Convert any picture into a classic print-style halftone. Choose black-and-white or four-color CMYK, dots, squares, diamonds, ellipses or lines, set the dot size, screen angle and colors, and export a crisp PNG or a scalable SVG for printing, screen printing and design work.
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How to use the Halftone Generator
Add an image: drop it on the box, paste it or press Choose image. A sample loads so you can see the effect immediately.
Choose Mono or CMYK and a dot shape (circle, square, diamond, ellipse or lines).
Set the screen: Cell size controls how coarse the pattern is, Angle rotates the grid and Dot size scales the dots.
Fine-tune tones with Brightness and Contrast, and pick ink and paper colors.
Download a PNG for web and social use, or an SVG for print and cutting machines.
How the halftone is calculated
The tool lays a grid of cells over your picture, rotated by the screen angle. At the center of each cell it measures the tone of the image (averaged over the cell) and converts it to ink coverage d, from 0 (paper) to 1 (solid ink). The dot is then sized so its area equals d of the cell:
Shape
Size formula (cell = s)
Character
Circle
radius = s × √(d ÷ π)
Classic newspaper and comic look
Square
side = s × √d
Graphic, pixel-like, joins into a checkerboard at mid-tones
Diamond
half-diagonal = s × √(d ÷ 2)
Sharp, retro print feel; tiles seamlessly at full ink
Ellipse
circle area, stretched 1.35 : 1 along the screen angle
Smooth "chain dot" transitions in mid-tones
Lines
line thickness = s × d
Engraving and line-screen style
In CMYK mode each pixel is split into cyan, magenta, yellow and black with the basic conversion K = 1 − max(R, G, B) and C = (1 − R − K) ÷ (1 − K) (likewise for M and Y). Each ink gets its own screen at the traditional angles, and the inks are combined with multiply blending, just like transparent inks on paper.
Cell size, LPI and DPI
Printers describe halftone fineness in lines per inch (LPI). With this tool, LPI = output DPI ÷ cell size in pixels. Typical values:
20-45 LPI: posters, screen-printed T-shirts and bold pop-art effects.
65-85 LPI: newsprint and simple flyers.
133-175 LPI: magazines and art books (at these sizes dots are invisible to the naked eye).
Tips
Raise Contrast for punchy comic-style halftones; lower it to keep soft skin tones.
Use 45° for mono halftones: it is the angle the eye notices least, so the pattern looks smoother.
For screen printing, choose Mono, black ink, a transparent background and export the SVG; each ink color of a multi-color print can be made from a separate image.
Large SVGs: a fine cell on a big image can create hundreds of thousands of dots. Increase the cell size or reduce the output size if your design app slows down.
Frequently asked questions
What is a halftone?
A halftone reproduces continuous tones with a grid of dots (or lines) of varying size. From a distance the eye blends the dots and paper together, so bigger dots look darker. Newspapers, comics and screen printing use halftones because a press can only print solid ink.
How is the dot size calculated?
The image is sampled at the center of every grid cell. The darkness d (0 = white, 1 = full ink) sets the dot so that its area covers d of the cell: for circles the radius is cell × √(d ÷ π), for squares the side is cell × √d. That keeps the overall tone of the picture accurate.
Why are CMYK screens rotated at different angles?
If the four ink grids used the same angle they would interfere and create a visible moiré pattern. Printers traditionally rotate them about 30° apart: cyan 15°, magenta 75°, yellow 0° (the least visible ink) and black 45° (the most visible angle to the eye's least sensitive direction). This tool uses those angles, and the Angle slider rotates all four together.
What cell size should I use for printing?
Cell size in pixels relates to lines per inch (LPI): LPI = printing DPI ÷ cell size. At 300 DPI, a 5 px cell gives 60 LPI (newspaper style), a 2-3 px cell gives 100-150 LPI (magazine quality). For screen printing, 35-65 LPI is common; for a bold pop-art look use large cells of 12-30 px.
Can I use the SVG for screen printing or a cutting machine?
Yes. The SVG contains one vector shape per dot, grouped by ink, so it scales to any size without blur. In CMYK mode each ink is in its own group that you can separate into layers. Very small cells create very large SVG files, so use a bigger cell size for cutting.
Are my images uploaded?
No. The halftone is drawn with the Canvas API and the SVG is built as text in your browser. Nothing is sent to a server.
Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?
Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.