Risograph is a high-speed digital printing system manufactured by the Riso Kagaku Corporation and designed mainly for high-volume photocopying and printing. Increasingly, Risograph machines have been commonly referred to as a RISO Printer-Duplicator, due to their common usage as a network printer as well as a stand-alone duplicator. When printing or copying multiple quantities (generally more than 20) of the same original, it is typically far less expensive per page than a conventional photocopier, laser printer, or inkjet printer. Printing historian Rick O'Connor has debated that the original, and thus correct, name for the device is RISSO and not RISO. This debate spawns from the notion that an extra 'S' is added because the inventor's wife found it more pleasing to the ears. How does it work?
The underlying technology is very similar to a mimeograph. It brings together several processes which were previously carried out manually, for example using the Riso PrintGocco system or the Gestetner system.
The original is scanned through the machine and a master is created, by means of tiny heat spots on a thermal plate burning voids (corresponding to image areas) in a master sheet. This master is then wrapped around a drum and ink is forced through the voids in the master. The paper runs flat through the machine while the drum rotates at high speed to create each image on the paper.
This simple technology is highly reliable compared to a standard photocopier and can achieve both very high speed (typically 130 pages per minute) and very low costs. A good lifespan for a risograph might involve making 100,000 masters and 5,000,000 copies.
The key master-making thermal head component is manufactured by Toshiba. Similar machines to Risographs are manufactured by Ricoh, Gestetner, Rex Rotary and Nashuatec. All these other brands are now owned by Ricoh.
Because the process involves real ink - like offset printing - and does not require heat to fix the image on the paper - like a photocopier or laser printer - the output from a risograph can be treated like any printed material. This means that sheets which have been through a risograph may happily go through a laser printer afterwards and vice-versa.
For schools, clubs, colleges, political campaigns and other short run print jobs, the Risograph bridges the gap between a standard photocopier (which is cheaper up to about 50 copies) and using a commercial printer (cheaper over about 10,000 copies).
Risographs have typically had interchangeable colour inks and drums allowing for printing in different colours or using spot colour in one print job. The Riso MZ series models have two ink drums allowing two colours to be printed in one pass.
Current Trends in Contemporary Design
I'm starting to see risograph printed publications being used more and more by contemporary designers. They serve well because they give a really nice texture and instead of printing colour as one, you can use spot colours which gives off a much more 'screenprinted' feel to the print without the high cost and time spent working. They are also really cheap to produce in quite large quantities which is saving on costs.
Letterpress is relief printing. It involves locking movable type into the bed of a press, inking it, and rolling or pressing paper against it to form an impression. It was the normal form of printing text from its invention by Johannes Gutenberg in the mid-15th century until the 19th century and remained in wide use for books and other uses until the second half of the 20th century. In addition to the direct impression of inked movable type onto paper or another receptive surface, letterpress is also the direct impression of inked printmaking blocks such as photo-etched zinc "cuts" (plates), linoleum blocks, wood engravings, etc., using such a press.
Letterpress printing remained the primary way to print and distribute information until the twentieth century, when offset printing was developed. It was also an extremely important technological innovation, making printed material available to a wider range of classes of people.
Interesting Short Documentary on Letterpress.
Examples of Letterpress
Letterpress with Edge Painted Business Cards
Letterpressed Book Cover
Foil Blocking
Foil blocking, typically a commercial print process, is the application of pigment or metallic foil, often gold or silver , but can also be various patterns or what is known as pastel foil which is a flat opaque color or white special film-backed material, to paper where a heated die is stamped onto the foil, making it adhere to the surface leaving the design of the die on the paper. Foil stamping can be combined with embossing or other printing processes to create a more striking and dynamic 3D image.
Foil Fuser Toning Machine
Foil stamping machines, also known as hot foil stampers, use heat to transfer metallic foil to a solid surface. Examples of items that are foil stamped include pencils, napkins, matchbooks, photographs and books. The foil stamp is a permanent process. These machines are popular with wedding businesses, photography studios and other businesses that need to brand or mark products. A similar machine, called a foil fuser, creates a similar look in a process called foil fusing in which foil is fused to printer toner by means of heat.
