/haf"tohn', hahf"-/ , n.
1. Also called middle-tone . (in painting, drawing, graphics, photography, etc.) a value intermediate between light and dark.
2. Print.
a. a process in which gradation of tone in an image is conveyed by first photographing the image through a screen to break up the continuous tones of the image into minute, closely spaced dots, then using the print obtained to produce a metal plate by photoengraving, and finally using the plate to reproduce the original image by letterpress or offset printing.
b. the metal plate used in such a process.
c. the print obtained in such a process. Cf. line cut .
adj.
3. pertaining to, using, used in, or produced by the halftone process: a halftone screen; a halftone print.
[ 1645-55; HALF + TONE ]