RISO Guidebook

I created the RISO Guide Book because I want all folks to have accessible information that encourages them to find the moments of joy granted through analog printing practices.

When I first started my Graphic Design program I noticed a gap of knowledge around the RISO. I felt intimidated by the machine and many of my classmates had never heard of it before. During my later years at Appalachian State University, I worked as a studio tech in the Graphic Design Department. I taught students about the machine and all its quirks because I saw many other students felt intimidated by the RISO like I had. My goal was for students to feel confident in themselves to safely use all studio equipment.

The Risograph was originally designed in the 1980s as a paper duplicator capable of producing large volumes at a fraction of the cost of traditional offset printing. It comes from a lineage of stencil duplicating but was developed to be more automated and efficient. The Risograph quickly gained popularity among schools, churches, small businesses, and community organizations that needed affordable, high-volume printing.

Because of the machines age, it can be quite finicky. This guidebook holds all the information needed to begin student’s RISO printing journeys.