The riso print guide
Inks, paper and files, explained
The spot colour library, the print price calculator, the paper stock guide, file prep in six steps and the studio workshops. Keep it open while you design.
Spot colour library
Pick your inks from the drum shelf
A risograph prints one ink at a time, each from its own drum. Inks are translucent, so two colours that overlap make a third. Here is how each one behaves on natural paper.
Colour behaviour is a sample. Paper, ink coverage and your screen all change how a colour looks; the printed swatch card shows them on real stock.
Print service calculator
What a short run costs
Find your size and number of copies. Prices are for two colours on natural 100 gsm paper; each extra colour is another pass through the machine.
| Size, 2 colours | 25 copies | 50 copies | 100 copies | 250 copies |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A6 postcard | $28 | $36 | $48 | $80 |
| A5 flyer | $34 | $44 | $60 | $105 |
| A4 print | $42 | $56 | $78 | $140 |
| A3 poster | $58 | $78 | $110 | $210 |
How we price (sample): a new master is made for every colour, then each copy is cheap. That is why 100 copies cost little more than 50.
Example quote
A4 print run
Size
A5
A4
A3
Colours
1
2
3
Copies
25
50
100
250
$78 · Example price
- A digital proof of every layer
- Trimmed to size and packed flat
- Ready in about 5 working days (sample)
Paper stock guide
Uncoated paper, chosen for the ink
Riso ink dries by soaking into the paper, so we print on uncoated stock. Heavier paper holds more layers without curling; coloured paper changes every ink on top of it.
Natural
100 gsm
Bright white
120 gsm
Recycled grey
90 gsm
Pale pink
120 gsm
Pale blue
120 gsm
Natural card
250 gsm
| Paper | Weight (sample) | Feel | Best for | Colours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural | 100 gsm | Soft, slight tooth | Art prints, zine pages | Up to 4 |
| Bright white | 120 gsm | Smooth, crisp | Posters, bright colours | Up to 4 |
| Recycled grey | 90 gsm | Flecked, matt | Zine inners, flyers | Up to 2 |
| Pale pink / pale blue | 120 gsm | Smooth, tinted | Covers, invitations | Up to 2 |
| Natural card | 250 gsm | Stiff, slight tooth | Postcards, zine covers | Up to 3 |
| Coated or glossy | Any | Shiny | Not suitable: ink stays wet | None |
File prep guide
One layer for every colour
The machine cannot read colour. It needs a separate greyscale file for each ink, and it lays them down one after another.
01
One file per colour
Save each ink as its own layer or PDF page: black means full ink, white means no ink.
02
Greyscale, not colour
Grey areas print as a fine dot pattern (halftone), so 50% grey gives a lighter tint of the ink.
03
Add 3 mm bleed
Artwork that runs off the edge needs 3 mm extra on every side; keep text 5 mm inside the trim.
04
Allow for shift
Each colour is a separate pass, so layers can move by a millimetre or two. Avoid hairline overlaps.
05
Send one PDF
One page per colour, named after the ink, at 600 dpi for line art (sample spec).
06
Approve the proof
We email a proof of every layer. Nothing is printed until you say yes.
File specs are samples. Tell us the size and colours before you start and we will check your file for free (sample offer).
Studio visit & workshops (sample)
Come and print on the drum
Small hands-on sessions in the studio: separate a design, make the masters, print it in two colours and take it home.
Workshops (sample dates)
Intro to risograph
Saturdays, 10:00–13:00
$65
Make-a-zine evening
Thursdays, 18:00–21:00
$45
Open studio hour
First Friday of the month
Free
Up to 8 people
Materials included
Ages 16+
Studio counter
Wednesday–Friday
11:00–18:00
Saturday
10:00–16:00
Sunday–Tuesday
Closed
Sample sessions, times and example prices.
Guide questions
Colour, paper and file questions
Short answers to what people ask while planning a print.
How many colours can I use?
Up to four on most of our papers. Two colours that overlap give a third, so two inks often look like three.
Can I print a photo?
Yes, as a halftone in one or two colours. Strong contrast works best; fine detail softens.
Why no glossy paper?
Riso ink soaks into the paper to dry. On coated paper it stays wet and smudges.
Do you check my file?
Yes. Every job gets a proof of each layer before we print (sample policy).