Best art boards?

[Chris Piers]

What are the best art boards (looking for opinions) these days?

I used to reallllly like Eon's but then they changed their stock and they were a little too slick for my preferences. Still, I'm really not a fan of Blue Line's at all.

Keeping in mind I like to ink my own pages, often with Pigm Micron pens, any suggestions on the best paper for this? I need to order some more boards ASAP.

[KlaasKoopman]

deviantart.com?;onei;

[Chris Piers]

What's that got to do with the price of tea in China?

[KlaasKoopman]

wtf, you were asking for art boards right?

[xadrian]

boards=paper

ask Fighting Foetus, he cuts his own. Find some nice tooth and make 'em yourself I guess.

[KlaasKoopman]

00PS soory hahah ;mrt; ;mrt; ;mrt; hiding right now

[SenorSwanky]

A bit of a language difference here. When we say "art boards" in this context, generally we mean paper stock, like bristol board. Here, Chris is talking about the best pre-lined boards.

[Stark Raving]

I use Microns to ink also and I still prefer Eon's boards.
Blue Line's don't work as well for me.

If you can do without the pre-lined pages you could get some Strathmore Bristol and cut it down. They have several different surface textures and sizes.

[Inkthinker]

I use plate-finish Bristol, usually Strathmore. I can rule out my own 10x15 box easily enough, and I like the way plate takes ink.

[KlaasKoopman]

So you mean what kind of paper?

[Chris Piers]

Specifically, which of Eon's boards do you prefer? The smooth or the strathmore?

[Stark Raving]

I prefer the smooth.

[Aaron Hubrich]

Just an FYI...

Blue Line has a wide range of art boards. If you want the stuff they make for Image, CrossGen, Aspen, Dreamwave, etc., then use their Premiere Boards. These are Strathmore boards that take ink very well. I too like the smooth surface...

http://www.bluelinepro.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=BL&Category_Code=per

Also, check out something else...Blue Line started a Manga size paper as well. It's thinner and smaller, but takes ink better than anything I've ever used because it's made from Borden & Riley's Paris Paper for Pens.

-Aaron

[Super Rats]

Really. That's great. I've gotten manga papers from Deleter, .Too and IC, and they're all smoother than anything else I've gotten and very groove resistant. The 1-ply nature of these boards also makes lightboxing a lot easier. Not to mention applying screentone...

I recently started using boards printed on both Strathmore 400 and on Eon's stock, and I've been really disappointed with both surfaces...especially since they're both way more expensive than the manga paper.

Glad to see you guys putting out manga paper...and the pre-printed lines are to the 2:3 ratio right? Googly moogly! I wish I didn't just buy 2 packs of Eon last week! Definitely going back to the smoother manga paper...and now that Blueline are putting it out, I don't have to rule it myself anymore. THANK YOU!!!

[Stark Raving]

What's the difference between the regular boards and manga paper?

I've never tried it before.

[Super Rats]

As far as the surface goes, manga paper is a bit smoother than most bristol goes...probably to accomodate screentone (zipatone) application. Manga paper also tends to be 1 ply, so if you like to transfer onto a final sheet via lightbox it's nice.

Of the three brands I've used (Deleter, IC, .Too), they also tend to be a little less white than the brands over here, which may be a bother to some people.

Other than that it's just paper...

[Stark Raving]

Thanks for the info Rats!

[E.J.Su]

I use DELETER, they are the best papers that I have ever tried.


Blue Line started a Manga size paper as well. It's thinner and smaller, but takes ink better than anything I've ever used because it's made from Borden & Riley's Paris Paper for Pens.Are these different stock from the usual Blue-Line stocks?
btw, why the "manga" size paper? doesn't seem too practical markting it to US market since Japanese comicbook dimensions are not proportioned to US.

[Inkthinker]

Originally posted by E.J.Su

btw, why the "manga" size paper? doesn't seem too practical markting it to US market since Japanese comicbook dimensions are not proportioned to US.

Because some idiots will buy anything with the word "manga" on it, as though the type of paper you draw on makes more of a difference than practice, study and experience.

And of course, there will always be someone willing to exploit that sort of stupidity.

[Super Rats]

Well the drawing dimensions say 180mm x 270mm, which is 2:3 ratio (which is what I'm hoping for). But it also says the drawing area is 9.5 inches x 13 inches, which is 2:2.74, so I'm sorta confused now. :confused:

I've been using the backs of the IC manga paper and ruling it myself. I'd just like a pre-ruled board in the 2:3 ratio...since the price here is the same as the IC I've been getting, having it pre-ruled for the same price would be cool.

