converting the halftone effect as a vector

Hi all,

This has been really doing my head in for ages and iv not yet found a solution, plenty of examples on iStock.

I can create one easily in Photoshop using either Filter>Sketch>Halftone pattern OR Filter>Pixelate>Colour Halftone

But how how how can u get a vector version???

http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup.php?id=584560

is a fine example if your not sure what im talking about...

... any enlightenment would be much appreciated

Thanksexample

You're not the first person to ask about the halftone dots. I already have instruction written up. I'm surprised by their popularity and I'm trying to figure out how to expand the franchise. So far, I've only done simple ones where the technique is clear in a small thumbnail. (Although they can get rejected for being too simple - my last one was.) I fear that more complex ones will just look like gradations when viewed small.

Here's the steps:

I begin with a greyscale image, of any resolution. Sometimes it's a rasterized vector, sometimes a photo. I might blur it if I need more gradation. I also adjust the contrast so there are some pure whites and solid blacks. Then I convert to a bitmap using a high resolution (maybe 300) and a low line frequency (usually between 2 and 6 per inch). I use the round dot halftone screen, but you could do anything. Once I have that halftone, it is often a little rough. I convert back into greyscale at a size ratio of 1, and res it WAY up. (Often between a 90 and 120meg file.) I blur the greyscale image a bit (maybe 6 to 12 pixels) to smooth the edges, and then increase contrast to sharpen the line again. That smooths everything out. When adjusting contrast, in the same control panel, you can use brightness slider to vary dot size overall. Then, I use "select similar" to make a selection of all art. I make a path of the selection, save it, and export it to Illustrator. In illustrator, I make it a compound path and clean up any problems by hand. I usually discard the big photoshop file to preserve HD space.

There may be an easier way, but that's how I do it (a fair amount of work for a 1-credit image).

That's how I've done it in the past as well... but I've used Freehand's auto trace to create the path in stead of photoshop....

David_S Thanks for the detailed tips! I really like these illustrations.

David_S thanks for the detailed explaination on this previously mythical process

I am, as im typing this trying your method

il post my results sortly

OK guys, to all who are interested,


playing around with this technique further i have found a very quick compromised solutions that will display 100% Accurate without the use of photoshop...!

... the only down side however is that you cannot create a compoud path of the halftone effect. no biggie unless you want to stroke your halftone, (rare).

On the plus side all other stuff will work, i.e. gradients/fills/opacity masks/ etc etc... play around with the tranparency effects (overlay) etc.. to merge serveral halftones together...

Simply create a gradient in illustrator (fill circle with radial gradient) for example, then go – EFFECTS>PIXELATE>COLOUR HALFTONE

use MAKE OPACITY MASK with any image, objects etc... to your new halftone and see the results!!!

jysta, your trick is neat but it doesn't make a vector half tone. It produces a raster (as hinted by pixelate) halftone. You still have to make paths out of it.

jysta,
You're missing the value of compound paths. They allow you to put a photo or gradient in the halftone pattern, or behind the pattern. It also allows you to layer halftone patterns over each other (as in image # 601903). That's the real value of it.

Well I did a search on the web, vector half tones are in great demand. Most suggestions involve auto tracing of the raster version. Some posts seem to suggest very early version of AI can do it.