Pixelate - Colour Halftone

[Elliott_Perrett@adobeforums.com]

I want to be able to create a vector version of something similar to the Pixelate Colour Halftone filter when actioned in Photoshop in GREYSCALE i.e. single dots making up the image. When I try it in Illustrator I get the colour version which isn't what I want. Bascially a client wants this dot effect on a bunch of maps but they need to be vector as it is quicker to change the colours and then use in Flash.

Is there a plugin for this effect? I hope I have been clear in my question

Many thanks for your help

[JasonSmith@adobeforums.com]

You could try the sketch>halftone pattern. With black and white selected in the color picker, you will get a greyscale halftone.

The only problem is, regardless of what effect you use - it wont be vector.

[Elliott_Perrett@adobeforums.com]

Thanks for your quick reply, unfortunately it really needs to be vector as there are a lot of maps to do and they all need to be easily amended and exported to flash. I was wondering of any third party plugin that might available to give me this effect.

cheers again

[LRK@adobeforums.com]

So for clarification, are you starting with a bitmap piece of art or a vector piece of art? Could you post a low res version?

[Elliott_Perrett@adobeforums.com]

The files are currently vector. They need to have the Pixelate Colour Halftone filter applied i.e. so the country shapes are made up of dots, (a quite modern 'webby' feel) so I'm having to copy them into photoshop, greyscale them, apply the filter and then colourise them accordingly in Photoshop. What I want to do is take the vector file, apply the filter and colour/or export to flash.

Lo res is a possibility and thinking about it, if there are loads of individual paths making up the dots that make the image the vector file might be quite big too.

I am still wondering if there is a plugin for this as the look the filter applies does lend itself to the web nicely. In particualr Flash stuff.

[LRK@adobeforums.com]

Actually that's good if it's an Illustrator file.

Do you have an earlier version of Illustrator that supports the Hatch Filter?

[Elliott_Perrett@adobeforums.com]

I have Illustrator 8 if thats early enough?

[LRK@adobeforums.com]

Ellliot:

Yes, version 8 does support the Hatch Filter. I'm not sure if it will accomplish what you are looking to do. I need to go back and brush up on it.

Can you somehow show us an example of what you are trying to accomplish?

Linda

[Wade_Zimmerman@adobeforums.com]

Linda The Pen and Ink filter can be loaded in AI CS it was brought up as soon as AI CS was out and I loaded the Pen and Ink Filter from AI 10 and it works fine it is not however supported by Adobe.

[Elliott_Perrett@adobeforums.com]

I've posted an example of what I mean at

<http://www.espgraphicdesign.co.uk/test/example.html>

You see how the image is made up of dots. I need to achieve this in vector. I can manually draw the dots, then copy, paste and align but was wondering if there was a filter to achieve this effect.

thanks again!

[LRK@adobeforums.com]

Elliott:

Based on the image you posted, if you already have paths that can be filled... you could create a small dot with a slightly larger transparent circle, select it and choose Edit > Define Pattern, then it will be in your Swatches Palette. You can fill your paths with these.

If there is an easier or better way I can't think of it right now. Maybe someone else has one.

[LRK@adobeforums.com]

Another Idea

Open Window > Brush Libraries > Circular Geometric.

When it opens, scroll down to Dots Odd. Drag one of these onto a blank document. Select it and choose Define Pattern from the Edit Menu. Now try filling an object with this swatch.