6 Replies Latest reply: Nov 9, 2013 1:56 PM by thanser RSS

    Filter Gallery - Halftone Filter Unpredictable

    thanser Community Member

      I've deleted my PS preferences and restarted, and I cannot get this filter to do what is was just doing a day earlier.

       

      It doesn't matter what the foreground/background colors are, nor does it matter what the resolution of the file is.  I've experimented with every variable. The filter effect changes the filled layer to a solid color of the current foreground color.  No lines, dots or circles at all.

       

      I'm trying to make lines in a filled layer, or a rasterized text layer.  Adjusting the sliders has no effect at this point, but the other Gallery filters DO work, oddly enough.

       

      I've used this filter effect many times over the years, and it just started acting wonky.  This is PS CS6, on Mac OSX 10.8.5.

       

      It seems to be unpredicable or temperamental.  Is there a reasonably-priced plugin that will create lines that are completely adjustable?

       

      Anyone?

        • 1. Re: Filter Gallery - Halftone Filter Unpredictable
          R_Kelly Community Member

          Is your text layer black?

           

          Try using a different color text or even white and then vary the colors in the toolbox.

          • 2. Re: Filter Gallery - Halftone Filter Unpredictable
            thanser Community Member

            It was black, but I've tried red (rasterized) text, to know avail.

             

            It seems to work occasionally, but I can't nail down what the problem is. 

             

            Halftone filter doesn't work with black or white text or fills?  How can that be?

             

            I'm looking for a plugin - using this halftone filter to create lines to the exact width I want is too limited.

             

            Thanks!

            • 3. Re: Filter Gallery - Halftone Filter Unpredictable
              csuebele CommunityMVP

              If you're actually trying to use the halftone pattern on a fill layer, which is a solid color layer, it will not work.  You need to use it on a pixel based layer.  For the rasterized text layer, it will only apply to the text and not the transparency, and if you text is black, it will create a halftome pattern that is all black.  Try white or better gray text.  Yes, this filter is crude for trying to make exact lines.  I often just create a large lined layer then size it down to what I want rather than trying to be exact with the filter.  Then use blending modes or whatever else you're trying to do with this lined layer.  But trying to apply to a rasterized text layer it going to give you issues.

              • 4. Re: Filter Gallery - Halftone Filter Unpredictable
                thanser Community Member

                Thank you.

                 

                Strange behavior.  It WILL apply to red filled layer, but not white or black. 

                 

                And on a print-res sized file, you can never get the lines to the size you need them to be.  So, this filter technique really has it's limitations.

                 

                Thanks again.

                • 5. Re: Filter Gallery - Halftone Filter Unpredictable
                  csuebele CommunityMVP

                  Yes, it does have it's limitations, but it is a very useful filter.  It is acting normal in that a halftone pattern changes size based on the image being halftoned.  so a white image should be more or less just white, and same with black.  A 50% gray should give you equal amounts of whatever two colors you have selected as you foreground and background colors.

                  • 6. Re: Filter Gallery - Halftone Filter Unpredictable
                    thanser Community Member

                    Thanks again. 

                     

                    For now, I'm switching back to creating a pattern fill that I can create to the exact color and dimensions I need.

                     

                    (I've used PS professionally for 15 years and suddenly I was stumped by this filter not doing what I wanted it to!)