# Atkinson — Photo by Atkinson dithering

> Applies Atkinson dithering algorithm to photos for vintage black and white effects. (iPhone/iPad app by Tsutomu Koyachi.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/atkinson/id1569487124 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Tsutomu Koyachi](https://appshunter.io/developer/413497532)
- Category: Photo & Video, Graphics & Design
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 3.33/5 from 6 App Store ratings · 7 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 15.0 · 19 MB
- Languages: English, Japanese
- Released: 2021-05-30
- Data updated: 2026-06-05
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/atkinson/id1569487124/reviews.md

## What is Atkinson?

Transform your photos with the iconic Atkinson dithering algorithm — the same technique used on the original Macintosh by
 Bill Atkinson. Create stunning retro-style images with a single tap.

# What is Atkinson Dithering?
Atkinson dithering was the algorithm behind the classic 1-bit graphics of early Macintosh computers. It converts photos i
nto beautiful two-tone pixel patterns, producing images with a distinctive vintage charm and remarkably small file sizes.

# Features
- Real-time Atkinson dithering preview through your camera
- 7 retro-tech color palettes: Terminal Green, Amber Monitor, Original Macintosh, Game Boy, Apple II Green, White Phospho
r, and classic black & white
- 5 iconic frames inspired by computing history: MacPaint, Classic Mac window, Terminal, White Frame, and frameless
- Adjustable brightness control
- Rounded corner option
- Square photo output optimized for social media
- Lightweight PNG output with tiny file sizes

# Color Palettes
Go beyond black and white. Choose from color palettes inspired by legendary displays — the green glow of VT100 terminals, the warm amber of IBM monitors, the creamy screen of the original Macintosh, and more.

# Retro Frames
Wrap your dithered photos in frames inspired by classic software. The MacPaint frame features pixel-perfect tool palettes and menu bars, just like Bill Atkinson's legendary paint program. The Classic Mac frame recreates the iconic window chrome of early Macintosh.

# Perfect for
- Retro and vintage photo enthusiasts
- Pixel art lovers
- Social media posts with a unique aesthetic
- Anyone who appreciates the beauty of 1-bit graphics

## Key features

- Atkinson dithering algorithm processing
- Square photo output
- Toggleable rounded corners
- White border option
- Real-time preview

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**Subscriptions**

| Subscription | Price | Period |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Standard Year | $9.99 | per year |
| Standard Month | $0.99 | per month |


## Recent user reviews (7 of 7)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/atkinson/id1569487124/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Thank you !!!

*2024-09-01*

I am so glad someone made an app for the Atkinson Dither effect !

### 4/5 — Unusable

*2024-03-29*

App crashes every time I try to take a picture. Really unfortunate—looks like it would be cool.

Settings are inaccessible. Badly in need of an update.

UPDATE: I am now able to both take a picture without crashing, and access the settings! (Settings are still a bit difficult as it’s buttons of white text on a slightly off-white background.) I’m glad to see an update, thanks.

**Developer response:** Does the crash still occur in recent app versions?

If the situation does not improve, please contact us individually.
Please go to "Settings > About this app > Send Inquiry" 🙏

### 5/5 — i liked it!!!

*2024-02-03*

it's nice, would be also nice to have a mode with more randomised dots, but it's really good. I don't know if you made this app, design of it, only by yourself, but if that's true, i want to say that you are a really great developer. Have a nice day, Koyachi. (sorry for my english)

**Developer response:** Thank you! Your words are encouraging 😃

### 2/5 — Dude what happened

*2024-01-10*

Was an amazing app and whatever happened in the last few updates totally ruined it? For such a small app I never expected this to randomly occur. Not only did you add ads but the app is also simply unusable outright (won’t work at all now). If you offer a paid version without ads for like $1.99 I’d pay for it and recommend it to people but please don’t ruin this cool lil thing.

**Developer response:** Is the problem still occurring in your environment with the latest version 1.0.8? If so, please let us know the specific symptoms.
Please go to "Settings > About this app > Send Inquiry" 🙏

Also, in version 1.0.8 you can now hide ads by subscribing! Please try.

### 1/5 — Unusable

*2023-05-18*

App crashes every time I try to take a picture. Really unfortunate—looks like it would be cool.

Settings are inaccessible. Badly in need of an update.

### 5/5 — Works well

*2022-12-21*

Dithering looks great. About section and bottom right button are broken. Occasional crashes.

**Developer response:** We apologize for the issue with the About button 🙇

I believe this has been fixed in a recent version, so please try the new version 🙏

### 5/5 — ❤️

*2021-11-01*

Very good Dither effect, Add a color option  too in the next updates 🌈

**Developer response:** Thank you for your first review for this app! ❤️

Thank you for your feedback about the color options. We will consider implementing it as a new feature 🌈

## Frequently asked questions about Atkinson

### What is Atkinson dithering?

Atkinson dithering is an image processing algorithm that simulates shades of gray using only black and white pixels. It was famously used on early Macintosh computers to display photos.

### Does Atkinson have ads?

Yes, Atkinson contains advertisements within the application.

### What devices does Atkinson support?

Atkinson is available on iPhone and iPod devices.

### What is the age rating for Atkinson?

Atkinson has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for a wide range of users.

### How often is Atkinson updated?

Atkinson was last updated on March 20, 2026, indicating a recent update.

### What are the subscription options for Atkinson?

Atkinson offers a Standard Month subscription for $0.99 and a Standard Year subscription for $9.99.

### Can I turn off the rounded corners in Atkinson?

Yes, the rounded corner feature in Atkinson can be turned on or off according to user preference.

### What is the user rating for Atkinson?

Atkinson has an average rating of 3.3 stars based on 6 user reviews.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.1.0 — 2026-04-17

Added Color Palettes and Frames!

[Color Palettes]
Enjoy your photos in 7 retro-tech color palettes. Terminal Green, Amber Monitor, Original Macintosh, Game Boy, and more
— recreating the look of classic computer screens.

[Frames]
Add retro frames to your photos:
- MacPaint: Inspired by the legendary paint app by Bill Atkinson
- Classic Mac: Classic Macintosh window-style frame
- Terminal: Terminal window-style frame
- White Frame / No Frame

Simply choose a theme (frame + palette combination) to instantly change the mood. You can also customize the palette
independently.

[Other Improvements]
- Moved rounded corner toggle to save screen for real-time preview
- Added icons to brightness slider
- Improved overall UI usability

### 1.0.10 — 2026-03-20

minor bug fix.

### 1.0.9 — 2024-04-26

minor bug fix.

### 1.0.8 — 2024-04-06

- You can hide ads by subscribing!
- Changed: Move previous or next image with swipe left/right action on Album > Preview
- Improved: Screen transition performance

### 1.0.7 — 2024-03-28

fix minor bugs.

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## More apps by Tsutomu Koyachi

- [Schultz](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/schultz/id6451004801)

All apps by Tsutomu Koyachi: https://appshunter.io/developer/413497532

## Related topics

[atkinson](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/atkinson) · [koyachi](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/koyachi)

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-05.*