What is the workflow for a 1-colour print ?
What can I expect to be in the process of making a 1-colour print ? What are key points to remember ?
- 1.FORMAT DIGITAL FILE
- 2.DESIGN
- 3.EXPORT
- 4.PREPARE PRINTER
- 5.SEND TO PRINT
- 6.DRY
- 7.ASSEMBLE
WORKFLOW FOR HARD COPIES USING SCANNER BED:
- 1.DESIGN
- 2.SCAN USING SCANNER BED
- 3.PRINT - MAKE MASTER » PRINT
- 4.DRY
- 5.ASSEMBLE
*If you have a design made by hand and will only be using the scanner bed to print, skip to step 4*
In your document, you have to account for the margins (space for borders) that will help you see what the final print will look like. For example, a regular 8 1/2 x 11 '' word document, by default, has a 1'' margin around the document to make sure the writing doesn't get cut off when it is printed.
In digital lingo, we say to add bleed, trim, crop marks & live/safe area to our document, if needed
Bleed: If you have the intention to have imagery spill to the very edge of the paper, you'll need to add bleed marks. You do not always need bleed marks. For example in newspaper publications it is not necessary because the format always has it's space inbetween. But for art books, zines, or comic books, it's very common to add bleed. Bleed area's are usually .0625” – .5” larger than trim marks
Trim: It defines the final size of your print. Adding this border to your document will help you see what the final print, after cutting, will look like. Most documents include trim marks.
Crop Marks: These marks are aligned with trim marks and indicate where you will cut. Most documents include crop marks
Live/Safe Area: This defines where writing can be placed to ensure that it won't be cut off during post-production (cutting & assembling time). Most documents have live/safe area
It's important to note that bleed, trim, and live/safe area marks are not to be printed. When you send your document to be printed, we only keep crop marks to print
print variation (left) layering (middle) gradients (right)
THINGS TO NOTE:
- Risograph's have trouble printing flat colours at 100 % density. Similar to screenprinting and how it's hard to print a block of colour evenly, the machine will often print blocks of colours with colour variations If this is not an effect you like, avoid using 100% density
- Risograph's love gradients ! Play around with gradients in your design to really work with the machine
- If you are adding text, the minimum size is 6pt otherwise the text will be very fuzzy
example of fuzzy lettering
Here are some examples of designs :
At TCC we offer 4 colours : *make colour palette*
- Image Resolution 300 dpi
- Max papersize A3
- Export as PDF for higher definition prints or JPG & PNG for lo-fi / fuzzy look
- Load the paper in the papertray. Stack it neatly to avoid paperjams
- Open up receiving tray
- Empty Master Copy bin
- Make sure when you print the master copy (from your computer or hard copy) that it matches the papersize set in Risa.
- For landscape formats, it's important to note that that there is no landscape mode on the Risograph. Add the landscape size manually into the machine
- Make sure the desired colour ink drum is inside the machine
- Set your papertray settings correctly
Papertray Settings
Landscape Setting
Use TCC's computer that has the installed drive for the printer to open up your file and click print. Make sure your paper size in your document is the same as the setting in the machine.
If you have a drawing by hand, you can simply put your drawing unto the scanner bed » Make Master button on the machine. Make sure you use place your paper according the the grid guidelines on the scanning bed
scanning bed
Guides on scanning bed
HOW TO PUT THE PAPER IN THE FEEDTRAY THE RIGHT WAY ?
For Risa, the paperside that is facing up in the feed tray is the side it prints on.
- It takes a min. of 1 HR drying time
- If you are printing on the other side and you see roller marks, that means that the machine is catching ink that hasn't fully dried. To avoid these marks, leave your prints to dry longer *pic of this*
- Cut
- Fold
- Bind
RESOURCES:
