Patent attributes
A method for generating a dither mask is disclosed using a local stochastic technique for use for the halftoning of grey scale images by a pixel by pixel comparison of the images against the dither mask. The dither mask is generated by producing a sequence of dot profiles (each dot profile of the sequence corresponding to a grey scale level) using a stacking constraint with incremental grey scale level such that for each dot profile of the sequence the same pixels are selected compared to the preceding dot profile and the increment in the or each dot profile is realized by selecting at least one additional pixel. When determining the position of an additional pixel, the aspect ratio between the dot pitch in a predetermined direction and a direction perpendicular thereto when rendering images is taken into account.