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Risograph Effect

Rebuilds any picture from three overlapping ink plates screened onto grainy paper, like a print from a stencil duplicator.

The same portrait as a grainy riso print: orange-red hair, a pale blue shirt and background covered in speckled blue and yellow ink grain.
Studio portrait of a person with a straight dark red bob and bangs, wearing a white collared shirt, against a plain light gray background.
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Made with RisoPrint

Works in

The risograph effect turns any image into a three-⁠plate duplicator print. Each plate separates the picture from its own ink color, then the plates overlap on paper grain to build density. You choose the three inks, the paper color, the grain, how wide each separation runs and how far plates drift out of register.

Same effect, different settings

12 photos, each with its own settings. Try it on yours

  • Risograph Effect on a photo of two runners on a track
  • Risograph Effect on a photo of a woman in orange glasses and a knit collar
  • Risograph Effect on a photo of a man with slicked blond hair and sunglasses
  • Risograph Effect on a photo of a man with pink hair and black sunglasses
  • Risograph Effect on a photo of a basketball player mid-jump
  • Risograph Effect on a photo of two pears on linen
  • Risograph Effect on a photo of a woman in blue glasses
  • Risograph Effect on a photo of a woman in white cat-eye sunglasses
  • Risograph Effect on a photo of a woman with a black bob and red earrings
  • Risograph Effect on a photo of a black horse
  • Risograph Effect on a photo of blue cornflowers
  • Risograph Effect on a photo of a man in a suit under yellow light

Use Risograph Effect in Photoshop, After Effects, Illustrator, Affinity or Figma

The plugins are free with an account. Paid plans add bigger renders and your own filters. See pricing

Settings worth touching

Ink 1
Sets the color of the first plate. Its separation is worked out from this color, so changing it changes which tones it prints.
Separation 1
Widens or narrows how much of the image the first plate covers. Keep separations wide so overlapping plates build density.
Opacity
Controls how strongly the paper grain shows through the ink, from clean flat color to a heavy speckled texture.

Frequently asked questions

What is a risograph effect?

It imitates a risograph print, made on a stencil duplicator that lays down one flat ink at a time. You get overlapping color plates, visible grain and slightly offset layers on paper.

How do I add a risograph effect in Photoshop?

Install Nexus for Photoshop, apply the look to a Smart Object as a Smart Filter and double-click it later to adjust. You can also render the result as a new layer.

Can I use the riso print effect in Illustrator or Figma as vectors?

No. This look outputs pixels only. Illustrator and Figma receive the result as an embedded image, not as vector paths, so treat it like any placed raster image.

Can I animate the risograph effect in After Effects?

Yes. Drop it on a layer as a native effect and keyframe any control, such as the ink shifts or grain scale, to make plates drift or grain move over time.

Can I try it without buying anything?

Yes. Open the look in the Nexus web editor and try it on your own image without an account. Exporting needs a free account, which exports images up to 720px and video up to 720px with the Nexus mark.

Related effects

Try Risograph Effect in your browser

Free to try. Exporting needs a free account.

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