Offset, On-demand, Risograph: What's the Difference? Which Printing Method Should I Choose for My Zine?

Many people who try to order ZINEs from a printing company are often confused by the sheer number of options available.
"Offset printing," "on-demand printing," or "risograph." What's the difference, and which one should you choose? If you consider it from the perspective of quantity and purpose, the answer becomes quite clear.

Offset Printing

Offset printing is a method of printing using a plate. By differentiating between water and ink on the plate, it can print detailed images clearly without any unevenness. The resolution of offset printing is said to be around 2400dpi, making it the highest-quality printing method currently available for reproducing gradations and intricate designs. It uses CMYK (the three primary colors of ink plus black) and can also use spot colors (such as gold or fluorescent pink).

However, since plate creation and pre-setting incur costs, the per-book cost for small quantities is considerably higher compared to on-demand printing. It is not uncommon for offset printing to be two to three times (or even more) expensive than on-demand printing for quantities under 100 copies. For large-volume printing of 1000 or 2000 copies, the situation reverses, and offset printing becomes cheaper per book.

Some people insist on offset printing for photo books or special editions, but I believe on-demand printing is usually sufficient for a first ZINE.
*The recommended resolution for most printed materials in full color is around 350dpi, so unless you are truly aiming for extreme photographic precision, on-demand printing should be fine.

・Related article: What are CMYK and RGB? Things to keep in mind when creating a ZINE

On-Demand Printing

On-demand printing is a method of printing data directly without creating a plate. It can be easily understood as a commercial version of a home printer. For example, when you open a PDF and press "Ctrl+P," the data is sent to your home printer and printing begins; on-demand printing uses a similar method. In most cases, there are toner-based (laser) and inkjet methods, and the specific machine used varies by printing company.

Like offset printing, it uses CMYK for printing, but spot colors cannot be used.

It is suitable for small quantities, from about 5 to 200 copies, and significantly reduces costs compared to offset printing. A short delivery time is also a feature, with some printing companies offering next-day shipping. Some printing companies allow orders from a single copy, which is a significant advantage as it eliminates inventory risk.

For example, a simulation on a printing e-commerce website showed that for an A5, 36-page, 100-copy order with monochrome text, the cost was around 14,000 yen (7-day delivery). With the same specifications, offset printing would cost over 60,000 yen.

Regarding quality, there used to be a clear difference from offset printing, but with recent advancements in machinery, the finish is now quite close. However, offset printing may still offer higher reproduction quality for fine designs and gradations. Subtle color differences can occur with each reprint, so if color consistency is crucial, offset printing is the safer choice.

There's one thing to be aware of: if a printing company has multiple on-demand printing machines, the quality of the finish can subtly vary depending on which machine is allocated. I've actually heard stories of the texture changing when reprinting the same data at different times. Generally, the results are good, but it's something to keep in mind.

Risograph

Risograph is a printing method that operates on a completely different principle from offset and on-demand printing. There is no concept of CMYK; instead, it works by "impregnating a single color into perforated holes." It is a printing machine manufactured by RISO Kagaku Corporation, the company that once produced the "Print Gocco" product. Risograph, like Print Gocco and silkscreen, is a stencil printing method, also known as mimeograph, where ink penetrates through "holes" made in a plate.

Because the ink soaks into the paper, it produces a unique faded look and warmth. This is why Risograph is popular in the ZINE world.

Unlike offset and on-demand printing, which use CMYK to express colors, Risograph creates a plate for each color and prints them by layering one color at a time. Data is specified in grayscale. It is primarily used for single-color or two-color combinations. While not suitable for full-color photographs, it is very compatible with illustrations and text-heavy ZINEs.

Outsourcing costs are higher than for on-demand printing, but by using stores that have Risograph machines, like DIY BOOKS, you can produce prints while keeping costs down. However, please note that binding may take a little longer.

・Related article: How to use a Risograph. Operating the machine and creating data

Guideline by quantity

~100 copies: On-demand
500-1000+ copies: Offset becomes more cost-effective
Illustration/diagram-focused with emphasis on texture: Consider Risograph

For those who are undecided, I recommend "first creating a small batch with on-demand printing and holding it in your hands." Once you have the finished product, it often becomes clear what you want to change next.
Perhaps start by making it with on-demand printing, and then decide from there.

Regarding Risograph, RISO Kagaku Corporation has created "RISO STUDIO LINKS." If there's a place near you where you can encounter Risograph or works created with it, I recommend visiting it.

https://www.riso.co.jp/learn/risoart/links.html

Before submission, always check that the bleed settings are correct.

・Related article: What is bleed? Essential settings before submitting your ZINE