HOW TO MAKE YOUR DESIGN

PRINT-READY

Riso has a printing resolution of up to 600dpi, either with grain touch or rasterized. For optimal Riso results of your design, please follow these guidelines:

• Separate your file per colour layer in greyscale or b/w
• Save as PDF and add in the document name the colour in which you want that PDF to be printed.
  e.g. myprintGREEN.pdf and myprintBLACK.pdf
• Your file is flattened; no layers, no transparencies
• Document maximum resolution of 600 dpi
• Document size is 420x297mm (A3)
• Max. printable area is 412x291mm
• Use 3/3/3/5mm margin (5 at the top)
• Use 3 mm bleed for full-bleed design
• Include crop marks and or registration marks
  
• For booklets please provide complete PDFs, no spreads, when possible impositioned on an A3
• For books and booklets, please provide (digital) proof of your document

If you are inexperienced or having difficulties with making your design print-ready, let us know. We can separate and set up your files for you.

EMBRACING THE IMPERFECT

Riso printing comes with a few imperfections of which misregistration is the most common.

Misregistration can happen when printing two or more colours. Please ensure room to allow 2-3 mm shifting during the print process for small details that rely on 100% registration.

Colour results vary, depending on what paper is used.

Large areas of colour can be uneven and varying in coverage. Putting these large areas at 90%, or even 80%, instead of 100% coverage, can prevent this. Riso ink ‘sits’ on the surface. That means that work is prone to smudging if handled a lot.

Small roller marks can be visible on your print. Rollers can leave their marks when printing large areas or multiple overlapping colours that are printed on the same page or when prints aren't given enough time to dry. Usually, these marks can be removed by gently dabbing with an eraser.

RISO or Riso Kagaku is the leading brand of digital stencil-duplicators that was born in Japan in the ’80s and is manufactured by the Riso Kagaku Corporation. Riso evolved from the mimeograph, an analog stencil-duplicator that was often used in offices. Stencil-duplicators made it possible for the common man to duplicate documents in a short time and in high quantity. Starting in the 1950s, mimeograph technology was used to self-publish literature, including chapbooks, manifestos, and zines. Gradually photocopiers, inkjet printers, and the Internet made the mimeograph obsolete but since Riso made the first automated stencil-duplicator the popularity in stencil-duplicating increased, and Riso seems more popular than ever. Riso is often compared to silkscreen printing because the ink - like silkscreen- is forced through a screen onto a paper. Analogous with silkscreen printing it is a cold process and every colour is printed separately, our machine operates two drums at the same time so it can print two colour layers in one print run. Riso inks are semi-transparent colours. This means colours can be mixed with each other, by layering, to create new and exciting colours. Riso is quite popular in the arts because its distinct way of printing can reproduce work in an authentic matter. It’s easier, cheaper, and faster than silkscreen but still has the authentic feel to it, for every print is unique in its own way.

The results of Riso printing can be amazing. The spot colours offer space for colour experimentations and overprinting. Also Riso has inks such as fluorescent and metallic gold, it has an authentic feel, is original and arty! Riso is an environmentally friendly printing method. Riso uses a cold printing process that does not require heat to fix images onto a page. This helps keep down the overall energy consumption, even when printing at maximum speed. The ink from Riso is soy or Rice-bran oil-based and non-toxic. The masters are made from plant fibers (banana and hemp). Riso is a highly efficient and sustainable printing method that fits a modern lifestyle with an awareness of the ecological footprint we all have.

Please inquire for more paper possibilities

* Forever papers can be order in a range of different colours, ask for more information
** Minimal order 100 sheets A3 long grain

*** Due to paper grain direction other formats e.g. SRA4 are cheaper

Discount for students: 10% 

Discount for zines: 10% on printing costs

Please note that printing jobs may take up to 10 working days (ex. shipping)

DISCLAIMER

Please note that prices are subject to change.

For an exact price request a quote here.

All prices are ex. 21% btw. 

When printing with us you agree with Riso imperfections, we strive to keep smudging, misregistration, etc. to the minimum. 

When printing with us you agree that photos, videos, and misprints of your printed matter may be used for our portfolio (social media). Please let us know if you don’t want your work to be featured.

To calculate the total price add up the following:

Print costs: Number of colours x print run x price

Paper costs: Print run x price 

Total price: Print costs + paper costs + 21% BTW

e.g. 100 2/c A3 posters on Biotop 160gm

print costs: 2 colours x 100 prints x € 0,30 = € 60,00

paper costs: 100 prints x € 0,17 = € 17,00

total: € 60,00 + € 17,00 + BTW 21% € 16,17 = € 93,17