Design context

Newsprint

Newsprint paper has to be strong and have a high opacity in its principal use for newspapers and comics. Traditionally it is used in web printing, where the paper is supplied and printed from a reel. Therefore it has to be able to run and print at high speed without tearing and marking.
 Consequently the availability and specification of newsprint is very much geared towards these industries and its supply in sheet form is limited. In sheet form only one weight is supplied and this is usually found at most printers as an interleaving or packing material. Some screen printers print on sheet newsprint to dry out the ink in their screens. This can create some interesting, if uncontrolled, results on the work that is being produced.
Because of its lightness and tenancy to absorb ink, newsprint can be difficult to print conventionally. The surface of newsprint is highly irregular because of its content- this comes predominantly from recycled sources, making it similar to grey board, and it performs like bible paper by curling and cockling when printed. Newsprint can be supplied in a variety of weights, particularly at the lighter end of the scale, thanks to the demands of the market for the production of thinner substrates that will make newspaper publications lighter and thus more cost-effective to produce and ship. This requirement from the market for ever-lighter weights is making the heavier stocks harder to find.
 Some designers may wish to produce a newspaper- style brochure. However, it may not be possible to use a conventional newspaper printer as production runs of newspapers are very high. It may be better to resort to a white or off-white thin uncoated paper to replicate the effect, and any four-colour work will also retain a level of sharpness and detail as a result.
Newsprint is still a valid material to consider in the arsenal of paper-based substrates that have an unusual handle and printed result without having to fall back on conventional coated and uncoated stocks. With adequate care and patience in printing and finishing, results can be achieved that make for idiosyncratic and desirable printed items.