Abstract: In order to enable Ternary Phase-amplitude Filters (TPAFs) to be implemented in commercially-available Spatial Light Modulators (SLMs) to offer good performances in distortion tolerance, clutter noise suppression and correlation peaks sharpness, OT-TPAFs (Optimal Tradeoff TPAFs) were proposed and the design method was researched. The optimal threshold line angle and region of support can be determined by maximizing a single criterion, so the design procedure was simplified. The experimental results indicate, compared with BPOFs (Binary Phase-only Filters), this kind of filters can give sharp correlation peaks for targets within 30 degrees rotation distortion range in complicated background, which enhances the detection veracity of correlation peaks.