Section 4 | Page 10

Paper Base

Another factor that affects the amount of colors reproducible by the subtractive process is the type of substrateùusually paperùused to print the image. As discussed earlier, offset printing uses transparent colored inks that act as filters and subtract portions of the white light striking the image on paper to produce other colors. It is the paper that reflects any unabsorbed light back to the viewer. Paper stock varies in color, gloss, brightness, texture and absorbancy.

A press that prints on coated paper produces a wider range of color than a press that prints on uncoated paper. This is because the rougher surface of the uncoated paper scatters the light and reduces the amount of light reflected back to the viewer.