Hello... perhaps this has been mentionned before but I have yet to see a thread regarding this....
I've spent quite a bit of time looking at inks on online shops and whatnot, but I still haven't quite figured out how this stuff works. Are there a huge amount of ink colors available or do you do some sort of ink mixing on your own to get certain colors?
Yes there are various mixing systems available. I use one from WM Plastics. I love it. Takes the guesswork out of colors. Keeps customers re-orders consistent too.
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Most shops will keep a collection of stock colors for clients to choose from. If a specific PMS color match is needed there usually is a fee for mixing specialty colors. The use of a true mixing system is your best bet and just about all the ink brands out there have one. I use both Rutland and Wilflex mixing systems.
Rutland M2 series is a plasticol based mixing system and pretty easy to use.
Wilflex PC system is pigment based and requires a little more accuracy due to using pigments.
I question how necessary these software platforms are... Unless 100% accuracy is needed QUICK, I`m pretty sure I can mix by eye using trial and error? For my small runs at home....
I question how necessary these software platforms are... Unless 100% accuracy is needed QUICK, I`m pretty sure I can mix by eye using trial and error? For my small runs at home....
Right?!
Mixing systems are great for pantone color matching. They match PERFECT if you do it right. If your a home set up, i guess it's not really needed...sure you can mix by eye...
Last edited by TeddyRocky; August 7th, 2007 at 11:39 PM.
I question how necessary these software platforms are... Unless 100% accuracy is needed QUICK, I`m pretty sure I can mix by eye using trial and error? For my small runs at home....
Right?!
You might get somewhat close but not exact. If you are having to mix pms colors, you'll never get it by eye.
normally red & blue make purple
Stock red and blue inks are not true red and blue. They each have multiple colors mixed to get the red and blue color thus mixing these together will yield a purple but probably not th purple your after
You might get somewhat close but not exact. If you are having to mix pms colors, you'll never get it by eye.
normally red & blue make purple
Stock red and blue inks are not true red and blue. They each have multiple colors mixed to get the red and blue color thus mixing these together will yield a purple but probably not th purple your after
You are so right. With my Union inks, if I mix Royal and Cardinal....I get a hidious brownish, purpleish, blob of unusable ink.
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Yep. If you look at any PMS color and their formula for mixing you'll see many use at least 3 colors for mixing. Some require more than 3 so without a true mixing system its hit or miss. This can lead to many gallons of worthless and wasted ink. Can get very costly
Color mixing? 
