About
History
Heliogramme is all about the Ultimate Conversion. We have provided line conversions to major advertisers in the United States, Canada and Europe from our Memphis base since 1987. Heliogramme has the most unique line conversion system available anywhere. Sixteen distinctive techniques created from almost any conceivable source. No one but Heliogramme America has the black and white newspaper reproduction experience to ensure that your products look as good on newsprint as they look in the store. We offer plenty of options to create a distinct look for showing your products in black and white. Our range of conversion products includes HelioGraph HelioDot-SR or even Line Art Illustrations, as well as others. We have a solution to fit any taste and budget.
We also offer color conversions to ensure that the reproduction you get is the best, in four-color newspaper and magazine ads. These conversion techniques can give your images that extra touch to help them stand out from others.
Frequently Asked Questions:
With direct-to-plate technology and Photoshop experts everywhere, why should we pay Heliogramme to do what we already do in-house?
Because what Heliogramme does might not be what you think. There are expert creative retouch artists everywhere. We make your hard work and creative expertise pay off with excellent print results. Our focus is producing what is required in the file to make it print with optimum results. We analyze every portion of the file, from shadow to highlight areas and build the conversion to allow the best possible definition to hold when pixels become line screens, and ultimately ink.
My clients don't have the budget for extra expense added to our print design charges. How can we justify the extra cost to them?
The answer is How can you afford not to? As various digital and interactive media draw more and more from what used to be presented in print, less print is being produced. This means more attention is paid to what is printed. Print is not just about data and information. It is a visual medium and quality does matter. The cost of placement of ads in publications is enormous. Why would you spend thousands and thousands of dollars publishing an ad only to allow it to print flat, muddy and dull? You never get a second chance to make a first impression. For a few hundred dollars, you can save a full-page color newspaper ad, poster, trade show exhibit or package design that cost thousands to produce, from a disappointing print experience. You do the math.
Why can't you sell Heliogramme conversions as a software plug-in?
Creating a Heliogramme conversion is not done by clicking on a couple of menu choices in a software program. It is a value-added service. Part of the conversion process is the way we produce our retouch. It's done by experts that have eyes like densitometers and skills to know how ink and paper treat an image. Retouch is an integral part of the process, which is complete with the conversion technique of choice. We know printing and our experience is part of the package.
What is a line conversion?
A line conversion is the process for building patterns into a digital file containing gradient tones, or a digital file containing color hues, to improve the print reproduction or alter the file for unique creative effects.
What makes a Heliogramme conversion better than a standard halftone?
We analyze every highlight and shadow density area of the file. We retouch the file to bring out the best the image has to offer when we build the conversion, to optimize clean definition, sharp contrast, and attention to detail.
What is a HelioGraph?
The HelioGraph Line Conversion is our most recognizable technique: Loosely based on the traditional mezzo screen, the HelioGraph brings out all the texture, tone and detail of your original image and will reproduce with exceptional clarity in the newspaper or wherever it is used.
What is a HelioDot-SR?
The HelioDot-SR Line Conversion is a technique that will make your images look sharp and ensure that all of the detail and type will be clean and legible - no matter where it is being reproduced.
How do we price our conversions?
Since it is fairly easy to miscalculate our pricing, we do not give out price sheets, but ask that you call for an estimate. We can usually provide one within a few minutes to an hour, depending on the complexity of the project. Our conversions are priced by the square inch of the finished size of the image(s). It is helpful to have a copy of the ad layout to figure pricing. A volume discount is given to any order with multiple images coming in at the same time on the same purchase order. If you have an ongoing campaign, we would be glad to work out pricing for that, as well.
Color conversions are priced the same way as black & white conversions with the exception of proofing. The first round of B&W proofs is free of charge, while color proof costs are based on the size of the conversion being printed.
Some key download links:
Download the instructions to our FTP site in PDF format.
Download our Heliogramme ReadMe file, containing specs and instructions for use of our conversions.
