Risograph printing, with its unique aesthetic and vibrant colours, is an environmentally friendly and affordable way of printmaking that uses soy-based inks. The Risograph is a stencil duplicator, and can be seen as a cross between screen printing and a photo copy. The machine produces unique outcomes by printing one spot colour at a time, with the process of layering colours requiring manual registration (much like screen printing). An original image is scanned on the machine and burned onto a master copy which is then wrapped around a print drum. The machine rotates at incredibly high speed, and the colour drum pushes ink through the screen and onto the paper as it passes through,
POP are excited to present our low down of 50 (+1) Riso printers and studios you should all know about. Check out some of the best independent zine publishers, open access Riso studios, and small run presses from all over the world.
1: RISOTTO
Led by designer Gabriella Marcella, RISOTTO is Scotland’s leading Risograph print specialist and stationery company. Established in 2012, they produce creative print for a range of clients; from leading art organisations to bands and brands, quickly and sustainably. RISOTTO also have their own range of paper goods, with a house style that is notoriously bold and playful.
2: Chugga Press
Chugga Press is an accessible, independent, and collaborative Riso printing and design studio based in Ancoats, Manchester. The studio currently houses a Riso MZ1070e machine capable of fast-turnaround, two-colour printing across six colours; black, blue, fluorescent pink, yellow, green, and metallic gold. Amongst other services, they offer fine art prints, business cards and flyers.
3: Drucken3000
Founded in 2014, Drucken3000 are a Berlin based Risography studio. The studio is run by a creative duo and is open to anyone who wants to create their own prints. They offer a variety of workshops and private parties, and also have an online shop selling printed matter by various talented artists.
4: Risolve
Born from a shared love of printmaking, design and innovation, Risolve is a family operated print and design studio run by husband and wife team Sebastian and Lyndsey Burke. They celebrate Riso printing, and work to expand the technical limits and boundaries of the digital duplicator process. Located in downtown Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA, Risolve provide print services to a wide variety of individuals and companies globally, including educating newcomers about the benefits and the beauty of Riso printing.
5: Jemini Press
Jemini Press was founded by Johanna Sevholt and Anna Olsson in the spring of 2018. Not only operating as a print shop, the duo also work on graphic design and illustration projects. They collaborate with others to realise their customers ideas when it comes to print, illustration, and design. Jemini Press’ personal goal is to explore how far they can push the limits of the Risograph. Besides printing and taking on commissioned design work, they simultaneously work on their own projects, fanzines, and various prints.
6: Hato Press
Based in London, Hato Press is an independent Risograph printing and publishing house. It is thought of as an autonomous experimental space to encourage collaborators to develop ideas and facilitate the production and distribution of exciting new content. They produce zines, artist books, and their own stationery range.
7: Risotropical
Created in 2016 by designer Renan Costa Lima, Risotropical is a printing and publishing workshop that is home to a Riso MZ1090. It is an offshoot of his design studio, Estúdio Tropical, and is based on his passion for print. Risotropical carry out their own projects and also collaborate with designers, artists, illustrators, and authors, producing both small and large print runs. On their online store they sell their own collection of posters, prints, and art publications, together with works by other artists whose works they have published.
8: Fidele Editions
Specialising in Risograph printing, Fidele Editions produce books, posters, postcards, and flyers for artists, businesses, and individuals. The small press and Risograph print studio is based in Paris, and has over 30 Riso colours available. As well as publishing books, they also offer workshops teaching all the printing basics and more complex techniques.
9: Mothership Print Studio
Mothership Print Studio is run by Julian Mayerhofer, a freelance printer and illustrator based in Vienna, Austria. The studio currently houses 4 Risos and 13 colours. He mostly prints his own illustrations, but also collaborates with fellow artists and takes commissions.
10: Duplikat Press
Run by two freelance artists, Rich and Estelle, Duplikat Press is an independent Risograph studio producing affordable and eco-friendly prints in Fish Island, East London. The duo run two printers and currently stock twenty-six ink colours. Alongside offering a printing service, they also have their own online store where you can purchase from their print collection.
11: Dream Press
Based in Cape Town, South Africa, Dream Press is a small independent publishing studio, offering unique, alternative, and environmentally friendly Risograph printing with their SF9350. The studio’s services include designing, bookbinding, and finishing.
12: Čierne Diery
Acquired by the Slovak National Gallery, Čierne diery (The Black Holes) has become a collector’s phenomenon in Slovakia. The project aims to promote decaying monuments and architecture, overlooked by the general public. The members of the project run an independent Riso studio, working with more than 60 visual artists they’ve created more than 200 artworks, expanding the series indefinitely. They never take on commissions, instead self-publishing every book they make.
