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Pixelmator Pro User Guide
Support HomepagePixelmator Pro User GuidePhotomator User GuideFAQPhotomator FAQPixelmator Pro FAQ
  • Welcome
  • Pixelmator Pro basics
    • Interface overview
    • Pixelmator Pro tools
    • Zoom in and out of an image
    • Scroll, pan, or rotate an image
    • Undo or redo changes
    • Choose and manage colors in Pixelmator Pro
    • Use the Pixelmator Pro Photos extension
    • Print a Pixelmator Pro document
    • Use text field math
    • Pixelmator Pro settings
      • General settings
      • Editing settings
      • Ruler, grid, and guide settings
      • Workspace settings
      • Apple Pencil settings
    • Customize the Tools sidebar
    • Customize the Pixelmator Pro toolbar
    • Use the Touch Bar with Pixelmator Pro
    • Automate tasks in Pixelmator Pro
  • Create, open, and save images
    • Open an image
    • Create a new image
    • Working with templates
    • Working with mockups
    • Edit from Photos
    • Import an image
    • Save and name an image
    • Close an image
    • About the Pixelmator Pro file format
    • About Pixelmator Pro sidecar files
  • Automatically edit images
    • Automatically enhance colors
    • Automatically increase image resolution
    • Remove color banding
    • Automatically reduce noise
    • Remove image background
    • Hide image background
    • Automatically crop and straighten images
    • Automatically match image colors
    • Decontaminate colors
  • Work with layers
    • Create layers
    • Color adjustments and effects layers
    • Use the Arrange tool
    • Select layers
    • Move and align layers
    • Resize, rotate, and flip layers
    • Transform layers
    • Convert layers into pixels
    • Use rulers
    • Use alignment guides
    • Organize and manage layers
    • Replace image
    • Video layers
  • Add masks
    • Working with bitmap masks
    • Working with vector masks
    • Open and edit images with Portrait Masks
    • Use clipping masks
  • Customize layers using styles
    • Adjust the opacity of a layer
    • Change the blend mode of a layer
    • Add an outline around a layer
    • Fill a layer with a color or gradient
    • Add an inner shadow to a layer
    • Add a drop shadow to a layer
    • Layer style presets
  • Adjust colors
    • White balance an image
    • Adjust hue, saturation, and vibrance
    • Adjust lightness, clarity, and texture
    • Selectively adjust clarity and texture of an image
    • Selectively balance the colors in an image
    • Adjust individual colors in an image
    • Adjust the levels of an image
    • Adjust the tonal curve of an image
    • Replace one color in an image with another
    • Remove color from an image or video
    • Manually convert a color image to black and white
    • Convert an image to black and white with a color tint
    • Apply a sepia tint
    • Fade the shadows or highlights of an image
    • Mix the color channels of an image
    • Invert the colors of an image
    • Apply a vignette
    • Sharpen an image
    • Add film grain to an image
    • Apply LUTs
    • Color adjustment presets
    • Working with RAW images
    • Reading histograms
    • About color management
    • Change the color profile of an image
    • Change the color depth of an image
    • See what an image looks like on another device
  • Retouch and reshape layers
    • Remove an object from an image
    • Copy part of an image from one area to another
    • Lighten a specific area of an image
    • Darken a specific area of an image
    • Make a specific area of an image more vibrant
    • Desaturate a specific area of an image
    • Sharpen a specific area of an image
    • Soften a specific area of an image
    • Smudge a specific area of an image
    • Warp a specific area of an image
    • Bump a specific area of an image
    • Pinch a specific area of an image
    • Twirl a specific area of an image
  • Add effects
    • Apply blur effects
    • Apply distortion effects
    • Apply sharpen effects
    • Apply color adjustment effects
    • Apply tile effects
    • Apply stylize effects
    • Apply halftone effects
    • Apply generator effects
    • Apply fill effects
    • Apply other effects
    • Effect presets
  • Paint and erase
    • Use the brushes browser
    • Stroke with a brush
    • Quickly fill an image with color
    • Fill specific areas of an image with color
    • Fill with the Gradient Fill tool
    • Paint with the Pixel Paint tool
    • Erase using the Smart Erase tool
    • Edit brush settings
    • Create a brush
    • Share and import brushes
  • Make selections
    • Select areas by shape or color
    • Select areas by drawing
    • Make rectangular, elliptical, or row selections
    • Select all opaque areas of a layer
    • Select the entire image
    • Automatically select a subject in an image
    • Adjust selections
    • Refine selections
    • Move, copy, and delete selected areas
    • Convert selections into shapes
  • Draw shapes and vector graphics
    • Arrange and combine shapes
    • Draw shapes with the Pen tool
    • Draw shapes with the Freeform Pen tool
    • Edit vector paths
    • Save and share custom shapes
  • Use the Type tool
    • Add text on a path
    • Copy and paste text
    • Use dictation to enter text
    • Change the font or font size
    • Add bold, italic, underline, or strikethrough to text
    • Convert text into an outline
    • Change the color of text
    • Change text capitalization
    • Align and space text
    • Format characters
    • Convert text into a shape or pixel layer
    • Text style presets
  • Resize, crop and straighten images
    • Rotate and flip an image
    • Trim away colored or transparent borders around an image
    • Reveal parts of an image beyond the canvas
    • Crop presets
    • Change the image size
    • Change the canvas size
  • Export and share images
    • Export an image or video for the web
    • Slice designs into individual images
    • Quickly export or share an optimized image
    • Export presets
  • Pixelmator Pro keyboard shortcuts
    • Customize keyboard shortcuts
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On this page
  • Apply a Halftone effect to an image
  • Apply a Circular Screen effect
  • Apply a CMYK Halftone effect
  • Apply a Dot Screen effect
  • Apply a Hatched Screen effect
  • Apply a Line Screen effect
  • Show before and after or reset effects
  1. Add effects

