HOW TO RISO
Become a Risograph expert and complete your print or publication project using Shandaken's machines through our public eduction program!
In our instructional course How to Riso, newly available to the public, master printmaker Patrick Costello offers in-person, onsite training in Risography. Taking place in Shandaken Project's sun-drenched print studio on Governors Island and designed especially for artists, How to Riso will teach participants all the skills they need to work independently on our Risograph 9450—a contemporary model that easily prints high quality, high volume reproductions.
How to Riso is offered on:
Sunday, April 30, 10am to 5pm (with a 1 hour lunch break)
Tuesday, May 16 and Tuesday, May 23, both 2 to 5pm
Saturday, June 3, 10am to 5pm (with a 1 hour lunch break)
Courses are capped at eight participants. In addition to in-depth, personalized instruction, each participant also receives six hours of independent studio time, to be scheduled at their convenience during office hours in the month following their course.
Topics covered include:
Introduction to printmaking basics
How to use and care for a Risograph
How to contact print using a Riso scanner
Best practices for soy-based Riso inks
How to choose paper for Riso projects
How to achieve full spectrum effects with spot color
How to make color separations for "CMYK" Riso prints
How to perfect halftone reproductions
How to Riso print the crispest, clearest text
How to make digital proofs for Riso prints
How to finish book projects with stack cutting, staple binding, or perfect binding
Our $225 course fee includes: free ferry travel, six hours of class time, and six hours of independent studio time for each participant. Participants are welcome to bring an upcoming Riso project to get expert advice about file preparation during the course.
How to Riso is best suited for artists with a basic knowledge of Photoshop. Please inquire with any questions about course content or suggested background skills. Shandaken Projects has offered Risography education since 2021, but How to Riso is the first opportunity for artists not already working on Governors Island to be trained in our studio.
Please note that participants should plan to for ferry travel departing from 10 South Street, Manhattan thirty minutes before course start times, and returning 30 minutes after course end times. Our print studio is located on the second floor of a building that is listed on the national register of historic places, and which does not have an elevator. Shandaken's office is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, 9am to 5pm.