Paper question

[Cuddly]

Hi all,

some months ago, I bought the second edition of the Marvel Try-Out book (the one with the X-Men circa 1991 on the cover).

In the back of the book there's 5 tear-out pages of what look like Marvel 11x17 art boards. If I had to guess, I'd say they're 2-ply toothy Bristol board. Can anyone confirm this? I recently ordered some 2-ply toothy Bristol from EON and was just wondering if this is the type of paper I can expect. I'm currently using some old stock of 3-ply smooth Bristol from BlueLine.

Also, just out of curiosity - is this the exact kind of paper Marvel actually gives its artists to use? Does anyone know?

-Don-

[markenglert]

I pretty sure Marvel paper is toothy two-ply bristol. This is just what i can gather from al the original art on marvel paper I've ought over the years...

I prefer to work on 3-ply. Then I can just take a razor to the page to take out any inking mistakes and the page can handle lots of black ink.

[Robin Riggs]

Originally posted by Cuddly
Also, just out of curiosity - is this the exact kind of paper Marvel actually gives its artists to use? Does anyone know?

Pretty much, yes. The paper in the book is probably not quite the same as it's been through a binding process which can affect the surface. Both Marvel and DC offer the choice of rough or smooth paper and it's a 2 ply bristol (probably Strathmore). The actual quality of the paper has varied over the years and even from batch to batch. If you really want some Marvel paper they're about to start selling it through Mile High nominally for those wanting to submit to Epic. $50 for 25 sheets.

[Cuddly]

Originally posted by Robin Riggs
If you really want some Marvel paper they're about to start selling it through Mile High nominally for those wanting to submit to Epic. $50 for 25 sheets.
50 bucks for 25 sheets?? Is it me or is that really expensive?

BTW, thanks for the info Robin and Mark!

[Robin Riggs]

Originally posted by Cuddly
50 bucks for 25 sheets?? Is it me or is that really expensive?

It's expensive but not really out of line with what others charge. Blue Line Pro sell 2 sheet Strathmore 400 which is a comparable paper @ $19.00 for a dozen sheets. Not quite as expensive as the Marvel paper but close. Marvel's is post free too so it probably works out about the same.

For myself I'd still buy Strathmore 500 by the sheet and trim and rule it by hand.

[Cuddly]

Forgive a potentially dumb question. Is the difference between Strathmore 300, 400 and 500 in the paper weight? So 500 is heavier paper stock than 400, etc.? Or does the number signify some other difference?

[Robin Riggs]

Originally posted by Cuddly
Forgive a potentially dumb question. Is the difference between Strathmore 300, 400 and 500 in the paper weight? So 500 is heavier paper stock than 400, etc.? Or does the number signify some other difference?

No it has nothing to do with weight. That's designated by sheet or ply. 2 sheet is standard, 3 sheet is sturdy, 4 sheet is like thin board. The 300 is a student grade product. 400 is 100% wood pulp and 500 is 100% cotton fibre. The rag or cotton content of a paper adds to it's durability. It has to do with the length of the fibres and how they align during the papermaking process. Basically it means it can stand more erasing and should cope with wet media better.

[Cuddly]

Thanks for the info Robin! You've been really helpful. :)

[InkerGuyThippy]

Also Joe Kubert's school's website. http://www.kubertsworld.com/depot.asp

sells a whole lot of different type of paper. I just picked up some 400 Strathmore, 2 ply smooth bristol. ruled for comics and everything for $25. I've tried two types of blue line and can't seem to get a nib to work on it at all. I'm mostly a brush guy, but I'm learning nib stuff. I just get a cleaner line it seems out of them.

[eonprez]

Eon's Strathmore 2-ply is very comparible to Marvel's. But I like to think it's better, since it's less expensive and I've only had 1 issue with Eon boards not having consistant quality...and that was due to a printer switching stocks on me. that was a couple of years ago. I've since then switched printers (pretty much right after I found out they switched stocks on me).

1 thing I like to pride myself on is having consistant quality with the sheets that we sell.

-Brett
EON