If you have ever used a Risograph machine before then you'll be familiar with its various quirks. Ink bleed, finger smudges, roller marks, and prin misalignment are all common.
The Risograph Brush & Texture Kit includes a collection of brushes created from real examples of print defects to bring an extra level of authenticity to your work. Just like with other types of distressing effects, less is more. Unless you want to make your work look like a total mess, it's not likely you'll see every single defect show up at once.
Here's a few tips:
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Dark colors show smudges more, apply your print defects using those colors.
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Roller marks usually show up at the bottom of the print. These happen when the grip that feeds the paper into the machine rolls through the wet ink, leaving a track of ink down the paper.
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Place finger smudges where you'd naturally grip a piece of paper. Realistically they could show up anywhere, but there are most likely to appear from handling a wet print and then picking up another.
Another tip for authenticity is print misalignment. Because Risograph machines are quirky and can cause subtle to severe print offset that has to be corrected by hand.
Recreate this effect by doing the following:
- Select a color layer.
- Use the Move Tool to ove it slightly out of place.
Try not to overdo it or to misalign too many layers at once. Although it can happen in real life, you don't want to sacrifice legibilty.
Best Practices and Troubleshooting
When working with Risograph textures, it’s important to experiment and play around with different effects and techniques.
Don’t be afraid to try new things and make mistakes – they can often lead to interesting and unexpected results.
If you’re having trouble achieving the desired effect, try adjusting the settings in the Filter Gallery or experimenting with different Blending Modes.
Additionally, make sure to save your file regularly and work on a duplicate layer to avoid losing your work. This approach ensures you can freely experiment without the fear of making irreversible changes, allowing your creativity to flourish.