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03 User Guide

The Halftone Zine Machine is an image processing kit that allows users to apply halftone patterns and colors to images using a PSD template. The user guide provides step-by-step instructions for placing images, choosing patterns, adjusting levels and colors, and using helper actions for exporting and compositing. It also includes tips for achieving the desired aesthetic and offers support resources for users.

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risowe7545
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10 views1 page

03 User Guide

The Halftone Zine Machine is an image processing kit that allows users to apply halftone patterns and colors to images using a PSD template. The user guide provides step-by-step instructions for placing images, choosing patterns, adjusting levels and colors, and using helper actions for exporting and compositing. It also includes tips for achieving the desired aesthetic and offers support resources for users.

Uploaded by

risowe7545
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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PRODUCT TGTS-HTZM

Halftone Zine Machine Document Reference:


Image Processing Kit User Guide And Tutorial

USER GUIDE & TUTORIAL

HALFTONE ZINE MACHINE IS A VERSATILE IMAGE PROCESSING KIT


THAT ALLOWS YOU TO QUICKLY APPLY HALFTONE PATTERNS AND
COLOR TO YOUR IMAGES.

To get started, follow the steps below.

PLACING YOUR IMAGE AND


CHOOSING A PATTERN
STEP 1.
OPEN YOUR HALFTONE ZINE MACHINE
PSD TEMPLATE.

Then open any image you would like process,


Select All and Copy it to the clipboard.

STEP 2.
DOUBLE CLICK SMART OBJECT
TO PLACE YOUR IMAGE

In the Halftone Zine Machine


PSD, double-click the layer
thumbnail as shown. This will
open the Smart Object in a
new window or tab.

In the Smart Object, paste your


image into a new layer, just
below the top layer.

SAVE and CLOSE the smart object


to return to the PSD template.

STEP 3.
CHOOSE A HALFTONE PATTERN

Choose one of the 14 halftone


patterns to render your image
with by switching the pattern’s
layer visibility on or off in
the Layers Palette.

Make sure only one pattern layer


is switched on at a time.

STEP 4.
EDIT THE PATTERN SCALE

Double Click your chosen pattern


layer thumbnail and the Pattern Fill
dialogue box will pop up.

Edit the Scale % field.

Your changes will take effect whilst


the Pattern Fill dialogue box is open
so you can live-edit the pattern
until it is just right.

Click OK to set the new pattern scale

ADJUSTING LEVELS & CONTRAST


DEPENDING ON YOUR IMAGE AND THE
HALFTONE PATTERN YOU HAVE CHOSEN, YOU
MAY NEED TO ADJUST THE LEVELS OF YOUR
IMAGE TO BRIGHTEN THE HIGHLIGHTS, REVEAL
MORE DETAIL IN THE MID MIDTONES OR DARKEN
THE SHADOWS.

STEP 1.
EXPAND THE LEVELS AND CONTRAST
ADJUSTMENTS LAYER GROUP.

Then double-click the Levels adjustment


layer thumbnail.

STEP 2.
ADJUST LEVELS.

The Levels Properties panel will appear. Use the


Shadows, Midtones and Highlights sliders to brighten,
darken or adjust the contrast of
your image.

To lighten shadows or darken highlights, adjust


the Output Levels sliders.

You can also choose a preset from the Presets drop


down menu (right).

HANDY TIP:
For halftone processing you generally want the
shadows to be quite dark and avoid the highlights
from being too blown-out or bright.

Try switching your halftone pattern layer on and off


whilst you make these adjustments to compare how your
changes effect the halftoned image.

EDITING COLORS & EFFECTS


YOUR PSD CONTAINS A NUMBER OF COLOR
AND TEXTURE EFFECTS FOR SIMULATING
DIFFERENT INK, TONER AND PAPER COLORS
AS WELL AS ADDING COPY PAPER TEXTURE.

EDIT INK/PAPER COLOR

This layer group simulates different paper


(background) colors and ink/toner colors.

TO EDIT:
Expand the Ink/Paper Color
layer group then
double-click the fill color
layer thumbnail you would
like to edit.

The color picker will


appear. Set your chosen
color and click OK to
confirm.

NOTE:
This effect simulates the Ink/Toner color
overprinting the Background/Paper color.

To set image & background color without


simulated overprint, use the Duotone
method described below.

EDIT DUOTONE

This layer group recolors the shadows and highlights


of your images using a Gradient Map Overlay.

TO EDIT:
Double-click the Duotone layer thumbnail

The Gradient Map Properties Panel will appear.


Double-click anywhere in the gradient bar to open the
Gradient Editor.

In the Gradient Editor, double-click the shadow or


highlight color stop tabs (See Fig. A.) to open the
Color Picker. Set your chosen color and click
OK to confirm.

