How to Quickly Create a Halftone Text Effect in Illustrator

Illustrator Text Effects

When you think of creating a halftone effect, Photoshop is probably the first program that comes to mind. However, Illustrator offers an equally effective way to achieve this look using its built-in effects. In just under 5 minutes, you can transform any text into a stunning halftone design. This versatile effect is perfect for adding a retro, pop-art vibe to your graphic designs, enhancing web projects, or making a bold statement in your branding. In this tutorial, I’ll show you just how easy (and fast) it is to create a halftone effect from any text you choose.

Step 1

Open Illustrator and make a new file at any size you want. In this case, I will make mine at 1800 x 1200 px.

Step 2

Select the Type Tool (T) and type your text using any font you wish. I will be using Boldfinger at 250 pt.

Step 3

With your text object selected, go to Type > Create Outlines.

Step 4

Go to Effect > Blur > Radial Blur. Apply the following settings and click OK.

Step 5

Go to Effect > Rasterize. Apply the following settings and click OK.

Step 6

Go to Effect > Pixelate > Color Halftone. Apply the following settings and click OK.

Step 7

Go to Object > Expand Appearance.

Step 8

Lastly, go to Window > Image Trace. Apply the following settings and click the "Expand" button.

Some Final Tips:

Now that you know how to create a halftone text effect in Illustrator, you can experiment with the Blur and Halftone values to achieve different results. Since this effect is quick and easy to create, you can try as many variations as you'd like, and once you're finished, you can scale, transform, and color your text as you normally would in Illustrator to perfectly match your project.