Print with Us
Check out the page below for information about our Risographic services and tips for preparing your files. When you’re ready click the button to fill out an inquiry form and we’ll get back to you in 1–2 business days.
Equipment
Our Machine
We have a Risograph SF5450, which prints one color at a time on uncoated paper up to 11” x 17”.
Our Ink Colors
We have nine ink colors:
Bright Red
Orange
Yellow
Light Lime
Grass
Blue
Fluorescent Pink
Violet
Black
Visit this page for digital previews of what they look like.
Digital Files
File Requirements
Accepted file types
Preferred: PDF
Also accepted: Adobe Photoshop, InDesign and Illustrator files
Minimum file requirements
To be considered print-ready, your artwork must meet the following criteria:
Color separations: Artwork must be split by color, with each color saved as an individual file. More information below.
Grayscale: Each indvidiual file should be in grayscale
Naming convention: Name each file according to the specific ink color
Resolution: Files must be between 300 PPI – 600 PPI
Packaging: Creative Cloud files (PSD, INDD, AI) must be “Packaged” (File > Package) to include all necessary fonts and links.
Color Separations
Our machine prints one color at a time. To process the print job, please send us color-separated files.
Spectrolite is a free and simple-to-use option to do color separation. This software is developed specifically for preparing files for Risograph printing (up to four colors.)
Our CMYK equivalents are Blue, Fluorescent Pink, Yellow and Black. However, you can use any combination of four colors from our color palette to produce interesting variations.
Production Tips
Large Solid Fills: Keep large solid areas at a maximum of 90% opacity, any higher can result in uneven colors and printing errors.
Typography: The minimum printable text size is 7pt
Line weights: The minimum printable line thickness is 0.5pt
Vectors: Whenever possible, convert type and linework to outlined vectors
Print Size
Maximum paper size: 11” x 17”
Margins: Final artwork should include a minimum 0.25” margin on all sides for any paper size
Please ask about trimming full bleed artwork
Notes on Opacity and Saturation
If you’d like your colors to remain vibrant, we recommend keeping your artwork at 90% opacity or higher. Because Risograph ink is translucent, the perceived saturation drops significantly once you dip below the 90% threshold.
Unless your design specifically calls for a "washed-out" or pastel aesthetic, maintaining a high opacity is the best way to preserve the natural richness of our ink palette.
This tip does not apply to large areas of solid fill. Large areas of solid fill should be kept at 90% opacity maximum.
Need Help?
If you prefer we handle the file setup, file prep is available for $55/hour. It includes:
CMYK prep
Color separations
In-person or online consultations
Contact us for a file prep estimate for your project.
Ink Colors
Click here to download a PDF of the chart above.
We have nine ink colors:
Bright Red
Orange
Yellow
Light Lime
Grass
Blue
Fluorescent Pink
Violet
Black
You can print up to nine colors per side. We recommend limiting your palette to three colors for the maximum effect and cost-effectiveness.
Our default Risograph setting is Grain Touch, which provides the classic Riso tactile aesthetic. Check out this page for advanced printing options.
Paper
We keep a small selection of paper in stock
8.5” x 11” (Letter size)
Copy paper (24lb text / 89 gsm)
Colors: White, Ivory, Pink, Blue, Green, Fluorescent Orange, Fluorescent Yellow
Cardstock (110lb index / 199 gsm)
Colors: White
11” x 17” (Tabloid/Ledger size)
Copy paper (24lb text / 89 gsm)
Colors: White, Yellow
Cardstock (80 lb cover / 217 gsm)
Colors: White
Images below are of actual stock. Note that color may appear different on your screen from the actual paper.
Please check this page or ask to confirm if a certain paper is in stock.
Contact us about custom sizes or full bleed trimming
Want to use your own paper?
Our machine can print on uncoated paper in weights from 12lb bond – 116lb index (46 gsm – 216 gsm)
We do not recommend using textured paper like cold-press watercolor paper. We cannot print on coated stocks like glossy or photo paper.
Given the unpredictable nature of Riso process, please provide at least twice as much paper than you need printed
White
Blue
Green
Ivory
Pink
Bright Yellow
Bright Orange
Finishing
Finishing
Trimming, folding, staple binding and coil binding is available for an additional fee. Please contact us for a quote.
We offer three different standard folding options: Bi-fold, Tri-Fold, and Z-fold. See diagrams below.
For folding options not illustrated here, please get in touch.
Things to consider
Variation
Riso isn’t perfect! Part of the charm of Risograph printing is the variation inherent to the process. Some of this variation includes slight imperfections. These are some of the things that you might expect to see on prints in your order.
Uneven printing - Large areas of color will often not print evenly.
Tire marks - When printing multiple colors the paper feed wheels can pick up colors already printed on the page and leave marks on the following pages.
Smudging - Riso ink is an oil-based ink and smudges easily if rubbed.
Misregistration - Each time a sheet of paper is fed through the machine, they may feed through in slightly different ways, leading to areas of color not lining up properly.
Proofreading
We do not proofread or correct artwork. Please check artwork for unintentional typos and errors grammatical or otherwise.
FAQs
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While we don’t currently offer studio rentals, we do provide Risograph workshops and printing services. If you're interested in Risograph printing, please fill out our inquiry form—we’d love to help make your project happen.
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Our standard pricing starts at $2.50 per color (or layer) per print with a minimum order of 25 prints.
For example: 25 one-color prints would cost $62.50 plus tax.
We also offer volume discounts for larger orders.
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Our turnaround time ranges from 3 to 10 business days, depending on the number of colors, pages, and any additional finishing services like trimming or folding. Rush fees may apply for expedited orders.
Please note that print jobs begin once payment has been received.
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Tell us about your project by completing our inquiry form.
We'll provide a cost estimate and finalize the invoice after receiving your files and detailed specifications.
Production will begin once the invoice is paid.
Once printed, you can pick up your project at our Inner Richmond studio or get it delivered for an additional fee.
Studio Time
We do not offer public use of our Risograph machine or studio rental. If you’d like to make prints please get in touch for a full-service quote.