dotting

Dotting is the act of applying or marking with small round marks, or dots, on a surface. It denotes decoration, texture, or information, and the term is used broadly across crafts, arts, design, printing, and data representation. In many contexts it describes a method rather than a single technique.

In visual arts, dotting is associated with stippling, a technique that builds shading and form from numerous small dots. Pointillism is a related style in which precise colored dots are laid out to compose an image. In printing and digital design, dots are used in halftone processes to simulate tonal variation by varying dot size and spacing.

In textiles and crafts, dotting appears in patterns such as polka dots and in embroidery or textile printing where small circular motifs create decorative backgrounds or fabrics. Dots may also appear as glaze specks or decorative effects in ceramics and pottery.

In data visualization, dot-based representations include dot plots, dot charts, and dot density maps, which use dots to convey quantities, frequencies, or spatial distributions. The term dotting can also refer to the practice of adding finishing touches in handwriting or typography, such as dotting i's and j's to complete letters, a common practice in penmanship and type design. Overall, dotting describes a versatile approach to mark-making and information conveyance through discrete points.