Apply halftone effects

PreviousApply stylize effectsNextApply generator effects

Last updated 1 month ago

The effects in the Halftone category apply artistic halftone screen patterns to your selected layer.

Apply a Halftone effect to an image

Halftone effects can be applied directly to a single layer or, using an effects layer, to multiple layers in a composition.

  1. Select the layer or layers you want to edit.

  2. Do any of the following: Apply effects to a currently selected layer:

    • Click Effects in the Tools sidebar, then click Add Effect and select an effect from the Halftone collection.

    • Choose Format > Effects > Halftone and choose an effect.

    • Press F on your keyboard, click Add Effect, and select an effect from the Halftone collection.

    Apply effects to multiple layers:

    • Choose Insert > Effects from the Insert menu at the top of your screen, click Add Effect, and select an effect from the Halftone collection.

    • Click Insert a layer at the top of the Layers sidebar, choose Effects, click Add Effect, and select an effect from the Halftone collection.

    • Press Shift ⇧ + Command ⌘ + F on your keyboard, click Add Effect, and select an effect from the Halftone collection.

Apply a Circular Screen effect

The Circular Screen effect adds a circular black and white halftone pattern over your selected layer.

Customize the effect:


  • Move the Width slider to adjust the distance between each circle in the pattern. You can also enter a value from 2.0 px to 50.0 px.

  • Move the Sharpness slider to adjust the sharpness of the circles. You can also enter a value from 0% to 100%.

  • Move the handles of the effect rope to adjust the position of the screen. If the effect rope isn’t visible, click the rope button in the Tool Options pane.

Apply a CMYK Halftone effect

The CMYK Halftone effect recreates the selected layer using red, yellow, magenta, and black on a white background, making it look as if the image was printed using the halftone printing technique.

Customize the effect:


  • Move the Width slider to adjust the size of each dot in the pattern. You can also enter a value from 2.0 px to 100.0 px.

  • Move the Angle wheel to adjust the angle of the pattern. You can also enter a value from 0.0º to 359.9º.

  • Move the Sharpness slider to adjust the sharpness of the dots. You can also enter a value from 0% to 100%.

  • Move the Gray Component Replacement slider to adjust how grays are created — either with a mix of cyan, magenta, and yellow or two of the primary colors and black.

  • Move the Under Color Removal slider to adjust how much of any near-black areas are replaced with pure black ink.

  • Move the handles of the effect rope to adjust the position of the screen. If the effect rope isn’t visible, click the rope button in the Tool Options pane.

Apply a Dot Screen effect

The Dot Screen effect recreates your selected layer using the black and white dots of a halftone screen.

Customize the effect:

  • Move the Angle wheel to adjust the angle of the pattern. You can also enter a value from 0.0º to 359.9º.


  • Move the Width slider to adjust the size of each dot in the pattern. You can also enter a value from 2.0 px to 50.0 px.

  • Move the Sharpness slider to adjust the sharpness of the dots. You can also enter a value from 0% to 100%.

  • Move the handles of the effect rope to adjust the position of the screen. If the effect rope isn’t visible, click the rope button in the Tool Options pane.

Apply a Hatched Screen effect

The Hatched Screen effect recreates your selected layer using a hatched black and white halftone screen.

Customize the effect:

  • Move the Angle wheel to adjust the angle of the pattern. You can also enter a value from 0.0º to 359.9º.


  • Move the Width slider to adjust the size of each line in the pattern. You can also enter a value from 2.0 px to 50.0 px.

  • Move the Sharpness slider to adjust the sharpness of the lines. You can also enter a value from 0% to 100%.

  • Move the handles of the effect rope to adjust the position of the screen. If the effect rope isn’t visible, click the rope button in the Tool Options pane.

Apply a Line Screen effect

The Line Screen effect recreates your selected layer using a black and white line screen.

Customize the effect:

  • Move the Angle wheel to adjust the angle of the pattern. You can also enter a value from 0.0º to 359.9º.


  • Move the Width slider to adjust the size of each line in the pattern. You can also enter a value from 2.0 px to 50.0 px.

  • Move the Sharpness slider to adjust the sharpness of the lines. You can also enter a value from 0% to 100%.

  • Move the handles of the effect rope to adjust the position of the screen. If the effect rope isn’t visible, click the rope button in the Tool Options pane.

Show before and after or reset effects

Show Original: Click the Show Original button or press Control ⌃ + M on your keyboard to see what the image looks like without any effects.

Show Split Comparison: Option ⌥ – click the Show Original button, press Control ⌃ + C on your keyboard, or force-click the canvas.

To reset all effects, click Reset at the bottom of the Tool Options pane.