The Risograph (or 'Riso') is a digital stencil duplicator, originally released in Japan in 1986. A speedy and low cost alternative to screen printing, the Riso produces stencil paper prints using a unique range of vivid spot colour inks. Originally intended for high volume printing, the Riso technology has since been adopted by artists and publishers as a way of producing bright, tactile prints.

A3 paper (297 x 420mm) but Risograph cannot print full bleed so a 5mm blank margin is left, making the max printable area 410 x 287mm.

In theory you can print just 1 copy, but Riso is more cost-effective at quantities from about 50+ so it makes sense to order a few extra. Stencils can’t be saved in the machine, so reprints will cost the same as the initial print run. We do offer test prints art £17.50 per colour, if your project requires a wet proof.

We currently stock 34 Risograph spot colour inks - the largest palette of all UK studios!

Most of the cost of Risograph printing is in the initial set up of stencils. We charge £10 per colour stencil and our service fee depends on the number of colours and copies. You can order Riso prints directly using our online form or print packages, or contact us directly for a custom quote.

Risograph printing is a very quick process (in theory!) although the machines are temperamental and can jam and error on occasion. We also need to leave prints to dry between each layer, so more layers will mean more drying time. We aim to complete jobs within 5-7 working days, or we offer a rush service within 2 working days for 15% extra. Zines and larger print runs will take more time, so do communicate any deadlines to us early on.

We email over a digital PDF artwork proof before printing to make sure everything looks ok, using Riso ink equivalent HEX codes. They don't replicate Riso inks 100%, but give a good indication of the final result. If your artwork has been set up correctly and thoughtfully for the Risograph process, your prints should turn out great!

We offer Riso test prints for £17.50 per colour and you'll receive 1 proof copy on a house stock paper. We can't save stencils from proofs as they're discarded in the printer, so if you'd like to go ahead with the job these are chargeable again.

Ordering Riso test prints isn’t required for most jobs as it adds on cost and time - instead we recommend carefully checking the digital proof and colour swatches side by side and having a little faith in the Riso magic! Prints will never look exactly as they do on screen, but that’s all part of the fun.

Paper stencils are discarded in the printer as soon as a new artwork is made, so we can’t save them (unlike screen print stencils). Reprints will incur the same full cost as the initial print run, so it’s a good idea to order extra if you think you’ll need more copies later on.

We only print on papers stocked at the studio, as they've been tested in our machines and we know they work well with Risograph inks. However, if you've got a very specific paper in mind that we don’t stock, we may be able to test it for you in special cases - please contact us to discuss.

We’re currently working on a new colour swatch pack - available ASAP.

You’ll find all information in our online print guide for getting your artwork Riso-ready, but if you have any extra questions which aren’t covered do get in touch.

We offer an artwork and file set up service, charged at £25ph - contact us to discuss your requirements. We also offer design and illustration which requires a bespoke quote - get in touch to chat about your requirements. You can check out some of our design and print work here.

Risograph inks are oil based and not classed as archival or lightfast. Prints will fade over time if left in direct sunlight (especially the fluorescent inks) but will last much longer if kept out of light. Fun fact - Riso fluorescent inks glow under UV light!

You’re welcome to pop by our Margate studio for a chat! Email us to arrange a time.

We don’t currently offer any print sessions or workshops, but hope to in future!

We're a small team of two and don’t currently have the capacity to hire or take on interns. However if you’re interested, do email across your details and portfolio as we collaborate on print projects from time to time - that’s exactly how we found our last print assistant!