A method and apparatus for creating color images are effective to reduce two-color moiré. The techniques apply a non-periodic halftone operation (152) to the color separation for a less perceptible color (e.g., yellow) and periodic halftone operations (150, 154, 158) to color separations for more perceptible colorants (e.g. cyan, magenta and black). The techniques prevent the formation of periodic structures due to the interaction of the yellow colorant with one of the other colorants (e.g., cyan or magenta).