Fig. A (Gradient Editor)

USING THE HELPER ACTIONS


WE’VE INCLUDED FIVE HANDY ACTIONS TO 1
HELP YOU PREVIEW, PROCESS AND EXPORT
YOUR HALFTONE IMAGES FOR USE IN 2
OTHER APPLICATIONS.
3
We highly recommend using the action 4
versions which include interactive
instructions the first few times you use them. 5

WHICH ACTION TO USE? Fig. B


Live View / Unflattened Flattened Composite

RENDER FLATTENED
1 COMPOSITE

Due to the distressed texture contained in many


of the halftone patterns included in your PSD,
some images may not render in full detail on
screen at certain zoom levels until flattened.
(See Fig. B).

The Render Flattened Composite action allows you


to quickly view the full detail of your processed
image by instantly rendering a flattened composite
of your processed art into a new layer, leaving
your working layers in tact.

The resulting composite layer will appear in the


‘FLATTENED COMPOSITES’ layer group as shown.

EXPORT FULL COLOR


2
TO NEW RGB DOCUMENT

This action renders and exports a full color,


flattened composite of your processed art and
places it into a new RGB document.

The new image dimensions are 4000 x 4000px

Once complete you can then crop and save it as


a separate file. Close the new file to go back
to your Halftone Zine Machine PSD.

EXPORT BLACK AND WHITE


3 TO NEW 1 BIT DOCUMENT

This action renders and exports an ultra high


resolution (yet low file size) 1 Bit black and white
copy of your processed image into a new document.

The resulting file has been up-sized to 1200dpi


with high retention of detail.

1 Bit images are especially useful for placement


in Adobe Illustrator and InDesign where they can
be used transparently and have color applied.

To use transparently in other apps, save the


exported file as .tif

REMOVE WHITE FROM


4 1 BIT IMAGE

This actions removes the white background from


your image leaving only your halftoned image
on a transparent background.

This action works only on 1 Bit black and


white images.

To retain transparency save as .psd or .png

DUPLICATE COMPOSITE LAYERS


5 INTO NEW DOCUMENT

This action automatically selects your flattened


composite layers created using the “Render Flattened
Composite” action (1) and places them in a new
document for further compositing.

See tutorial below for further details on using this


action to create multi-effect composite images.

STEP 1.
COMPOSITING MULTI-EFFECT IMAGES
THE HALFTONE ZINE MACHINE PSD AND ACTION
SET ALSO MAKES IT EASY TO COMBINE DIFFERENT
PATTERN AND COLOR COMBINATIONS TO CREATE
MULTI-EFFECT COMPOSITE IMAGES.

STEP 1.
PROCESS TWO VERSIONS OF YOUR
IMAGE USING DIFFERENT PATTERN
AND COLOR COMBINATIONS.

Run the “Render Flattened Composite” Action, to


render a copy of each pattern and color combination
into the Flattened Composites layer group.

STEP 2. (Manual Method).


STEP 2.
DUPLICATE THE LAYER GROUP INTO
A NEW DOCUMENT (OPTIONAL).

To keep your file size down and separate your


work-in-progress artwork from your Zine Machine PSD,
you might wish to edit your composite in a new
document.

Run the “Duplicate Composite Layers to New Document”


Action to copy your flattened composites into a new
document.

MANUAL METHOD:
You can also perform this task manually by
right-clicking on the “Flattened Composites” layer
group and selecting “Duplicate Layers” then choose
“NEW” from the duplicate layers dialog box.

STEP 3.

STEP 3.
ADD A LAYER MASK.

Select the top layer, then click the “Add Layer Mask”
button at the bottom of the Layers Palette.

STEP 4.
STEP 4.
EDIT LAYER MASK.

Select the layer mask and invert it to ‘mask-out’ the


image (Image > Adjustments > Invert)

Next choose a hard edged brush, set your foreground color


set to white then paint-in the area of the image you want
to reveal in your finished composite image.

HANDY TIP:
If you’re new to using layer masks, a great rule to
remember is that black conceals and white reveals.

By default your foreground and background colors will


change to Black and White when you click on a layer mask
channel in the layers palette.

STEP 5. Finished Composite.

STEP 5.
SAVE YOUR FINISHED COMPOSITE.

Once you are satisfied with the result save or run


the “Export Full Color...” action to save a flattened
copy of the finished composite in a new document.

TUTORIAL COMPLETE!
Thanks for following along. Now try experimenting
with different image contrast, color, texture and
scale combinations to find the perfect aesthetic
for your images.

GOT A QUESTION OR NEED SOME HELP?


© True Grit Texture Supply

Visit our Support Center for fast answers to common


GET SUPPORT HERE
questions or to get in touch. We’re here to help!

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