A method for generating a dither matrix for converting a gray scale image having N gray levels into a halftone image, which includes using a parametric filter to generate a dither halftone pattern for each gray level Gi>Gt, where N>2, Gt represents a transition gray level, the lightest gray level is G0, the darkest gray level is GN−1, and Gt≧G0, the parametric filter based upon a desired spot profile function of the halftone image, and using the generated dither halftone pattern to generate the dither matrix.