Extrapool About Knust Eng

Knust is a special printworkspace and independent publisher in Nijmegen.

For over forty years, Knust has been making stencil printing, now better known under the (brand) name Riso(graphy). The basis has always been self-publishing. Knust has a tradition and reputation in making colorful printing, but also one of unusually bound experimental publications. You can choose from a selection of 40+ color drums in A3 and A2. At Knust you can go for beautiful (stencil) printing with a lot of attention.

Have your work printed

If you want to print something yourself or have it printed, printed, bound or made ready for printing by Knust, click on the Print Now button to fill in the order form.

If it is more like a book, extensive or recurring printing, a project proposal or something else, it is best to send an e-mail to: drukwerk@extrapool.nl.

Form

Delivery/specifications

Stencil workshop

History

Knust was founded in 1983 in the former squat ‘De Westland’ in Nijmegen. At that time, they worked with analogue stencil machines. Stencilling was the cheapest and relatively easiest way to make your own zines and booklets; copying and laser printing were still expensive at the time. Inkjet printers did not yet exist. Knust managed to bring ‘stencilling’ to great heights and free it from stigmas as a low-quality printing technique and merely an activist medium. Over the years, Knust has mastered the machines, which evolved from analogue stencilling to digital printing with the Riso (and Ricoh)*. As an early user, Knust has inspired many makers and workshops and helped them get started in working with this printing technique. There was soon a demand for Knust’s colourful printing and idiosyncratic publications.

Stencilprinting / Riso

Stencil printing/Riso can be compared to screen printing; it is also a transfer technique. The stencil machines or duplicators have one or two ink drums*. For a four-colour print, the paper then goes through the Riso 4x (single-colour machine) or 2x (two-colour machine). Each colour has its own drum, around which a master (or a stencil; previously called a mother sheet) is placed by machine as soon as the desired image has melted into the master sheet. With the help of ink and a machine counterpressure roller, the image is printed on the paper. The technique is ideal for small print runs and distinctive graphic printing.

Colorful and environment-friendly

The raw and charming feel of the technique lies in the use of the type of ink (oil) and the small shifts that occur during the printing process. The ink is based on rice oil (sometimes also soybean oil) and does not dry. Therefore, it can only be printed on uncoated, unprocessed and thickened paper in which the ink is absorbed, as it were. This contributes to the beautiful, bright and intense colours that are so typical of the technique.

Portfolio

Knust makes stencilprinted and Riso printed matter of the highest quality

Here you will find a selection of books, magazines, prints, posters, flyers and cards printed at Knust.

For our most recent print work click on; Freshly Pressed.

'Telesippa' by Finn Öhlund

'Telesippa' by Finn Öhlund was Riso printed and published by Knust/Extrapool originally in 2014 as part of Knust's book residency projects 'Work Holiday'. Ten years later the book was celebrated with a special reprint edition with Knust's latest colors. 'Telesippa' refers to 'Flowers from afar', paintings and drawings in watercolor by Swedish artist Finn Öhlund.

'Telesippa' by Finn Öhlund

'Line / Rectangle' by Eunyoung Hwang

'Line / Rectangle' by Eunyoung Hwang was Riso printed and co-published by Knust in 2023. The book contains a series of drawings of different types of wood that enter into a game and rhythm of shapes and lines. The core of the binding is an idea by Knust; where a small piece of wood holds together all the pages

'Line / Rectangle' by Eunyoung Hwang

Colored-city-of-dreams_4-Colors-5-Papers_Risoprint_Knust_Extrapool_Riso

4 Colors, 5 Papers & Colored city of dreams

'4 Colors, 5 Papers' and 'Colored city of dreams' by Marie Cuennet were stencilprinted and co-published by Knust during her independent residency at Extrapool in 2017 and 2018.
The books focus on experiments in color and printing, and how colors appear on colored paper.

→ Marie Cuennet

Colored-city-of-dreams_Marie-Cuennet_Riso_Knust_Extrapool_Risoprint_Extrapool_stencilprinted

'4 Colors, 5 Papers' and 'Colored city of dreams' by Marie Cuennet

Vernacular-Painting_Gijs-Frieling_Riso_Knust_Extrapool_Risoprint_Extrapool_stencilprinted

'Vernacular Painting' by Gijs Frieling

'Vernacular Painting' by Gijs Frieling was stencilprinted by Knust in 2009. Lettering and design by Job Wouters.

