RISO BASICS is a foundation-level workshop designed for beginners who want to understand what Risograph prints have to offer, how the process works, and how Riso translates visual information onto the page using the scanning bed.

Students leave with: A short history of Riso, a comprehensive understanding of how the RZ1090U works, and ten copies of a single two-color 11”x17” print that they design in class using analog media.

No artistic or printmaking background necessary. Recommended for ages 16 and up. All materials are provided, no preparation needed.

As of 2026, you can purchase tickets directly via www.cactusclubmilwaukee.com

Book RISO OPEN STUDIO:
1 session = 3hrs, $35 flat booking fee + cost of materials. Bring your own paper.

Materials cost $0.25 per impression + $2 per master and will be billed at the end of your session.

A studio monitor will be on-site to help print or troubleshoot machine basics. 15-ish ink colors available to print with. Contact us before your session to see if we have the colors you want to use in stock.

Prerequisite: You need to have taken RISO BASICS with BearBear to book private time on our Risograph machine. Testing-out option available.

How to prepare for your visit:

Get your files print-ready!

• Flattened, grayscale PDFs
• One PDF per color ink
• Saved onto a USB drive, emailed to yourself, or ready-to-scan

Bring your own paper. BearBear does not stock paper for on-site purchase.

• Bring enough paper for your print run plus a recommended 10–20% more (margin of error).
  Bring your own paper :-)

OPEN STUDIO IS PERFECT FOR:

• Printing 1-3 color posters, business cards, menus
• Printing 1 color comics or zines
• Folks who have a specific and approachable project in mind
• PRINT-READY FILES ONLY

AND NOT RECOMMENDED FOR:

• Printing artwork / photography that requires heavy ink coverage and impeccable registration
• Extremely tight turn-around deliverables
• High-stakes projects (e.g. wedding invites for clients or capstone schoolwork)
• Intricate book projects
• Training. Riso project consultations or learning sessions with us are separate and will be suggested at BearBear’s discretion. 1:1's are booked outside of Open Studio hours via email.

No refunds or exchanges.