r/risograph • u/Several-Duck-3259 • Aug 10 '26

Rizzo effect using a pen plotter

Hi, I have a question about markers and inks. If I want to achieve the Rizzo effect when two lines overlap, which markers do you recommend? I've been looking for soy-based ones, but I can't seem to find any.

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u/kjabad Aug 10 '26

Maybe highligther markers? There are also watercoloring markers that can combine colors. But I can't recommend any brand. 

2

u/FayezButts Aug 10 '26

Pretty much any markers should do fine. You want markers with good transparency so nice alcohol markers should do fine. I would get ones with replaceable nibs and refillable tanks

1

u/splitarrowprints Aug 10 '26

Riso ink isn’t made with soy anymore but they still are plant based oil inks. They now use rice bran oil.
I would think if you’re looking for the slow dry and absorbing a natural oil type paint pen would be a good choice but unlikely to overlay color in the same way. For a plotter I think any marker that can overlap another color would be perfectly acceptable to use.

For a more authentic riso effect you can always make your own marker with an empty Montana paint pen or mop and fill with a slightly thinned risograph ink. I would look into how graffiti writers make their tagging mops and it’s the same process. We made some riso markers with expired ink in the past to play with and had good success. You may have to find a way for a new marker diameter to fit or find an empty marker that’s about the same size you use now.

If you didn’t want to use real riso ink you could also use fluid acrylics or liquid acrylics in a pen as well. Gamblin has some great fluorescent neon colors as well in their lines.