How to Choose Paper for a Risograph Cover and Photocopied Zine Interior

Riso machines vary. RISO lists 46–210 gsm for one SE-series model, while its CV1200 supports 35–128 gsm; a stock within one model’s range may exceed another’s. Even paper within the stated size and weight limits may feed differently depending on type and storage. Confirm the model’s paper limits with the shop or machine operator before selecting a heavy cover. RISO SE specifications and the RISO CV1200 user guide show why a single blanket weight recommendation is unreliable.

For the Riso, favor uncoated stock. A university print-shop guide advises avoiding slick or coated papers, and a Risograph studio explains that its process uses absorbent, non-coated paper to limit smudging. A lightly textured or vellum finish is one option; smooth uncoated stock can also work. The specific surface affects the look, so judge it with a proof rather than relying on finish names alone. University of Utah Marriott Library Risograph instructions, Risolve Studio paper guide.

For the copier, use a paper type and weight listed for that particular machine. A stock described as “cover” may be too stiff for a copier’s paper path even if a Riso can handle it. Paper packaging weight labels can also use different basis sizes, so compare gsm where possible; “60 lb” does not mean the same thickness across every paper category.

A cover should feel distinct from the inside pages, but it still has to wrap around the booklet without splitting at the spine or resisting the fold. For a compact, saddle-stitched zine, begin testing around 150–200 gsm in an uncoated stock the Riso accepts. This is a practical starting range, not a machine specification: some studios recommend heavier papers, while a specific Riso may have a lower limit. RISO SE specifications

A cover around 200 gsm or heavier may feel more board-like and can be harder to fold cleanly, especially around a thick booklet. Use a paper creaser or bone folder for a sharper fold, and test the folded sample for cracking. If your design has broad, dense areas of ink, inspect the proof for smearing or transfer before stacking finished covers; the Utah guide identifies slick or coated stock as a smearing concern, and print results depend on paper and setup.

For most thin interiors, try 75–90 gsm plain, uncoated paper that the copier accepts. If the booklet has many sheets, a lighter stock reduces bulk at the spine and makes page turns easier. If the pages show through too much or feel flimsy, test the next available weight up, but do not assume the copier will reliably handle it. Xerox’s materials guide notes that copier runability depends on properties such as stiffness and grain, and that heavier paper can cause feeding or print-quality problems on some machines. Xerox Color Materials Usage Guide

Copy paper is a reasonable baseline when the interior is mainly text or simple black-and-white images. A smoother, brighter sheet can help small text appear crisp; a colored or more textured sheet changes contrast and image character. The result depends on the copier’s settings and condition, so photocopy a representative page on the actual stock. Check fine type, gray areas, solid blacks, and the reverse side for show-through. If you need the interior to match a particular paper tone, test a sample rather than expecting the screen preview to predict it.

Paper folds more cleanly along its grain. RISO’s CV1200 manual says to align the grain with the feed direction to reduce paper feeding failures; Xerox’s guide describes the smoother fold along the grain and rougher, cracked cross-grain fold. RISO CV1200 user guide, Xerox Color Materials Usage Guide

For a booklet, plan the grain to run parallel to the spine fold where practical, while also following the printer’s required feed orientation. Ask the paper supplier or print operator for grain direction if it is not marked. For an informal check, compare two gentle folds of a sheet in perpendicular directions: the with-grain fold generally bends more smoothly. Avoid confusing a machine’s required feed direction with the final booklet fold; the sheet may need to be cut or imposed to satisfy both.

Make one dummy booklet with the intended page count and trim size. Load a few sheets of each candidate stock, print a representative Riso cover, photocopy interior pages, and assemble them in the order you plan to produce the run. Check for feeding errors, curl, toner or ink marks, legibility, show-through, fold cracking, and whether the closed booklet sits acceptably flat.

If you are using a shared Riso or copier, ask the operator before testing unfamiliar stocks. Keep the proof settings, paper name, weight, and grain orientation with the sample so you can repeat the result. Storage matters too: RISO notes that paper within a machine’s specifications can still fail to feed depending on type and storage conditions. Keep paper flat and dry, and let wrapped stock adjust to the room before printing if it has been moved between noticeably different conditions. RISO CV1200 user guide

Start with the interior: choose copier-compatible paper near 75–90 gsm, then print and fold a sample. Choose a separate, uncoated cover stock near 150–200 gsm only if the Riso model permits it; if the cover is too stiff, reduce its weight. Confirm the grain and feed direction, assemble one full dummy, and adjust either stock before ordering the production quantity. This sequence ties the paper choice to the actual machines, fold, and booklet thickness instead of treating gsm as a guarantee.

The most useful paper is the one that feeds in both production steps and forms the fold your booklet needs. A modest-weight uncoated cover and copier-friendly interior are sensible first candidates, but a short proof run is what turns those candidates into a reliable choice for your particular zine.

• RISO, SE specifications

• RISO, CV1200 User Guide

• University of Utah Marriott Library, Risograph Instructions

• Risolve Studio, Papers

• Xerox, Color Materials Usage Guide