13.3" e-paper image converter
13.3-inch e-paper panels come in 2 resolutions: 960×680 and 1600×1200. They are available as black & white, 6-color. Pick the resolution and colors that match your panel, upload a photo and DitherInk will crop it, dither it with its tuned Atkinson algorithm and give you a file your firmware can use directly.
13.3" 960×680
| Native resolution | 960 × 680 (652,800 pixels, 24:17) |
|---|---|
| Portrait image size | 680 × 960 |
| Landscape image size | 960 × 680 |
| Colors | Buffer format | .bin size |
|---|---|---|
| Black & White | mono_1bpp | 81,600 bytes (79.7 KB) |
13.3" 1600×1200
| Native resolution | 1600 × 1200 (1,920,000 pixels, 4:3) |
|---|---|
| Portrait image size | 1200 × 1600 |
| Landscape image size | 1600 × 1200 |
| Colors | Buffer format | .bin size |
|---|---|---|
| 6-color | color_4bpp | 960,000 bytes (937.5 KB) |
Portrait or landscape?
The panel always receives its buffer in its native 960×680 layout. If your frame stands upright, choose Portrait: you crop a 680×960 image and DitherInk rotates the buffer 90° counterclockwise before writing the file. If your driver expects a different rotation, change it under Advanced output options.
Which file should I download?
- .h: a C array you can
#includein an Arduino or ESP-IDF project. Easiest for a single fixed image. - .bin: the raw frame buffer. Store it on an SD card or in flash and stream it to the panel. Best when images change.
- .png: an indexed PNG whose pixel values are the color codes. Handy for Python on a Raspberry Pi.
- .bmp: an indexed bitmap for photo frames and tools that read BMP files.
Tips for black & white
High-contrast images, line art and text work best. For photos, Auto mode lifts the shadows a little so dark areas do not collapse into solid black.
Example code (960×680, Black & White)
Arduino / ESP-IDF with the .h file
#include "my_image.h" // downloaded from DitherInk
// MY_IMAGE_WIDTH x MY_IMAGE_HEIGHT = 960 x 680, mono_1bpp
// Color codes: black=0, white=1
// The buffer is already in the panel's native orientation.
void showImage() {
epd_write_frame(my_image, MY_IMAGE_SIZE); // your driver's full-frame write
epd_refresh();
}Replace epd_write_frame and epd_refresh with the functions your display driver provides. Most drivers have a function that takes a full frame buffer.
ESP32 loading the .bin file from flash
#include <LittleFS.h>
constexpr size_t FRAME_BYTES = 81600;
static uint8_t frame[FRAME_BYTES];
bool loadFrame(const char* path) {
File f = LittleFS.open(path, "r");
if (!f || f.size() != FRAME_BYTES) return false; // wrong size = wrong panel settings
f.read(frame, FRAME_BYTES);
f.close();
return true;
}Python (Raspberry Pi) reading the .bin file
import numpy as np
data = np.fromfile("my_image.bin", dtype=np.uint8)
assert data.size == 81600
bits = np.unpackbits(data).reshape(680, -1)[:, :960] # 1 = white, 0 = blackNot sure about your panel's details? See how e-paper frame buffers are laid out.