Halftone dot pattern in Illustrator - turn a gradient filled shape into fading dots

Create a halftone dot pattern in Illustrator. Learn how to turn a gradient filled shape into a vector fading dots pattern using Illustrator's own tools.
In this video you will see how to make and fill a shape with a gradient and how to use this to create a halftone dot pattern. You will see what settings to use for channels and radius in the Color Halftone panel so you get the result you are wanting. You will see how changes in the Channel value changes the look of the dots you create. Once you have done this you will see how to take this bitmap result and turn it into a vector.
This process is repeatable so you can use it to turn any shape into a halftone pattern at any time and it's pretty simple too which is a big plus!
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[@yuurinbee]

Hi, Helen! I've been looking for this technique for quite sometime. Thanks so much for your short and to-the-point tutorial. One suggestion I'd like to share is, let's say scale your circles by 500% and then adjust the halftone properties `20` to `50` or `100` and then when you do image trace with a larger image on your canvas, it will do a better job of tracing the circles better. They will be less distorted. This is trick I have used for a while with Image Trace. I actually blow the image up to the entire workspace and then trace, with the adjustments of noise, paths, and corners as well. Thanks again! Now I have my halftones vectorized perfectly.

[@HelenBradley]

Oh, what a smart solution. Thank you so much for posting this. I'm pinning your comment so everyone can benefit from it.

[@yuurinbee]

Wonderful! I hope it's helpful. It doesn't always guarantee 100% accuracy, but expanding the image before you image trace it definitely improves the quality of the vector. Thanks again, I've now saved these halftone vectors to try in some new designs. All the best!@@HelenBradley

[@elmedia8692]

Thank you Helen, I use trace a lot but until watching this didn't think about the properties, I learn so much more than intended when I watch your tutorials. Many thanks, you're the best teacher.

[@HelenBradley]

You're welcome, I'm glad the video was helpful! I appreciate the kind comments! Thank you for stopping by my channel.

[@MsLAofLA]

This is exactly what I needed! Great pace and detail. Thank you!

[@HelenBradley]

You're welcome, Thank you for stopping by my channel.

[@XxBloodyWenchxX]

Hi Helen! A very good, quick guide including important differences and settings, so we can actually understand what and why we're doing. Thanks!

[@HelenBradley]

You're welcome, I'm glad this video could help out. Thanks for stopping by my channel.

[@hasanalichowdhury128]

DEAR MA'AM, THANK YOU I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR THIS TUTORIAL LONG TIME.

[@HelenBradley]

You're welcome, I'm glad I could help. Thanks for visiting my channel.

[@jonathanchartrand3351]

I've been watching a lot of illustrator tutorials lately and this is the best by far. It's a pleasure to follow along. I'm going to subscribe.

[@HelenBradley]

Thank you so much for your kind comment Jonathan! I am so pleased you subscribed. I hope you continue to enjoy the content.

[@jonathanchartrand3351]

@@HelenBradley I will. I've been using Lynda.com and the videos are too long and boring

[@TheDweeb002]

Thank you Helen. You are such a sweetheart. You always come through for me! :)

[@HelenBradley]

+The Dweeb Thank you!

[@jenniferlouise4291]

I cannot believe I have been doing this the hard pattern way the past decade! THANK YOU

[@HelenBradley]

You're welcome, Thank you for stopping by my channel.

[@therider0872]

Thanks a lot, I've been trying to learn how to do half-tones and you made it easier.

[@HelenBradley]

Thank you for stopping by my channel.

[@lucazenti1662]

Stumbled across two of your videos. Incredibly clear and helpful, thanks so much.

[@HelenBradley]

I am so glad Luca!

[@yamamotoyuki4ever]

I admire your way of designing, they're always simple, fast and nice

[@HelenBradley]

+Yuki Yamamoto Thank you Yuki

[@enriquemarin9008]

I love all your contributions, Thanks for that

[@HelenBradley]

You're welcome, Thanks for stopping by my channel.

[@TanChoonHong]

Awesome tutorial! Every step explained lucidly. Much thanks.

[@HelenBradley]

Thank you so much for your kind words, I am pleased to hear that the tutorial was helpful for you! Thank you for your support of my channel.

[@eschelar]

Really good tutorials. I've seen a few of these. Nice work. Thank you.

[@HelenBradley]

You're welcome! Thank you for stopping by my channel.

[@r1pcurl24]

couldn't get a good result without custom tracing. thanks for showing me how! :)

[@HelenBradley]

You are welcome! Thank you for stopping by my channel.

[@belaltv7071]

Thanks for sharing halftone dot pattern in Illustrator tutorial

[@HelenBradley]

I am so happy you enjoyed this video - thank you for your comment.