The book won a price for 'Best Verzorgde Boeken 2009'.
Fashion designer Dries van Noten made a special A/W collection inspired on this book in 2013.

→ Gijs Frieling
→ Job Wouters

'Vernacular Painting' by Gijs Frieling

'Vernacular Painting' by Gijs Frieling was stencilprinted by Knust in 2009. Lettering and design by Job Wouters. 'Vernacular Painting' by Gijs Frieling was stencilprinted by Knust in 2009. Lettering and design by Job Wouters.

The book won a price for 'Best Verzorgde Boeken 2009'.
Fashion designer Dries van Noten made a special A/W collection inspired on this book in 2013.

→ Gijs Frieling
→ Job Wouters

Our Form of Book

'Our Form of Book' is a book project initiated by Dutch graphic design studio Our Polite Society with Paul Gangloff, stencilprinted by Knust and published by Knust/Extrapool in 2016.

Featured on → It's Nice That.

→ Paul Gangloff
→ Our Polite Society

Johann-Kauth_Cactus-Inside-Frog_Riso_Knust_Extrapool_Risoprint_Extrapool_stencilprinted

'Cactus Inside Frog', by Johann Kauth

'Cactus Inside Frog', by Johann Kauth was stencilprinted by Knust and published by Knust/Extrapool in 2011 as part of Knust's book residency projects. The book was the first publication of the Art Prison series.

→ Johann Kauth

'Cactus Inside Frog' by Johann Kauth

Blue Cabin

'Blue Cabin', by Mari Kanstad Johnsen was stencilprinted by Knust and published by Knust/Extrapool in 2012 as part of Knust's book residency projects, Art Prison #6.
The book received the Silver-price in Årets Vakreste Bøker 2013.

→ Mari Kanstad Johnsen

'Blue Cabin', by Mari Kanstad Johnsen

Round-Hours_On-the-Rocks_Yeji-Yun_Riso_Knust_Extrapool_Risoprint_Extrapool

'Round Hours' and 'On The Rocks' by Yeji Yun

'Round Hours' and 'On The Rocks' by Yeji Yun were stencilprinted and co-published by Knust during her independent residency at Extrapool in 2016 and 2018.

'On The Rocks' featured on → It's Nice That.

→ Yeji Yun

Sing-your-life_Koen-Taselaar_Rarities-And-B-Sides_Riso_Knust_Extrapool_Risoprint_Extrapool

'Sing Your Life - Rarities And B-Sides' by Koen Taselaar

'Sing Your Life - Rarities And B-Sides' by Koen Taselaar was stencilprinted by and at Knust in 2017.
The book contains mostly unseen drawings, cutouts and printing experiments by Koen Taselaar.

→ Koen Taselaar

Workshops & Expertise

Knust provides workshops at home and abroad. She also advises and is happy to share her expertise, for example in helping to set up new workshops. You can also regularly find us at Art Book Fairs at home and abroad.

In Nijmegen, Knust/Extrapool has a shop called Extrapool’s Graphic Shop at Tweede Walstraat no. 23, which is open every Friday from 10:00 to 17:00 (closed between 12:00 and 14:00) and is also opened by appointment.

If you have any questions, please email us at; drukwerk@extrapool.nl or check our agenda.

Residencies

In addition to commissioned printing, Knust produces (artist) books in close collaboration with Extrapool, publishes them and distributes them by taking them to Art Book Fairs.

Since the late 1980s, visual and writing artists have been coming to Knust to make their own publications. They often publish them themselves, sometimes we publish them together and sometimes Knust publishes them. Since 2011, there have been ongoing book residency projects within the Extrapool programme. These publications involve collaboration with designers, artists and illustrators. Previous projects include Art Prison, Work Holiday and Ko Zine. We are currently also working on projects such as Slow Res, Residipi and Independent Residencies.

Right from the very beginning of 1984, Knust’s publications already had a distinct signature; at Art Book Fairs, the Knust/Extrapool table is a striking presence. If you would like to contribute to the appearance and diversity of Knust/Extrapool by working in our workshops (as a resident or volunteer) and staying in Extrapool, please email us!

For more information about the various residencies, Open Call deadlines or submitting a book or zine proposal, please contact: boekwerk@extrapool.nl.

Present

Freshly Pressed

‘Telesippa’ by Finn Öhlund

Leesblog

Interview Destillaat #26

Leesblog

METAL at all

Leesblog

Design Process of the Art Worldbuilding Poster

Events

concert

07 JUN '25