The Seattle Times said it would reduce its web width from 50 inches to 46 inches in a project to be completed in 2009.

Pressline Services Inc. will modify The Times’ four Goss International Corp. Colorliner presses to accommodate the new width, according to Katharine Hunter, The Times’ director of operations.

The Times last reduced the press’ width in 2005, using PSI in a project that saw the paper shrink its web from 54 inches to 50 inches. The presses have a cutoff of 23-9/16 inches.

The Times also produces the Seattle Post-Intelligencer under terms of a joint operating agreement with Hearst Corp.

Meantime, the Chicago Sun-Times last month introduced a smaller-sized paper as parent Sun-Times Media Group Inc. takes steps to reduce production costs.

The tab shaved an inch off its height, leaving the paper 12.5 inches high by 11.5 inches wide. The Sun-Times last reduced its format in 2006, after a web-width reduction on its six Goss International Corp. Newsliner presses.

Finally, the Sun-Times’ crosstown rival, the Chicago Tribune, also debuted its narrower format last month, introducing a paper printed on a 48-inch web.