How to use Risograph Separator

Split artwork into one plate per Riso ink, proof the overprint, and check the file before the shop does.

A short guide to getting good results, plus answers to the questions people ask most.

Pins through one of the tool’s Riso presets, a different one each time you open this page. Drag the handle.
BeforePhoto Riso
Pins through one of the tool’s Riso presets, a different one each time you open this page. Drag the handle.

Open the tool

How to use it

  1. 1

    Drop an image or video here

    The picture opens on the Classic Duo preset. Press Auto Ink from Image and the two inks that fit it best are chosen for you.

  2. 2

    Choose the inks

    Each channel is one ink from the Riso list, fluorescents and metallics included. Two or three chosen well beat five. Add Channel for another.

  3. BlackBlack
    RedRed
    MultiplyMultiply
    The two plates of the Classic Duo preset, and the proof of them printed together.
  4. 3

    Pick the Paper Stock

    White, Natural, Cream, Newsprint, Light Gray or Kraft. The paper tints every ink, so choose it before you judge the colors.

  5. WhiteWhite
    NaturalNatural
    KraftKraft
    The same inks on three paper stocks.
  6. 4

    Proof the overprint

    Where two inks overlap you get a third color, and the print order changes it. The blend list, Multiply to Spectral, is how the proof models the inks.

  7. 5

    Run Pre-flight, then Export

    Choose the shop profile; coverage and margins are checked and each problem names its fix. Then export the plates, named by ink, with the composite.

About this tool

Risograph Separator turns a picture into plates for a risograph: one grayscale file per ink, where gray means how much ink to lay down. Choose the inks and the paper, and the proof shows what the inks do together, overlaps included.

You get one plate per ink as PNG, SVG or PDF with crop marks, plus a composite proof. Pre-flight checks ink coverage and margins against a shop profile before you send.

Features

Riso inks and papers

The Riso ink list, fluorescents and metallics included, on paper stocks from white to kraft that tint the result.

Overprint proof

See what two inks do where they overlap, and what changes when the print order swaps.

Pre-flight

Ink coverage, the lead-edge band and the margins checked against a shop profile, each fix named.

Plates a shop opens

One grayscale file per ink as PNG, SVG or PDF with crop marks, plus a composite proof.

Frequently asked questions

Is it free?

Yes. Every feature and every export is free, with no account and no watermark. An account is optional and only keeps your projects so you can reopen them on another device.

Are my files uploaded?

No. Everything runs in your browser and your files stay on your device. The only thing that leaves it is a project you choose to save to your account.

What is a risograph separation?

A riso prints one ink per pass, so a two-color print needs two files. Each plate is a grayscale where the gray says how much ink to lay down.

Why does ink coverage matter?

Riso ink dries slowly. Too much and it marks the roller or offsets onto the next sheet. Shops set a cap, and the profile in Pre-flight checks against it.

Will my print shop accept the files?

They are the usual ones: one grayscale plate per ink at your size, with crop marks. Shops differ on details, so their own spec sheet wins. Ask first.

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