Ever noticed that an image that looks amazing on your screen sometimes prints dull and lifeless on newsprint? That’s because different mediums display brightness differently. While a computer screen is vibrant and high-contrast, newsprint has a much lower brightness rating—typically around 57, compared to 90+ for copier paper and even higher for monitors.
So, how do you ensure your images still look great in print? It’s all about adjusting brightness and contrast to compensate for the difference.
Boosting Brightness & Contrast for Better Print Quality
When preparing an image for newsprint, a simple adjustment can make a huge difference. We recommend increasing both brightness and contrast by about a third to help the image pop off the page.
A good rule of thumb is:
✅ 0% ink in highlights (pure white areas)
✅ 100% black in shadows (though on newsprint, this will print as a dark charcoal gray)
By making these adjustments, you ensure your images don’t print looking too dark, muddy, or washed out.
Bonus Tip: Convert Black & White Images Properly
A common mistake we see? Submitting black-and-white images in RGB mode instead of grayscale. If you simply use Image > Adjustments > Black & White in Photoshop, you’re not quite there yet.
For the best grayscale print quality, follow these two steps:
1️⃣ First, use Image > Adjustments > Black & White to fine-tune the conversion.
2️⃣ Then, switch to Image > Mode > Grayscale before submitting the file.
This ensures better tonal accuracy and prevents weird color shifts that sometimes happen when printing RGB files in black and white.
By optimizing your images for newsprint, you’ll get clearer, sharper, and more professional results every time. A little extra prep work can make all the difference between a dull print and one that stands out!