What is print registration?

Registration is aligning multiple colour layers precisely on top of each other in multi-colour printmaking. Each colour is printed from a separate plate/block, and they must line up exactly. Registration marks provide consistent positioning.

What is kento registration?

Kento is a traditional Japanese woodblock technique using an L-shaped corner mark and a straight side mark carved into the block. The paper is placed against these marks for each colour pass. Accuracy is about ±0.5 mm.

What is pin registration?

Pin registration uses holes punched in the paper that align on fixed pins on a registration board. It is the most accurate method (±0.2 mm) and is standard in screen printing and commercial printmaking.

How long should I wait between colour layers?

It depends on the ink. Oil-based relief inks need a long time — often 12 hours or more between layers, and on non-absorbent paper they can take days, so 24 hours is a safe working figure. Water-based inks can usually be overprinted after 1-2 hours. Screen-printing inks dry faster, especially with heat. These are guides only: paper, humidity and warmth all change the result, so test before committing an edition.

How do I maintain registration across a large edition?

Use consistent paper size, a reliable registration system, and check alignment every 5-10 prints. Number your plates/blocks and papers. Print in a climate-controlled space as humidity causes paper to expand.

ArtCalcs

Registration Calculator — Multi-Colour Print Alignment

Calculate registration mark positions for multi-colour print alignment.

Image Width

Width of the printed/inked image area — the registration border is added on every side automatically.

Image Height

Height of the printed/inked image area, excluding the registration border.

Number of Colours

Total colours

Registration Method

How We Calculate This

How Registration Calculation Works

Board = Image + Registration border on all sides

The calculator adds a registration border around the image area (a typical width for the chosen method) so the matrix is larger than the print area and can carry the marks. Each registration mark is then placed in that border margin, a consistent offset outward from the image edge. Each colour needs one printing pass, with drying time between layers.

The achievable tolerances and border widths shown are indicative studio rules of thumb (e.g. kento ±0.5mm, pin registration ±0.2mm), not fixed specifications — real-world accuracy depends on your press, paper and method. Use them to plan margins, then confirm against test prints.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last updated: February 2026

All calculations are estimates. Always verify quantities before purchasing materials.