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Watch the tutorial
Step 1: Create an adjustment layer
In the Project panel, click the New Item button at the bottom and choose Adjustment Layer. Confirm the settings with OK. Then drag the adjustment layer onto a track above the clips you want to affect, and trim its end so it matches the duration of those clips. Everything below it will get the halftone look, so you only need to build the effect once.
One click with Mako: the free Mako panel adds an adjustment layer over the selected clips, at the playhead, on the first free track, in one click. Get Mako for free
Step 2: Apply the Checkerboard effect
Open the Effects panel and search for checkerboard. You will see two results. Use the one inside Video Effects > Obsolete, not the one in the Wipe transitions. Drag it onto the adjustment layer.
Faster with BetterFX: skip the Effects panel. Press your BetterFX shortcut, type the first letters of Checkerboard and press Enter to apply it to the selected clip. Get BetterFX
Step 3: Shrink the squares into a dot grid
Select the adjustment layer, open Effect Controls and find Checkerboard. Change Size From to Width & Height Sliders. Now set both Width and Height to 5. The big squares shrink into a tight grid of tiny checks, which is the pattern that will read as halftone dots.
Step 4: Blend the pattern with Overlay
At the moment the pattern covers your video. In the Checkerboard settings, open the Blending Mode dropdown, which starts at None, and pick Overlay. The checks now mix with the picture, and the dots become visible across the image.
For a different look, click the Color swatch and change it from white to black. The video does this, and the dots become darker and punchier. Try both and keep whichever suits your footage.
Step 5: Sharpen the dots
Search for Unsharp Mask in the Effects panel (it lives in Video Effects > Blur & Sharpen) and apply it to the adjustment layer. In Effect Controls, increase Amount until you like the result. The tutorial shows values from about 50 up to around 80. A stronger amount makes the pattern crisper and the contrast higher.
Step 6: Add color with Tint
For a colored halftone, search for Tint (under Video Effects > Color Correction) and apply it to the adjustment layer. Tint starts out as plain black and white. Click the Map Black To swatch and pick a color for the shadows, then click Map White To and pick one for the highlights. The video uses two blues for a cool duotone look. If the result is too strong, lower Amount to Tint a bit so some of the original colors come through.
Tips
- Change the dot size. Smaller Width and Height values give a finer pattern, and larger ones give bigger, more visible dots.
- Pick colors that contrast. A dark shadow color and a bright highlight color keep the dots easy to see.
- Looking for more looks? Our guide to making a glitch effect in Premiere Pro pairs well with this style.
FAQ
How do I make a halftone effect in Premiere Pro?
Put an adjustment layer over your clips, apply Checkerboard with a width and height of 5, and set its Blending Mode to Overlay.
Where is the Checkerboard effect in Premiere Pro?
Search for it in the Effects panel and choose the one in the Obsolete folder under Video Effects.
How do I change the color of the halftone pattern?
Change the Color of the Checkerboard from white to black, or add the Tint effect and choose new colors for Map Black To and Map White To.
Want to bring back effects from the Obsolete folder? Get the free restored obsolete effects for Premiere Pro.
