GUIDE TO RISOGRAPH PRINTING

GUIDE TO RISOGRAPH PRINTING

Risograph printing is unique, environmentally friendly and cost effective.

There are multiple colors that are unique to the Riso process including fluorescent and metallic colours, which are very difficult, sometimes impossible, to create digitally.

Riso inks are plant based, the machine is highly energy efficient and we have a range of recycled papers available. We endeavour to produce minimal paper waste and often recycle this further in other ways.

Riso combines the best of the digital and traditional world: a hand-made look and feel with the speed, low-cost and efficiency of a modern printer.

OUR COLOURS

We currently have ten colours to choose from: Black, Purple, Blue, Bright Red, Yellow, Green, Fluro Pink, Fluro Orange, Metallic Gold and Light Grey. As well as these ten colours, overlaying can create a whole new range of colours (e.g. Yellow + Red = Orange). Colour tones can vary depending on what paper stock they are printed on, due to their translucent nature. Let us know if you would like to experiment with colour overlaying, we are happy to help.

PAPER

We can print on most un-coated paper stocks that range from 70-260gsm (this can vary). We have a limited amount of paper in stock and order in for large jobs. If you have a specific paper stock in mind we would prefer to test it first as Riso soy ink can struggle to print or dry on certain paper.

IN-HOUSE PAPER OPTIONS

As we move to be the most sustainable as we possibly can,
M/K Press will only stock recycled papers in house. These are as follows:

Eco100 - 80gsm, 100gsm, 135gsm & 250gsm (This paper is off-white and untextured).
Eco100 High White - 120gsm, 170gsm & 250gsm (This paper is very white and untextured).

You are welcome to supply your own paper, but we reserve the right to test it first to see if it will be appropriate for the machine. We would also require extra paper for mistakes and wastage. Our suppliers include BJ Ball, Spicers Paper and B&F Papers. We carry uncoated stock sample books from all of these businesses.

We also have limited amounts of other papers in stock (like Munken cream and Sapphire offset), so please enquire if you would like those.

Most finishing (trimming, folding and binding) is outsourced to either Angus Donaldson or McHargs.

HANDY THINGS TO KNOW

For print, files should be - PDF, with crop and bleed marks if required, set to Greyscale or Black & White and 300dpi.

  • Each colour layer should be saved as a separate file (label each file with the name of the colour and which order to be printed e.g. Pink1.pdf, Black2.pdf etc).

  • Solid colours and text should be set to registration black (100% k). This is especially important for text otherwise it will become pixilated. The riso struggles to pick up text size under 6pt.

  • The Risograph can not print full bleed A3 artwork. Please leave a 10mm clear border on all prints. This border can then be trimmed to create full bleed images. Our Risograph can only print up to A3 (410x297mm).

  • The Risograph is likely to jam when there is heavy ink coverage close the feed edge of the paper. This can be avoided by turning the paper around unless there is heavy ink coverage at both ends. This is particularly important for light paper stocks. If you think this may be a problem we can test it first to be sure. Prints look best with an even coverage of positive and negative space.

  • Registration is never perfect, but we aim to get it as close as possible! Please use trapping and bleed for full ink coverage, and accept that this is part of the process. Every print is unique!