The present disclosure relates to providing a user interface for the effective generation of differential gloss images. The user is instructed to indicate the base primary image data, and the desired gloss image data. This data may be displayed for verification and position adjustment by superimposition of the gloss image data upon the base image data. In an alternative, the placement information may be inferred from the position of originals upon the scanner or copier platen and the result may or may not be displayed. By selectively applying halftones with different anisotropic structure orientation characteristics to the base primary image data as directed by the desired gloss image data, a differential gloss image file or hardcopy may be provided.