Master the classic halftone text effect in Pixelmator. Watch our video tutorial to learn how to use the Dot Screen tool for stunning retro designs.
There’s something timeless about the halftone effect. Reminiscent of the golden age of printing, newspapers and comic books, it instantly adds a layer of texture and depth to any design. Today we’re sharing a quick video tutorial on how to recreate this classic look with Pixelmator Pro and the Dot Screen effect.
It’s a deceptively simple technique that relies on the contrast between your text and the background to generate that signature grid of dots. The best part? It’s completely non-destructive and takes less than two minutes to set up.
Watch the video below for the full explanation, or read on for the step-by-step overview.
Pixelmator tutorial
01. Set up your canvas
Open Pixelmator and create a new document with a white background.
02. Add your typography
Select the Text tool and add your text. Bold, bold fonts work best for this effect, allowing the dot pattern to shine through. In the video we use Rubik Mono One.
03. Apply the effect
Go to the Effects Browser.
Find and select Dot Screen (you can find it under Halftone or Generator categories).
04. Refine the look
This is where the magic happens. Adjust the settings to adjust the density of the points:
- Width: Increase this to make the points larger and clearer (about 16px – 17px is a good starting point).
- Sharpness: Increase the sharpness (about 70%) to ensure that the edges of your points stand out sharply against the background.
05. Final touches
You can group your layers or apply additional color fills to change the ink color from standard black to whatever suits your palette.
This technique is perfect for posters, logos, or just to add a little retro flair to your social media assets. Give it a try and share your results with us!
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