Halftone Generator: Turn Any Image into Dots
This halftone generator converts any photo into a halftone dot pattern right in your browser. Upload an image or pick a sample, then watch a live preview rebuild it from dots whose size follows the light and dark areas of the original.
You control every part of the look: pick one of six dot shapes, set the dot size, spacing, and grid angle, and choose Black & White, a custom Single Color, or full CMYK separation. Five one-click presets recreate classic newspaper, comic book, pop art, vintage, and risograph styles, and you can export the result as PNG, JPG, or scalable SVG.
How to Use the Halftone Generator
Load an image
Click the upload area or drag and drop a file to add your own image. To try the tool instantly, pick one of the built-in Portrait, Landscape, or Object samples.
Start from a preset
Choose Newspaper, Comic Book, Pop Art, Vintage, or Risograph for an instant style. Each preset sets the dot size, spacing, angle, color, and contrast for you.
Fine-tune the dots
In the Dot Settings panel, pick a shape and adjust dot size, spacing, and angle. Switch the color mode, tweak contrast and brightness, toggle Invert, or set a transparent background.
Download the result
Choose PNG, JPG, or SVG and click Download. SVG output keeps every dot as a vector shape, so it stays sharp at any print size.
Features
Upload or Use a Sample
Drag and drop your own image, or start instantly with the built-in Portrait, Landscape, and Object samples.
Six Dot Shapes
Render dots as Circle, Square, Diamond, Line, Cross, or Hexagon — from classic halftone to engraving and modern geometric looks.
Full Dot Control
Set dot size (2–30px), spacing (4–40px), and grid angle (0–180°) to dial in the exact pattern you want.
Three Color Modes
Choose Black & White, a custom Single Color, or full CMYK separation for color halftone work.
CMYK Channels
Render Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key at standard print angles (15°, 75°, 0°, 45°) to avoid moiré, and toggle each channel on or off.
Five Style Presets
One click loads Newspaper, Comic Book, Pop Art, Vintage, or Risograph — each tuned for an authentic look.
Contrast & Brightness
Adjust the source contrast and brightness before halftoning to push dot variation lighter or more dramatic.
Invert & Transparency
Flip which tones get the larger dots with Invert, or drop the background entirely with transparent output.
PNG, JPG & SVG Export
Save as lossless PNG, compact JPG, or vector SVG where each dot is a shape — perfect for print at any size.
Real-Time Preview
Every change updates the preview instantly, with debounced rendering that stays smooth on large images.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a halftone?
Halftone is a printing technique that reproduces an image using dots of varying size — larger dots for darker areas, smaller dots for lighter ones. From a distance the dots blend into continuous tone, which is how newspapers, comics, and screen prints reproduce photos with a single ink color.
How do I convert an image to halftone dots?
Load an image or pick a sample, choose a preset or set the dot shape, size, spacing, and angle yourself, then download the result. The preview updates as you go, so you can see the halftone effect build in real time.
Is the halftone generator free and online?
Yes. It runs entirely in your web browser with nothing to install and no sign-up. Because all processing is local, you can use it offline once the page has loaded.
What dot shapes are supported?
Six shapes: Circle, Square, Diamond, Line, Cross, and Hexagon. Circles give the classic printed look, lines resemble engraving, squares feel pixel-like, and crosses and hexagons offer modern geometric alternatives.
What is CMYK mode for?
CMYK mode separates your image into Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key (black) channels, each rendered at a different screen angle (15°, 75°, 0°, 45°) to avoid moiré patterns. This mirrors how full-color images are printed with halftone screens, and you can toggle each channel on or off.
Why export as SVG, and can I use it for screen printing?
SVG stores each dot as a vector shape instead of pixels, so the artwork scales to any size without losing sharpness — ideal for posters, large-format work, and screen printing. For raster needs, PNG keeps transparency while JPG produces smaller files.
What dot size and spacing should I use?
It depends on the effect you want. Small dots (around 2–6px) with tight spacing give detailed, newspaper-like results, while larger dots (10–20px) with wider spacing create bold pop-art graphics. Start from a preset and adjust from there.
Are my images uploaded to a server?
No. All processing happens entirely in your browser using the Canvas API. Your images never leave your device, and no data is sent to any server.
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