Halftone

Updated: 11/12/2023 by Computer Hope
Halftone Computer Hope logo.

With printing and photography, halftone is a technique used to reproduce color shades by varying the size or spacing of dots (sometimes both). As the example shows, halftone images may appear as different shades to the human eye when viewed at a distance, and may be made up of the same colored dots. Essentially, the density of dots in a particular area determines the darkness or lightness of that space in an image.

Note

Our halftone example image was created in Adobe Photoshop using the halftone filter.

This method is commonly used for grayscale reproduction in media such as magazines, newspapers, and other areas where images need to be reproduced using only black ink or very few colors. It is employed in digital media too. When performed correctly, halftoning allows the creation of fairly detailed images, even though they're made up of simple and repetitive shapes.

Color, Color terms, Gradient, Halftone Pattern, Printer terms