Ink that sits on the sheet
Soy-based spot color, not a sealed digital gloss. You can usually see the tooth of the paper through the lighter passes.
The studio
Named for the second pass.
In Risograph printing, true magic happens when paper feeds back into the machine for round two. That second pass is where single-color precision gives way to personality, where overlapping inks create vibrant new shades, subtle misalignments turn into happy accidents, and a flat digital file transforms into a textured, living piece of art. It's the exact moment a print comes alive, and it's why we're here: to give your work the depth, color, and tactile punch it deserves.
You are a printmaker? We are friends now!
Second Pass Prints is run by two owners, Justin and Ashley.
Ashley Andrews is a Canadian printmaker and artist with more than 20 years of experience working across relief printmaking, letterpress, drawing, painting, and carving. Her practice is rooted in the tactile nature of printmaking, with a focus on experimentation, accessibility, and creative exploration.
Ashley is also an experienced educator and workshop facilitator, creating hands-on programs that make printmaking approachable for beginners and experienced artists alike. She is the co-creator of Printmakers Matrix, an international community connecting printmakers, sharing work, and encouraging creative exchange.
Based in Niagara, Ontario, Ashley continues to develop her studio practice while teaching, creating community projects, and building new ways for people to experience printmaking.
Justin has been printmaking for about a year, after being taught by Ashley as well as the Ottawa School of Art. He works across several techniques, including linocut, drypoint, and risograph, and is a web developer and software developer. He is co-founder of Printmakers Matrix and the designer of the Pica Press.
We have always been interested in risograph. In 2026 we took a workshop put on by Dirtywork Studios. It was such an amazing experience that we decided to start hunting for a risograph. In September of 2026 we found our Risograph duplicator, a beautiful condition Risograph EZ591U. With no work or maintenance needed, we were able to start printing right away, blasting through about 1,000 pages in the first 72 hours.
A small, honest shift
Registration wanders about a millimeter between colors. Designs that need hairline fits belong on a different press.
Dots, when there is a photograph
Photographs become halftones with single or multiple inks.
An edition, not a one-off
Minimum runs of 25.
The press
Meet Jeff.
Jeff is our Riso EZ591U. He was born in May 2012 in Japan, and he is just a teenager. He can get a little moody, but most of the time he is a very happy risograph.
He is a one drum at a time kinda guy. He prefers the Rice inks, but sometimes sips the Soya inks as well.
He can make prints up to 11×17. Give him about 20 seconds to make a master and he will run up to 130 sheets a minute. The tray holds around 1,000 sheets of regular paper, which suits him just fine.
What we print
Original work, art prints, shop graphics, zines, and invitations. If it is yours, and it can live in a few spot colors, it belongs here.
What we will not
Other people's characters, logos, or photographs, unless you have the right to print them. No AI generated images.
Folding and binding. You get the printed sheets.