Effects / Halftone

CMYK Halftone

The CMYK Halftone effect simulates four-color process printing used in magazines, newspapers, and commercial printing. Each color channel (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black) is rendered at a different angle to avoid moiré patterns.

halftone-cmykPro

Effect ID: halftone-cmyk

Example Configuration

halftone-cmyk.json

{
  "effectId": "halftone-cmyk",
  "cmykHalftone": {
    "colorBack": "#f5f5f0",
    "colorC": "#00aeef",
    "colorM": "#ec008c",
    "colorY": "#fff200",
    "colorK": "#231f20",
    "size": 0.5,
    "gridNoise": 0,
    "type": "ink",
    "softness": 0.2,
    "contrast": 1,
    "intensity": 1,
    "angleOffset": 15,
    "misregistration": 0,
    "spread": 0.1
  }
}

Settings

Property	Type	Default	Description
`colorBack`	string	#f5f5f0	Paper color
`colorC/M/Y/K`	string	-	Ink colors (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, Black)
`size`	number	0.5	Dot size (0-1)
`type`	string	ink	Type: "ink" or "newsprint"
`angleOffset`	number	15	Angle offset in degrees (0-90)
`contrast`	number	1	Contrast (0-2)
`intensity`	number	1	Ink intensity (0-2)
`misregistration`	number	0	Print plate misalignment (0-1)
`spread`	number	0.1	Dot gain/ink bleed (0-1)

Screen Angles

Traditional CMYK printing uses specific angles to prevent moiré patterns:

Cyan - 15° (or 105°)
Magenta - 75°
Yellow - 0° (least visible, smallest angle)
Black - 45° (most visible, dominant angle)

Best Use Cases

Magazine look - Authentic print media aesthetic
Pop art - Roy Lichtenstein-style artwork
Vintage advertising - Retro commercial print look
Comic books - Classic four-color printing style

Tips

Larger dot sizes create bold pop-art effects
Smaller dots simulate high-quality print reproduction
Adjust angles to create intentional moiré patterns
Works especially well with portraits and product shots