Your article about online classifieds [“Put ’Em Up,” September/October 1998, p. 6] was first-rate. Andrew Bowser did a very good job of explaining the differences between the three types of technology providers, and the challenges newspapers face. He covered the entire issue very well from a business perspective, and even better from a technical perspective. Best piece in that sense that I have seen yet. Congratulations—very useful to anyone studying the issue.
Peter M. Zollman
Principal
Advanced Interactive Media Group, L.L.C.
Altamonte Springs, Fla.
Proof Positive
I just read your story on newsprint proofs and the newsprint reel stand that Tallahassee built [“The Proof Is in the Newsprint,” September/October 1998, p. 21]. Guess what? We also built a newsprint reel for our plotter, and we think ours is a much better system. Our reelstand is built on the back of our plotter and feeds from under the plotter; this way we can use a basket to catch our proofs before they fall on the floor as shown in the photo in your story. We can also move our plotter and reel at the same time. Our reel was much simpler to build with no welding needed, only parts from a hardware store. Just thought you might like to know there is a little ingenuity going on at the Lake Charles American Press. We also thought you might like to know we will be going to computer-to-plate technology in the very near future.
Gordon Clark
Pre-Press Manager
Lake Charles (La.) American Press
Just to let you know, we’ve been color proofing on newsprint from butt rolls on Hewlett-Packard 755 CMs for about two and a half years. We started when we shut down our Scitex color lab and started doing color using the Harris XP-21 pagination system. Prior to that, we used an Iris proofing system from Scitex, but it wasn’t as sharp or reliable as the HPs. And ever since we changed our ink on the press to true magenta, the proofs come pretty close to what comes out on the press. Not quite, but pretty close.
Gary Schoening
Managing Editor/Projects & Technology
Asbury Park Press
Neptune, N.J.
Your article explored how one newspaper rigged its color printer to print on newsprint rolls. The article further explained that the only way others could emulate these results was to rig their machines also. As a product specialist for Graphic Enterprises in North Canton, Ohio, I felt it beneficial to let your readers know that there is an off-the-shelf solution to the proofing-on-newsprint dilemma. Available from Graphic Enterprises, the GEI ColorProof XL is specifically designed to handle newsprint. This large-format, digital color proofer offers full-color, double-truck or broadsheet proofs on newsprint, as well as speed and ease-of-use.
Randy Plant
Product Specialist, GEI ColorProof XL
Graphic Enterprises Inc.
North Canton, Ohio
Further Proof
Just wanted to let you know of another way to get newsprint color proofs. At the Messenger-Inquirer in Owensboro, Ky., we have been outputting color proofs on newsprint using the Scitex Iris Realist for a couple of years. With the Iris, we can also simulate the dot gain we have on our press. I monitor the proofs to compare our performance on press, and we are consistently matching. We do have to cut newsprint from butt rolls and load each proof, but it still is an effective device.
Mike Weafer
Production Manager
Messenger-Inquirer
Owensboro, Ky.
Moving to 50"
The September/October issue of TechNews carried an update on newspapers that are moving or have moved to a 50-inch newsprint web width. Please add to this list the following daily newspapers that have moved to a 50-inch web:
- Press-Telegram, Long Beach, Calif.
- Pasadena (Calif.) Star-News
- San Gabriel Valley Tribune, West Covina, Calif.
- Whittier (Calif.) Daily News
Ike Massey
President & CEO
Los Angeles Newspaper Group