What is risograph printing?

Risograph printing is sometimes called "digital screen printing" and works based on the same stencil concept as traditional screen printing.

Although it may look like a photocopier from the outside, a risograph machine does not require heat or toner, instead using rice paper stencils and soy-based inks to create its unmistakable grainy, slightly misregistered prints on smooth, uncoated papers.

Risograph machines were invented in the 80's as a cost-effective, high volume printing solution for places like offices, schools, and churches.

More recently, artists and designers have adopted risograph printing for the charming analog feel of the prints. Each color ink requires its own dedicated ink drum, which means every risograph studio will have its own curated palette of inks to print with.

BPC prints on a two-drum model machine, meaning that for every two additional colors in the print, the paper had to pass through the machine another time.

It's nearly impossible to perfectly register each ink layer because of slight shifting throughout the printing process, but the imperfections between prints becomes what makes them unique. Risograph printing has an inimitable vibrancy and immediacy that can't be captured by traditional, four-color commercial printing processes.

How does risograph printing work?

  • Making the stencil

    Inside the machine are two ink drums each with an ink cartridge inside and a screen wrapped around the outside. When a job is sent to print, the machine burns the design into a rice paper stencil with thousands of tiny holes. This stencil is then wrapped around the screen on the outside of each drum.

    1

  • Printing the image

    Paper feeds into the machine from the left, passing under the rotating ink drums. In this motion, rollers inside the drum press ink through the screen and rice paper stencils and onto the paper. Small adjustments can be made to the registration of each color, but oftentimes things still shift around a little.

    2

  • Finishing

    The printed page continues to move through the machine and is ejected into a tray on the right side. Voila! Now the ink will need to dry down for about 24 hours before handling. Nevertheless riso ink never completely dries and can offset onto your fingertips if the ink is heavy enough, much like a newspaper.

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Our Riso Ink Palette

  • Violet

    #9d7ad2
    265 U

  • Federal Blue

    #3d5588
    288 U

  • Teal

    #00838a
    321 U

  • Seafoam

    #62c2b1
    570 U

  • Sunflower Yellow

    #ffb511
    116 U

  • Fluorescent Orange

    #ff7477
    805 U

  • Bright Red

    #f15060
    185U

  • Light Mauve

    #e6b5c9
    7430 U

  • Black

    #000000

  • Metallic Gold

    #ac936e
    872 U