Riso Nights

Drop-in and visit our Digital Art Studio to enjoy a different Risograph project every week! No pre-registration required. $25 ($15 members)

What is a Risograph

Do you love the look of screen printing or lithography, but crave a time and cost-effective way to produce your work? Maybe you’re a graphic designer who loves the saturation of layered color but aren’t getting desired results with an inkjet or laser printer.

The Flower City Arts Center now has a Riso, giving you a unique solution to your printmaking needs. Although similar to printers, Risos are considered digital duplicators. Developed in the 1980s, the Riso layers colors one at a time, creating a vibrant final image.

To do this the Riso creates a “master,” which works similarly to a screen in screenprinting, from the artist’s work. This master is wrapped around a drum in the Riso. One color of ink is pressed through the master as the drum rotates. When the first color is complete, the master is discarded and the process is repeated with remaining colors until the print is finished.

This eco-friendly option uses affordable soy-based inks that are not fused to the paper using heat. The final product can be printed on using other processes if the artist desires. Books, zines, cards, posters, and brochures are just some of the things that can be created using a Riso.

Digital Art Studio hourly access is $8, with monthly access for $60 a month. Printing is not included in digital lab access; a Riso Pass is available for $40/month. See more details about our Digital Art Studio and find costs online at rochesterarts.org/facilities.