🎨 Dithering3D - Surface-Stable Fractal Dithering

🖼️ Screenshots

Dithering3D Preview

✨ 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

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

For Iris Users (Fabric/Quilt)

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