Abstract: In a picture processing method according to the present invention, a picture element S(i,j) to be processed is divided into four smaller picture elements S.sub.1 (i,j) through S.sub.4 (i,j). The density of each of the smaller picture elements is determined from the algebraic mean value of the densities of the picture element and the picture elements surrounding the firstly mentioned picture elements. Each smaller picture element S.sub.m (i,j) (m=1,2,3, and 4) is determined by a DITHER MATRIX T(k,l) as S.sub.m (i,j)=1 when S.sub.m (i,j).gtoreq.T(k,l) and S.sub.m (i,j)=0 when S.sub.m (i,j)<T(k,l) where, using Gauss' notation,k=i-4[(i-1)/4]andl=j-4[(j-1)]/4].