Heres a video showing the simple steps to creating foiling uses a black and white print through o toner printer and a laminator with the foil which you can buy for fairly cheap....
The GFSmith packs of swatches that we looked at were really useful to see the stock possibilities that could be used. I photographed some of my favourite stocks that I found in there as well as some strange ones and noted down the names and weight.
Twist Gold 120
Peregrina Classics - Ocean Blue - 336gsm
Marlmarque - Marble White - 200gsm
Marlmarque - Agean Blue - 90gsm
Colourlux - Imperial Blue Gloss - 306gsm
Twist Yellow 290
Tapestry Translucent Broderie - 180gsm
Gmund Bier Lager - 170gsm
Gmund Alezan - Crocodile Cult - 300gsm
Generation Press - Generation X
Different Stocks
Coated Paper
Paper with a clay or other coating applied to one or both sides is coated paper. The coating can be dull, gloss, matte, or other finishes. Coated paper generally produces sharper, brighter images and has better reflectivity than uncoated paper.Coated paper typically is smoother and has better ink holdout — is less absorbent — than uncoated paper making it more suitable for certain types of overprint finishing techniques such as flood or spot coating with varnish or other finish coatings. The coating may be applied while the paper is still going through the papermaking machine or it may be applied afterwards. Clay, latex, and other substances are mixed to create the coating. Photo papers for inkjet printing typically have UV coatings
Uncoated Paper
Not all paper is coated. Uncoated paper is typically used for letterheads, copy paper, or printing paper. Most types of uncoated paper are surface sized to improve their strength. Such paper is used in stationary and lower quality leaflets and brochures.
Wove
This is paper made on closely woven wire roller or mould and having a faint mesh pattern. Wove is popular sheet for stationary and book publishing. Wove is a premium
Laid
Laid paper is premium quality paper with a textured pattern of parallel lines, similar to hand made pape. Commonly used for business stationary.
Bond
An economic, uncoated wove paper, often used for copying or laser printers. A higher wuality bond stock can be used for letter heads.
Embossing Definition : To carve or mold a design on (a surface) so that it stands out in relief: "an embossed brass dish". To decorate (a surface) with a raised design.
What is Embossing?
Embossing refers to the creation of an impression of some kind of design, decoration, lettering or pattern on another surface like paper, cloth, metal and even leather, to make a relief. In regular printing or an engraving, plates are pressed against the surface to leave an imprint. In embossing however, the pressing raises the surfaces adding a new dimension to the object.
Blind Embossing Die
Embossing involves the creation of an impression by placing the dies in contact with the stock under high pressure. Different kinds of paper show different kinds of embossed effects. There are also many different kinds of embossing that can be done like blind embossing, tint embossing and glazing to achieve different results. The process of embossing is relatively inexpensive and has many uses.
Uses of Embossing
Embossing is an elegant process that changes the nature of the material that has been embossed. More often than not it elevates the standard and quality of the product. A notary’s embossed seal can give much weight to a regular piece of paper.
Embossed Wedding Invitation
Similarly, an embossed wedding card immediately changes the entire meaning conveyed by the invitation. The recipient is informed not only about the wedding but also that it is going to be a high profile wedding and an elegant ceremony.
Braille Embossed Medication Packaging
Bank Card Details Embossing
Embossing is used for aesthetic purposes as well as functional uses in industries. From embossing names on credit cards to embossed Braille books for the blind, embossing has a wide range of applications and uses.
Process of Embossing
The process of embossing is extremely simple and cost effective. It is one of the cheapest ways to enhance the look and feel of any surface be it paper, cloth or metal even. There are several things that need to be attended to in an embossing project. The metal dies to be used, the surface to be used, the creation of the artwork and the embossing details of course.
There are three types of metals that are used for embossing dies. Depending on the shape of the image, the texture to be created and the length of the run you can select the metal.
