Machine Monday : Risograph Press

You might have noticed these kind of bold prints showing up all over the town in recent years. This retro print style could have you mistaken for being in a university library circa 1980 – it's actually an amazingly affordable and sustainable (relatively) way to print and it's done using a RISOGRAPH PRINTER.

Think, screenprinting (but with a printer), creative layering, limited palette, sustainable, cheap, FUN

What's a Risograph Printer?

A risograph printer is a stencil printer intended for high volume printing and photocopying. It's the kind of printer a lot of commercial printers will tell you is gathering dust in their back room. Risograph printers would have been used traditionally for photocopying by schools, universities, community groups and political parties – essentially anyone who was after quick, cheap print. But looking at some of these prints we can see that the risograph printer has a really unique, playful aesthetic that can be a lot of fun to work with.

So how does it work?

In terms of process, a risograph printer works a bit like a screen printing press and a bit like a photocopier. A thermographic master screen will be created for each colour of your artwork, which is then wrapped around the drum. As each leaf of paper passes through, ink is fed through the screen onto the paper. You can only run one colour at a time - then you feed the paper back through to print the next colour. 

This Gif is from ATTO

Sounds too good to be true? Risograph printers do have limitations; like photocopiers, you can only work up to A3 in size, and most Risograph printers can only handle up to 250gsm stock which must be uncoated. There are only specific colours which you'll be able to use – your Risograph printer will be able to advise you on exactly which coloured inks they use and you'll need to supply the artwork separated out in layers so you'll need to be nifty with design programmes. 

Last year we asked Gabriella di Tano from Risotto Studio, about what she thought of the Riso printing resurgence. 

"Many creatives are concerned that it is a fad that will be short lived. But actually, when you strip the ‘trend’ aspect out of the equation, the printer offers designers four key things: an affordable print method, quick turnaround times, creative/experimental approaches and distinct results."

We agree with Gabi, and that's why at Make Works we often use Risograph prints to promote our events.

If you'd like to try Riso Printing in Scotland, you'll find two Risograph Printers on Make Works – Risotto Studio in Glasgow, Workhorse Press in Edinburgh. You can also use the Riso Printer at the DCA Print Studio in Dundee.