How does a RISO print work?
The risograph machine is a stencil duplicator; it’s essentially like a combination of screenprinting and photocopying, and prints one layer of color at a time. Risograph can work in various levels of value and has a gorgeous grainy noise texture. Its base components consist of fluorescent soy-based inks & thin rice paper stencils, which go in and around the printing drum. Those paper stencils are called “masters” and form the matrix which your art will go on. Because of this, it’s more cost-effective to print a lot. The risograph is a very environmentally friendly machine and sustainable printmaking method! Riso ink is unique in its look, making it highly sought after by designers, illustrators, and all sorts of artists. One notable feature of riso is that its ink never fully sets and can smudge, so please be careful when handling!
How to set up a file?
Max paper size: 11 x 17 in
Max printable area: 10.5 x 16.5 in
Large areas of solid color can also cause problems, especially around the top or bottom of the stencil. The ink might smudge more in that case when being fed into the printer. Less heavy ink areas in Leading Edge can help in less smudging of the paper.
File Setup Pointers:
For Print, artwork should be:
Layered PDF or PSD (layers labeled by ink color)
Set to Grayscale
Resolution - 30dpi
A 1/4” margin on all edges
Color Guide
RISO Inks produce a unique, grainy texture, becuase of the perforated stencil, it also creates halftone texture. The inks are soy based and non toxic. However the ink takes longer to dry and sits on the surface of paper and can be prone to smudging.
Details
TEXT
LINE
OVERLAYS
RISO Inks have a translucent quality which works well when overlaid and blended with other colors. Working with transparency and multiply can help you produce a wide variety of colors by just using three, CMY colors too!