Welcome to our Riso page! Here you’ll find information about our newest printer and best practices for using it!

First things first, what is Riso?

Riso is a printer that has been around since the 80s, running like a digital screen print more than a digital printer. Risos use “masters,” or paper stencils, to push the ink from the cylinder through to the paper. Registration isn’t perfect and ink coverage is also not perfect. So why is it popular? From the vibrant ink colors to the flat velvety look, these printers are like the Polaroid of printing! Each print may have a different look or slight imperfection that makes them unique compared to traditional digital printing. Without using heat and having a very simple paper path the Riso can also print on a wide variety of paper including paper bags, seed paper, handmade paper, and more! Please bring a few samples of your stock if you want to test something out and see if it will run. Anything coated or slick will not work due to the ink never drying on the stock (it is WILD!).

For an example, see the images below. All are two color prints with one pass. Using most of the colors we have, these prints represent a vibrancy that standard digital printers cannot come close to!

To create a file to print, we recommend using the free-to-download app Spectrolite (and install the below inks into the “INK” tab:

Then create your palette in the PALETTE tab, two to four colors, and RISO-IFY YOUR ART! (PDF preferred)

Look at each of the plates you are given and think about how the ink will lay. It isn’t perfect, they might need to be edited to use PURE color in spaces you want them to be. But this is a great starting point.

You can also send the print as a .PSD file with layers representing each color. Or, for a fee, you can send the art for us to edit and we can send a digital proof. Remember these are not perfect representations of the final. A digital proof of what you’re hoping the image will look like will give us something to compare to!

This printer is fun and quirky! The mystery of translating between the digital space and the physical piece is often surprising and weird but it is always FUN!

If you want a perfect reproduction, please talk to us about digital printing! We can still make some pretty funky stuff with way more control over the finished project. WonderPress is all about experimenting and making unique ideas come to life. The Riso is only one arm of our ever evolving production capacity! Let’s talk and make something weird!

Pricing

The cost to print with Riso works a bit differently than our other printers. For setting up a print that uses 1-2 colors on one side of the page, the setup fee is $10. Every additional color on either side of the page will add $5. This is because for each color a new ink drum needs to prepared - this setup fee reflects that labor. Price after setup will be quoted per project based on yield from 11x17 sheets.

Click the button below to be added to our wait-list and take a spin on the riso as soon as it’s available!