An m×n pixel cell may be obtained from an input image, each of the pixels having a respective color value. A characterization of the cell may be determined, including determining a lowest color value and a highest color value of the pixels cell. A difference between the highest color value and the lowest color value may be calculated. If the difference is less than or equal to a threshold difference, an output color value inclusively between the highest color value and the lowest color value may be selected, and a first representation of the output color value may be written to an output medium. If the difference is greater than the threshold difference, multiple output color values may be selected, and a second representation of the multiple output color values may be written to the output medium.