How to Create a Halftone Pattern in Photoshop

In traditional printing, black and white images were converted to halftones before printing. The halftone image is composed of a pattern of visible dots, which make up the picture and improve the quality of the printed image. Adobe Photoshop includes a filter that can be applied to a digital image (color or black and white), and instantly transforms the picture into an image similar in appearance to a halftone.

Things You'll Need

• Computer with Photoshop

Instructions

1. Open the image to convert to a halftone pattern by clicking "File," "Open" and selecting the digital image file saved on your computer.

2. Click "Filter" in the horizontal menu bar at the top of the screen.

3. Select "Sketch" in the drop-down menu that appears after completing the previous step.

4. Click "Halftone Pattern" in the menu that opens after completing the previous step.

5. Adjust the size and contrast of the pattern by sliding the levers to the right or left, in the menu to the right of the screen while in the "Halftone Pattern" window.

6. Select a pattern type by using the drop-down menu in the menu to the right of the screen. The choices are circle, dot and line.

7. Click "OK" to close the halftone pattern menu and retain your choices.

8. Save your file by clicking "File," "Save As" and giving the file a new name. If you use the original file name, the new halftone pattern file will replace the original image file.

Tips & Warnings

• For a colored halftone, first select a color (before converting the image to a halftone) by clicking the "Color Picker" in the vertical menu to the left of the screen. The color displayed on the square will be the primary color of the halftone.

References

• The Web Environment: Filters
• "Photoshop CS2 for Dummies", Peter Bauer, 2005