Business Notes Innovations

For years, avid readers of the New York Times took part of their favorite paper with them wherever they went -- whether they wanted to or not. The ink that went into "All the News That's Fit to Print" was notorious for its tendency to rub off onto the hands and subsequently the face, the clothes, the furniture and the walls of whoever touched it. Enterprising merchants peddled special gloves readers could wear while working their way through the paper.

Last week, the Times announced that it has cleaned up its act. After a year of testing, a new ink has been introduced at the paper's two printing plants. The Times touts it as "reducing ruboff by 60 percent." The innovative ink was developed for the Times by New Jersey-based Sun Chemical, the world's largest ink company. The move brings the local Times up to the standard of the national edition, already printed with tidier inks. Those few who think smudginess is next to godliness needn't fear, however: according to the Times, about half the dailies in America still use the traditional, rubbable ink.