A method of simulating a differential gloss image includes providing a background and a gloss effect image. The gloss effect image is configured for controlling the selective application of first and second halftones to the background image for creation of a differential gloss image when the background image is printed. A mask based on the background image is formed in which regions of mid-tone gray level are accentuated. An edge effect filter may be applied to the gloss effect image to form a filtered gloss effect image. The mask is applied to the filtered gloss effect image to generate a background modified filtered gloss effect image. The background modified filtered gloss effect image is applied to the background image to generate a representation which simulates the differential gloss image.