Skip to Main Content
Purdue University Purdue Logo Purdue Libraries

Risograph Printing in the Knowledge Lab

The Knowledge Lab has a SF5130 Risograph printer, this is a guide that provides information on colors, file preparation, and general information about how to create prints with this specialty printer.

Risograph Basics

A risograph printer (RISO) is best described as a "digital screen printer" - the printing process is similar to traditional screen printing but in the convenient form of an office printer. Files can either be sent to the printer via computer or paper originals can be scanned using the RISO scanning bed. RISO printing is known for bright vibrant color options, the unique texture and quality of the print, and the speed at which large quantities of prints can be made. RISO printing is a great option for printing flyers, art prints, zines, comics, images, and other graphic arts. 

How does the printer work?

  1. Whether sending a file from a computer or using the scanner bed, information is translated into a dot pattern that is burned into a sheet of rice paper called a master.
  2. The master is wrapped around an ink drum. 
  3. As paper feeds through the machine, the ink drum spins and prints the information onto the paper at a fast rate. 

Animation of paper feeding into the riso printer, the ink drum spins and prints an image onto the paper.

The RISO printer in the Knowledge Lab is a single drum printer meaning it can only print one color at a time; to print multiple colors, the ink drums need to be manually switched out, a new file needs to be sent to the printer, and a new master is created. Paper is over printed by sending the paper back through the printer to layer the next color onto the previous layer. The Knowledge Lab has nine colors to choose from, the maximum number of colors/layers that can used for a print is four. 

When information is sent to the RISO printer, it gets burned into the master in the form of thousands of dots, this creates the classic textured effect RISO prints are known for. Look through the gallery in the box below to see example prints made in the Lab!

There are two options for how the texture is rendered:

  • Grain Touch: a random diffusion dither pattern
  • Screen-covered: classic halftone pattern
    • Screen Frequency controls the size of dots produced (higher numbers = smaller dots).
    • Screen Angle controls the angle that the pattern is set to.
  • The option to select the desired screen texture is done in the print dialog box in Adobe Acrobat at the time of printing and will be discussed during risograph training. 

Close up examples of the two different screen textures created by the riso printer. Grain-touch looks like randomized dots, screen-covered looks like half-tone dots.

If you have never used a RISO printer before or if you have prior RISO printing experience but not in the Knowledge Lab, you need to schedule a training session with the Knowledge Lab Manager, Patricia Swanson, prior to printing in the lab.

Training Details:

  • 30-45 minutes
  • Covers printer basics, lab printing policies, and basic file prep.
  • Email Patricia directly at paswanso@purdue.edu to schedule a training.
    • Try to request a training session a week in advance.
    • Due to the time it takes to train and the specialized nature of the RISO printer, Knowledge Lab staff may not be able to provide training without an appointment. 

After training, printer is available on a first come, first serve basis.

  • The RISO is sometimes reserved for a workshop or a class project.
  • If you are planning to come in to use the RISO, you can always email the Knowledge Lab at knowledgelab@purdue.edu ahead of time to check if there are any reservations the day you want to come in to use the printer. 

Risograph Examples

Risograph flyer for an art exhibition showing 4 color layers, includes details like date, time, and location of event.
Art print made of two color layers of arches and a flower background
Art print of a cowboy statue using four layer CMYK printing technique
Flyer of an art exhibition featuring text and an image of a VHS tape
two color print made using scanner function of Riso printer- print shows two intersecting circles and a bust sculpture of a woman,
3 color art print of a cactus.
Collaborative collage image created using the scanner function- image shows 4 different colors, images of arrows, a star, and photos of architecture
Art print using 4 ink colors, showing a 3x3 grid of abstract circular designs
3 color art print of a close up image of a flower
Collage print created with scanner function showing images of rocks, a fish, and a scientific diagram