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Illustrator CC2019 - vector halftones effect

Forum|Forum|7 years ago
January 29, 2019
3 replies
16546 views

Hi everyone,

I'm just wondering whether there is a simple quick way to create a vector halftones effects with perfectly rounded dots.

I already know of the halftones effect in Effects panel, but that generates a bitmap image which has to be expanded and then live traced.

Instead I'd like to simply have the halftones circles starting from a gradient fill or even a vector sketch or a raster image (probably bn).

I would not use any extra plugin, since I want to be able to create the dots pattern within Illustrator itself.

As a matter of fact I am using Adobe Illustrator CC2019.

Thanks in advance,

cheers

This topic has been closed for replies.

ceyhun_akgun

Legend

In the past Macromedia FreeHand MX program was able to give this effect to TIFF images in Gray Color mode at the desired angle and point size. Illustrator does not work with the same logic, unfortunately ... You can do these works by using Live Painting and Pattern functions together.

Graphic Designer Educator / PrePress Consultant

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cannizzom3427469Author

Participating Frequently

Thanks Ceyhun

JETalmage

Inspiring

The subject is a long-repeating one in this forum. There are multiple threads. Did you do a search?

An entirely vector-based faux halftone can be semi-automated in the standard feature set (i.e., without third-party plug-ins), given that the standard feature set includes a scripting feature (as do other program, too).

But the common misconception is that real halftones consist entirely of round dots. They do not. In a process halftone, the round positive (ink) dots morph into round negative (no-ink) dots as they approach and cross the 50% tones. In other words, the white) voids in the shadow areas are round, not 4-point "stars" resulting from overlapping black circles.

JET

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cannizzom3427469Author

Participating Frequently

Thanks Jet, I did a search.. that's why I was posting the question.
All the threads, as well as googling around, describe similar workarounds to Monika's (i.e. related to Live Trace and raster img).

I just wanted to know if there was a specific function, perhaps integrated in the new 2019 release. Straight forward: vector to vector (or from raster image to vector).

Apart from technical matters, have you got a better solution that you feel sharing?

Thanks,

cheers

Doug A Roberts

Community Expert

cannizzom3427469 wrote
I just wanted to know if there was a specific function, perhaps integrated in the new 2019 release. Straight forward: vector to vector (or from raster image to vector).

Then apart from Monika's suggestions, the answer is no.

Monika Gause

Community Expert

There are workarounds, but they won't get you that typical 4-color result.

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cannizzom3427469Author

Participating Frequently

Even 1 tone would be okay..

All the workaround I've read about do mention the raster/trace method.. which gives weird dots as a result.
Even if you increase the resolution, that would not generate perfect circular dots.

Can't Adobe come up with an easy function, simple like that?! (I mean.. like Live Trace, but with geometric perfect shapes)

Am I missing something?

Thanks Monika!

Thanks everyone..

Monika Gause

Community Expert

You could apply the halftone effect in high resolution to a 1-color image.

Run Image trace

Expand

Apply the Effect > Convert to shape > Ellipse. The result might not be perfectly round in each case.

You could also try the Object > Mosaic function on a greyscale image

Then Apply Effect > Convert to shape > Ellipse

And run the script: Size by Luminance GitHub - johnwun/js4ai: Collection of Javascripts for Adobe Illustrator

But actually I would use the plugin Phantasm.

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