Riso at Matiz

Welcome to Riso at Matiz, your destination for vibrant, eco-friendly, and unique Risograph printing. Our studio empowers you to create stunning prints with bold colors, distinctive textures, and an artistic flair.

What is Riso?

Risograph (Riso) printing is a stencil-based duplicator process that offers the efficiency of digital printing with the charm and tactile quality of traditional screen printing. Developed in Japan in the 1980s, the Risograph has become a favorite among artists and designers for its vibrant colors, eco-friendly practices, and distinctive aesthetic.

How it Works

  1. Creating a Master: A digital or scanned image is used to create a rice-paper stencil (master).
  2. Printing: The master is wrapped around an ink drum. As the drum rotates at high speed, ink is pushed through the stencil onto paper.
  3. Layering Colors: Multicolored prints are achieved by running the paper through the machine multiple times, with each color layer printed separately.

At Matiz Press, we use:

  • MZ790U Dual-Color Printer: Prints two colors in a single pass.
Need some more info? Check out our Riso Resources

Paper Guidelines

Recommended Paper Types

  • Cover Stock: 60lb–100lb (80lb preferred)
  • Text Stock: 60lb–100lb
  • Finish: Uncoated paper (vellum or offset preferred)

Riso cannot print on glossy or coated paper. For specialty stock, we recommend French Paper Co., Mohawk, or Glodan.

Printing Area

  • Maximum Size: 11 x 17 inches (Tabloid)
  • Minimum Size: 3.5 x 5.5 inches
  • Printable Area: Approximately 10.75 x 16.75 inches

Note: Riso cannot print full bleed. Add a 1/4–1/2 inch border for optimal results.

Preparing Your File

File Setup

  1. Separate Colors: Save each color layer as a grayscale file. The Riso reads the percentage of black to determine ink coverage (e.g., 100% black = 100% ink).
  2. Format: Submit files as PDF, PNG, or JPEG at 300–600 DPI.
  3. Font Size: Minimum 6pt for legibility.
  4. Line Weight: Minimum 0.5pt for clarity.
  5. Solid Areas: Avoid large areas of 100% ink; reduce to 50%–80% opacity for smoother printing.
  6. Reference File: Include a full-color reference image to guide the final output.

For assistance, you can book a consultation.

Materials Pricing

At Matiz Press, we provide affordable materials to support your printing projects. You’re welcome to bring your own materials or purchase from our in-house stock.

Please Note: When renting the printer, all materials used during your session—including paper, ink passes, and masters—will be calculated and charged based on actual usage.

Paper

  • Letter Copy Paper (8.5 x 11"): $0.10/sheet
  • Letter Cardstock (8.5 x 11"): $0.40/sheet
  • Tabloid Copy Paper (11 x 17"): $0.20/sheet
  • Tabloid Cardstock (11 x 17"): $0.80/sheet
  • Specialty Papers: Prices vary; inquire about availability

Masters & Inks

  • Risograph Masters: $2.50 per master
  • Ink Passes (1 color): $0.05 per pass

Additional Materials

  • Binding Supplies: $0.50 per booklet (includes staples, coils, or thread)
  • Button Supplies: 1.5" Buttons: $15 for 20 / 2" Star Buttons: $25 for 20

Important Notes

  • Usage-Based Fees: Materials used during your session will be measured and charged accordingly.
  • Special Orders: For custom materials or large projects, contact us for a personalized quote.
  • Limited Stock: Some materials may have limited availability, so check ahead of your session.

Our Riso Colors

At Matiz Press, we have 9 color options (more soon, we hope!). These include Blue, Teal, Kelly Green, Yellow, Fluorescent Orange, Bright Red, Fluorescent Pink, Violet, and Black.

You can find more info here: stencil.wiki/colors

Download our Riso Swatches Here

Risograph Ink Colors

Each color requires a dedicated drum. Below are the colors currently available at Matiz Press.

100%
75%
50%
25%

Black

HEX: #000000

Pantone: Black U

CMYK: 0, 0, 0, 100

RGB: 0, 0, 0

100%
75%
50%
25%

Blue

HEX: #0078BF

Pantone: 3005 U

CMYK: 99, 22, 0, 1

RGB: 0, 120, 191

100%
75%
50%
25%

Teal

HEX: #00838A

Pantone: 320 U

CMYK: 100, 1, 40, 7

RGB: 0, 131, 138

100%
75%
50%
25%

Kelly Green

HEX: #67B346

Pantone: 368 U

CMYK: 52, 0, 86, 0

RGB: 103, 179, 70

100%
75%
50%
25%

Yellow

HEX: #FFE800

Pantone: Yellow U

CMYK: 0, 9, 100, 0

RGB: 255, 232, 0

100%
75%
50%
25%

Fluorescent Orange

HEX: #FF7477

Pantone: 805 U

CMYK: 0, 55, 53, 0

RGB: 255, 116, 119

100%
75%
50%
25%

Bright Red

HEX: #F15060

Pantone: 032 U

CMYK: 0, 67, 60, 5

RGB: 241, 80, 96

100%
75%
50%
25%

Fluorescent Pink

HEX: #FF48B0

Pantone: 806 U

CMYK: 0, 72, 31, 0

RGB: 255, 72, 176

100%
75%
50%
25%

Violet

HEX: #9D7AD2

Pantone: 265 U

CMYK: 40, 51, 0, 0

RGB: 157, 122, 210

Riso Imperfections

  • Smudging: Riso ink, composed of rice bran oil, water, and pigment, is prone to smudging, similar to newspaper ink. Large areas of solid color, particularly dark tones, can increase the likelihood of smudging, especially on hight-touch areas. To reduce smudging, allow prints to dry thoroughly before handling.

  • Roller Marks: Roller marks may appear when papers with significant ink coverage pass through the Riso multiple times. These marks are caused by the feeder rollers coming into contact with wet ink. To address this:

    • Print layers with heavy ink coverage last.
    • If possible, leave areas in the center of design lighter in shade.
    • Allow sufficient drying time between layers.
    • Marks on white areas can often be removed gently with an eraser.

  • Registration: As with screen printing, each color layer in Riso printing is applied individually. For prints with multiple layers, slight misalignments (registration issues) between colors may occur. This variability can add character to your prints, but techniques like color trapping can help reduce visible gaps where layers meet.

  • Bleed: The printable area of a risograph is limited by the size of the paper, so a small border is left on the image to allow the paper to pass through. 

    If prints are needed at full bleed, print the design slightly larger and trim to desired size.