Printing

Paper

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A quick word about paper supplies in 2022: Things are bleak for the paper market all across North America at the moment. Because of a massive pulp (the raw material of paper) shortage – likely a delayed effect of manufacturing slowdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic – many, many papers are unavailable or only available sporadically. I will do my best to source papers for any project, but it is worth noting that this is a universal issue at the moment with no clear end in sight.
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Choosing Paper

Because the stencil printing process uses liquid vegetable-based ink, Risograph digital duplicators can only use uncoated paper that allows it to fully absorb and dry. Below are some key factors to consider when selecting paper for a project, and some recommended stocks known for their success in Risograph printing.

Coated, metallic, and hologram paper are not available for stencil printing.

Paper Weight

Paper thickness in North America is measured in basis weight: the weight of a ream of paper, in pounds (#), at its parent sheet size. There are many types of paper each with their own basis weight. This means that the weight scale resets for each type and, for example, 80# text is not the same as 80# cover. It's honestly confusing, and best not to think about too much. Just know that that higher the number, the thicker the paper and that the type is an important part of the description.

Risograph printers can comfortably print on papers between 20# bond and 80# cover.

Common Paper Types:

• Cover - Thick paper, used for publication covers and prints.
• Bristol - Although similar to cover, a bristol is classified differently as it is technically an uncoated "paperboard" because of the way it is created.
• Text - Standard thinner stock used for zines, book pages, flyers, and folded prints. Usually available at 50#, 70#, and 80# - 70# is the most typical.
• Bond - At 20#, this is your typical familiar copy machine paper. The lightest paper we offer, but also has the highest dot gain (the spread of ink as it sets in the paper). Honestly, I don't use this much.

Finish

Uncoated paper is available in many paper finishes, but I have found that Vellum and Smooth work the best in most applications. They are both great for stencil printing, but also each have their own benefits and drawbacks.

• Vellum - A rough, bulky finish that works really well for projects with a lot of ink because it dries to the touch more quickly - but can also potentially take much longer to completely set than smooth paper. The toothiness of the paper can also possibly lend itself to splotchier fills and a bit more dot gain. The roughness of the finish, however, helps gives the finished product that great "tactile" feel Riso is known for.
• Smooth - Smooth paper is, well, smooth, and is great for work that needs a brigher, more intricate print. It is slower to dry than vellum paper, and can therefore be prone to set off (the wet ink of a print marking the back of the next sheet). Despite this, I have found that it can dry more thoroughly in the long run.

Some Recommended Stocks for Stencil Printing

French Paper Co.

TL;DR: Top-tier, recycled, locally made, "artisinal," expensive!

In Michigan, we are lucky to have one of the best Family-run paper mills in the United States. Located in Niles, just about 90 minutes South of the Issue Press studio, the French family has milled fine uncoated paper for 5 generations.

Most French Paper Co. papers are suitable for stencil printing, but I have had particular success with the following lines:

Domtar Paper

TLDR: high-quality, budget-friendly

While Domtar no longer operates mills in Michigan (😢), this American / Canadian paper company still mills many of its paper products here in the Great Lakes region. It is reccommended for budget-conscious projects that still require a high quality stock that works well with stencil printing. Fun fact: Domtar used to run a gypsum mine here in Grand Rapids, a spooky tour of which looms heavily on my grade school experience.

Neenah Paper

TLDR: medium price, lots of options, can be more difficult to source in my area and not always available

Generally pretty good for stencil printing, this Wisconsin-based mill has lots, and lots of great colors. I have most experience with Astrobrights, but I am hoping to try some more lines out in the future.