Aside from the newsprint itself, newspaper printing relies on a number of other elements. One of these is the ink.
The ink is a mixture of oil and various dyes, pigments and additives. Traditionally, petroleum was used as base for the ink but now soybean oil is preferred for its environmental and health benefits.
CHOOSE YOUR SIZE
In order for your newspaper to print well, you need to consider the format and the number of pages. The size you choose depends on how many readers you aim to reach and how much content you can fit within a specific print size.
The most popular newspaper sizes are tabloid and broadsheet formats. While they differ in overall page dimensions, both offer unique advantages. For example, tabloids are easier to read and more portable than traditional broadsheets. On the other hand, broadsheets allow for more in-depth coverage and extensive content.
Regardless of the format you choose, we recommend using a maximum of two fonts to create your newspaper layout. Using more fonts will make your newspaper look busy and difficult to read. Also, use a standard text font size of 8pt or higher to ensure that your articles are easy to read.
We also suggest using CMYK color printing instead of RGB. CMYK colors convert better to black when printed than RGB colors. Also, avoid using too many pictures. They can be hard to read and will require more ink, which could result in creases and variances in color. If you do decide to use pictures, lighten them up as much as possible. The darker a picture is, the less likely it is to print well on newsprint.
PRINT YOUR NEWSPAPER
Printing a newspaper gives your customers a physical, readable piece of information that they can keep in their hands and use at their convenience. It also serves as an excellent branding tool, allowing you to share news about your company or event and be instantly recognized.
The first step in the process of printing a newspaper is pre-press. This is where photos are edited, advertisements are created and composed and the entire layout is laid-out.
Next is the production division which handles the actual printing of the newspaper using an array of specialised machinery. These include presses, typesetting and image scanning machines. Photographer Christopher Payne spent two years documenting this fascinating and unexpected process in a newspaper plant in College Point, Queens.
Keep in mind that printed newspaper prints are not as bright and vibrant as they look on screen. It’s important to choose high quality images and avoid colours with heavy blacks and dark shadows as these will appear muddy and dull on newsprint. Also, remember that newsprint is a low grade of paper and it is thinner than other types of paper so you will need to reduce the amount of ink coverage on your images. This is particularly important if you are printing on glossy stock.
TEMPLATES
When designing your newspaper, using templates ensures a consistent and polished look across multiple issues. Using templates also saves time, as you won’t have to manually edit every text frame in your document. You can find plenty of ready-to-use newspaper templates on graphic design platforms like Canva or InDesign.
Unlike InDesign, which allows you to fully customize your newspaper layout, Canva provides you with a range of starter templates that you can use as a guide for your own design. You can even download these as PDF or JPG, share them with collaborators, and add elements such as shapes, arrows, text, icons, and images.
You can also find a variety of ready-to-use newspaper templates on TPT. They are grouped into categories such as grade, CCSS, subjects, price, and resource types. You can even apply filters to narrow your search, such as by subject, style, or format.
These templates allow students to work in groups or individually to create a news article, and then fill out a page with the appropriate information. They can then print their newspaper, making it easy for them to get up-to-date on what’s happening in school. This makes the information they learn more interesting and engaging, as it will be presented in a creative way that’s much more appealing than just reading a textbook or a notice on a board.