[Aaron Hubrich]

"Because some idiots will buy anything with the word "manga" on it, as though the type of paper you draw on makes more of a difference than practice, study and experience.

And of course, there will always be someone willing to exploit that sort of stupidity"

That's a bit harsh don't you think? The reason Blue Line put out this style of paper is because there was such a strong demand for it. As you may have noticed, the proportions of comics are changing. We've gotten used to the typical "comic size" paper because it works well for "American style" books. But over seas, it's a different story...See the big picture?

Some of the best selling "comics" in your standard book stores are Manga-esque books...not super hero. So artists are naturally wanting those products that will make their life a little easier to help them produce a book.

-Aaron

[Chris Piers]

I'll give these Premiere boards a try.

[SenorSwanky]

You also have to consider that because comics are inked, the most important factor in paper choice is how well it takes ink, both from a nib and a brush. Pencilers can draw on just about anything that accepts graphite residue without smudging.

[eonprez]

Chris,

As long as EON has been in operation we've always stuck with the same paper stock for our smooth boards. We had to discontinue our vellum boards because the mill that produced it discontinued it. That's when we switched to the Strathmore "tooth" finish board.

I can honestly say that this is the first time I've ever read someone disappointed with Eon boards. I'm shocked!

Anywho, if anyone's interested, I'm about to post a freebie in a couple of minutes. It's a 400 dpi jpg for comic art layouts/roughs (before you commit to an actual art board...which ever you may choose).

Just wanted to clear up that about the paper stocks though.

-Brett
EON

[xadrian]

Jeremy offloaded some 11x17 boards to me at the con, Eon boards. He's really friendly with the smaller sizes, easier to do layouts on and keep things in perspective. I like my larger boards though.

One thing I thought I'd point out, if it hasn't been already, is the Eon's don't yellow NEARLY as fast if at all, compared to the Blue Line. And I really like the tooth on it. They're also a bit thinner than the Blue lines, which I also like.

Will buy more of them for sure.

[Chris Piers]

Originally posted by eonprez
Chris,

As long as EON has been in operation we've always stuck with the same paper stock for our smooth boards. We had to discontinue our vellum boards because the mill that produced it discontinued it. That's when we switched to the Strathmore "tooth" finish board.

I can honestly say that this is the first time I've ever read someone disappointed with Eon boards. I'm shocked!

Anywho, if anyone's interested, I'm about to post a freebie in a couple of minutes. It's a 400 dpi jpg for comic art layouts/roughs (before you commit to an actual art board...which ever you may choose).

Just wanted to clear up that about the paper stocks though.

-Brett
EON

Well, I don't know what the story is but I remember several months ago Cory Walker and I were chatting on the phone about tools of the trade and we both thought the paper had changed. I guess I'll give eon one more shot just to make sure. I'll order the blueline premier and something or other from eon and see who ships faster and which paper stock is easier to pencil and ink on.

[Chris Piers]

Whoops, I wanted to do that but apparently there's no easy online ordering at eon. I found a toll free number and a bunch of directions for paying online via paypal but you still have to call. I'm at work and just want to click a few buttons for an order.

Maybe this weekend I'll order some eon boards but the easy online ordering that blue line offers places them ahead at step one.

[eonprez]

The boards that Cory Walker was using were EON's HD boards. I much thicker and more expensive board that was not very well rec'ved in the market place (outside of Funk-O-Tron). I was forced to discontinue the thicker boards and continue production on the Standard EON boards.

[Chris Piers]

Ah, well we had the same boards so that explains it. It's good to know that I can go back to eon at some point because I did like them when I first tried 'em.

Why can't you order them off your website though? What a hassle! I've already ordered some of the Blueline Premiere boards and I was really hoping to make a comparison right away.

[Reilly]

Hey, could someone fill me in a little more about the manga boards? They sounded like they could be pretty good, especially if you can lightbox through them. I've been useing 11x17 Strathmore Bristol Vellum and was wondering what the differences are.
Thanks a lot.

--Reilly

[Aaron Hubrich]

Here's a link that'll give you more info...

http://www.bluelinepro.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=BL&Product_Code=MA005&Category_Code=003map

-Aaron