2
a
: any of the shades of gray between the darkest and the lightest parts of a photographic image
b(1)
: a photoengraving made from an image photographed through a screen and then etched so that the details of the image are reproduced in dots
(2)
: an image (such as one printed on an offset press or laser printer) that renders smooth variations of color in an original by means of dots assigned to areas of the image electronically
halftone
adjective
Examples of halftone in a Sentence
using software to lighten the picture's halftones
Recent Examples on the Web
Niemann developed a series of images that reflect his former New York life while also riffing on old-fashioned newspaper halftone dots.
—
Françoise Mouly, New Yorker, 5 May 2025
The app also includes old-standby Photoshop tools like Adjustment layers, Curves, Spot Healing Brush, and the Text tool (complete with halftones and texture-filling).
—Michael Muchmore, PCMAG, 25 Feb. 2025
The perfection of halftone printing coincided with the rise of the Kodak and allowed for the mass circulation of images.
—Sohini Desai, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 July 2024
The photos are four-color halftones enlarged to varying degrees, so the dots that make up the images are more prominent in some than others.
—Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 24 Nov. 2023
The next book of the five hundred might be a halftone different.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 12 Sep. 2022
Recently, the hypnotic halftone designs have taken on new meaning in a digital age.
—Leah Dolan, CNN, 26 May 2022
There were huge features screened across it in dull black halftone, asymmetrical eyes at breast height, a grim mouth at crotch-level.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, 1 Sep. 2017
Technologies used to put out the paper also are highlighted, such as printing presses, halftone plates and stereotypes.
—Susan Dunne, courant.com, 31 July 2017
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Françoise Mouly, New Yorker, 5 May 2025
The app also includes old-standby Photoshop tools like Adjustment layers, Curves, Spot Healing Brush, and the Text tool (complete with halftones and texture-filling).
—Michael Muchmore, PCMAG, 25 Feb. 2025
The perfection of halftone printing coincided with the rise of the Kodak and allowed for the mass circulation of images.
—Sohini Desai, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 July 2024
The photos are four-color halftones enlarged to varying degrees, so the dots that make up the images are more prominent in some than others.
—Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 24 Nov. 2023
The next book of the five hundred might be a halftone different.
—Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 12 Sep. 2022
Recently, the hypnotic halftone designs have taken on new meaning in a digital age.
—Leah Dolan, CNN, 26 May 2022
There were huge features screened across it in dull black halftone, asymmetrical eyes at breast height, a grim mouth at crotch-level.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, 1 Sep. 2017
Technologies used to put out the paper also are highlighted, such as printing presses, halftone plates and stereotypes.
—Susan Dunne, courant.com, 31 July 2017
Cite this Entry
“Halftone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/halftone. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
halftone
noun
half·tone
ˈhaf-ˌtōn 
ˈhäf-
: a medium tint or tone in a painting, engraving, or photograph
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