There are two appointment types available: Demo and Printing.
Appointments are available for all students! If you're interested in using the RISO, make an appointment by clicking the button below. Please note that some appointments may be unavailable due to priority booking for studio art courses. Check Reed's Calendar of Events for drop-in demos and workshops open each semester!
Risograph ink is translucent, so its final appearance depends on the color of the paper it is printed on, the layering of each ink, the saturation of color (10%-100%), and how the overlay of colors can mix and create new colors. Riso printing is a spot color printing method, meaning that it excels in using 1 to 4 inks, as opposed to trying to mix all of them in order to reproduce a wide range of colors (CMYK).
View the inks that we have available at the VRC below:
Download Ink Swatches for Photoshop or Illustrator
1. Download the VRC Riso Ink Swatches for Photoshop or Illustrator.
2. Open your artwork in Photoshop or Illustrator. Navigate to the menu option "Window" and select the "Swatches" option.
3. Navigate to the swatches menu in the right panel. Select the menu icon click "Open Swatch Library," and select "Other Library" at the bottom of the menu.
4. Upload the "VRC Riso Inks FY 23-24.ase." Navigate to your swatches panel and scroll to the bottom to find the "VRC Riso Ink" folder.
5. Now you have a reference for how the colors will print using the VRC inks available.
REMINDER: the swatches are for visual reference, you must set your artwork to grayscale for printing on the RISO. and keep your layers visible OR export each ink color as a PDF
The Risograph prints best on uncoated paper between 20# to 80# (80gsm to 300 gsm). Riso ink prints best on uncoated paper (not glossy), because it adheres directly to the fibers of the paper. Check out the available paper options for your projects by viewing the document below.
Your files should be separated into individual black & white images for each color that is to be printed prior to your printing appointment. Whether you're printing from a digital file or scanning images on the scanner bed, your files need to be separated into pages by color and print order.
Four Core Reminders
1. Plan your layers, color selections, and print order.
2. File should be in RGB, layers should be set up in grayscale and resolution should be set to 300 dpi. All files are sent to the printer in grayscale and colors are added as they pass through the ink drum during the printing process.
3. Ask questions and find tutorials, templates, and online resources in this LibGuide.
4. Prepare files and follow the additional requirements below.
Additional Requirements
Registration & Trim
Add registration marks to match up overlays. Add trim marks to trim your print to your desired size.
Flattening Images (if using Adobe)
When preparing your digital file, you must flatten, merge or rasterize layers before each color/layer as a PDF. Once you flatten your image, the effects that you applied in your file will become embedded as part of the artwork. This step will help you avoid effects in your images, such as jagged, blurry, or images with unintentional drop shadows.
A3 (11.7 x 16.5 in)
Ideal for posters or large prints.
A4 (8.5 x 11 in)
Ideal for fliers or medium sized prints. Templates below are for layout A4 but are printed on A3.
A5 (5.83 x 8.27 in)
Ideal for postcards or fliers. Templates below are for layout A5 but are printed on A3.
A5 Booklet or Zine (5.83 x 8.27 in)
Templates below are for layout A5 but are printed on A3. You can duplicate the document or art boards depending on how many pages you want in your zine. If you're printing double sided, I recommend making a sample so you can plan sequence and pagination.
This work by the Reed College Library is licensed under a Creative Commons CC-BY Attribution 4.0 International License.
Reed College Library | Email: library@reed.edu | Phone: 503-777-7702 | 3203 Southeast Woodstock Boulevard, Portland, Oregon 97202-8199
