Quick little tutorial for taking a photograph and with a few tricks in Photoshop creating a Halftone Effect design for screen printing.

Step 1

The key to this technique is to pick a starting image with lots of light/dark contrast and a good amount of dark shadows. Depending on what use you have in mind for the final image make sure to choose a suitable size (width x height) file that is at least 200 pixels/inch (pip).

Step 2

Darken the image by adjusting the levels. Image > Adjustments > Levels (Command + L). As you will notice I only moved the left (black point) and middle (midtone) sliders. By moving the black point slider to the right I deepen the shadows by converting the darkest gray pixels in the image to black. By moving the midtone slider to the left I intensify the highlights by boosting the lightest (white) pixels in the image.

Step 3

Convert the image colormode to Grayscale. Image > Mode > Grayscale.

Step 4

Select the Pencil Tool (B) and set your foreground color to Black. Now paint over everything (microphone, neck, collar, tie, ear) except the main face highlights.

Step 5

Convert the image colormode to Bitmap. Image > Mode > Bitmap.

Step 6

Once again, convert the image back to Grayscale and leave the Size Ratio set to 1. Image > Mode > Grayscale.

Step 7

Finally, zoom in and clean up the messy edges by painting over them with the Pencil Tool (B) set to a Black.

Conculsion

That’s it… You now can take any images and with a little work get the same look as the Obama face below. Good luck!

Download Project Files

Extra Credit

By changing the Frequency, Angle and Shape settings in the Halftone Screen dialog box you can create numerous looks that work well with a wide range of design projects. To get really creative try changing the Bitmap Method to a Custom Pattern of your own. Grayscale, Round Halftone Screen, Custom Bitmap Pattern using Obama “O”.