Types of Metal Embossing Dies
Magnesium Embossing Die
Magnesium dies are used for easy embossing projects that have short runs. The designs are large and uncomplicated. Magnesium also allows for special hand tooling. They are the least expensive of all dies, photomechanically etched. Better for short runs up to 5,000 impressions and for use on smoother stocks.
Brass Embossing Dies
Brass dies are the most popular embossing dies. They are very flexible and give the embosser leeway to create fine lines, sculptured images, combo foil stamping and embossing. They are also very good for images requiring extensive hand tooling. You can make brass dies by machines or by a semi-photographic process. The photograph is transferred onto the die to use as a guide for drawing. This is the most expensive type of die. It is created with a manual drawing machine called pantograph or created entirely by hand. It is used for long runs, some in excess of 1.000,000 impressions. It provides the highest quality reproduction, giving sharp detail and clean bevels.
Copper Embossing Die
Copper dies are used as an in between to magnesium and brass. However copper dies do not permit hand tooling. They are mid range cost and used for runs up to 100,000 impressions, They provide better detail and reproduction of fine lined copy and images.
Rotary Embossing Dies manufactured from steel or a combination of brass and steel. Male and female embossing die sets produce multi-level images of highest quality and finest detail.Precision engraved or chemically etched to a depth carefully calculated to achieve the desired result.
Source - http://www.falcontec.co.uk/index.php
Roatary Embossing Example - Colourless Coke Cans
A convex logo substitutes colorfully sprayed can. Naked can help to reduce air and water pollution occurred in its coloring process. It also reduces energy and effort to separate toxic color paint from aluminum in recycling process. Huge amount of energy and paint required to manufacture colored cans will be saved.Instead of toxic paint, manufacturers process aluminum with a pressing machine that indicates brand identity on surface. By Harc Lee
Choosing The Stock
Paper textures play an important role in embossing. Sometimes clients select a texture paper and use embossing to smooth out the paper where it is least expected. At other time a smooth paper is used but the emboss is textured for a stunning finish.
Heavy, long fibered sheets make the best kind of paper for embossing. Lightweight, heavy coated or varnished papers are not good for embossing because they crack easily. Also recycled paper is to be avoided for embossing. In general the more processed a paper is the weaker it becomes and cannot withstand the pressures of embossing.
The depth and the degree of bevel achieved are determined by the stock. A thicker stock can offer more dramatic embossing effects because the impression can push deeper into the paper and varying levels of relief become possible.
Uses of embossing
Multi-Level Embossing Die gives 3D Results
Embossing is often used for company logos or as accents surrounding logos. It is used for borders or highlights surrounding images. Another common use is to create elegant accents for distinctive symbols, images, graphics, or lines. If a multilevel or sculptured die is used, there will be varying depths to the embossing, giving the image a distinctive 3-D effect. Embossing is occasionally used for security. Embossed seals or symbols of authenticity add security to government forms, legal documents, and corporate papers, however, embossing is considered an older form of document security, as more alternatives in print technology continue to be developed.
Blind Embossing
Blind Embossing is the term given to an embossed image that is not stamped over a printed image, not foil stamped, and the resulting raised image is the same color as the paper is blind embossing.
Here are a few examples of blind embossing...
Embossing Examples
Colour Emboss
Debossing
The deboss process is the same as that for embossing, except debossing raises the material around the die impression rather than raising the design area itself. Brass, copper, and magnesium dies are used in the debossing process as well.
There are several debossing techniques. A blind deboss is used with screen-printing or foil stamping. With the screen process, the art or design is first printed onto the material and then the outline of the print is debossed using a die exactly registered to the silk screen print. In foil stamping, the foil is transferred to the material using a special die and then the same die is used to deboss the area. Debossing is less complicated than embossing, and when done in conjunction with silk screen printing, it results in a colorful and more detailed rendering of artwork and lettering.
Debossing and embossing are preferred methods of imprinting onto materials such as leather or vinyl. debossed and embossed leather or vinyl make elegant reproductions of a company logo or name.
Debossed in Leather
Debossing Examples
Debossing & Foiling
Letterpress & Debossing
Debossing different levels
This video is useful talking about how embossing and debossing are used in print...