[@KokoRicky]

Thanks! Been wanting to know how to do this in Illustrator, as it's a well known filter in Photoshop.

[@HelenBradley]

Happy to help!

[@shellymoss9892]

Excellent tutorial! Thank you!

[@HelenBradley]

Thank you! I am glad the video was useful for you! Thank you for checking out my channel.

[@panugantikrishna5995]

You are the best teacher thank you again and again......................

[@HelenBradley]

You're welcome, Thank for your kind words and for stopping by my channel.

[@mohammadyousaf6750]

Awesome!! Thank you, very helpful.

[@HelenBradley]

You're welcome, Thank you for stopping by my channel.

[@jbmurdock5264]

Great tutorial, well presented and informative

[@HelenBradley]

Thank you so much for your kind comment. I’m glad you enjoyed the video.

[@santushteedesign9431]

great works..... Thank you Helen...

[@HelenBradley]

I am glad you liked this video Santushtee Design!

[@aryamaiy4517]

I don't learn these things on my school, thank you for a simple yet understanding video :D

[@HelenBradley]

Glad to be of help. Thank you for stopping by my channel.

[@catherinelalut4122]

love ya Helen!!! Thank you so much!

[@HelenBradley]

You're welcome! Thank you for the kind words and for stopping by my channel.

[@b.b.4969]

exactly what I was looking for thank you !

[@HelenBradley]

Glad I could help!

[@anggiehardien3064]

thank you, Mrs. Helen

[@HelenBradley]

It’s a pleasure Anggie. Thanks for stopping by my channel.

[@seaneehumanbeing]

Thanks for this quick, no frills tutorial! However, there is one issue I keep running into. Once I apply the Trace, all my dots get warped, regardless of my trace settings. How do I avoid this? Thanks!

[@cheersvines9144]

Thanks alot, and ur way of teaching is too good, to the point. Tha ks again

[@HelenBradley]

You're welcome, Thank you for your kind words and for stopping by my channel.

[@NurRahmah]

thank you so muchhhh. so clear tutorial

[@HelenBradley]

You're welcome, Thanks for stopping by my channel.

[@hillmankadzri3902]

Dear Maam, Thank you for this knowledge.

[@HelenBradley]

It's my pleasure!

[@inayathkhan100]

Very useful tutorial Ma'am, Thank you

[@HelenBradley]

Thank you. I’m so glad you enjoyed it.

[@emmanuelebole325]

I stopped at the channel, and I liked the video. Thank for the tutorial @Hellen

[@HelenBradley]

You're welcome, thanks for liking the video. Come back often for new tutorials!

[@SuperLightGlow]

thx. That's what I was looking for.

[@HelenBradley]

You're welcome, Thank you for stopping by my channel.

[@yousseflegmiri6066]

Thanks Helen. you did a great clear work. Good job

[@HelenBradley]

Thank you! I hope your projects are working out smoothly!

[@yousseflegmiri6066]

@@HelenBradley Thank you. Well I'm a beginner in graphic design with no degree but a couple months ago I started learning this awesome art by myself using Internet. I've mastered the main important tools but I'm still confusing what can I do and how to find Customers.

[@HelenBradley]

I hear you! Best of luck!

[@AlbeeLindesign]

thank you so much for sharing!! it's really useful!!

[@HelenBradley]

You're so welcome!

[@andylolol]

Still works today! Cheers Helen

[@HelenBradley]

Great to hear it! It’s one of my most watched videos even today!

[@hurmd]

Thanks, helped me a lot!!

[@HelenBradley]

Glad it helped!

[@dileepkjoy7364]

Thank you very much for the tutorial. I would like to know about the versions of illustrator where we can do these dot patterns using custom made templates. is this possible in latest versions?

[@woolof9744]

Thank you so much darling.

[@HelenBradley]

You're welcome, Thank you for stopping by my channel.

[@StephenPiddingtonLongbow]

Really useful. Other tutorials just show how to make a bitmap version but I wanted vector as the design will be printed large on a lorry.

[@HelenBradley]

Wow! I don't think I've ever taught anybody to make illustrations for lorrys before - I wish you all the best. Thank you for stopping by my channel.

[@TheVladG]

Very helpful, thanks.

[@HelenBradley]

You're welcome, I am glad I could help.Thank you for stopping by my channel.

[@hasanrumi5998]

thank you mam .thanks is a small word for u . i just love this video .

[@HelenBradley]

Thank you for the compliments! I am happy to hear that you enjoyed the tutorial.

[@sakuriling5726]

Thank you Helen ,

[@HelenBradley]

So glad it helped Alex.

[@mohamedkhan7664]

Thank you Helen

[@HelenBradley]

You're welcome. Thank you for stopping by my channel.

