
Tiled Backgrounds 119
FIGURE 9.18 Organic dithering.
FIGURE 9.19 Dithering can imply blending.
Figure . shows how a gradient that has been dithered appears more
blended—or at least the blend has a soer appearance.
9.5.2 Patterned Dither
Patterns can be another handy tool for creating blending on less organic
items. The most commonly used of these is the standard checkerboard pat-
ternshown inthe middle ofFigure.. As you cansee inthe top partofthe
gure, there are only ve distinct colors being used but the dithering gives
the impression to the casual observer that there are nine colors.
Other sorts of patterns can be used separately or conjunc