Recording sheet with enhanced print quality at low additive levels

1. A recording sheet, comprising

a web of cellulosic fibers; and

a composition comprising a binder and a divalent metal salt, wherein said composition is applied to at least one surface of said web such that an effective concentration of divalent metal salt is located a distance that is within 25% from the at least one surface of said substrate and at least a majority of a total concentration of the divalent metal salt is located a distance that is within 25% from the at least one surface of said substrate.

2. The recording sheet according to claim 1 ,

wherein the paper substrate and sizing agent cooperate to form an I-beam structure.

3. The recording sheet of claim 2 , wherein said salt is present in an amount of 2.5-165 mol of cations/ton of paper substrate.

4. The recording sheet of claim 2 , wherein the sizing agent further comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of starch, pigment, and a combination thereof.

5. The recording sheet of claim 2 , wherein, when said sheet further comprises a printed image thereon, the image exhibits an average color gamut of about 120,000 or greater.

6. The recording sheet of claim 2 , wherein, when said sheet further comprises a printed image thereon, the image exhibits a black density of about 1 or greater.

7. The recording sheet of claim 2 , wherein the sizing agent is applied at a size press.

8. The recording sheet according to claim 2 , having:

a percent ink transferred (IT %) of less than or equal to about 60.

9. The recording sheet according to claim 2 , having:

a hygroexpansivity of from 0.6 to 1.25%.

10. The recording sheet according to claim 2 , having:

a CD Internal Scott Bond of not more than 300 J/m 2 .

11. The recording sheet according to claim 2 , having:

an MD Internal Scott Bond of not more than 300 J/m 2 .

12. The recording sheet according to claim 2 , having:

a printed image thereon, the image exhibits an edge acuity (“EA”) of less than about 15.

13. The recording sheet according to claim 1 , having:

a percent ink transferred (IT %) of less than or equal to about 60; and

a CD Internal Scott Bond of not more than 300 J/m 2 .

14. The recording sheet according to claim 1 , having:

a percent ink transferred (IT %) of less than or equal to about 60; and

an MD Internal Scott Bond of not more than 300 J/m 2 .

15. The recording sheet according to claim 1 , having:

a hygroexpansivity of from 0.6 to 1.25%; and

a CD Internal Scott Bond of not more than 300 J/m 2 .

16. The recording sheet according to claim 1 , having:

a hygroexpansivity of from 0.6 to 1.25%; and

an MD Internal Scott Bond of not more than 300 J/m 2 .

17. The recording sheet according to claim 1 , having:

wherein, when said sheet further comprises a printed image thereon, the image exhibits an edge acuity (“EA”) of less than about 15; and

a CD Internal Scott Bond of not more than 300 J/m 2 .

18. The recording sheet according to claim 1 , having:

a printed image thereon, the image exhibits an edge acuity (“EA”) of less than about 15; and

an MD Internal Scott Bond of not more than 300 J/m 2 .

19. The recording sheet according to claim 1 , wherein said effective concentration of said divalent metal salt is selected such that the black density is at least 1.15.

20. The recording sheet according to claim 1 , wherein said effective concentration of said divalent metal salt is at least 6000 ppm.

21. A method for making a recording sheet, comprising:

contacting a paper substrate comprising a plurality of cellulosic fibers; and

a size press formulation comprising a water soluble divalent metal salt;

to produce a recording sheet in which the paper substrate and a sizing agent comprising the water soluble divalent metal salt cooperate to form an I-beam structure.

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the contacting is carried out at a size press.