Strathmore 300 Series Bristol Smooth Roll 42in x 10 yd - Heavyweight

In this review the Strathmore 300 Series Bristol Smooth Roll is evaluated as a heavyweight, smooth-surfaced paper aimed at artists who need a dependable base for final artwork. The bottom line: this roll is best for comic artists, illustrators, and anyone working in pen, ink, or marker who values a finely smooth surface and durable paper that stands up to erasing and repeated work. The large 42in by 10 yd roll gives plenty of continuous sheet for long-format projects, storyboards, or multiple panels without seams.

Key Features

• Heavyweight Bristol: The thick construction holds up to erasing and light washes so finished pieces remain flat and undamaged.
• Smooth surface: The smooth finish supports very fine detail work for ink line art, technical drawing, and marker rendering.
• Wide roll format: At 42in by 10 yd the roll provides long continuous lengths for comics, murals, and multi-panel projects without joins.
• Media compatibility: Designed for pen, dip pen, ink, mechanical drawing, air brush, and marker for reliable performance across common tools.
• Consistent white color: The nice white tone gives dependable color accuracy when scanning or photographing artwork.

Who It's For

The Strathmore 300 Series Bristol Smooth Roll is ideal for comic book artists, illustrators, storyboard creators, and designers who need a very smooth, heavyweight surface for pen, ink, and marker work. Its durability and smoothness make it a smart choice for final artwork and pieces that require repeated erasing or precise inking.

Artists who require heavy mixed-media handling with large amounts of wet media or heavy bleeding markers should look elsewhere, as this paper is optimized for dry media and light washes rather than saturated watercolor or very heavy alcohol marker use where bleed-through can occur with some tools.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Excellent surface smoothness that enhances line clarity and fine detail for inked work.
• Durable heavyweight sheet that tolerates erasing and light water-based corrections.
• Large 42in x 10 yd roll size offers convenience for long projects and multiple panels.

Cons

• Not optimized for heavy wet media; very saturated marker or watercolor may still show bleeding on some tools.

Specifications

Brand	Strathmore
Series	300 Series Bristol
Surface	Smooth
Size	42in x 10 yd
Intended media	Pen, ink, mechanical drawing, air brush, marker
Typical uses	Final artwork, comics, cartoons, graphic novels

Our Verdict

The Strathmore 300 Series Bristol Smooth Roll is a practical choice for illustrators and comic artists who need a consistent, heavyweight surface for final ink and marker work. Its smooth finish and large roll format deliver good value for long projects, making it worthwhile for those focused on line work and finished art rather than heavy wet media experimentation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will this paper handle erasing well?
Yes. The heavyweight Bristol construction tolerates repeated erasing and light corrections without tearing when used properly.

Can I use alcohol markers on this roll?
It works well with many markers, but very saturated alcohol markers may bleed through depending on the brand; test first if bleed resistance is critical.

Is the roll good for large comic page layouts?
Yes. The 42in width and 10 yd length make it convenient for continuous panels and long-format layouts without seams.