Scanning Line Art

Using Halftone Screening for Special Scanning Effects

Halftone screening creates a black and white (1-bit) image similar to using line art mode

Don't confuse halftone screening with halftone scanning. Halftone scanning refers to methods used to scan images such as photos in a book or magazine that have been screened for printing.

Halftone screening is the process of applying a screen (during or after scanning) that applies a pattern of dots or lines that when printed, simulates shades of gray. Normally you would apply a halftone screen to a grayscale (or color) image that you need to print on a black and white printer.

Applying a halftone screen to a black and white line art sketch results in a totally new look for the image. Use the option to achieve special effects or for pencil and charcoal sketches to be printed on a black and white printer.

Because the resulting image is 1-bit, black and white only, follow the same guidelines presented for scanning in line art mode: scan at the resolution of the output device and at the final desired size.

Also see:

• The Basics of Color and Black and White Halftones
• Moire: Scanning Images from Books and Magazines

The above images simulate the same black and white sketch image scanned in with two different halftone screens.

• Three Modes of Scanning Line Art
• Using Line Art or B/W Scanning Mode
• Using Grayscale Mode to Scan B/W Line Art
• Using Halftone Screening for Special Scanning Effects