Open Studio

Join us in the studio to work on your riso print or book project. We have both hourly rental and monthly rental options.

In order to rent studio print time, you must complete our Intro to Risograph Printing workshop. Please read our rental policy below.

You'll have access to our RZ1090 (single drum, for printing up to 11x17) and MZ1090 (dual drum, for printing up to 11x17) under the guidance of Jessica and Justin.

Sign up here for a 50 minute print block!
Sign up here for a 50 minute print block!
SIGN UP HERE FOR A 50 MINUTE BINDERY BLOCK!
SIGN UP HERE FOR A 50 MINUTE BINDERY BLOCK!
purchase an open studio print package
purchase an open studio print package

Pricing

  • PRINTING

    • You’ll pay a $15 appointment fee when you sign up. This fee covers your hour-long studio use, assistance/consultation from Paper Press Punch, and is non-refundable.

    • Costs for stencils, impressions, and any paper you use based on the job you’re printing will be tallied at the end of your appointment.

  • BINDERY & FINISHING

    • You’ll pay a $10 appointment fee when you sign up. This fee covers your hour-long studio use, assistance/consultation from Paper Press Punch, and is non-refundable.

    • We will train you to use all of our equipment.

We also have 5 hour and 10 hour passes available for using the studio!

How much total can you expect to spend? Here’s an example: a 2-color 11x17 print at 50 qty on our 65lb cover weight paper would be roughly $35 (plus tax). Make sure you budget extra!

Contact us before your appointment if you have pricing questions.

 

SEE THE DROP DOWN MENUS FOR PRICING INFO

  • Domtar Cougar in 70lb text, 65lb cover, 80lb cover; 67lb Vellum Bristol Cover; Variety of colored paper in cover and text weight.

    TEXT WEIGHT (8.5" x 11")

    white, cream, color

    $0.12

    TEXT WEIGHT (11" x 17")

    white, cream, color

    $0.17

    COVER WEIGHT (8.5" x 11")

    white, cream, color

    $0.20

    COVER WEIGHT (8.5" x 11")

    white, cream, color

    $0.25

  • We encourage a print minimum of 25. The more you print, the more cost effective it is!

    STENCILS

    $2.50

    One for each layer you print

    IMPRESSIONS

    $0.10

    This is the number of times the paper goes through the riso. For example, 50 copies of an 11" x 17" 2-color print would require 100 impressions, in addition to any test prints.

  • We have a variety of bindery equipment available to renters for $10/hr. You can sign up for studio time on our Bindery & Finishing Calendar.

    BOOKLET MAKERS

    MBM iBooklet maker for saddle stitch stapled zines - folds and staples all at once! Can accommodate up to 11” x 17”.

    Spiral binder - great for books over 40 pages. We can help you purchase spirals, which come in a variety of sizes. Or use our odds and ends! The cost depends on color and size of spirals.

    PAPER CUTTERS

    guillotine, board shear, rotary cutters, x-actos

    PERFORATOR

    rotary hand-tool, up to 11" x 17"

    CORNER ROUNDER

    1/4" and 1/2" dies

    PAPER FOLDER

    bifolds, trifolds, and more!

    BUTTON MAKERS

    1” and 2 1/4” metal backed button makers and circle die cutters. Includes all supplies.

    VARIOUS HAND TOOLS

    bone folders, awls, rulers, scissors, needles/thread, etc.

 

Files

Please bring print ready files on a usb flash drive to your appointment. This means appropriately sized grayscale PDFs, one for each color layer. Your PDFs should be set to 300-600dpi and sized to the paper you intend to print on. For a refresher on file basics, please see: Basics of File Prep Handout.

Both riso models have the ability to connect directly to a computer’s usb port for printing. We have a dedicated studio PC laptop.

You can also print your originals on our copier for glass bed scanning, though we recommend you have this done before you come to maximize your printing time. You can see prices for our copier here: DIY Photocopying.

 
 

INK COLORS AVAILABLE

You can download and add our ink colors to your Spectrolite Palette , Procreate Swatches, Adobe Swatches, and Adobe Color Books.

Monthly Membership

Interested in becoming a Paper Press Punch Prolific Printer member?

This membership level is for those who have a comfortable working relationship printing on the riso and can do so somewhat independently (we are still in the studio and love giving advice and gushing about how awesome you are). Members also have more flexibility in scheduling studio time. As a member, you pay a flat $125/month fee, with a 3 month commitment. The cost includes ink and copy usage, stencils, and copy paper. You pay for paper or bring your own. You’ll also get a flat file to store your work.

