Error distribution in printing and information processing systems is accomplished according to combined internal and external super-pixel error diffusion techniques, effective for distributing whole or fractional error contributions both within and without a selected super-pixel. For a particular super-pixel, error amounts of a selected internal subject pixel are provided to another internal subject pixel until a determined or selected final pixel error value within the selected super-pixel has been determined. This final, internal error value is distributed fractionally or wholly among selected super-pixels within a predetermined super-pixel neighborhood.