[@MrEugenj]

Thanks a lot, you got the best tutorials :) !

[@HelenBradley]

What a lovely thing to say. Most appreciated.

[@alvinbetsayda415]

Thanks ma'am ur a big help to my Job ur angel

[@HelenBradley]

+Alvin Jampazar Thank you, I am glad it helped.

[@poppyorangeflower]

This was so good!

[@HelenBradley]

So glad you enjoyed it

[@massart09]

Thanks Helen!

[@HelenBradley]

My pleasure!

[@shahzebkhan4720]

hi, ma'am..always excellent tutorials. stay blessed

[@HelenBradley]

Thank you! You too!

[@PuenteDorado]

Gracias Helen

[@HelenBradley]

De nada!

[@bassemb]

Thank you!

[@HelenBradley]

My pleasure

[@nikolasjohngaming]

thank you, very nice!

[@HelenBradley]

Glad you like it!

[@HasanAhmed-jy4if]

How are you, ma'am? So nicely you teach! Today I've learned this from your tutorial. Thank you.

[@HelenBradley]

Thank you Hasan!

[@SW-zx3op]

Many thanks, this was very helpful 👍👍

[@HelenBradley]

Glad it was helpful!

[@sebasg_arte_cultura]

Thank you SO MUCH

[@HelenBradley]

You're welcome!

[@abbeyelazegui7380]

Hey helen! thanks for the tutorial! just a thing though, at the last part after "image trace" then "expand" mine didnt really does that. when I go fill it fills the whole box.

[@jamesoh3943]

amazing tutorial:) Thanks a lot:)

[@HelenBradley]

Thanks James!

[@bichoutzed9691]

Thank you very nice

[@HelenBradley]

You're welcome, Thank you for stopping by my channel.

[@ShirelShalom]

Thank you so much!

[@HelenBradley]

My Pleasure

[@ravikumar-kr6gv]

thanks so much...Very useful.

[@HelenBradley]

So glad to help you Ravi

[@ecaterinalitvinova5707]

Great tutorial=))) thank you=)))

[@HelenBradley]

You're welcome. Thank you for the complement and for stopping by my channel.

[@jdfann]

Thank you!!

[@HelenBradley]

You're welcome, thanks for visiting my channel.

[@teabagNBG]

thx helped me alot

[@HelenBradley]

You're welcome, I am glad I could help.Thank you for stopping by my channel.

[@RaajKanchan]

Thank You Helen :-)

[@HelenBradley]

You are welcome Raaj! Thank you for stopping by my channel.

[@smeetshah5066]

Thanks a lot!

[@HelenBradley]

You're welcome!

[@inactiverahul]

Thank you very much

[@HelenBradley]

You are welcome

[@rominalezcano9202]

thank you!!

[@HelenBradley]

You're welcome, Thanks for visiting my channel.

[@Taroles]

Thank you very muuuuuuuch!!

[@HelenBradley]

My pleasure.

[@sofchi1]

Excelent!!! Thanks

[@HelenBradley]

You're welcome!

[@esotericempyre4572]

Hello, Great Tutorial! Is there anyway to do this with the shapes. I see some work being done with other geometric shapes and looks like this just in a different design. Please help!

[@fajarpram]

thank you, for your helpp

[@HelenBradley]

You are welcome! Thank you for stopping by my channel.

[@sergiocobo8332]

Esto es muy cool y muy útil. gracias :D

[@HelenBradley]

De nada, estoy feliz si lo encontró útil, gracias

[@adisa9288]

Thankyou Helen

[@HelenBradley]

Cheers Adi

[@brittleonie]

I love youuuuu helen !!!!

[@HelenBradley]

Cheers Britt!

[@revolvency]

Thanks, it helps a lott 👍🏻

[@HelenBradley]

Glad to hear that!

[@mariaalvaradoquesada1485]

Thank u so much!!!!

[@HelenBradley]

It's a pleasure Maria!

[@saimonjahan3289]

Thanks a lot...

[@HelenBradley]

You're welcome, Thanks for stopping by my channel!

[@ibrahimkholil3915]

Thank you

[@HelenBradley]

You're welcome

[@mustafizurrahman3453]

thanks.

[@HelenBradley]

You're welcome, Thank you for stopping by my channel.

[@banagroup275]

love youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu you are life saver thanks be continue

[@HelenBradley]

I am so glad to hear this! Thank you for taking the time to comment.

[@dinglebop9558]

thank youuuu

[@HelenBradley]

My pleasure! And a great ID by the way

[@dinglebop9558]

@@HelenBradley :D New sub here btw, love your content

[@AGBULLIT]

This will be perfect for my comic book project.

