Halftone dot separation question?

[ehendrix (Eric Hendrix)]

I am currently working on a photo laser project. So far the best result I have is using the Halftone image mode. Two clicks on image to get closer look.

Top left is using greyscale image mode. Bottom right is with halftone image mode. Blaker color is due to a Borax application to the wood.

My question is there a way of adjusting the dot separation to a finer aspect? Does the Line Interval affect this at all?

[Colin (Colin Worobetz)]

You could use dot width correction for this - exactly why the feature exists!

Dot width correction?

It’s a new setting for images that is used to compensate for the fact that your beam has width. If you tell LightBurn to dither an image. On a 50% grey bit, it produces alternating on/off short line segments, like this: [image] If you draw the width of the beam, it looks more like this: [image] If you look at that 2nd image, the gaps between the lines are shorter now than the lines themselves, because of the shape of the beam. ‘Dot Correction’ is the total amount to shorten the line, t…

We have guidance on this specific feature, and how to use it here: Tutorial: Perfect Image Engrave Settings - LightBurn Documentation

You can find it in your layer settings

[ehendrix (Eric Hendrix)]

@Colin

You could use dot width correction for this

I was meaning having the dots closer together not how wide the dot is.
This is why I asked if the line interval would affect it at all.

[Colin (Colin Worobetz)]

Both the line interval, and cells per inch, will have an effect on the output, yes. You can use ‘Alt+P’ to preview each change you try and see the effect before sending a cut.

[LightBurn (Oz)]

@ehendrix

is there a way of adjusting the dot separation to a finer aspect?

What does “finer aspect” mean to you? If you want the dots to be closer together, you’d use a higher “cells per inch”, which controls how many halftone dots are generated for an inch of image.

You need a fine enough interval to give you the resolution you need to achieve good shading with that cell count though. If you choose a “Cells per inch” value of 200, and you only use an interval that gives you 254 dots per inch, each “cell” of the halftone will only have 1 full “dot” to work with most of the time, so you won’t get good shading.

Halftone (and it’s little brother, Newsprint) tend to work well even if you go higher on the interval value than you usually would, because of the way the shading is done in clusters. If you went up to 340 DPI (0.075mm interval) you’d be able to go to about 80 cells per inch without any trouble, possibly higher. It’s a good idea to keep the “cells per inch” number around 1/4 of the DPI value (next to interval), to prevent pattering and Moire effects in the result.

[ehendrix (Eric Hendrix)]

@LightBurn

What does “finer aspect” mean to you?

OMG, there is so much I have to learn. You have given me a lot to chew on here.
I love this software! Even more the more I learn.

Thank you, very, very much for your responses.