Creating and applying custom dither patterns

Optimizing Images for the Web > Previewing and controlling dithering > Creating and applying custom dither patterns

You can use the DitherBox^TM filter to create a custom dither pattern for a selected RGB color. You can then fill a selection or a layer in an image with the dither pattern regardless of the RGB colors within the selection. You can save custom dither patterns in groups called collections, and use the dither patterns with other images.

To create and apply a custom dither pattern:

1 With an image displayed in the document window, use the eyedropper tool () to select a foreground color that you want to simulate with a customized dither pattern. (The foreground color becomes the basis for the custom dither pattern in DitherBox^TM.)

Note: You create custom dither patterns while in the main Photoshop Elements work area (not in the Save For Web dialog box). Make sure the image is in RGB color mode.

2 Use the selection tools or the Layers palette to select an area or a layer in the image that you want to fill with the custom dither pattern.

3 Choose Filter > Other > DitherBox, or use the Filters palette to apply the DitherBox filter.

The RGB swatch in the DitherBox dialog box displays the current foreground color. To choose another RGB color on which to base the dither pattern, click the RGB swatch, select a new color in the color picker, and then press the Arrow button () to transfer it to the pattern box.

4 Choose one of the following from the color palette pop-up menu in the DitherBox dialog box:

Web Safe Colors to create a dither pattern using colors from the Web palette.

Load to load another color palette and create a dither pattern using those colors. Then navigate to the color palette and open it.

Note: If you use non-Web palette colors in a custom dither pattern, the colors will dither in a browser using an 8-bit color display. Using non-Web colors is recommended only for non-Web display.

By default, a new dither pattern you create is saved in the current dither pattern collection.

5 Select a pixel pattern for the custom dither pattern from the pattern list, between 2 and 8 pixels square.

6 Click the Arrow button () to display the dither pattern that most closely matches the selected RGB color in the Pattern preview box. If no dither patterns are currently saved in a collection in the DitherBox filter, the Pattern preview box displays the dither pattern that matches the RGB color.

Dither pattern

7 To edit the custom dither pattern, do one of the following:

To add a color to the dither pattern, click a color in the color palette. Then select the pencil tool (

) in the DitherBox dialog box and click in the dither pattern grid to add the color.

To delete a color from the dither pattern, select the eraser tool (

) in the DitherBox dialog box and click the color in the dither pattern grid.

The Pattern preview box displays the changes you make to the dither pattern.

8 When you are satisfied with the dither pattern, click Fill to fill the selected area or layer in the current image.

The custom dither pattern is applied to the image, and the DitherBox dialog box closes.

To apply a previously saved custom dither pattern to an image:

1 Select an area or a layer in the image that you want to fill with the custom dither pattern.

2 Choose Filter > Other > DitherBox.

3 Select the collection containing the dither pattern you want to use from the Collection pop-up menu.

4 Select the dither pattern you want to use from the Collection contents list.

5 Click Fill.

The dither pattern is applied to the image, and the DitherBox dialog box closes.

To edit dither pattern collections:

Do one of the following in the DitherBox dialog box:

(Windows) To rename a collection, select the collection from the Collection pop-up menu. Then select Rename from the Collection pop-up menu. Enter a new name for the collection, and click OK.

To create a new collection, select New from the Collection pop-up menu. Enter a name for the collection, and click OK.

To delete a collection and all of its contents, select the collection from the Collection pop-up menu, and then select Delete from the Collection pop-up menu.

Optimizing Images for the Web > Previewing and controlling dithering > Creating and applying custom dither patterns