Printable substrates with improved dry time and acceptable print density by using monovalent salts

A method comprising the following steps of:

• (a) providing a paper substrate having a first surface and a second surface, wherein an internal paper sizing agent is present in an amount sufficient to impart to the paper substrate an HST value of from about 50 to about 250 seconds;
• and
• (b) treating the paper substrate with a coating composition comprising a metal salt drying agent comprising at least about 20% by weight of one or more monovalent metal drying salts, wherein the metal salt drying agent is present on at least one of the first and second surfaces in an amount sufficient to provide a percent ink transferred (“IT %”) value equal to or less than about 65% and to provide a black print density value of at least about 1.45.

The method of 25, wherein step (b) is carried out by applying the coating composition so as to provide coverage on each of the first and second surfaces of from about 0.2 to about 1.2 gsm of the metal salt drying agent.

The method of 26, wherein step (b) is carried out by applying the coating composition so as to provide coverage on each of the first and second surfaces of from about 0.5 to about 1 gsm of the metal salt drying agent.