Dotproducing

Dotproducing is the act or process of generating images, patterns, or signals by placing discrete dots. In digital and print contexts it refers to rendering where each dot represents a unit of color or brightness and the overall image emerges from their arrangement. The term is not standardized and its use varies across disciplines, often describing either manual techniques or algorithmic generation.

Manual dotproducing includes stippling and pointillism, where artists apply dots of ink or paint to build form and tonal gradation. In print and digital imaging, dotproducing describes halftoning and dithering methods that simulate continuous tones using dots of fixed size or varying density. Halftoning uses screens or varying dot patterns to reproduce grayscale. Dithering uses deterministic or stochastic patterns to reduce color palettes and avoid banding.

Algorithmic dotproducing employs computer graphics to generate dot patterns via pointillism-inspired algorithms, Poisson disk sampling, jittered grids, or noise-based methods. Applications include texture synthesis, generative art, data visualization, or micro-optics and security features.

History: Georges Seurat's pointillism popularized dot-based rendering in painting; halftone processes emerged in print in the 19th century; in computing, dithering and rasterization developed in mid-20th century.

Related topics include pointillism, stippling, halftone, dithering, and rasterization.