Our studio has capacity for 6 monthly members. In order to become a monthly renter, you must meet the following requirements:

  1. Studio Training Completion – Members must have taken our Introduction to Risograph Printing & Operation Workshop, which offers a complete introductory training session on our specific Riso operation (RZ1090 and SF5130), digital file prep, and general studio policies.

  2. Consistent Open Studio Attendance – Members must have attended hourly open studio hours consistently within the last year, demonstrating familiarity with the space and equipment before committing to a monthly membership.

  3. Basic Riso Troubleshooting Knowledge – Members should have a working understanding of common issues like misregistration, drum swaps, cleaning the pick up rollers, and paper jams—or be willing to learn through ongoing support.

  4. Three-Month Commitment – New Monthly Members must commit to at least three consecutive months of membership to ensure consistency in studio use and community engagement.

  5. Monthly Membership Fee – Members must pay the designated monthly fee (Prolific Printer or Key Holder rate) to maintain access to the studio and equipment.

  6. Respect for Studio Policies – Members must follow all studio guidelines, including proper machine usage, cleanup procedures, and respecting shared workspaces.

  7. Commitment to Regular Use – Since Riso machines need consistent operation to stay in good working condition, members should plan to print at least once per month to keep the studio active and the equipment functioning smoothly.

If you are interested in becoming a Monthly Member and you meet the above requirements, please fill out the Prolific Printer Membership Application.

studio Access Policy

  • To maintain a safe, functional, and community-centered studio, all first-time users are required to complete training before printing independently. This can be done by either taking our Intro to Risograph Printing & Operation workshop or, for experienced users, booking a Studio Orientation session (see below).

    Our intro workshop includes hands-on training with our specific equipment, workflows, and studio policies. This ensures that everyone using the space is set up for success and helps protect our machines and shared resources.

  • For experienced Riso users only!

    If you’ve previously printed at another studio, you may be eligible to take a 30-minute Studio Orientation session instead of the full intro workshop. This session is designed to assess your skills, introduce you to our equipment, and review studio expectations.

    To qualify, your experience must be:

    • Recent (within the last 6 months)

    • Beyond a single workshop (i.e., you’ve had some level of repeated or independent use)

    All orientation participants must also complete a brief skills check (see below) to confirm readiness for independent printing.

    You must email us at info@paperpresspunch.com to schedule your orientation and assessment if you are interested in renting the studio.

  • After completing the Intro to Risograph Printing Workshop, you will be accessed to rent the studio and can check off the following required skills.

    For those that have prior experience and want to complete a Studio Orientation, you will be assessed on the required skills.

    You should feel confident in the following:

    ★ Turning the Risograph on and off

    ★ Changing a drum

    ★ Emptying the master disposal box

    ★ Making a master and printing from the scanner bed

    ★ Making a master and printing from a computer file

    ★ Loading paper and adjusting settings correctly

    ★ Troubleshooting paper jams

    ★ Calculating the cost of materials used for printing

  • TERMS AND AGREEMENTS:

    ★ You are welcome to bring a buddy to your session and you may print projects for them but they can not use the riso or other equipment unless they have taken a class.

    ★ Pay for any supplies you use BEFORE leaving! We are a small artist-run studio and rely on rental fees to pay for day-to-day supplies to keep us open! Please do not make us track you down or worry if you’ve paid or not.

    ★ Wipe down the riso machine and all surfaces with cleaner and a paper towel after use! Riso ink is prone to smudging, so please get rid of your finger prints and keep our equipment in good condition.

    ★ Practice safe equipment usage, including:

    • Only using equipment you have been trained to use.

    • Keeping drums OFF the floor.

    • Asking questions when you are unsure about printing errors.

    ★ Follow paper disposal rules:

    • Scraps from paper jams → recycle

    • Single-sided prints → reuse bins

    • Double-sided prints → big bin

    ★ Put all tools and materials back to their homes after usage.

    ★ Be mindful of your time. Our sessions are in one-hour increments and most likely, someone else is coming to the use the space after you. If you are the last session of the day, please make sure you are finished printing and cleaned up by the time the studio is closing. We will give you a 10 minutes heads up. You MAY NOT be in the studio without Jessica or Justin, unless you have prior approval.