Ed #9 Understanding Ink

Most printing “works” by bouncing light off the surface of paper through colored films of transparent inks. So the brighter the surface, the brighter the color, and the whiter the surface, the wider the range of the colors we see.

The brightness of paper is controlled by how the pulp is bleached, the mixture of dyes and pigments that is used, and often, by the addition of special brightening agents. Higher quality white coated papers have varying brightness ratings, with the numbers reflecting the amount of light striking the surface of the paper that is reflected back to the eye.

While brightness determines the intensity of the colors we see, whiteness determines the range of the colors that we see. A paper that is white comes closest to reproducing the full spectrum of visible light, but many papers have a slight blue tint. That’s because a little bit of blue heightens the perception of brightness and whiteness. The trick is to not overdo it, since the tint can begin to act as a filter and change the colors reflected to the eye.

But there’s more to paper than brightness and whiteness. The surface of the paper is equally important, and the smoother the surface, the crisper the image will be. Rougher surfaces scatter the reflected light, reducing the clarity of the image and distorting the subtleties of its tones.

Ink holdout—the paper’s ability to keep a thin, uniform film of ink on the surface of the paper—is another key factor in capturing color. If the ink is allowed to spread into the paper’s peaks an valleys, the printed dots lose their definition, which results in reduced contrast and uneven density.

So for the best color reproduction, you need a smooth, bright, white surface and outstanding ink holdout. And NewPage papers deliver.

You can find the right kind of paper for practically every project. Gloss allows you to print highly reflective art, such as photography, with wonderful clarity and sharpness of detail. Dull combines lower light reflection with better readability and uniform print smoothness. Glare-free, easy-to-read, matte has a rich, tactile feel that can accentuate high-gloss spot varnishes and coatings.