Risograph Quirks
Risographs sometimes take on a life of their own, and in the midst of this chaos, they create “happy accidents.” We call these “happy accidents” Risograph Quirks or Risograph printing errors. However, these aren’t ordinary printing errors, and in fact, they shouldn’t even be called “errors”—they’re specific characteristics that say, “This was printed on a Risograph!”
These “Risograph Quirks” add to the charm of this very unique printing method. They give printed pieces random and unpredictable imperfections.
Let’s take a look at what can and will happen when printing on a Risograph—and what you can expect when the Risograph decides to leave its mark on your work.
01. Misregistration
The most common problem you may encounter with these printers is misalignment. Think of it as a situation where the layers are either properly aligned or they are not.
Unlike standard office printers, where you simply load the paper and press the “Print” button to get the final printout, Risograph printers always print only one (or at most two) layers of ink at a time. Each layer of ink means the paper will repeatedly return to the start. Because this process is repeated for each layer of ink, the Risograph may grip the paper slightly differently each time. This causes slight misalignment in the prints. Misalignment is a quirk you’ll want to keep to a minimum so it doesn’t disrupt the image. However, it’s something that proves the authenticity of these machines. It happens! The severity of the misalignment varies depending on the printer model—or depending on what the moon is up to that day, depending on the overall mood.
We try to minimize this quirk as much as possible, but it’s not something that would ruin the quality of the printed material. So most of the time, we just let it be.
02. Tire Tracks
Risograph printers use rubber rollers with a grooved surface to feed the paper.
When printing multicolor copies, ink from your printout can transfer to these rollers. Risographs always print with only one or two colors at a time. During multicolor printing, the paper must pass through the printer several times. As a result, the rubber rollers can pick up some of the ink and transfer it to the pages.
This problem can often be easily solved. If roller marks appear in white or negative areas of the print, they can be carefully removed using a clean white or soft eraser. Marks that appear in colored areas of the print cannot be removed, as this would cause the ink to smudge. Keep in mind, however, that many people like them because they are a hallmark of the printing process and are 100% unique to these printers.
With art prints, tire marks often don’t bother us. With document printing, however, tire marks can be a bit distracting. It’s definitely a matter of personal preference whether you want them on your print or not.
03. Smudges
Smudging is one of the less desirable characteristics of Risograph printing. Depending on its extent, the resulting print may look slightly smudged or, conversely, take on a raw, almost underground character.
There can be several causes of smudging, but the underlying reason is always the same—Risograph ink does not dry in the way we are accustomed to with conventional printing technologies. Modern Risograph inks are primarily based on rice bran oil (older types used soybean oil). Because of this oil-based formula, the ink does not dry through evaporation but is gradually absorbed into the paper.
This process can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks for the ink to stabilize sufficiently. However, even after the ink has completely dried, it is not advisable to rub the printed surface vigorously, as under certain conditions a small amount of pigment may still be released even after a long period of time.
Smudging can occur during the printing process itself as well as during subsequent handling of the finished prints. This risk can be reduced by leaving white margins for handling, limiting contact with the printed area, using protective polyethylene packaging, or applying a suitable fixing spray.
In most cases, minor traces of smudged ink can be carefully removed using a clean, lint-free eraser.
04. Finger Prints
This isn’t some mysterious printing defect. People—or, more precisely, their fingers—are responsible for these smudges.
Risograph ink remains sensitive to touch for a certain period of time after printing. Therefore, when handling fresh prints, fingerprints or slightly smudged ink may appear on the surface. To prevent this, it’s a good idea to design your print material with white margins intended for handling, or to protect the finished prints with a cover, such as a clear plastic bag.
For books and zines, it’s important to allow sufficient time for the ink to dry before they are bound or handed out to readers. For covers, you may also consider using a suitable fixing spray to reduce the risk of smudging during handling.
On the other hand, fingerprints can also be viewed differently. Every time a book is opened, every time the pages are turned, and every time it is touched, a tiny mark is left behind. Just as a high-quality leather jacket develops a patina over time, Risograph prints can also bear signs of use that are part of their story and character.
If you still want to remove minor fingerprints, in most cases they can be carefully wiped away with a clean, lint-free eraser.
05. Needle Strike
A needle strike is a mark caused by a component of the internal mechanism of a Risograph printer. During printing, the paper is first fed from the feeder to the ink (color) roller, where the ink is transferred. As the paper passes through the printer, it adheres slightly to the roller. At the right moment, a special needle separates it from the cylinder, releasing the paper with a quick movement.
During this process, the needle may scrape a small amount of ink from the surface of the print and leave a characteristic line on the paper. This phenomenon is known as needle strike.
Needle strike is a relatively rare occurrence and usually happens only when an excessive amount of ink is applied to the paper. A thicker layer of ink causes the paper to adhere to the ink roller more than usual, which increases the likelihood of this mark appearing.
Prints with noticeable needle strike are generally discarded from the final run because the mark detracts from the appearance of the final print.
06. Grain
The print texture is one of the most distinctive features of true Risograph printing. The characteristic halftone pattern created by the Risograph during printing is unique to this technology. It is a specific type of dithering, the technical details of which we will skip for now.
