Newspapers and Technology March 2000
US Ink expands Spectra line
By Kevin Juhasz
Editor
US Ink offers the Spectra line of high-strength inks, which are designed to provide newspapers with a line of inks that increase quality and mileage.
US Ink's latest addition to the line is the Spectra Max, designed to allow newspapers to use even less ink while increasing quality further with better print contrast and traps and reduced page-to-page setoff.
US Ink says the Spectra Max inks, as a set, are 52 percent stronger than the Newspaper Association of America's AdLitho inks, while the Spectra High Strength inks are 30 percent stronger.
One of the most important aspects of switching to the Spectra inks is the need to use best practices.
"Higher strength inks cost more," said Todd Wheeler, marketing services manager of US Ink. "So if a [newspaper] is printing and not monitoring the print density, you won't realize the full benefits."
Densitometers are a must, Wheeler said. If the newspaper monitors the density, it will begin to see benefits from switching to high-strength inks. Newspapers will be able to produce a better quality product while using less ink and fountain solution.
Some of the benefits the newspapers will get from use of the inks is better ink mileage, less page-to-page set-off, less dot gain, better traps and improved print contrast.
The Spectra inks come in black and color. Newspapers can purchase them individually or as a set, depending on their needs.
US Ink is also releasing Press Doctor 2000 this month.
Press Doctor is an interactive encyclopedia focusing on lithographic printing problems.
Newspapers interested in Press Doctor 2000 can go to the US Ink Web site and sign up for a copy.
The new version is expected to be released in early March and will be available for download. US Ink does not charge for Press Doctor, offering it free in the interest of sharing knowledge.
"We're trying to help printers improve the quality and consistency of their operation," said Wheeler.
US Ink
201.935.8666
www.usink.com