13: Colorama
Colorama is a Riso printing studio and publishing house based in Berlin. Founded by Johanna Maierski in 2015, the studio is home to a Risograph MZ970, RZ970, and various machines allowing them produce a wide range of printed matter. As well as hosting workshops about printing, colour-separation, book-binding, and zine-making, Johanna also runs Colorama Press; a publishing house dedicated to the collaboration, observation, and production of publications that feature the works of comic artists.
14: De Kijm
Based in The Hague, The Netherlands, creative printing studio De Kijm houses an A3 Risograph with 40 colours and an A2 Risograph with 6 colours, alongside lots of other printmaking equipment. Graphic artist Steven van Bodegraven, and designer Thomas Klaui, started De Kijm in 2009 after graduating from the Royal Academy of Arts (NL).
15: Haptic Editions
Located in Bangkok, Haptic Editions is a Risograph and design studio. Established in 2018 by graphic designers who love to play and work with print matter, they see the hands-on process of Riso printing as the best way to deliver their craft. Work that brings together craft and design is their expertise.
16: Dopple Press
Dopple Press began in 2015 as Brighton’s first and only dedicated Risograph printers. Their name is a play on ‘doppelgänger’, meaning to look the same but not identical, exactly what you can expect from the Risograph process. Dopple is run by Liv White, a designer who has a passion for the Riso print process, DIY culture, and forming products with creatives for creatives. As well as offering workshops, the studio also has on online store offering prints and wares.
17: The Gutter Press
The Gutter Press is a Risograph printing studio based in Edinburgh. It was founded by designer Sarah Bissell, whose style tends to focus on the use of colour and texture with a range of subject matter. As well as printing Riso artwork for a variety of clients, they also create their own prints and products which can be found in a range of shops.
18: Riso on the Moon
Riso on the Moon is a Risography studio founded by Claire Guyot in 2020. Besides a Riso printing service, they organise various workshops for people to discover and learn more about the printing process, as well as producing and selling their own stationery that features witchy, botanical, and astral inspirations.
19: Beast Studio
Beast Studio is based in Malmö, Sweden, and consists of two graphic designers with a passion for print. Since 2013, Li and Robert work as graphic designers for hire, realise print projects, and create thoughtful and colourful posters, zines, and other printed matter, mainly using a Risograph machine. They have a webshop and a physical kiosk in their storefront studio.
20: Knuckles and Notch
Singapore-based studio Knuckles and Notch explore the possibilities of Riso printing through the creation of prints that showcase colour with a touch of morbid humour. They operate with the desire to collaborate with fellow artists and clients to produce products that push the boundaries of print, enlightening the public with bright colours and engaging them into a waking dream. As well as creating their own quirky works, they provide anyone with a strong sense of aesthetic an alternative printmaking service and offer a series of workshops.
21: Corners
Active since 2012, and located in Seoul, Corners currently own and use two Riso MZ970s and 23 drums. As well as offering a Risograph printing service, they also operate open houses, workshops, exhibitions, and events. You can also shop a selection of their prints, and printed ephemera on their online store.
22: TXTBooks
TXTbooks is an artist-run independent publishing initiative in Brooklyn, NY. Founded in 2014, it is currently maintained by Robert Blair, Thomas Colligan, Nichole Shinn, Rose Wong, and Kurt Woerpel. Their interest is in self-publishing as a collective, while facilitating projects with artists and writers working across many disciplines. They aim to publish those who have not yet considered producing a zine, or at least don’t consider it their main practice, with the ultimate goal to create dumb jokes and passion projects with as many people as possible. Their publications are resolved via Risograph printing for cost-effective self production, and as an informal way to aesthetically bind their output.
23: Wild Press
Wild Press is a Risograph print studio run by illustrator and printmaker Lou Rowland, based at Wild & Kind Studios in Glasgow. Wild and Kind are an ethical print and embroidery social enterprise that uses 100% of its profits to tackle loneliness and isolation. They strive to make riso printing accessible, inviting, affordable, and as fun as possible. The studio is home to a Riso MF9350 and ten colours, and the team are able to print art prints, posters, flyers, business cards, greeting cards, postcards, leaflets, stickers, zines, and booklets.
24: Nebel Press
Located in Annecy, France, Nebel Press is a Riso printing studio created by Nicolas Clemente and Félix Ernoult. The duo provide Risograph printing services for all types of projects: posters, business cards, postcards, illustrations, magazines, photos, flyers, and menus. Nebel Press is also a publishing house that works closely with emerging artists, through exhibitions and editions.
