Coated printable substrates providing higher print quality and resolution at lower ink usage

An article in the form of a paper substrate having a water-swellable substrate coating on at least one of the first and second surfaces at a thickness of less than about 10 microns and. The substrate coating has an amount of a coating pigment sufficient to impart a Parker Print Smoothness value of at least about 4 to the at least one surface and is dispersed in a water-swellable coating pigment binder matrix in a coating pigment to binder matrix weight ratio of at least about 2:1. The coating pigment has larger porous coating pigment particles, and smaller coating pigment particles in a weight ratio of at least about 0.2:1. The substrate coating provides an ink-receptive porous surface. Also, a method for preparing such coated paper substrates, as well as a method for printing an image on the coated paper substrate with an inkjet printer using a lower ink usage level.