Well I only want the substrate to look decent, and be able to cover things. Wouldn't newspaper ink rub off on the snake?

Such as the base to the branch for him to climb in, and to put some of the larger rocks and skull in a little so they don't get moved around.

And for clean up he usually does his stuff on a towel in a hide box.

So what substrate do you think would work out best?

Something that looks good, cheap, and somewhat easy to clean.