Printing Imperfections — The Charm of Riso

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Risograph printing is a wonderfully unpredictable process — part machine, part magic, and always a little bit wild. While we take care to reduce imperfections, the nature of Riso means that each print is a little unique.

 

Here's what to expect (and embrace):

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Ink Smudging

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Riso ink is made from rice bran oil, pigment, and water — it’s more like newspaper ink than digital toner. It never fully dries, so smudging can occur if rubbed or stacked too soon. We recommend handling prints with care, especially large ink areas.

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Misalignment (Registration)

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Each colour layer is printed separately, so some misregistration is natural, especially with multiple colours or complex layering. This slight wobble is part of what gives Riso its charm. Perfect alignment isn't the Riso way.

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Uneven Ink Coverage

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Large solid areas of colour can result in patchiness or flooding, where ink builds up unpredictably. This is a known quirk of Riso — we suggest breaking up big blocks of colour for a more even, print-friendly result.

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Roller Marks

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If your print goes through the machine multiple times (multi-layer jobs, we’re looking at you), the paper rollers can pick up leftover ink and leave roller marks — faint, tyre-like lines. These are more likely with heavier coverage or reprints.

 

Want to minimise these quirks? Check out our Print Guide for tips on preparing your artwork with Riso in mind.

 

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Cancellations

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We totally understand that plans can change, but because every job is custom, here's how cancellations work:

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• Once printing has begun, we can’t offer refunds, as materials, time, and ink will have already been used.
   

• If you cancel before printing has started, you may still be charged for any materials we’ve already ordered specifically for your project (e.g. special paper, foil colours, or custom items).
   

If something’s come up and you need to pause or change your job, get in touch — we’re a small studio and we’ll always do our best to help where we can.

 

File Set-Up Service

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Need a hand getting your files print-ready? We offer a file set-up service to help you get the best results from Risograph and hot foil printing.

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• Rate: £30 per hour, with a 1-hour minimum booking
   

• Proofing: You'll receive a digital ‘soft proof’ for approval
   

• Amendments: Includes up to two rounds of amendments — any extras may incur an additional fee
   

• Payment: Full payment is required before we begin any design or setup work
   

• Timelines: Turnaround varies depending on the project — we'll chat through this with you before starting
   

This service is ideal if:

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• You're unsure how to separate colour layers for Riso
   

• You're prepping artwork for foil
   

• You need help resizing, converting colours, or formatting for print
   

We’re here to make things easy and help your work shine — get in touch to chat about your file needs.

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Quotes & Payment

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All quotes are valid for 30 days and based on the information you provide at the time. If the scope of your job changes (e.g. size, quantity, materials), your quote may be revised accordingly.

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We require full payment via bank transfer before we begin printing.

In some cases, we may agree to a 50% deposit to get started, with the remaining 50% due before collection or dispatch — this must be arranged in advance and is offered at our discretion.

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Your invoice will include a breakdown of your order — please review it carefully before making payment. Once payment is received, we’ll assume all details are confirmed and proceed with printing.

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We accept:

• Bank transfer (preferred)
   

• PayPal (may include a processing fee)

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Turnaround Time

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Turnaround times vary depending on your project size, complexity, number of layers, and finishing, all make a difference. We'll always give you an estimated timeframe when quoting, but please note:

• Turnaround is not guaranteed until we’ve confirmed your deadline and received payment
   

• Turnaround time does not include postage or delivery
   

• If you’re working to a deadline, let us know before payment so we can confirm availability
   

If you’re collecting your prints in person, please do so within 4 weeks of your print date — after that, we can’t guarantee safe storage.

 

Rush Orders

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Got a tight deadline? No problem — but please let us know when placing your order so we can advise on feasibility.

A job is considered a Rush Order if:

• The deadline is under 7 days away, or
   

• The job includes more than 2 colour layers with a deadline under 8 days
   

• The project involves binding, finishing or large quantities and is needed in under 2 weeks
   

Rush orders will incur an additional fee, usually a percentage of the total print cost. This varies depending on the job — we’ll confirm this with you before proceeding.

If postage is required, we’ll use a tracked service appropriate to your deadline — but please note we can’t take responsibility for any delays caused by the courier.

We also can’t be held responsible for missed deadlines due to:

• Incorrect or incomplete artwork
   

• Delays in receiving your final files
   

• Late payment
   

Help us help you — be clear about your timings, and we’ll do our best to deliver!

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Mock Ups & File Delivery

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The colour mock-up you provide serves as your pre-production approval. We’ll follow this layout and colour intention as closely as possible — but please note:

• Digital mock-ups (soft proofs) are a helpful guide, but not an exact match for final Risograph colours
   

• Riso inks are semi-transparent, layer-based, and have a distinctive texture — colours may shift slightly when printed
   

If you're unsure how Riso will look, we recommend ordering a sample pack of our inks and paper stocks via our website before placing a large order.

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Hard Proofs

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You can request a hard proof before full production. This is a one-off printed sample of your job. Hard proofs incur an additional fee and will extend turnaround times slightly — let us know if you'd like to include one when ordering.

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File Delivery

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Your files must be print-ready and follow the guidance in our [Print Guide]. If your files need major adjustments (e.g. colour separation, resizing, formatting), this may incur a file set-up fee, which we’ll confirm with you before printing.

We’re happy to advise on setup — just get in touch before submitting your files if you’re unsure.

 

Printing Errors

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It’s your responsibility to ensure that files are delivered print-ready. Once printing has begun, changes to files may incur an additional charge, as materials and time may already have been committed.

We cannot be held responsible for the following errors supplied by the client:

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• Spelling, punctuation or grammatical mistakes
   

• Design issues or incorrect colour selection
   

• Colour variation – exact colour matching cannot be guaranteed unless a hard copy proof has been approved
   

• Low-resolution or poor-quality files
   

• Grainy or pixelated type, especially if designed in Canva, Photoshop or non-vector software (we recommend using Illustrator, InDesign, or similar)
   

• Incorrect paper choice, finishing, print size or quantity
   

• Delays to production or delivery caused by:
   

  • Improperly prepared files
     

  • Late delivery of final artwork
     

  • Changes to the project scope
     

  • Delayed communication or email responses
     

If you’re unsure whether your files are print-ready, we’re happy to check them for you — or you can use our File Set-Up Service for extra peace of mind.