25: Helio Press
Helio Press is a studio specialising in illustrative Risograph printing and DIY publishing. It is the side project of illustrator and zine-lover Ashley Ronning, dedicated to the art of imbuing paper with the stories and experiences of authors and illustrators. The studio is located in Melbourne, Australia. You can shop their collection of prints, zines, and stationery via their online store.
26: COLMILLO
COLMILLO is a Risography and illustation studio based in Colombia, printed in soy-based inks. The studio is run by graphic designers DANYTABLEBOAT and D.SICK_ who are passionate about editorial design. Together they work on illustration, Risography, Serigraphy, Cassettes, and more.
27: Sunday’s Print Service
Sunday’s is a Glasgow-based Risograph printing service brought to you by Good Press. Artist-led, informal, and environmentally friendly, Sunday’s operates in two ways: as an open access facility, and as a commercial printing service. The print service is suited to posters, flyers, leaflets, newsletters, pamphlets, zines, and books. They have the capability to print in 15 different colours from their Riso MZ770E.
28: We Are Out Of Office
We Are Out Of Office consists of Felix van Dam and Winneke de Groot, two graphic designers from Holland. They run a small studio including a screen print and Risograph workshop based in a cherry orchard just outside Utrecht. The duo’s bold and colourful work is inspired by little rarities they pick up and collect during their travels around the world.
29: Martian Press
Martian Press is a one-human operation run by Stephanie Lane Gage and currently located in Los Angeles, CA. The press is dedicated to creating and publishing original content, as well as producing zines and prints created by emerging artists and writers. Stephanie collects the outlandish, the otherworldly, the extraordinary, and the ordinary, and produces something meaningful from them. Martian Press aims to publish art and writing primarily by queer makers, with a thematic focus on science fiction and works of a speculative nature. The studio also provides a Risograph printing service.
30: Quintal Atelier
Quintal Éditions is a creation studio and a publishing house for Riso printed works created by Oscar Ginter. The studio strives to synergise the artisanal and manual work of artists, and the automatic creative processes linked to new digital tools. Oscar and his team offer a series of Riso printing workshops, as well as providing a Risograph service for illustrators and designers.
31: MAGO Studio
Lisbon-based illustrators Bina Tangerina and Marcos Martos are the duo behing Risograph and illustration studio, MAGO. The studio was born from their passion for illustration, less conventional and more sustainable printing methods, and their willingness to creatively explore new techniques.
32: Riso Sur Mer
Riso Sur Mer is a collective of illustrators working between Glasgow and Paris, producing limited runs of zines and prints. The collective is formed of Mari Campistron, Élise Rigollet, Inès Gradot, Josephine Ohl, and Margaux Bigo. Via their online store you can shop their collection of Riso printed goods, or catch them at a print fair near you.
33: Kho Muc
Kho Muc (literal meaning: “dried squid” or “dry ink”) is an independent Riso print studio based in Saigon, Vietnam. Their open studio welcomes all artists, creatives, and print enthusiasts to experience the aesthetic of Risograph for their designs. The team hope to encourage the creative community to keep making and keep designing what they love, to inspire and to be inspired. The studio also offers a Riso printing service and workshops.
34: Directangle Press
Directangle Press is a letterpress and Risograph printshop run by Josh Dannin, specialising in printing, publishing, and community workshops. Currently based in the White Mountains of Bethlehem, N.H, the studio offers an open access Riso service as well as a printing service with their trusty pair of in-house Riso MZ790 printers in 14 colours.
35: Herr & Frau Rio
Based in Munich, Herr & Frau Rio consist of Sascha Wellm and Laura Sirch. They offer a Riso printing service for pretty much any medium in small or large editions. In order to let others participate in their favourite printing technology, they hold regular workshops in which they impart the basics, and the participants can design and produce beautiful printed matter. They also produce a beautiful range of printed goods which you can shop online.
36: Little Mountain Press
Co-founded by Xiao Mei and Mountain Dog, Little Mountain Press is a design and narrative independent press based in New York, US, and Shenzhen, China. The duo publish Risograph zines and prints, representing their love for bright colours and expression of their sexuality and Chinese identity. Their mission is to transform boredom into joy, and challenge people’s perception through print media.
37: Topo Copy
Topo Copy is an ‘openlab-research-centre’ for print, zines, paper, copy, ink, and art. The team fell in love with Riso Printing back in 2011 after purchasing a RISO RP 3700 single drum machine. At the beginning of 2021 they were able to buy a RISO MF9350 double drum press meaning they were able to add more colours to their collection. Working in collaboration, the team can print zines, books, and other creative paperwork.
