Conventional Offset Printing Ink
MixMasters supplies oil-base sheetfed inks formulated specifically for conventional offset presses with standard dampening systems. Our conventional offset line includes the Patriot Pantone color series, multiple dense black formulations, the Ultimate 4-Color Process series, metallic and fluorescent inks, offset varnishes, and a full range of pressroom additives. Every product is available in 1 lb and 5 lb cans with no minimum order.
Patriot Series — Pantone Spot Colors
The Patriot series is our flagship oil-base ink line for conventional offset presses. It is a general-purpose, laser-safe formulation made with soy and vegetable oils that delivers strong color strength, fast set times, and reliable day-in, day-out performance. Patriot inks are compatible with both metal and paper plates and are recommended for most lightweight coated and uncoated papers. Tack is rated at 15 at 1200 rpm. Nightly press wash-up is recommended.
MixMasters is a Pantone-licensed ink blender. We stock the twelve standard Pantone mixing base colors in the Patriot series, plus a selection of the most frequently ordered PMS spot colors—ready to ship. For any Pantone number not stocked as a ready-made blend, we mix to order using licensed Pantone formulas to match the printed swatch in the current Pantone Formula Guide.
Stocked Patriot Pantone Colors
| Pantone Color | 1 lb | 5 lb |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | $14.95 | $11.95 |
| Warm Red | $13.30 | $10.30 |
| Rubine Red | $12.95 | $9.95 |
| Rhodamine Red | $18.95 | $15.95 |
| Violet | $21.85 | $18.85 |
| Purple | $21.55 | $18.55 |
| Reflex Blue | $16.95 | $13.95 |
| Process Blue | $14.40 | $11.40 |
| Green | $18.75 | $15.75 |
| Neutral Black | $14.60 | $11.60 |
| Transparent White | $12.80 | $9.80 |
| Opaque White | $13.65 | $10.65 |
Popular PMS Blends (Patriot Oil-Base)
| PMS Number | 1 lb | 5 lb |
|---|---|---|
| PMS 021 | $20.95 | $17.95 |
| PMS 032 | $20.95 | $17.95 |
| PMS 072 | $24.95 | $21.95 |
| PMS 185 | $20.95 | $17.95 |
| PMS 199 | $20.95 | $17.95 |
| PMS 201 | $20.95 | $17.95 |
| PMS 221 | $20.95 | $17.95 |
| PMS 286 | $20.95 | $17.95 |
| PMS 293 | $20.95 | $17.95 |
| PMS 300 | $20.95 | $17.95 |
| PMS 340 | $20.95 | $17.95 |
| PMS 347 | $20.95 | $17.95 |
| PMS 469 | $20.95 | $17.95 |
| PMS 485 | $20.95 | $17.95 |
| PMS 541 | $20.95 | $17.95 |
| Any Pantone Special Blend | $41.95 | $21.95 |
Need a PMS color not listed above? We blend any Pantone number to order. Place your order here or contact us with the PMS number, series, and quantity.
Dense Black Inks for Conventional Offset
We carry multiple black ink formulations for conventional offset presses. Each is engineered for a specific combination of paper type, coverage requirement, and drying behavior. Select the black that matches your stock and production needs:
| Black Ink | 1 lb | 5 lb | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patriot Dense Black | $12.80 | $9.80 | General-purpose oil-base dense black. Suitable for most coated and uncoated stocks. Laser-safe soy formulation. More bodied formulation that works well with Crestline dampening systems. Tack 16 @ 1200 rpm |
| Liberty Dense Black | $12.80 | $9.80 | Fast-setting, hard-drying dense black with good scuff resistance. Suitable for most coated and uncoated stocks. Laser-safe soy formulation with a softer body. Tack 16 @ 1200 rpm |
| Dura Dry Black | $18.95 | $15.95 | Enhanced scuff resistance specifically designed for matte or heavy-weight coated papers where standard blacks may mark or rub. Tack 19 @ 1200 rpm |
| Surface Oxidizing Black | $18.95 | $15.95 | Oxidizing formula for non-porous substrates such as Tyvek, foil, and acetate. Dries by chemical oxidation. Immediate press wash-up required after use. Tack 19 @ 1200 rpm |
Ultimate 4-Color Process Inks
Our Ultimate series is a vibrant, quick-setting CMYK process ink designed for sheetfed conventional offset presses and high-quality color reproduction. The four process colors—Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Black—are formulated for accurate color separation work, tight registration, and clean trapping on coated and uncoated papers. The Ultimate series is the right choice for catalogs, brochures, direct mail, and any job requiring faithful photographic reproduction.
Specialty Inks
Metallic Inks
Metallic inks use finely ground metallic pigments to produce gold, silver, copper, and other reflective finishes on press. They are oil-base formulations well suited for conventional offset printing on coated papers. Metallic inks add a premium look to packaging, invitations, certificates, and marketing materials.
Fluorescent Inks
Fluorescent inks deliver intense, high-visibility colors for maximum visual impact under normal and UV lighting. Commonly used for point-of-sale displays, event posters, and safety labels. Fluorescent pigments are inherently translucent and produce the best results on bright white, uncoated paper.
Surface Oxidizing Inks
For printing on non-porous substrates—Tyvek, foil, acetate, and similar materials—our surface oxidizing inks dry by chemical oxidation rather than absorption. They form a durable film on surfaces that cannot absorb conventional inks. Available in black and Pantone colors. Immediate press wash-up is required after every run.
Varnishes & Pressroom Additives
Offset Varnishes
We stock a diverse selection of offset varnishes suitable for a wide range of paper types and finishing requirements:
- Gloss Varnish — High-sheen protective finish for coated stocks. Enhances color vibrancy and provides scuff protection.
- Satin Varnish — A smooth, low-luster finish that protects without the high gloss. Good for text-heavy pieces where readability matters.
- Matte Varnish — Non-reflective finish for an understated, premium feel. Commonly used on fine stationery and art prints.
- Specialty Varnishes — Additional formulations for specific substrate and finishing requirements.
Ink Additives
Our complete line of pressroom additives lets you fine-tune ink performance to match changing conditions on press:
- Tack Reducer — Lowers ink tack to reduce picking on lightweight or textured papers.
- Drier — Accelerates oxidation drying for faster turnaround on jobs requiring quick handling.
- Body Varnish — Extends ink without significantly reducing color strength. Useful for adjusting flow and reducing ink cost on large solid areas.
Press & Dampening System Compatibility
All inks on this page are formulated for sheetfed offset presses equipped with conventional (non-integrated) dampening systems. Our Patriot series and dense blacks are compatible with both metal and paper plates and perform reliably across popular press brands and dampening configurations, including Crestline systems.
If your press uses an integrated dampening system (common on small-format duplicator presses), our Ideal Duplicator series is specifically formulated for that press type. For platen and cylinder letterpress equipment, see our Letterpress Ink page.
Packaging & Ordering
Every ink, varnish, and additive on this page is available in two sizes:
- 1 lb cans — Convenient for short runs, proofing, and shops that carry a wide variety of spot colors.
- 5 lb cans — Reduced per-pound pricing for production runs and frequently used colors.
There is no minimum order and no account registration required. Most orders ship the same business day via UPS. Visit our Order page to submit your selections, or contact us by phone or email.
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Patriot Pantone colors, dense blacks, process inks, varnishes & more.
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