Is there another vintage graphics that would be as trendy and influential as the classic halftone pattern? Decades ago, such a dotted image was due to the specific printing technique. But today, we can create a halftone effect or pattern just as we like it!
You don't have to be a pro artist with advanced drawing skills to make halftone effects. In fact, the process of creating one is intuitive: it only demands the basic knowledge of Adobe Photoshop and a proper image that would look work well for all your halftone experiments. Of course, such effects are super popular, and you can get them for free (check for some at Pixelbuddha). But there's always a situation where none of yours work, and you need a specific halftone texture that repeats color printing in a certain way. That's when the skill of making custom halftones will come in handy!
Video Tutorial
Here are the assets you will need to complete the lesson and create a halftone effect of your own:
What is Halftone?
Halftone is a graphic design and printing technique used to reproduce an image using a dot pattern overlay with one or more colors. Today halftone is used to repeat a gradient or shaded effect with a limited number of tones. Black and white halftone dots are a traditional solution. However, color variations are allowed.
Initially, the halftone texture was due to the limitations of print media, and there was even a struggle against the tiny dots all over the image. Today, it's the contrary: the halftone pattern is a popular retro style made to create the 40s-50s print effect. It's also used to add an underground vibe, which is possible thanks to the colored dot styles or alternative patterns (stripes,squares, or diamonds).
In this step-by-step tutorial, I'll show you how to achieve the same effect with your graphics and create your first halftone effect in Photoshop — which is surprisingly simple and relaxing.
How to Create Photoshop Halftone Effect
Let’s sum it up! We can easily make a halftone effect in Photoshop with a classic dot pattern using any shape. So don’t hesitate to try some non-standard motifs like hearts. They will work as well. And remember, you can also make a color halftone effect — for example, something acid or neon!
To adjust the pattern to fit the image, you can change the Fill Setting, Angle, and Scale, use the Levels Adjustment Layer or try a different amount of Gaussian Blur Filter.
If you want to apply various halftone effects to your images, I highly recommend you to try Classic Halftone Photo Effects! This professional constructor contains 3 PSD files, 10 carefully created and easy-to-use halftone patterns (dots, squares, triangles, stripes, and zigzags) and 30 beautiful duotone gradients. And you can access and toggle them via Smart Objects in Adobe Photoshop!
This product is a great idea to complete your retro or vintage design projects and make them look authentic. Posters, prints on fabric, banners, or anything else — these halftone effects are an unbeatable, proven method to bring your graphic work to the top.

Classic Halftone Photo Effects
Welcome a new set of grunge tools, tested out on various images so as to provide you with the flawless product you could lay your eyes on!

Acid Halftone Photo Effect
One magic click and the photography is transferred back into the 80s when screaming colors were all the rage!

Halftone Effects Collection
All 20 gradients are already embedded in 6 PSD files. Combining them with 2 dots size scales from the pack would bear plentiful creative combinations!

Delusio Halftone Photoshop Effect
Create emotionally resonant images with retro photo effects, made of 20 halftone patterns and 50 gradient textures.