38: Outer Space Press
Berlin based artist duo, Magdalena Wysocka and Claudio Pogo, design and produce artists’ books, multiples and prints in their studio Outer Space Press. Their approach to Riso printing is slow and calculated, shifting the focus from quantity and speed, to achieving the best quality of photography reproduction, all while embracing the roughness of textures and imperfections that are specific to Riso printing. The duo love collaborating with artists who share similar interests in combining photography with the tactile and material qualities of print.
39: Marc the Printers
Marc the Printers is an environmentally-friendly community printer based in Manchester. They offer a quick and inexpensive printing service for businesses and individuals, as well as access to their Risograph printer if you wish to print yourself. The studio houses 11 soy-based spot colour Risograph inks.
40: Maison Riso
Maison Riso is an artisanal printing company, born in Paris, and now installed in its orange and yellow workshop in Nice, and baser around two concepts: art printing and the environment. The studio is home to a Riso RZ 970 machine and 10 colours. The team can print posters in up to A3, as well as books, fanzines, flyers, and other ephemera.
41: SNAP SHOP
SNAP SHOP offer a bespoke Risograph printing service from the centre of Cardiff, UK. The studio is a small press and shop, selling goods curated from the best illustrators, both local and worldwide. SNAP SHOP is run by illustrator Dominic Twigg and currently offers 5 Riso spot colours.
42: Out of the Blueprint
Out of the Blueprint is a social enterprise supporting young artists in Scotland through the power of print. From their studio in Leith, they use Risograph printing to produce beautiful and unique artwork, posters, flyers, T-shirts, tote bags, mags, comics, and zines. The studio has 3 main areas of operation; print, training, and creativity. Alongside offering a print service they also offer a supportive training programme for young people with disabilities and barriers to employment as well as helping young creatives through a full programme of exhibitions, residencies, publications, and events.
43: Colour Code
Established in 2012, Colour Code is an independent print studio and publishing platform based in Toronto, Canada. The team specialise in high quality, artist friendly printing for local, US, and international customers. They also publish and distribute small-run artist books, comics, posters and other printed matter which you can find on their online store. The studio stocks over 20 colours which can be used in combination with transparency and overprinting techniques.
44: Bad Student
Established in 2017 by Pau Tiu and Dyam Gonzales, Bad Student is an independent Risograph art press and design studio working at the crossroads of printmaking, publishing, and design. The studio aims to empower and promote the DIY publishing community in the Philippines through Risograph printing. Bad Student actively organise and participate in exhibits and events, both locally and internationally, with the sole intent of showcasing independently published works from Filipino artists.
45: Cold Cube Press
Cold Cube is a Risograph printing service and publisher located in Pioneer Square, Seattle, WA. The studio prints fun and interesting books on their Riso MZ1090 printer. The small press specialises in art books, zines, comics, and poetry chapbooks. You can shop their collection via their online store.
46: Oddities
Based in Kansas City, and in operation since 2015, Oddities produce high quality Riso prints on their MZ 790U Risograph. The studio is home to 15 colour drums and can print everything from posters to zines. Via their online shop you can check out their collection of printed goods and their very own guide to Riso printing.
47: SVA RisoLab
Founded in 2015, The RisoLab at the School of Visual Arts in New York City is the only dedicated Riso facility of its kind, offering classes and workshops in Risograph printing for designers, illustrators, photographers, and creatives from all over the globe. They offer several Continuing Education courses, as well as an Undergraduate course and various Open Lab Access options for former students. Their mission is to become a hub of small scale and experimental printing and publishing activity that brings together artists of all backgrounds and disciplines.
48: Tiny Splendor
Tiny Splendor started in 2012 as a tiny collective, travelling around and sharing their friends’ artwork out of a small wooden fold-up gallery. They’ve since grown into two separate studios, one in Berkeley and one in Los Angeles, providing Riso print and publishing services to artists locally and from around the world. They also offer monthly Risograph workshops at both their L.A. and Berkeley studios.
49: Fours and Eights
Fours and Eights are a print collective and Riso studio based in Portsmouth. The studio was founded by Marie (hellomarie) and Darren (luckydarren) who are both graphic designers with a passion for print. The duo love to teach so also run workshops in Risograph Printing as well as selling their printed goods online.
50: Risotopia
Based in Kansas City, USA, Risotopia is a design and Risograph printing studio run by Kevin Garrison. They currently have 10 Riso soy inks in stock, which they use to produce printed matter for clients as well as products for their online store.
51: Secret Riso Club
Secret Riso Club is a graphic design and Risograph studio that focuses its work on the intersection of social justice, art, design, and community building. Through their practice they work to build a platform that serves as a collaborative space for developing ideas and new content. As well as providing a printing service, they also offer Risograph workshops and studio time alongside creating their own artworks.
robyn@peopleofprint.com
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