Riso Intro Guide
Contents Riso Intro Guide 4 Anatomy of Riso 6 Hard Copy vs Digital File
8
Hard Copy Print 10 Before you print 14 Clear Previous Masters
15
The Control Panel
16
Switching Ink 17 Our Riso Colors 18 File Preparation 24 Add Riso Swatches 26
2
Spot Colors 28 Print from Photoshop 33 Channels & Layers 38 Best Practices 40 Notes 42
3
Riso Intro Guide A Risograph is a fantastic machine with a variety of options for creating exciting prints. This is a basic overview of how to properly utilize Riso to create new and unique looks for your work.
You will be able to print up to two spot colors at a time. You can achieve similar print textures like you would with screen-printing but at a fraction of the time and cost.
Let’s get started!
4
What does a Riso do? The Riso machine creates a digital stamp of individual colors (which are incredibly vibrant!) and together they create a colorful image.
How does Riso works? When you scan or upload an image to the machine, it makes a paper stencil and wraps this around the ink drum. Paper is placed on the feeder and passed through one or two of the ink drums to create your print based off the stencil or “Masters”.
Below are a few basic tips to get the best out of your designs for Risograph printing. We’ll look at setting up your files in Photoshop, turning your colors to grayscale, and then how to save them.
5
Anatomy of Riso 12. Master making unit removal lever. 13. Power switch. Paper receiving tray. 14. Paper tray. 15. Paper stopper. 16. Receiving-tray paper guides. 17. Paper arranger knob. 18. Paper jumping wing. 19. Master disposal box 20. Master making unit. 21. USB slot.
1. Master making unit cover. 2. Master guide flip. 3. Thermal print head. 4. Master roll holder. 5. Master Roll. 6. Front door. 7. Print drum (cylinder) 8. Ink cartridge. 9. Print Drum Release Button. 10. Master Making Unit Release Button.
6
Adjust paper feed
Paper button
7
Paper edges
Hard Copy vs Digital File
1 Hard Copy Photograph or Illustration
2 Riso Scan Lift the planten cover
3 Paper Tray Pick up your prints
8
1 Scan or download File formats Jpeg, Tiff, Png, Psd
2 Print from Adobe Photoshop
3 Paper Tray Pick up your prints
9
Hard copy print Use the scanner instead of a digital file 1. Open the platen cover. 2. Place an original on the glass platen Plce the original with the scanning placing down and align the center of the original. Look for the arrow mark. The printer will guide you through the steps. 3. Close the platen cover.
10
4. Press the home screen. 5. Choose which drum or dual color. 6. Press Master Make. 7. Press start to make master.
It will make the master and spit out proofs for only master 1. If someone else made a master on the second drum, it will also print (unless cleared)!
8. Place second original on glass. 9. Press start.
11
The second master will be made Proofs of second and first master will come out.
9. Place your hard copy for color 2. 10. Press the [Start] key. 11. Remove the printed copies from the tray.
12
13
Before you print 1. Wake the Riso by pressing the Wake Up button. 2. Switch ink drum to the color you want. 3. Insert paper.
14
To clear previous masters 1. Click Home 2. Click dual tone, 3. Clear master on the drum of your choosing. 4. It will take a while for the ink to clear from the previous master.
Control Screen
15
The Control Panel
Keypad
Home
Print Counter Control Screen
16
Switching Ink: 1. Open front door 2. Press Blue Button 3. Pull out drum by blue handle. 4. Lift drum out by the two blue handles. Make sure to put the drum back in the labeled case. The drum MUST be placed in horizontal position on a stable surface.
17
Our Riso Colors
Black
Blue
Green
Bright Red
Fluorescent Pink
Orange
Teal
Purple
Brown
18
Yellow
Fluorescent Orange
Currently we have 11 vibrant riso inks. Riso ink is very slow to absorb into paper, therefore we recommend breaking up anything over two colors into two sessions over two separate days. Avoid putting spot colors at the head of the page to avoid paper jams.
The Riso uses offset print. A spot color or solid color is any color generated by an ink (pure or mixed).
Spot Color Process CMYK
19
20
21
22
23
File preparation The Riso can print 2 colors on one pass on 11x17 or 8.5x11 size paper. Make sure you allow a border around your design of at least 0.24 inches because Risograph printers can’t print in full bleed.
• Resolution: 600 dpi • Size: Tabloid (11”x17”) or Letter size (8.5”x11”) • Portrait Oriented • Color Mode: RGB
24
Adjust paper feed
Paper button
Paper edges
1. Press paper button. 2. Put in paper 3. Adjust Edges 4. Press paper button until paper sensor touches paper. 5. Make sure the paper weight toggle is set to heavy for heavy stock or light for lighter stock.
25
Add Riso Swatches 1. Download the Riso Swatches from the DIC Website https://www.sva.edu/tobeteterminedswatchdwonload.
