Riso Screen Orders

BSOE has a Thermofax machine in the care of Linda Connelly, who has kindly offered to produce screens for members.

The material for making the screens has been discontinued but the Society has a full roll 30 mm x 20 m. If you would like to have a screen/screens made, the cost would be £5 for an A4 screen, £3 for an A5. You can put more than one image on each page but make sure that there is plenty of room around each image so that you can properly mount each image for use.

Directions to order screen(s): Send your image to Linda at 21 Harewood Gardens Sanderstead South Croydon, Surrey CR2 9BU enclosing a self addressed envelope the size of the screen ordered.

Payment should be transferred via Bacs: Account # 11845724 Sort code 09-01-29. Please let the treasurer, Miranda, know on info@mirandasharpe.co.uk that payment has been made. Linda will be devoting a day a fortnight to the task, so please allow up to three weeks (could be less!) for your screens to arrive.

Should this be your first venture into Riso screens see the article below on the requirements for your art work.

Riso Screen Instructions

A riso screen is made from a printed, photocopied or drawn design and then run through the Thermofax Machine. The original image needs to be in black and white (no grey tones) and have some form of carbon in it.

How to make an IMAGE for the screen

  • The photocopier or laser printer being used should be one that uses ink containing carbon

  • Inkjet printers are not suitable - Any images from an inkjet printer will need to be photocopied with a laser printer or other printer with carbon

  • Any drawings should use carbon pencils, charcoal pencils or India Ink

    To see a Thermofax machine in action click HERE

How to mount the screen:

Upon receiving your risk screen you will note it will be still attached to the image/drawing that you sent.

Use either thick cardboard or corrugated plastic (Correx) for the frame. Cut out a ‘window’ from the it which is large enough to expose as much of your screen as possible, but leave enough screen to secure it firmly to your cardboard.

The screen has one shiny side and one matt side - place the shiny face down, and making sure the screen is as taut as you can, secure it to the frame with masking tape.

How to use the screen:

  • pre-enamel the blank that you wish to use

  • place your blank over your piece, so that the mount supports the screen, or place the screen on small wooden blocks hovering above your enamelled blank

  • if you have not mounted your screen you can use masking tape to secure the screen in place on your blank

  • side a light coat of enamel over the entire screen and gently tap the screen so that the enamel goes through it and onto your blank

  • shake a small amount of enamel onto one side of the screen and using a scraper such as an old credit card pull the enamel across the screen

  • gently remove the screen and shake excess enamel onto the paper away from your blank

The amount of enamel that you use over your screen will vary the finished effect.

You can produce positive or negative images by using your screen with the matt or shiny face up.

How to clean screen:

After using your screen, shake all excess enamel off your screen, or wipe with a damp cloth.

The screen can be used numerous times. It is best to store your screens flat so that they do not crease.

Riso Screen Reasearch from Jeanne Cross

Media which produce images which work well with the Thermofax machine to produce viable RISO screens, from a series of trials by Jeanne Crosse:

Laser printer, Dell 1350cnw and probably most others, Staedtler Pigmaent Liner, FaberCastell PITT Artist Pen Black 199***, Indian ink (Encre de Chine a la Pagode)and probably most other makes., Liquitex Ink Carbon Black, Eagle Verithin crayon black 747, Uni PIN Fine Line (Mitsubishi) pin 01-200 black, Many photocopiers (Xerox process)