Newsgroups: rec.mag,alt.zines
Subject: Re: Newsprint
From: kaplan@misvax.mis.arizona.edu (RayK)
Date: 3 Oct 1992 07:56 MST  
Distribution: world,local
Organization: University of Arizona MIS Department
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    

In article <1992Oct2.190834.27294@samba.oit.unc.edu>, 
Phil.Powell@bbs.oit.unc.edu (Phil Powell) writes...
> 
>I am interested in finding out about cheap rates in printing using
>newsprint instead of regular paper.  Is newsprint cheaper to use?
> 
>Thanx for the information.. I edit a Christian metal/thrash magazine
>called Cephas...
> 
>Phil
> 

2 cents:

From time to time, I do newsprint for my publishing.  This has included my
now defunct paid newsletter Views on DEC - formerly Views on VAX - and a
variety of other things such as my handouts for professional society
presentations.  Some things:  For large quantities, it is cheaper than
offset.  Generally, 1000+ copies are needed -- most web offset presses (the kind
of press that is used for this paper) need time to get up to speed and to
stop -- so, you usually get a lot of copies as a minimum.  Quite
interesting to watch them run.  Facinating technology, I think.  At any
rate, a recent run of 1,000 copies of a 24 page tabloid a (little smaller
than a regular newspaper) cost about $700 (additional thousands of copies
would have been $66).  1,000 copies of 4 pages would have been $414 (with
additional 1,000 copies being $30).  Note the very small amount that
additional 1,000s cost!  At any rate, moving to newspring may have killed
my newsletter, but I think that it was more lack of subscribers.  I was
doing regular "corner quick print" offset 11x17 folded to be an 81/2 x 11
booklet for about 1/4 this price (for 250+ copies at a crack).  The break
even point of going to newsprint seems to be in the 500+/12 page + range,
although you can easily determine this by gathering quotes.  Web offset
presses are to be found everywhere.  In my town, Hart Hanks (a big name in
this priting game) does most of the local "rags" (The city's Weekly, the
local University daily and one of the "want ad papers) and political advertising
on newsprint (this is the one we use).  We (as a town ith 750,000
population) have at least three other webs in town (that do a variety of
small papers and such).  My brother published a biweekly (10 pages+) and
I think that his printing cost is about the same.  So - look in the phone
book under printing, call the local "want ad papers" and get some quotes. 
Also, adjacent cities may have small daily (or weekly) papers that are run
on their own web presses.  These are usually great places to get good
prices.  "Major" daily papers usually will not sell their press time as
they reserve it for themselves.

Both my brother and I use Pagemaker plus our favorite word processors.  I
paste up on boards supplied by the printer using 3M Spray adhesive and
since I'm a klutz at it, I usually get a commercial artist to help when I
can afford it.  When you are up against a deadline, there is nothing that
beats skill with an exacto knife!

My brother has a "class act" that is ecologically sound since he uses the
"hot wax" paste up method.  There are various layout requirements such as
which pages are put next to each other (they do not get laid out 1-2-3...
since the plates and folding/cutting that the press does is funny).  Take
care to put the "mailing side" out if you intend to mail or you will be
refolding them all.  (i.e.: distribution at a trade show (for instance)
should find the cover on the outside where mailing has the cover folded to
the inside).

I mail by folding the tabliod in 1/2 and sticking a staple in it to hold it
together.  Since it is "over size", it costs a lot to mail.  A recent issue
was 50 pages and cost $1.21 each to mail (I mail First Class since many
major companies filter bulk and such in their mail rooms).  Overseas
requires a containing envelope, which adds to the cost of postage, but
allows other stuff to be stuck in a bit easier than having to open each one
and stick things in before you staple them shut for mailing.  

In all, it is a great way to get a lot printed for cheap, but the entry
cost is high since once they start the press (and get all that paper moving
and ink flowing smoothly) they don't stop it.  This usually results in an
overun of between 1% and 20% based on how quickly they get things turned
off.   Hope that this helps.

RayK 8)