Ordered Dithering | GlitchNodes

OrderedDithering is the precision sibling of DitherMe. Where DitherMe throws thirty-plus algorithms at you, this node does ordered (Bayer-matrix) dithering properly - clean, predictable, mathematical - and then adds two modes the other one lacks: artistic patterns and a full animated mode. If you want exact control over the dither matrix and a look you can reproduce frame-for-frame, this is the one.

The mechanism is classic Bayer thresholding. It builds a Bayer matrix (2x2, 4x4, or 8x8 - the source ships them hardcoded), tiles it across the image, and uses it as a spatially-varying threshold to quantize each pixel to one of num_colors levels. Because the matrix is deterministic, the pattern is perfectly regular - no error-diffusion smearing, just that crisp "computer graphics" texture. The scale parameter (1–8) enlarges the base pattern for a chunkier look, and pattern_contrast boosts how strongly the pattern shows.

The inputs that matter

• dither_type - Standard (Bayer), Artistic (dot/line/diagonal variations), or Animated. Standard is the faithful one; Artistic generates decorative patterns; Animated adds temporal offset so the dither moves over frames.
• color_mode - Color or Grayscale.
• num_colors (2–256, default 2) - quantization levels. 2 is stark black/white; 8–16 starts to look like a limited-color console.
• pattern_size - 2x2, 4x4, or 8x8 Bayer matrix. 8x8 gives the finest, most film-like grain.
• scale (1–8) - enlarges the pattern. Crank this for a bold, visible texture.
• frames (1–300, default 60), speed (0–1), wave_speed (0.1–2) - the Animated-mode controls. frames is how many output frames you get; speed shifts the pattern offset per frame, and wave_speed adds a traveling wave modulation.
• invert - flips dark/light and the pattern polarity. Optional seed for reproducible animated variations.

Output is image (IMAGE) → PreviewImage/SaveImage; feed the animated frames to a video encoder for a dither-wave loop.

Installing it

In the GlitchNodes pack:

cd ComfyUI/custom_nodes
git clone https://github.com/pxl-pshr/GlitchNodes
# restart ComfyUI

or ComfyUI Manager → Install Custom Nodes → search "GlitchNodes". Deps: numpy, torch, Pillow, opencv-python, scipy. No models.

Gotchas

The trap here is num_colors combined with pattern_size: with 256 colors and an 8x8 matrix, the dither is nearly invisible and people assume it's broken. If you want to see the effect, start at 2–8 colors with a 4x4 or 8x8 matrix - the texture is the point. In Animated mode, remember frames is the output count: set it to how many frames your video actually needs, or you'll generate a stack of stills you have to trim. And one thing to know about the animation: it's temporal dithering with pattern offsets, so without a downstream frame-rate-matched encoder it can look like strobing - that's the dithering, not a bug.