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The process of dithering is really quite easy to understand. It’s prominent in laptop displays and yet many laptop users have never even heard of it. However, for those who need color precision, whether graphic designer or photographers, dithering is a hot topic.
When considering LCDs, it ultimately boils down to 8-bit vs. 6-bit displays and how to figure out what your laptop can offer. Not until Apple was sued over this very issue, did the topic become a hot one to the technical masses.
Apple claimed to offer "millions" of colors through their displays. However, if dithering is used through 6-bit displays, this is a mathematical impossibility.
What Is Dithering?
Dithering is the process of juxtaposing two color pixels to create the illusion of a third color. When it comes to dithering through LCD displays, true color and overall clarity is lost.
Dithering requires diffusion, or softening to an image in order to create the illusion that juxtaposing pixels are creating more colors. Ultimately, it’s not an addition of color, but a loss of overall sharpness.
Why Did Laptop Manufacturers Begin Using a Dithering Process?
Computer manufacturers set out to offer the finest product in regards to LCD displays. However, offering top-quality also meant slower reaction time.
This has been a problem with LCD monitors since development. In order to meet with consumer demand, many high-speed displays have been dropped to 6-bit operation.
It all sounds more confusing than it really is. However, if you consider an LCD possessing three layers, and each layer with color capability, you can quickly see how 8-bits of three colors (rendering 24-bit true color) offers an overwhelming difference in the color quality that 6-bits would provide.
8-bit equals 16.7 actual colors, vs. 6-bits offering 260,xxx. Thus, 6-bit LCD displays use a dithering process to meld visual color.
For the general user, again, not that big of deal. However, for those who rely on a visual medium to pay their bills, it is very important.
How to Determine If Your Laptop Uses 6-bit or 8-bit
With the speed associated with the 6-bit LCD panel or display, our eyes are fooled into receiving information. So, there’s your key in finding out if your LCD is 6-bit or 8-bit. 16.2 million (not actual) is 6-bit, and 16.7 million (actual) is 8-bit.
One other way to tell is by the actual image display time. For models at 12ms and faster, you can rest assured it is a 6-bit. Models 20ms and slower are usually an 8-bit LCD.
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