press O in-game to open shader menu
5. Select Dithering3D

💡 Tip: Press F3 + T to quickly reload shaders after making changes!

🎨 Preset Profiles

Choose from pre-configured profiles for instant results:

Profile · Color Mode · Dot Scale · Best For
🟢 LOW · Grayscale · 4.0 · Performance, retro feel
🟡 MEDIUM · Grayscale · 5.0 · Balanced experience
🟠 HIGH · RGB · 5.0 · Colorful, artistic
🔴 ULTRA · CMYK · 6.0 · Maximum visual impact

🌟 Perfect For

📸 Screenshot enthusiasts · Create unique, artistic captures
🎬 Content creators · Stand out with a distinctive visual style
🎮 Retro lovers · Relive the charm of 1-bit graphics
🎨 Artists · Manga, comic book, and newspaper aesthetics
🧪 Tech enthusiasts · Experience cutting-edge rendering techniques

❓ FAQ

Q: Does this work with other shaders?

Dithering3D is a standalone shader pack. Combining with other shaders may cause conflicts.

Q: Why do some surfaces look different?

The sky and some special effects may appear different as surface-stable dithering reveals flat geometry.

Q: Performance impact?

Moderate. The 3D texture sampling is optimized but more demanding than vanilla rendering. Most GPUs handle it smoothly.

Q: Can I use this in my modpack?

Yes! Under MPL-2.0 license. Credit appreciated.

🔬 The Science Behind It

Dithering3D uses Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) to analyze UV coordinate derivatives in real-time, determining the exact frequency and direction of surface textures. This mathematical approach enables:

✅ Perfectly uniform dot density regardless of distance
✅ Seamless fractal transitions between detail levels
✅ Circular dots even on extremely angled surfaces
✅ Rotation-stable patterns that don't "swim"

📚 Credits & Resources

Resource · Link
🔗 Original Algorithm · Rune Skovbo Johansen
🎥 Technique Explanation · YouTube Video
💬 Technical Discussion · FAQ Thread

📄 License

Mozilla Public License 2.0 (MPL-2.0)

🎨 Transform your world. Experience Dithering3D. 🎨

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