🎨 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. 🎨

If you enjoy this shader, consider leaving a ⭐ and sharing this shader page !