In the workflow
Why Dither matters
Local dot density creates the appearance of highlight, midtone, and shadow even though each output pixel is binary.
Practical check
How to evaluate it
Compare methods only after crop, tone, dimensions, and DPI are fixed. Changing several variables at once makes it impossible to know whether the dither improved the result.
Go deeper
Dithering for Laser Engraving: A Practical Guide
Understand how one-bit dithering represents photo tones, how common algorithms differ, and how to choose without processing the image twice.
Read the complete guide