I recently created a tri-fold brochure for a coffee shop that features a half-tone image effect. You can view this brochure and even purchase the Coffee Trifold Brochure from GraphicRiver.net. The half tone image creates an organic feel perfect for this design and is very easy to create using Adobe Photoshop. Here’s how:
There are a few things to keep in mind for creating this effect. First your image needs to be in the RGB color space.(If you are designing for print you can convert it to CMYK once the effect is applied.) You can make sure it is by going under the Image menu and selecting Mode>RGB Color from the dropdown. Also, the Foreground and Background colors are important to achieving the proper coloring. You may use black and white and colorize your layer later, but I prefer to make that decision up front. I feel like there is more control that way. It is really up to you.
I then converted that layer into a Smart Object by right-clicking next to the layer name and selecting Convert to Smart Object from the contextual menu. You could then drag and drop this into any document you would like to utilize this image.
It’s a simple effect and very nice once it’s done. Keep in mind that the resolution of the image you are applying the halftone effect to will determine your settings in the Halftone Pattern dialog box. The foreground and background colors that you choose will also have a dramatic impact on the end results. I encourage you to play with these settings, blend modes, colors, and textures once you have your image in place. Overlapping images with this halftone effect can also have pleasing results. Let me know how you utilize this effect in any of your designs.