Effects — Halftone — Reference
Halftone settings
The Halftone effect has 7 settings. Here is what each one controls.
- Settings
- 7
- Category
Setting reference
| Setting | What it controls |
|---|---|
| Mode (CMYK or Mono) | Choose a four-ink colour separation or a single-ink halftone. |
| Shape (dot, square, line) | The shape of each halftone mark: round dots, square cells or lines. |
| Cell size | The size of each grid cell. Bigger cells mean a coarser, bolder pattern. |
| Angle | Rotates the halftone grid. 45° is the traditional newspaper angle. |
| Gain | Adjusts how heavily the marks print, making the overall tone lighter or darker. |
| Ink | The colour of the ink. |
| Paper | The colour of the paper showing between the marks. |
Tips for better results
- Tip 01
Larger cells give a bolder pop-art look; smaller cells keep more photographic detail.
- Tip 02
Start with a high-contrast photo. Flat, low-contrast images turn into evenly sized dots with little punch.
- Tip 03
Try 45° for the classic look, or rotate the angle so the dots do not line up with strong lines in your photo.