Sijun Forums :: View topic - How to create that retro dot color pattern in PS?

Abbadon74 · junior member Member # Joined: 08 Nov 2002 Posts: 21

Hey everyone. Does anyone here know how to create that retro dot coloring look of old comic books? I've been trying to figure out how to do that in Photoshop, but to no avail. Does anyone know of an easy way, or even a filter that will do this?

Thanks in advance,

-B

sweetums · member Member # Joined: 10 Aug 2004 Posts: 236

There's tons of tutorials out there. Do a search for "pop dots tutorial" or "retro dots tutorial," and then try a few different techniques to find the one that gives you the result you want.

You can also experiment with your halftone dots settings with selections made with the marquee or lasso tools.
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Capt. Fred · Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2005 4:30 pm

filter>sketch>halftone could be what you're looking for.

Abbadon74 · junior member Member # Joined: 08 Nov 2002 Posts: 21

I've actually tried searching for retro dots, but I didn't get what I was looking for. I'm not sure the halftone filter is what I want, either...but I could be mistaken.

If you can make it out, here is an example of what I'm talking about:

http://www.comicon.com/pulse/images_3/67dd9.jpg

Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks,

-B

jfrancis · Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2005 6:15 pm

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You don't have permission to access /pulse/images_3/67dd9.jpg on this server.

Apache/1.3.22 Server at www.comicon.com Port 80

Is this what you mean? Filter > Pixelate > Color Halftone

jfrancis · Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2005 6:26 pm

If you take the original image

and ROLL the color wheel to a weird place

THEN halftone it into standard CMYK dots

THEN roll the hue back again

You'll have the original image in a non-standard, funky palette of halftone dots.

Abbadon74 · junior member Member # Joined: 08 Nov 2002 Posts: 21

Hmmm, I see. Actually, that's pretty close. Would I used halftone to get something patterned like this:

And sorry about that earlier link. No idea why it's not working.

Thanks again for the input,

-b

Abbadon74 · junior member Member # Joined: 08 Nov 2002 Posts: 21

I've been playing around with the suggestions here a little bit and think you guys gave me the kickstart I needed. Thanks to all who replied, and especially Jfrancis and Capt. Fred. I think I'm on to something.

The problem I was having with the Filter/Pixelate/Color Halftone was there were too many separate channels, which gave me too many colors, but the Filter/Sketch/Halftone may be something I can work with.

You guys truly rock. Thanks so much, as always.

Best,

-B

jfrancis · Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2005 7:38 pm

If you separate your artwork into layers and halftone the layers and colorize them you can exactly match the comic book look.

Don't halftone the blackinked holding lines

Those dots are called Ben Day Dots, btw...

http://www.bartleby.com/61/43/B0184300.html

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=ben+day+dots&btnG=Google+Search

sweetums · member Member # Joined: 10 Aug 2004 Posts: 236

Open a new grayscale document, fill it with a medium gray, and convert it to bitmap, adjusting the lines per inch to taste (default is 53, try 25 or less to increase dot visibility)
Save as a pattern and then you can paint with it.

You can also fill channels and selections with it, changing the blending mode and reducing opacity to taste.
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