Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is Risograph?
Risograph (or Riso for short) is a print process that is able to create a unique print outcome (think screen printing) with speed and efficiency of a modern printer. To this day Risograph is mainly used by businesses and schools. Given the availability of 21 standard colours plus 50 custom colours, this wide range of printing colours can meet the needs of a variety of print jobs. In fact, designers find Risograph to be perfect for their spot colour-based works.
How cost-effective is Risograph printing?
Basically, the more you print the cost per print goes down, however, the cost of materials (such as paper) and labour can increase with higher quantities. Thus, Risograph is a more economical alternative to offset printing, and it can bring out the unique aesthetics and qualities of artworks that digital printing cannot.
What is the printing outcome like?
Risograph can support high image quality of 600 x 600dpi printing, promising a sharp and clear output with every print.
What colours do you currently have?
Yellow, medium blue, fluorescent pink, and black.
What size paper do you print?
We can print up to A3 in size.
What type of paper works best with your
Risograph printer?
Smooth papers (and uncoated) run best on Risograph printers. The best paper types include matte finish, presentation paper, or inkjet.
Can we bring our own papers?
Yes, although we cannot guarantee that it will work. You need to give us details of the paper and show us a sample of it. On the other hand, we do carry a limited variety of papers on hand, so we’ll walk you through each different paper to find just the right one for your project.
How much does it cost to print?
We quote every job based on the complexity of the design, paper stock, colour, and quantity. If you have a specific project in mind, please send more details about it to hasuriso.ts@gmail.com and we will get back to you with a quote within 1-2 working days.
Do we get to see a proof before my job goes to print?
No, we do not printing hardcopy Riso proofs as the Risograph process is designed for medium-to-large scale printing. The Risograph process basically involves making the masters (stencil) and dealing with colour layering and gradient work. Hence, it is costly to print Riso proofs.
We generally ask clients to send a colour mockup of their artwork, so we can advise them if the artwork needs to be modified to meet our Risograph print requirements. Alternatively, we can provide all projects with a digital proof that you can approve before printing. This is also what we will refer to when printing. In the case of Risograph printing, it is normal that colours and texture will vary from the digital version.
Do you do design work?
Yes, you’re welcome to talk to us about your project. Email us at hasuriso.ts@gmail.com.
Can you ship print orders?
Yes, we deliver parcels via courier, airmail, or standard shipping depending on your delivery preference, budget, and timeframe. You will be provided with a tracking number for your order.
How much will delivery cost?
This depends on the weight and size of your final order, which we cannot determine until it is complete.
I am not able to set up my files for print. Can you help me?
Yes, Hasuriso has an in-house design team that can help you with the file setup, colour separation, and design. We accept native Adobe files as well as scanned-in photos, PDFs, and more. We can also offer advice on colour and paper stocks. Contact us for an estimate for your project.
Can I attend one of your Risograph printing workshops?
Sure you can! Workshops are in the planning stage and we will let you (and everyone) know when the next one is coming up via our Instagram page (@hasuriso). Our workshop will allow you to learn about Risograph printing and make your own print at the same time, which could be a good starting point for those with a limited budget.
What is a Risograph printer?
Risograph printer is a type of digital duplicator developed in Japan. The machine runs on stencil printing technology and is environmentally friendly; using rice bran oil ink it can produce bright, pop colours which result in vibrant, hand-printed finish. The Risograph printer is known for its “cool process” printing, a technique that requires extremely low energy usage and can achieve 1,000 pages printed
in high speed (approximately 7 minutes) and at a
low cost.
What can you print?
Risograph printing is ideal for a range of projects including invitations, posters, stationery items, brochures, flyers, business cards, menus, folded cards, envelopes, journals, notebooks, postcards, newsletters, art books, zines, maps, and many more.
Where are you located?
We are in Taman Sri Rampai, Setapak, Kuala Lumpur. We are a 10-minute drive from the city centre.
Can I come to the studio and look at
Risograph-prints in-person?
You’re most welcome to do so, however, meetings are by-appointment only. As our workload varies throughout the year we do not keep specific studio hours. Do send us an email at hasuriso.ts@gmail.com to let us know when you're thinking about coming by and we'll coordinate.
Also, there will be Open Studio days in the future so be sure to follow us on Instagram (@hasuriso) for the latest updates.
Do you provide the paper?
Yes, we work closely with a few local paper distributors and can order any brand you would like (as long as it is uncoated). Alternatively, you may also refer to our Print Guide for the specific types of paper we use for Risograph printing.
What is your minimum print run?
We recommend printing a minimum of 30 pieces for single-page prints and 50 copies for books, as most of the cost of printing is in the set-up stage. Risograph is designed to print medium-to-high volume in a short amount of time, so it is not very cost-effective for small print-runs.
Can you help with binding services?
Yes, staple-bind and comb-bind are the two types of binding that we can provide. Just let us know in your request if binding services are needed for your project and we will include that in the estimate.
What is your turnaround time?
It depends on the type and complexity of your project, the print quantity, the number of colours used, file-handling issues, and the waiting period for drying which is dependent largely on the area of ink coverage and even the weather.
The fastest jobs are usually the single-sided prints (for example, posters and postcards) with only one or two colours required. Jobs that take longer time are double-sided jobs (for example, books and zines) because there needs to be a waiting period for the rice bran oil ink to dry on one side before printing on the other side, and vice versa. Typically, all double-sided jobs require manually flipping over the sheets and re-running it through the Risograph printer. If the double-sided job has multiple pages, then it needs to be collated, assembled, and trimmed – hence, taking a longer time to complete.
So, we encourage you to communicate with us about your deadlines and let us know ahead of time (at least 4 to weeks) if you are planning to print in time for a big fair or an important occasion. We will then give you a fairly accurate estimate of the turnaround. Rush orders are subject to our availability and can be accommodated for an additional fee.
How do I pay for my printing job?
Once your quote has been finalised and you want to proceed, we will send you an invoice via email, which will include the payment details. We accept payments via online transfer, TT, or cheque (for local customers only).
Do you offer internships or volunteer/job opportunities?
Yes, we would love to hear from you! If you would like to considered, please send your resume and portfolio to hasuriso.ts@gmail.com.