The realm of graphic design is consistently changing. In the past years, we saw the resurgence of risograph printing. Its growing popularity is due to its unique aesthetics and for its ability to produce high-volume prints in a short time period, making it an economical yet creative choice. It is also viewed as an eco-friendly alternative to regular printing, as it uses less energy, ink and paper.
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What is risograph printing?
Quick facts
- Risograph printing is also known as Riso printing after the brand name of the printer duplicators.
- These printer duplicators are manufactured by the Riso Kagaku Corporation, a Japanese company founded in 1946 by Noboru Hayama.
- The printer duplicators are mainly designed for high-volume photocopying and printing, using a process that is similar to screen printing and mimeograph.
- Risograph printers use soy-based inks and can print in various colours, but only one colour at a time.
Intro video about risograph printing
(Video created by College for Creative Studies)
Gaining in popularity
Risograph printing has gained more attention and popularity in recent years (some sources suggest that it was around 2018-2019 that the trend started), especially among artists, designers, zine makers, and educators who appreciate its speed, affordability and aesthetic qualities. With its vibrant colours, grainy textures, and charming imperfections, Riso printing offers a creative alternative to conventional digital or offset printing while encouraging experimentation. It is also environmentally friendly, as it uses less energy and produces less waste than other printing methods.
Riso printing is expected to trend as well in 2024 and beyond, as more and more designers discover the potential and diversity of this sustainable and eco-friendly technique.
Versatile and creative
Risograph printing can be used for various purposes and projects, such as
- posters
- comics
- zines
- books
- flyers
- cards
- stickers,
- a distinctive visual identity, and more.
Risograph printing is not only a printing technique, but also a creative medium that can express the personality and vision of the designer.
Key terms to better understand Risograph
- Spot colour
This is a method of printing that uses a single colour of ink for each layer or pass. Risograph printers can only print one colour at a time, so images with multiple colours need to be separated into individual grayscale images and printed separately. Spot colours can create vibrant and unique effects that are not possible with standard CMYK printing. - Master
This is a stencil that is created by the risograph printer from a digital image. The master is wrapped around an ink drum and presses the ink onto the paper. Each colour requires a different master, and masters can be reused for multiple prints. - Ink drum
This is a cylindrical component of the risograph printer that contains the ink and the master. The ink drum rotates at high speed and transfers the ink through the master onto the paper. Risograph printers have interchangeable ink drums that can be swapped for different colours. - Registration
This is the alignment of different layers or colours in a print. Risograph printing is not very precise, so registration errors are common and can result in misaligned or overlapping colours. Some designers embrace these errors as part of the charm of risograph printing, while others try to minimize them by using registration marks or guides. - Overprinting
This is the process of printing one colour on top of another colour, creating a third colour. Risograph printing allows for overprinting, as the ink does not fully dry and can be mixed with other inks. Overprinting can create interesting and unexpected effects, such as gradients, textures, or patterns.
Resources
Learn more about risograph
- Stencil (Riso Wiki): An Atlas of Modern Risography
The site offers an interactive directory of publishers, print shops, and design studios using Risograph duplicators in a creative context. - An Intro to Risograph Printing (& How to Start Your First Project) by Lyndsey Burke on dribble
- Riso Guide Digital Illustration (PDF) by Aafke Mertens – risopop.com / This 10-page booklet provide users with an intro to the Risograph duplicator, the basics of riso printing, file preparation, best practices, creating an illustration/design for Riso and printing options.
Riso artists & studios
- Vincent Patterson
He is a graphic designer and illustrator based in London, UK. He combines typography and risograph printing to create works that are infused with humour, horror, and everything in between. He uses black and white images with abstractly placed vibrant colours on top. - Risotto Studio
This is a risograph print and design studio based in Glasgow, Scotland. They offer print services, workshops, and tutorials on how to use risograph printing for various projects. They also have a blog where they share tips, tricks, and inspiration for risograph lovers. - La Bruja Riso
This is a workshop based in Colombia that specializes in risograph printing. They create intricate patterns and designs that are inspired by nature, folklore, and magic. They use a variety of colours and textures to create stunning prints. - Wild Press
This is a studio based in Glasgow, Scotland that produces fun and quirky risograph prints. They use bright colours and playful imagery to create eye-catching and cheerful designs. They also make zines, books, posters, and stickers. - untertruck.org
This is a collective based in Dortmund, Germany that focuses on risograph printing. They create geometric and minimalist prints that use simple shapes and contrasting colours. They also make notebooks out of old test prints and misprints - Secret Riso Club
A graphic design and risograph studio that focuses its work on the intersection of social justice, art, design and community building. - Risolve Studio
This is a risograph print studio and online shop based in Pennsylvania, USA. They offer print services, custom prints, and a range of risograph products such as zines, books, posters, and stickers. They also have a blog where they showcase their work and share their knowledge on risograph printing.
