Last date modified: 2026-Jun-16

Native imaging - dithering algorithm options

Relativity native imaging offers multiple dithering algorithms you can apply when imaging your documents. Use the comparison tables below to evaluate image size and quality across algorithm types for text-rich and image-rich documents.

Dithering algorithm details

When configuring native imaging, system admins can select from eight dithering algorithms:

Consider grouping the eight options under four algorithm families and providing a one-sentence description of each family, for example:

  • Clustered 6x6, 8x8, 16x16 — groups pixels into clusters. Larger cluster sizes produce smaller file sizes but lower image detail.
  • Dispersed 4x4, 8x8, 16x16 — disperses pixels across a matrix pattern. Produces a finer, more even grain than clustered dithering.
  • Floyd & Steinberg — diffuses the difference between a pixel's color value and its quantized equivalent to neighboring pixels. Produces high-quality results for image-rich documents.
  • Threshold — compares each pixel value against a fixed threshold (0–255). Values above the threshold convert to black; values below convert to white. Requires a threshold value in the Dithering Threshold field.
    If you select Threshold, you must also enter a value (0–255) in the Dithering Threshold field. The recommended default is 128.

The Dithering Algorithm drop-down list in an imaging profile, showing all eight algorithm options.

Dithering results for text-rich documents

The following table shows dithering results for text-rich documents. Each image in the table shows a document sample magnified to 150% to illustrate visual differences between algorithms. All samples are 300 DPI, black and white.

Image dithering type Size Image sample magnified (150% scale)
Clustered 6x6 27 KB Dithering results for text-rich documents with the clustered 6x6 image dithering type.
Clustered 8x8 25 KB Dithering results for text-rich documents with the clustered 8x8 image dithering type.
Clustered 16x16 23 KB Dithering results for text-rich documents with the clustered 16x16 image dithering type.
Floyd & Steinberg 24 KB Dithering results for text-rich documents with the floyd and steinberg image dithering type.
Dispersed 4x4 24 KB Dithering results for text-rich documents with the dispersed 4x4 image dithering type.
Dispersed 8x8 24 KB Dithering results for text-rich documents with the dispersed 8x8 image dithering type.
Dispersed 16x16 24 KB Dithering results for text-rich documents with the dispersed 16x16 image dithering type.
Threshold 0 2 KB Dithering results for text-rich documents with the threshold 0 image dithering type.
Threshold 127 22 KB Dithering results for text-rich documents with the threshold 127 image dithering type.
Threshold 215 22 KB Dithering results for text-rich documents with the threshold 215 image dithering type.
Threshold 255 22 KB Dithering results for text-rich documents with the threshold 255 image dithering type.

Dithering results for image-rich documents

The following table shows dithering results for image-rich documents. Each image in the table shows a document sample magnified to 150% to illustrate visual differences between algorithms. All samples are 300 DPI, black and white.

Image dithering type Size Image sample magnified (150% scale)
Clustered 6x6 45 KB Dithering results for image-rich documents with the clustered 6x6 image dithering type.
Clustered 8x8 39 KB Dithering results for image-rich documents with the clustered 8x8 image dithering type.
Clustered 16x16 33 KB Dithering results for image-rich documents with the clustered 16x16 image dithering type.
Floyd & Steinberg 70 KB Dithering results for image-rich documents with the floyd and steinberg image dithering type.
Dispersed 4x4 64 KB Dithering results for image-rich documents with the dispersed 4x4 image dithering type.
Dispersed 8x8 52 KB Dithering results for image-rich documents with the dispersed 8x8 image dithering type.
Dispersed 16x16 69 KB Dithering results for image-rich documents with the dispersed 16x16 image dithering type.
Threshold 0 2 KB Dithering results for image-rich documents with the threshold 0 image dithering type.
Threshold 127 79 KB Dithering results for image-rich documents with the threshold 127 image dithering type.
Threshold 215 27 KB Dithering results for image-rich documents with the threshold 215 image dithering type.
Threshold 255 20 KB Dithering results for image-rich documents with the threshold 255 image dithering type.
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