Custom Riso Printing
Yes, you read that right. It’s the Best is now offering custom Riso printing, and we’re pretty jazzed about it. If you’ve ever wanted prints that look part screen print, part photocopy, and part something you can’t quite put your finger on, this is it.
What Even Is Riso Printing?
Riso (short for Risograph) is a quirky mashup of screen printing, copy machines, and offset presses.
Like screen printing, Riso prints one color at a time through a fine mesh screen.
Like offset printing, each color lives on its own drum (a cylinder wrapped in a stencil) that spins as the paper rolls underneath.
Like a copy machine, Riso machines are boxy, feature a flatbed scanner, and look like they belong in a 1990s office. But instead of toner, they use soy-based ink (Pantone-ish, but way fewer colors and way more charm).
The kicker: no heat. Unlike laser printers that fry toner into your paper, Riso leaves the fibers ripple-free and gloriously saturated.
Translation? Riso prints are bright, weird, tactile, and delightfully imperfect.
Technical Stuff
Colors
We have a one-color Riso, with seven glorious soy-based inks to choose from. Black, Green, Cornflower, Red, Fluorescent Pink,* Grey, and Yellow. We hope to expand colors soon, so if you have something in mind, let’s talk.
The best (and least interesting) prints are single color. Want more colors (we know you do)? Great! Just know every extra pass means another chance for slight shifts, smudges, or ghostly overlaps. We call it “character.”
Paper Sizes
We can print images up to 11 15/32 inches (291 mm) × 16 23/32 on a 12.5″ x 18.5″ sheet but there are some nuances about what to expect when working at this large size. If your project pushes some boundaries, let’s talk through it. Riso is flexible, but it’s not your obedient office laser.
Smaller sizes are no problem at all (artwork is print and then cut).
Paper Weight
Sweet spot: 28lb (105gsm) text up to 110lb (200gsm) cover. Lighter or heavier can work, but things get dicey. Super thick = super expensive.
Paper Types
Riso loves rougher papers: bristol, linen, recycled, toothy stocks. FSC-certified only, because trees matter. Smooth and coated papers? They’ll smudge. Glossy? Forget it.
Setup Help
New to Riso printing? We’ll help prep your files. No shame—it’s a learning curve.
Finishing Services
We don’t just print and toss it at you. We can score, fold, trim, wire-bind, pad, and even round corners.
Expectations
Riso is not perfection. Registration shifts, textures vary, ink rubs. That’s the point. If you need 100% precision, you want offset or digital. If you want prints with soul, you’re in the right place.
Cost
We keep pricing simple: sliding scale based on your project. Fees cover materials, production (flat or hourly), and shipping/delivery. Riso is generally inexpensive—the paper is often the biggest cost.
Once your return is received and inspected, we will send you an email to notify you that we have received your returned item. We will also notify you of the approval or rejection of your refund. If approved, then your refund will be processed, and a credit will automatically be applied to your credit card or original method of payment, within a certain amount of days.
Ready to Riso?
Send us an email with more details about your project needs.