Kho Muc Studio: Unique risograph printing studio in Saigon

Discover the unique and innovative risograph printing technique

Risograph (or riso) printing is making waves in the international independent printing community, attracting artists with its unique color and expressive capabilities.

In a conversation with Dang Thanh Long and Simon Phan, founders of Kho Muc Studio - the first independent riso printing studio in Saigon, we will explore this new printing technique and the differences that risograph brings compared to conventional printing.

Kho Muc Studio: Independent risograph printing studio in Saigon, Vietnam

When we think of a "printing studio", we often imagine the strong smell of ink, the incessant sound of printers and a series of messy prints filling the workspace. But Kho Muc Studio is different. Located at the Inpages bookstore on Le Van Mien Street, District 2, this printing studio creates a compact space, only a few dozen square meters, with the highlight being the risograph printing machine. In addition, Kho Muc also displays several art products sent by the artist community for printing.

Dang Thanh Long, one of the founders of Kho Muc Studio, calls opening the studio “fate” after he came to Singapore to seek inspiration from the global art community and discovered works printed in risograph. The rustic yet sophisticated way the ink is transferred onto the paper attracted him at first sight. Meanwhile, Simon Phan, an independent illustrator and co-founder of Kho Muc Studio, learned about this printing technique five years ago while living in the UK.

"Kho Muc Studio wants to share with everyone about the risograph printing process. When we first established it, we held a small event, inviting artists to create works with the theme of 'dry squid'. Then, we selected the 22 best works and supported the artists to print their works, helping them become the first people to experience this new printing technique," shared Mr. Long.

And from there, Kho Muc Studio was officially born, becoming the first independent risograph printing workshop in Vietnam.

What is Risograph?

According to Mr. Long's explanation, the risograph printer is actually a super fast printer, combining screen printing and a photocopy machine. Screen printing is the process of printing multiple layers of color on top of each other to create a multi-color print, combined with the "duplication" feature, so it can print more than 100 copies/minute.

Risograph is a printing method that originated in Japan. Risograph ink is made from organic soybeans and contains no drying agents. As a result, the ink never dries completely, so care must be taken when printing to avoid smudging the print with just a touch of your finger. In Vietnam, the choice of ink colors is still limited. "We have to import some new colors like neon pink or metallic. When Kho Muc Studio first opened, we had to wait three months to get enough new ink. It was quite an experience!" Mr. Long shared. Now that everything is stable, Kho Muc Studio is still experimenting with overlay printing with different styles with artists.

Beauty lies in the process

“With conventional digital printing, the artist is only concerned with the final product as a complete work. But with risograph, the printing process also has its own beauty,” explains Simon.

When printing risographs, a team of designers and studios must discuss paper testing, color, and printing methods. Due to the overlapping nature of risographs, the artist must carefully calculate during the design process to achieve the desired color. For example, to get green, he must calculate the percentage of blue and yellow.

“When the second layer of color was added to the first layer, people started to get excited. When the third layer was added, the print used six different colors, people were even more amazed,” Long recalled. From surprise to satisfaction, the artist witnessed his work become reality.

Kho Muc Studio: Combining Commerce and Art

Kho Muc Studio is an independent art print shop, but still faces the challenge of balancing commercial and artistic value.

This printing house has set a goal to become an eco-friendly place by using soy ink and refusing to use nylon, and reusing leftover printing plates. Kho Muc Studio wants to find customers who share the same sustainable values and design style. With a meticulous working process and control over the quality and color of the prints, Kho Muc believes that they can accompany the "green living" trend brands in Vietnam in creating packaging and menus.

In addition, Kho Muc also supports printing even in small print runs to support independent artists. This sincerity has made artists continue to send their works to Kho Muc for printing.

Before experiencing risograph printing, there are some tips to keep in mind. Risograph is different from traditional printing and design experiences in Vietnam. Many artists, familiar with digital printing, do not expect to have to calculate every detail and color in the design process. However, risograph respects imperfections and color unevenness, and this is what makes each riso print unique.

According to Long and Simon, communication and discussion before printing is of utmost importance. This helps both the designer and Kho Muc Studio understand each other’s workflow. This is key to getting the most out of the risograph printing experience and avoiding common mistakes associated with creating multi-layer prints.

To introduce the risograph printing experience to more people, Kho Muc often organizes two workshops per month, where people can create and experience their own creative products.

“It’s a screen-to-touch experience,” Simon shares. Risograph is fast, creative, and environmentally friendly, and it’s not hard to see how the future appeal of riso printing will appeal to both the creative and printing communities.

Thank you for choosing iguide.ai to accompany your exciting experience!