2. Scroll down to the Illustration Overview section. 3. Click Swatches. 4. In Photoshop, Window --> Swatches 5. Click Save file. Click OK. 6. In Photoshop, Select Import Swatches. Select “DIC Riso Swatches.aco” (Check your Desktop or Downloads Folder) 7. Select Open Now you have the DIC Riso ink color in your Swatches Panel!
26
27
Spot Colors Use this tutorial for designing in SPOT colors. If you set up your file this way you can see how the colors will come out while having your colors separated in your layers.
1. Click New Fill or Adjustment Layer” & Select Solid Color. The New Fill Color symbol is located in the Layers panel. 2. Select the Riso color you want from the Riso Swatches Panel.
3. Click Ok. 4. Select the fill color layer name you just created in the Layers Panel. menu and select Screen.
28
5. Right-click your mouse on the FIll Color layer, and select Create Clipping Mask.
Clipping Mask with Fill Color
6. Select the standard layer and change the blending mode to Multiply.
The image mode is set to Multiply so you can see how your colors will look printed.
Label before each image: When you print vs When you are designing.
29
Original Image
Riso Preview with the Fill Color adjustment
Repeat this process for each color and layer. Use the grayscale image to print to the Riso. Don’t forget to deactivate the other layers before you print. You can print one layer at a time.
30
31
9. In the Layers panel create New Layer (Command + Shift + N) 10. Name new layer “Black” Edit > Paste (Command + V) 11. Click the layer Eye icon to make it invisible.
IMPORTANT: Do NOT skip this step.
12. Repeat for Cyan, Yellow, and Magenta.
You can do this in RGB mode by following these steps but changing your layers to Red, Blue & Green.
32
Print from Photoshop Once you’ve set up your project with spot colors, you’re ready to go. 1. Check the paper. 2. Make sure that the printer is awake by pressing the “Wake-Up” button. 3. On the control screen press the single color you want to use. You will create a master for each color. 4. Press master make.
From your computer, simply send the first file to print. (Active layer/ Grayscale file) But before pressing the button you want to adjust/check your print properties:
Set the printing conditions in the [Print] dialog box on the computer.
33
Diable Collate Pages
6. File > Print > Click Print Settings. 7. Select your paper size. 8. Under the Layout menu, select paper handling. 9. Disable Collate pages. 10. From Photoshop, make sure the color layer you want to print is visible and all other layers hidden. 11. If you are doing dual colors do color 1 and then color two. 12. Color Handling should be set to Printer [Manages Colors].
34
13. File > print > Print settings 14. Click your paper > Layout > Coloring > Change color 1 and color 2 to the color you are using.
MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE THE SAME AS THE DRUMS YOU HAVE IN THE PRINTER. 15. If your color is not there, Click > Layout > Print Color Entry to add your colors. 16. Click master making: Click only color 1 > Save > click Print.
35
Creating a master - Color 1 The Riso printer will beep when the file is ready. 17. You must go to the printer. Make sure the printer is awake. 18. Press Idle > make sure it is your file name listed > press output > then start it will make your master on the first drum and print out proofs. Creating a master - Color 2 19. Go back to photoshop, turn on your second layer for the second color and hide the color you have just printed.
36
20. File > Print > Click Layout > Coloring > Choose only color 2 for your second color which is drum 2. 21. You will hear a beep from the Riso. 22. Go to the printer. 23. Click Idle > Click Pause > Click Output. The Riso will make a master for drum number two. Make sure your file name is listed in the queue window.
24. Click [Start]. 25. Press [Printing]. Print as many as you need. If you want to add more colors, make sure you have enough copies to run some tests. We recommend 10-20 prints.
37
Channels & Layers From Photoshop
Use this tutorial to prep your complex image (photograph) or flattened full color artwork for printing on the Riso.
1. Open your file in Photoshop. 2. In the Layers Panel, select the lock next to Background 3. Rename layer to “Original” 4. Image Mode > CMYK > Color
38
Use this tutorial to prep your complex image (photograph) or flattened full color artwork for printing on the Riso.
1. Open your file in Photoshop. 2. In the Layers Panel, select the lock next to Background. 3. Rename layer to “Original” 4. Image Mode > CMYK > Color. 5. In the Layers Panel, select Channels. 6. Select Black
7. Select > All (Command+ A) 8. Edit > Copy Merged (Command + Shift + C)
39
Best Practices 1. Take your time. 2. Max. your paper size. 3. Minimum drying time is 1 hour. 4. Max paper weight is 300g (110 # cover). 5. Minimum paper weight is 90g. 6. Only use UNCOATED paper. 7. Image resolution 600dpi. 8. Minimum type size 6 pt. 9. Check your paper settings! 10. Neat paper stock = less jams. 11. Leave the Riso room cleaner than what it was when you came in.
40
41
Notes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
42
Notes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
43
Notes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
44
Notes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
45
Notes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
46
Notes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
47
Notes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
48
Notes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
49