[@HelenBradley]

I am so happy to hear this.

[@rdbautista9092]

thats help alot!

[@HelenBradley]

My pleasure.

[@renakim7460]

good, thanks you

[@HelenBradley]

You're welcome, thanks for stopping by my channel.

[@claudioabado6246]

One more thing,... As long as the Halftone is "live", it's possible to recolor the dots using the Effects palette by adding an new Fill and setting the Blend mode to Overlay. Make sure you set the Fill color to the same color as the original Gradient color...

[@HelenBradley]

Thanks for that.

[@Ray-fi6ms]

i like your voice and the tutorial as well:)

[@HelenBradley]

That’s so nice of you to say that.

[@secretboxkevin]

thanks really good tutorial!! I have a question, how can i make perfect circle?

[@HelenBradley]

+youngchan JI Hi there. If you want to draw a perfect circle, hold the Shift key as you draw it - this constrains the ellipse to a perfect circle. Is this what you wanted to do? If I have misinterpreted your question, let me know and I will try to answer better.

[@ItsKellyDude]

I cannot seem to change the group gradient into a different color. it changes the whole boxed background. what am i doing wrong? is there a certain setting you had it on? I mimicked all that you did i think :(

[@PortlandAmie]

Awesome! Can't believe how much I learned in less than 7 minutes-thank you!

[@HelenBradley]

You're welcome, I am glad I could help, Thank for you stopping by my channel.

[@paulmanning2757]

Thanks

[@HelenBradley]

Cheers Paul!

[@ScottDoudera]

Thanks!

[@ScottDoudera]

I said this in another comment thread already, but your videos are succinct, helpful, and the viewing experience isn't muddied up with trivial fluff. Very nicely done.

[@HelenBradley]

Scott, that is so very kind of you - thank you!

[@HelenBradley]

Your kind comments really made my day Scott 😊

[@z3huang198]

謝謝你 Thank u so much ❤

[@HelenBradley]

I am so glad you liked the video.

[@abinpb9843]

Thank You for the Quick one.. How to make the half tone in different shapes, example like a wave patern?

[@HelenBradley]

You could if you make the shape and fill it with a dark gray to light gray gradient then you can do this.

[@Meinan4370]

after I do the image trace any color I try to change the fill to, makes it gray? any thoughts?

[@berbarmoumen1847]

merci...☺

[@HelenBradley]

De rien, merci de visiter ma chaîne

[@RWsizes]

your tutorial is very good thank you for this. I had a problem with this effect.. when I create all the dots with the halftone effects they come up very pixelate and not defined as in your tutorial. what can be the error? the size? Thank you!!

[@HelenBradley]

Check the resolution you have set for your raster effects. To do this, choose Effects Document Raster Effects Settings and set the resolution to High, 300 ppi and click Ok. Check to see if this makes a difference. Also make sure you aren't too zoomed in to your design - if you're viewing it at a high magnification then you will see some pixelization.

[@ihsanahmed926]

great

[@HelenBradley]

So glad you liked it Ihsan

[@abigroman]

Hi Helen, when I created my dot matrix I'm generating squares of dots too. It doesn't look natural. Also, how do I superimpose the matrix on top of an image. Thank you!

[@HelenBradley]

Ok Drew. I am not sure what you mean by squares of dots, if you want your dot pattern rotated then change the numbers you use in the dialog - just make sure they are all the same but use a different value to get a rotated dot pattern. If you want to 'superimpose' the dot pattern on an image, you will need to clip it to shape and then blend it in. You might find this video of help: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bqWniY2wo9V-ftU If I have completely misunderstood your question, feel free to include some more information and I'll try to help.

[@claudioabado6246]

BTW #2, in Illustrator 2019, since the Halftone is created tghrough the Effect menu, it is effectively "Live" -- it is not an image. At least, that's what I'm seeing in the Layers palette.

[@HelenBradley]

Yep - it’s ‘Live’ but it’s a bitmap effect. So you’ll still need to use the Image Trace on it if you want to convert it to vector.

[@KetVilagKozt]

@@HelenBradley I cannot see the Image trace make option when I select the bitmap image. Why is that? Thanks

[@HelenBradley]

Did you expand the effect and rasterize the image? If you did then you can select it and choose Image Trace from the Object Menu. If not, it's likely you're missing a step somewhere. If you want to send me your file, I will look at it. Send it to [e-mail] and remind me what your issue is!

[@KetVilagKozt]

@@HelenBradley Thank you for the quick reply, I have already solved the problem. I missed a step. :)

[@HelenBradley]

I'm so glad you sorted this out. Thank you for letting me know.

[@user-yz2bm9yt5r]

How about when you add it on a character, how can you remove the white color without damaging the dots ?