Error diffusion is a type of halftoning in which the quantization residual is distributed to neighboring pixels that have not yet been processed. Its main use is to convert a multi-level image into a binary image, though it has other applications.
Unlike many other halftoning methods, error diffusion is classified as an area operation, because what the algorithm does at one location influences what happens at other locations. This means buffering is required, and complicates parallel processing. Point operations, such as ordered dither, do not have these complications.
Error Diffusion has the tendency to enhance edges in an image. This can make text in images more readable than in other halftoning techniques.
Read more about Error Diffusion: Early History, Enter The Digital Era, Algorithm Description
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