BW Photo Prep for Newspaper

[christy]

Our local newspaper is going to run an article on my seven-year-old who's wrestling in a national tournament next weekend.

They've asked me for a photo, and said something about half tone or optimizing for newspaper....does that make sense to anyone?

I use PS CS and am pretty good for a self-taught dabbler, but have never had to prepare a file for a newspaper.

Any suggestions??

Thanks so much. And can I say again, "I love it here!"

[DeniseD]

Hi - You need to get the specs from the paper you are printing for. B&W photos are usually pretty low line screen like 85. (Scrapbooking- 300 pixels per inch is 150 line screen, usually magazine quality.)

Also- when you go to 85, etc. you may have to "open - up" your photo, lighten it up, 'cause if it goes to newsprint it will plug up.

Post the specs you need & I'll try to help you. :)

[christy]

Thanks so much for the reply...I'll check with the paper tomorrow and get more info.

[Kathryn Balint]

I work for a newspaper, and usually we asked for 300 dpi photos, just as you would need for making a layout. But definitely ask because the requirements may differ.

Now, on a completely separate note, our newspaper sells the printing plates used for pages in the paper. If you newspaper sells them, then it would be a fun piece of memorabilia to have. You might want to ask. It's one of those things that isn't necessarily widely known.

Kathryn

[styxgirl]

THat's cool that the paper sells the printing plates. I will have to ask about that!

Yep, we say that printing on newsprint is like printing with black paint on a gray sponge. It soaks up alot of ink. It also has a pretty hefty dot gain at our local paper. It gains about 20% in the mid tones. So 50% black looks like 70% black. Most pages are at 100 line screen. (Magazines are at 150 lpi)

We also loose dots at about 4%. Anything below 4% blows out to 0%. Sometimes people's foreheads have a hole if they aren't adjusted just right.

Good luck!