History

Knust was founded in 1984 by Jan Dirk de Wilde, in the former squat building de Westland in Nijmegen. In those days the printing was done with analogue stencilmachines of Roneo and Gestetner. Stencilprinting was an easy way of making selfpublished books and zines and a cheap alternative for copyprinting. This quickly led to a growing demand for Knust’s printed matter. Over the years, Knust has developed in stencilprinting, Riso (and Ricoh), and we have inspired and helped other makers and starting workshops in working with this printing technique.

Stencilprinting / Riso

Stencilprinting can be compared with silkscreen printing. It is a printing technique which makes use of a blocked out and an open area, using a digital stencilmachine or stencilduplicator. The machines make use of either one or two color drums. Each color has its own drum, around which a stencil (master sheet) is placed, when the intended image has been made into the master sheet. The technology is ideal for small quantities and graphic printed matter.

Colorful and environment-friendly

The analog and charming feel of the technique goes within the type of ink and the small shifts that occur during the printing process. The ink is based on soybean oil (nowadays also rice bran oil) and does not dry completely. It is therefore best to print on uncoated, more rough paper that absorbs the ink more. This contributes to the beautiful vivid printed colors that characterize the technique.

On a regular base you can find us at art book fairs in the Netherlands and abroad.

We also give workshops, lectures and advice focused on stencil- and Riso printing and the making of art books. Regularly we give a workshop in this printing technique in Knust in AGA Lab. For more information and for workshops and expertise on request, please contact us at: drukwerk@extrapool.nl