Xara Xtreme Halftone Effect

In this tutorial we learn how to create a halftone effect in my favorite graphics software Xara Xtreme.

Open an image (vector or bitmap). Decide the final image and max raster size, for example image width = 500 pixels, raster size = 10 x 10 pixels.

First stage

Select the image and resize the width to 50 pixels (width 500 / raster 10 = 50).

Create a Bitmap copy of the image (Ctrl + Shift + C)

Change the view Quality to Normal either by decreasing the Set view quality slider one step (or select Window > Quality > Normal)

Change the width of the bitmap copy to 500 pixels (the height should automatically adjust if you have the aspect ratio locked). The image is now posterized (or pixelized) due to the lowered view quality. If the default anti-aliasing had been selected the bitmap copy would look blurred, and that will also be case when we change back to anti-aliasing. Therefor we have to (in normal mode) make another bitmap copy of the posterized bitmap (Ctrl + Shift + C).

When we have the second bitmap copy we change the view quality back to Anti-aliased. As you see the original bitmap looks blurred while the second bitmap still looks posterized.

Second stage

Draw a 10 x 10 pixel circle and set the outline to none. Place it on the bitmap and align (Ctrl + Shift + L) them to top left corner. Copy the circle and align it to the top right corner of the bitmap.

Make a 48 step blend between the circles. Copy the blend and align it to the bottom edge of the bitmap.

So far the raster/halftone circle are packed next to each other. Ctrl-click on first corner circle and change the size to 8 or 9 pixels, and then do the same with the other corner circles as well. This will increase the spacing of the raster.

Select the first blend and Join shapes (Ctrl + J), then do the same with the other blend. Make a new blend between the top and bottom row of circles. In this example the height of the image is 290 pixels which mean we need 29 rows (height 290 / raster 10 = 29) which converts to a 27 step blend as the first and last circles already exists.

Select the last blend and Join shapes (Ctrl + J). Now we should have a nice halftone/raster pattern as one object. In theory we could have made a vertical blend between the two horizontal blends but in that case the next step requires a lot more computer power (and it takes ages if you want to undo).

Place the pattern behind the bitmap, select both and align centrally. While both the pattern and bitmap still selected, apply Clipview and we are done.