half tone: Meaning and Definition of

half' tone"

1. semitone.

half•tone

1. Also called(in painting, drawing, graphics, photography, etc.) a value intermediate between light and dark.
1. 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.
2. the metal plate used in such a process.
3. the print obtained in such a process. Cf. line cut.

1. pertaining to, using, used in, or produced by the halftone process: a halftone screen; a halftone print.