Newspaper date widget

What a newspaper date widget shows

A date widget is the calm alternative to a clock: one large number for the day, with the weekday above and the month below. It suits small 2 × 2 spaces and pairs well with a clock elsewhere on the screen.

It uses the phone's date, so it is free, works offline and needs no permission. WidgetCraft's Date layer takes a pattern, so each line can show a different part of the date.

How the newspaper style shapes it

Newspaper widgets copy a front page: a bold serif headline, a dateline in small capitals, double rules and tight columns in black on newsprint.

• Numbers: Set the number like a headline figure with a caption beneath.
• Text: Write the title as a headline in bold serif and add a dateline in small capitals.

Newspaper date widget recipe

Newspaper color palette

• Newsprint #F1EEE6Background
• Fold grey #E4DFD3Surface and tracks
• Ink black #111111Text
• Halftone #666159Labels
• Ink black #111111Accent

How to make a newspaper date widget in WidgetCraft

1. Create a widget and open Canvas. Set the size to 200 × 200, the background to #F1EEE6 and the corner radius to 0.
2. Tap Add and choose Date. Set the pattern to the full weekday (EEEE), the size to 15 and the color to #111111.
3. Add a second Date layer with the day number (pattern d) at size 92 in #111111, using Playfair Display.
4. Add a third Date layer with the full month (MMMM) at size 15 in #666159.
5. Center all three layers on the canvas.
6. Add the newspaper ornament with Shape layers and move them below the other layers in Layers: a masthead rule at the top made of a 4-point bar with a 1-point line beneath it, and a 1-point rule along the bottom.
7. Tap Save, then Add to home screen and resize the widget on your launcher if needed.

Everything in this recipe works in the free version.

Tips for newspaper date widgets

• Add a thick rule and a thin rule together as a masthead line.
• Keep everything black on newsprint.
• Make the day number at least twice the size of the other lines.
• Write the month in full if there is room; short forms such as "Nov" look cramped in serif fonts.
• Pair it with a clock widget in the same font rather than squeezing the time into the same 2 × 2 space.
• Do not use color except one dark red word.
• Do not round the corners.

Questions about the newspaper date widget

What size is a newspaper date widget?

It is designed for 2 × 2 home screen cells on a 200 × 200 canvas. You can resize it on the launcher and the design scales in proportion.

Which colors does it use?

Newsprint (#F1EEE6) for the background, Ink black (#111111) for the main text, Halftone (#666159) for labels and Ink black (#111111) as the accent.

Is it free to make?

Yes. Date widgets use free features in WidgetCraft, and the newspaper styling is free too.

What else is this style called?

People also search for news style date widget, headline date widget, print date widget. They describe the same look as this newspaper date widget.

More newspaper widgets

• Newspaper clock widget
• Newspaper analog clock widget
• Newspaper calendar widget
• Newspaper battery widget
• Newspaper countdown widget
• Newspaper to-do list widget
• Newspaper photo widget
• Newspaper quote widget
• Newspaper music widget
• Newspaper year progress widget
• Newspaper step counter widget
• Newspaper habit tracker widget
• Newspaper sticky note widget
• Newspaper world clock widget
• Newspaper home screen setup
• All newspaper widgets

Date widgets in other styles

• Editorial date widget
• Monochrome date widget
• E-ink date widget
• All date widgets