FAQ
Paper
The Riso can print on sheets up to 12" x 17", but the maximum print area is 8 1/4” x 14 1/16”. This means that a standard 8.5” x 11” print will not be full bleed - it will have a 0.25” border on each side.
The machine will print on uncoated paper with weights between:
46 gsm - 157 gsm
Riso machines cannot print on non-absorbent papers, as the ink will never fully dry. This means coated, glossy, and tracing papers can not be run through the machine. Indoor Cat stocks a small selection of recycled papers with plans to expand in the future.
File Set Up
To prepare your artwork for printing, you will need to save each color layer as a separate grayscale file. All solid shapes, type and images should be set to #000000 Black (from 5% to 100% opacity).
Please send your work as a PDF (High-res - 300-600 DPI), PSD, or InDesign ZIP package. Images in PDF must be JPEG, grayscale and 300dpi; no effects and no transparency. Be sure to include a full-color JPEG or PDF as a reference with any provided file type. Indoor Cat currently prints with 4 different ink colors designed specifically for the Risograph process: Fluorescent Pink, Yellow, Blue and Black. Indoor Cat’s 2025 color chart can be downloaded here.
Fonts cannot be smaller than 6 pt and lines should be .5pt minimum.
Due to the quirks of Riso printers and ink, try to avoid large areas of solid color. If attempting to print large blocks of solid ink, there may be differences in gradation and coverage.
Video call consultations for file set up and design input can be included with any order for an additional hourly fee.
Test Prints
Running a test print or a proof on a Riso is rather difficult and time consuming, as master stencils can’t be reused. For smaller scale projects like print editions, we can do a test print for an additional fee. For larger projects like multi-page books, we can run an interior page and a cover test print if necessary for an additional fee. Otherwise, printing approximations will be generated digitally through Spectrolite, a free program designed specifically for Riso, and shared with you before any printing takes place. Additionally, using the 'multiply' layer style in Photoshop to approximate any color changes and overlaps your art may experience is highly recommended. There are many tutorials online that demonstrate how to approximate the results of a Riso print.
Riso Quirks
Ink Transfer and Smudging
Riso ink is made of soy oil, water and pigment, so there is potential for it to smudge, similar to the ink of a newspaper. As the ink can smudge, rub, and transfer, it is preferable to avoid large and highly pigmented block areas of color on projects that will be handled a lot.
Heavy ink coverage can lead to transfer between prints, as the prints are stacked on top of each other when exiting the printer.
Roller Marks
Paper feeder rollers have the potential to leave marks on the page when a paper is run through the machine multiple times. This can be avoided by printing heavy inks and darker colors last. Some ink marks and smudges may also appear, but these can be removed with an eraser if they are in an unprinted area.
Registration
Similar to screen printing, each Riso ink color is printed and layered separately. That means a single sheet of paper will run through the machine multiple times, and the registration of color can become irregular due to machine idiosyncrasies.
What is Risograph?
Risograph, often referred to simply as Riso, is a stencil-based machine printing technique developed by Riso Kagaku Corporation in Japan during the 1980s. Celebrated for its vivid colors, textured finishes, eco-friendly nature, and cost-effectiveness, Riso printing has become a favorite among artists, designers, and independent publishers. Its signature look - characterized by bold hues, slight misalignments, and a handcrafted feel - adds to its unique visual appeal.
Risograph printing uses a digital duplicator that creates a stencil, or "master," for each individual color layer. This master is wrapped around an ink drum, which transfers soy-based ink through the stencil onto paper. Because each color is printed separately, multi-color designs require careful planning and layering—similar to screen printing. To achieve multi-colored results, the ink drums must be swapped out, and the paper run through the machine multiple times, with each pass adding a new color.
Do you offer classes or workshops?
Currently, Indoor Cat does not offer classes or workshops, as it is run out of a tiny apartment studio. This could change in the future as it grows and evolves into a larger, more accomplished studio with enough reach and demand!
Do I have to supply my own paper?
Not necessarily! If you have a specific paper already in-hand that you want to use, please contact me and we can work something out. Otherwise, papers are typically provided by Indoor Cat and are included in the cost of a print job.
I want to print with Indoor Cat! How do I do it?
Check out the Get A Quote page Then, email quianna@indoorcatpress.com to begin the process, including your intended edition size, paper size and print area, and we can go from there. Video call consultations for file set up and even design input can be included with any order for an additional hourly rate.
For simple projects or printers who have worked with Riso before, a consultation is not always necessary. However, because Riso is such a unique form of printmaking, they are highly recommend for those with little to no Riso experience, as it allows us to go over all the details and understand more about your priorities, expectations, and goals for your project.