The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-05-11
TO MAKE BLACK PAPER.
Scheme to Save Millions and Reduce
Cost of Newspapers.

Appleton, Wis, May 11.-Wisconsin
manufacturers of print paper have put
forth a proposition which, if adopted
will, it is said, revolutionize the print
paper industry of the country and the
newspaper industry as well. They
propose that newspapers in the future
be printed in white on black paper in
stead of in black on white paper. thus
bringing about a saving of millions of
dollars annually in pulp wood, assist
ing in the preservation of forests and
reducing the price of news paper to
about one-half the present price.
Black paper can be made of old
newspapers and almost any fibrous
stock. while white paper requires
spruce and hemlock wood. Wisconsin
paper manufacturers will try to inter-
est eastern manufacturers and, if pos
sible, bring about concerted action
with the publishers of the country
There has been much recent discus
sion by scientists as to the advantage
of white on black newspapers and
magazines. Their claims have all
been based on the fact that it was UNI
doubtedly much easier on the eyes to
read a white on black print than the
black as we see it today. The scien-
tific explanation is as follows:
On account of the varying degree of
light absorption by different colors. it
is an established fact that when we
look at the printed page in which the
black is printed on the white we real
ly do not see the black, but see the
white which surrounds it. Therefore.
we are not looking at the letters
which form the words, but at the white
spaces around these letters, which in
directly produce the effect of seeing
the black letters. On the other hand
If we were looking at a white letter on
a black background, it is the latter we
! see and do not see the BACKGROUND
This is why it is much more restful
! to the eyes to read white letters on a
| black or dark background.
Scientists claim that it would be the
| saving OF many a persons weak eyes
| today if the reading matter was print
| ed according to the new plan Sign
\ painters have accomplished this re-
| suit, although not usually with scien-
tific intention but merely because 1t
| appealed to them as pleasing the eye.
| 1t is very customary to see light color
| ed letters on dark backgrounds on
signboards but only recently has this
theory been advocated for printing
The Fox River Valley print paper
manufacturers declare that black pa
per can be made for much less than
white, inasmuch as old newspapers
would be the principal stock in the
black paper. Only spruce and hemlock
| woods can be used for the manufac-
| ture Of white print paper, while almost
any fibrous stock will make black pa
per. y
Old newspapers are used now in the
| manufacture OF strawboard and wrap
ping paper, but are not available ir
making print paper. 1t is estimated
by manufacturers that less than one
quarter as much pulp wood would be
consumed if print paper were black
and the price of black paper would
perhaps be less than half as much as
the present while paper costs 1t is
estimated that the saving would rur
up into millions of dollars and that il
would be great factor in forest pre-.
| SerVation