Books about risograph printing
- Risomania The New Spirit of Printing
This is a book that explores the history, culture, and aesthetics of risograph printing. It features interviews with risograph printers, artists, and designers from around the world. It also showcases a variety of risograph works, such as posters, comics, zines, books, and art prints. - Walk Don’t Walk
A collection of diverse new work by some of Scotland’s most exciting artists, comic makers and illustrators, from narrative comics to genre-bending artwork. - No Magic in Riso – A bilingual risograph tool book
This is a bilingual risograph tool book that showcases the process and possibilities of risograph printing. It features 15 colours, 660 masters, and 690,000 sheets of paper. It also includes tips, tricks, and tutorials on how to use risograph machines. - Risography: Loving Imperfections
A book that showcases the work of artists, designers, and creatives who use the risograph printing method to create unique and expressive images that embrace the beauty of imperfection. - Become a Riso Master: The Creative’s Guide to Making Your Own Risograph
A beginner-friendly guide to Risograph printing that covers its history, basics, and applications, and presents the inspiring works and stories of Riso artists worldwide. - Riso Undiscovered Territory:
A beginner-friendly guide to Risograph printing that covers its history, basics, and applications, and presents the inspiring works and stories of Riso artists worldwide.
Magazines that use risograph printing
- Bum
A lovely risograph printed magazine based in Helsinki and dedicated to exploring stories around arts, architecture and design. - Eye
This is a leading international review of graphic design and visual culture. It occasionally features articles and reviews on risograph printing, such as the one on House of the Risograph, a project by Landfill Editions that showcased the potential and versatility of risograph printing for artists and publishers. - Print
This is a magazine that covers the history, culture, and practice of design. It often showcases the work of risograph artists and studios, such as the top five risograph artists to follow on Instagram, which featured colourful and creative prints from around the world. - RisoLAB
This is a magazine that is produced by the SVA RisoLAB, a dedicated educational risograph printing facility in New York City. It features works by students, faculty, and artists-in-residence who use risograph printing for various projects, such as posters, comics, zines, books, and flyers.
What if you don’t have access to a risograph printer but love the riso look
If you don’t have access to a risograph printer but love the riso look, you can still create a similar effect in Photoshop using some simple techniques and filters. There are many tutorials online that can show you how to mimic the risograph style. Here are a few to get you started.
- How to add a risograph effect to illustration in Photoshop
- How to Create a ’90s Style Print Effect in Photoshop (Risograph Effect)
- Risograph Look in Photoshop
- How to Make a Risograph Texture Effect | Envato Tuts+
- 4 Ways to Mimic a Risograph Effect in Adobe Photoshop – Shutterstock
- How to Create a ’90s Style Print Effect in Photoshop (Risograph)
Key takeaways about risograph printing
- Risograph printing is not only a printing technique, but also a creative medium that can express the personality and vision of the designer. It can create unique and original prints that are different from other printing methods. It can also inspire new trends and styles in graphic design, such as mysticism, maximalism, surrealism, or handmade touch.
- Risograph printing is also a collaborative and community-based practice that encourages experimentation and sharing. Risograph printers and enthusiasts often form networks and groups to exchange ideas, tips, and feedback. Risograph printing can also foster social and cultural engagement, as it can be used for activism, education, or entertainment.
- Risograph printing is also a fun and enjoyable activity that can spark your creativity and imagination. It can be used for various purposes and projects, such as posters, comics, zines, books, flyers, cards, stickers, and more. It can also challenge you to think outside the box and explore new possibilities with colour, shape, texture, and composition.
The content of this article was based on information retrieved from a conversation with Bing, 2023-08-14. Edited by Athina.Design