It is precisely this texture that is one of the defining elements of Risograph printing. It gives it its unmistakable appearance, authenticity, and visual character. Thanks to the translucency of Risograph inks, the halftone pattern is also much more pronounced than with conventional printing technologies. Tones are not created by varying the opacity of the ink, but by the density of individual halftone dots—the closer the dots are to each other, the darker the area they create, and the farther apart they are, the lighter the resulting tone.
This characteristic does not need to be corrected, concealed, or removed. On the contrary—it is precisely this feature that gives Risograph printing its unique look and charm.
07. Uneven Coverage
Uneven ink coverage is one of the characteristic features of risograph printing and elicits mixed reactions. On the one hand, it can be seen as proof of the authenticity of this printing process; on the other hand, however, it can result in distinctly textured or inconsistent areas that detract from the appearance of the final print. It is a fine line between the natural aesthetics of Risograph printing and a printing defect.
The degree of uneven coverage can vary considerably—from an almost imperceptible effect to a completely obvious defect. The most common cause is dirty or partially dried-out ink rollers, which are unable to transfer ink evenly.
In most cases, the problem can be resolved by pausing the print job, cleaning the printer, and restarting the print job. However, uneven coverage can also be caused by the type of paper used. Heavier papers, typically with a basis weight of 250–300 g/m², may not be able to absorb large amounts of ink, especially when printing large solid areas. In such cases, it is advisable to adjust the print data and reduce the overall ink coverage.
Uneven coverage can also be a result of the characteristics of the Risograph itself. Each color roller may behave slightly differently on a specific printer, and their combination can lead to specific effects during printing. Furthermore, the likelihood of these variations is generally higher with older machines.
08. Bow Ties
09. Paper Jam
Paper jams occur relatively often in Risograph printers and can be caused by a variety of factors.For a Risograph to print reliably, it requires specific conditions, including, for example:
· the grain direction of the paper,
· humidity,
· ambient temperature,
· the amount of ink in the print data,
· paper weight and thickness,
· the type of paper used,
· the age of the printer,
· the type and age of the ink,
· and sometimes a little luck.
The most common cause of paper jams is too much ink on the leading edge of the sheet. This causes the paper to stick to the ink roller more than desired, preventing it from separating properly.
If jams occur repeatedly, it is often necessary to adjust the print data. Reducing ink coverage—sometimes by as little as 10%—or changing the sheet size (if possible) can completely eliminate the problem.
Although paper jams may require adjustments to the graphic design or print data, you will not encounter them in the final print run. Sheets that jam during printing cannot be completed and are therefore discarded from production.
10. Top Edge Peel
With art prints, this peculiarity generally does not pose a major problem, since most of them are single-sided and intended for framing. With double-sided printing, however, it can be more pronounced and undesirable.
This phenomenon occurs most often when printing on thicker papers or when printing against the grain of the paper. The feed rollers can cause abrasion on the back of the sheet and partially damage or peel away the surface of the paper at its leading edge.
This phenomenon can sometimes be prevented by properly adjusting the pressure of the feed rollers. However, this option is not always available on older Risograph models.
Even with optimal printer settings, peeling of the top edge may not be completely eliminated. To a certain extent, this is a random phenomenon that depends on the combination of the printer, the ink roller used, and the properties of the specific paper.
If printing is single-sided only, this issue generally has no effect on the graphics themselves. With double-sided printing, however, it can compromise the appearance of the back side of the sheet. With lighter papers, this problem occurs only rarely, whereas with papers weighing approximately 150 g/m² and higher, the risk of it occurring is significantly greater.
In most cases, abrasion or flaking along the top edge can be mitigated by carefully using a clean, lint-free eraser. This removes loose paper fibers without causing further damage to the sheet. However, a slightly roughened texture may remain on the surface.
11. Ghost Images
Ghost images when ink is accidentally transferred to a place where it does not belong, creating a faint or repeated image on the same sheet.
There are not many causes of ghosting. One of them may be improper paper feeding. In rare cases, the Risograph may feed a sheet incorrectly or at the wrong moment, causing ink to transfer to the color drum where it normally should not be. This unwanted ink is then repeatedly transferred to subsequent sheets, creating faint, repeating marks—known as ghosting.
A ghost image can also occur when a freshly printed sheet touches another sheet and some of the ink transfers to its surface. The result is a faint mirror image of the original design. This phenomenon is relatively rare and does not usually occur when the printing process is properly set up.
Sheets with significant ghosting are rejected from the final print run during quality control. The relevant parts of the printer are then cleaned, and printing continues to prevent further ink transfer.
11. Ink Transfer [set-off]
This phenomenon is similar to ghosting, but tends to be less sharp and more blurred. It occurs when ink is unintentionally transferred to the back of another printed sheet.
This phenomenon occurs when freshly printed ink in the paper tray—which has not yet dried—comes into contact with the back of the next sheet. For single-sided art prints, this is usually not a problem; however, in double-sided printing, it can negatively affect the final appearance.
This transfer can be prevented by extending the drying time between individual sheets. Another option is to interleave the prints with parchment or absorbent paper, which absorbs excess ink and prevents it from transferring to the next sheet.
For art prints, we generally do not actively remove this effect, as we consider it a natural characteristic of risograph printing. However, for books, magazines, or other double-sided printed materials, we take care to ensure that ink transfer is not so pronounced that it impairs the readability or appearance of the opposite side.
In most cases, minor traces of transferred ink can be carefully removed using a clean, lint-free eraser.
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