ERROR DIFFUSION METHOD

An improved error diffusion method for producing an output image from an input image having a set of digitized continuous-tone pixels is disclosed. The method includes computing a visually perceived input value for a digitized continuous-tone input pixel and computing a visually perceived output value for each of the possible output levels. The method further includes selecting the output level in response to the visually perceived input values and the visually perceived output value for each of the possible output levels according to an error criterion; determining an error signal between the visually perceived input value and the visually perceived output value for the selected output level; and weighting the error signal and adjusting the computed visually perceived input values for nearby pixels which have not been processed.