Letterpress Printing Ink — Oil-Base, Hybrid & Rubber-Base Formulations
MixMasters supplies letterpress printing ink in every formulation a letterpress operator could need. Unlike suppliers that stock only a single letterpress ink line, we carry three distinct series—our Patriot oil-base, Ideal hybrid oil/rubber-base, and pure rubber-base—so you can match the ink to your press, paper, and production style. Whether you run a Vandercook proof press, a Heidelberg Windmill, a Chandler & Price platen, or a modern tabletop press, MixMasters has a Pantone color, dense black, metallic, or fluorescent ink that fits your workflow. All available in 1 lb and 5 lb cans with no minimum order.
Three Ink Series — All Suitable for Letterpress
Every MixMasters ink series works on letterpress equipment. The right choice depends on your paper stock, drying requirements, and how you manage your press between runs. Here is a quick guide:
| Feature | Patriot (Oil-Base) | Ideal (Hybrid) | Rubber-Base |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ink base | Oil-base (soy/vegetable) | Hybrid oil/rubber | Pure rubber-base |
| Drying method | Absorption + oxidation | Absorption + oxidation (with drier) | Absorption only |
| Best paper types | Coated and uncoated | Uncoated, some lightweight coated | Uncoated only |
| Overnight on press | No—nightly wash-up recommended | Yes—will not skin | Yes—will not skin |
| Finish | Slight sheen | Moderate sheen | Matte |
| Tack | 15 @ 1200 rpm | 20 @ 1200 rpm | 17 @ 1200 rpm |
| Laser safe | Yes | — | — |
| Ideal for | Production jobs on coated & uncoated stock | Shops wanting one ink for offset & letterpress | Fine-art printing, long open time, forgiving make-ready |
Patriot Series (Oil-Base)
The Patriot series is a general-purpose, laser-safe oil-base ink made with soy and vegetable oils. On a letterpress, it delivers strong color density, crisp impression edges, and fast set times on both coated and uncoated papers. Patriot inks dry by absorption and oxidation, so prints set quickly and can be handled sooner—an advantage for production letterpress work with tight turnaround. Nightly press wash-up is recommended to prevent skinning on rollers.
Ideal Series (Hybrid Oil/Rubber-Base)
The Ideal series combines oil-base and rubber-base properties in one formulation. It was originally engineered for duplicator presses with integrated dampening, but its well-bodied consistency and overnight open time make it equally practical on letterpress equipment. Shops that run both a small offset press and a platen or cylinder letterpress can standardize on the Ideal series across both machines. Drier can be added when faster oxidation drying is needed.
Rubber-Base Inks
Pure rubber-base inks are the traditional favorite of letterpress studios. They dry by absorption only—never by oxidation—which means they will not skin in the can or on the press, even after days of sitting. This gives you unlimited open time for careful make-ready, color adjustments, and multi-pass registration work. Rubber-base inks produce a soft, matte finish with consistent color that many fine-art and stationery printers prefer for its tactile quality. They are suitable for uncoated papers only.
Dense Black Inks for Letterpress
Black is the most-used color on any letterpress. We carry multiple black formulations so you can match the ink to your stock, drying needs, and press behavior:
| Black Ink | Series | 1 lb | 5 lb | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patriot Dense Black | Oil-base | $12.80 | $9.80 | General-purpose dense black. Strong coverage on coated and uncoated stocks. Laser-safe soy formulation. Tack 16 @ 1200 rpm |
| Liberty Dense Black | Oil-base | $12.80 | $9.80 | Fast-setting, hard-drying dense black with good scuff resistance. Softer body. Laser-safe soy formulation. Tack 16 @ 1200 rpm |
| Classic Dense Black | Rubber-base | $15.40 | $12.40 | Pure rubber-base dense black. Does not skin—can be left on the press indefinitely. Dries by absorption only. Matte finish. Uncoated papers only. Tack 17 @ 1200 rpm |
| Ideal Dense Black | Hybrid | $16.30 | $13.30 | Combination oil/rubber-base dense black. Well-bodied formulation. Will not skin overnight. Suitable for uncoated and some lightweight coated papers. Tack 20 @ 1200 rpm |
| Dura Dry Black | Oil-base | $18.95 | $15.95 | Enhanced scuff resistance for matte or heavy-weight coated papers where standard blacks may mark or rub. Tack 19 @ 1200 rpm |
| Surface Oxidizing Black | Oil-base | $18.95 | $15.95 | Oxidizing formula for non-porous substrates—Tyvek, foil, acetate. Immediate press wash-up required. Tack 19 @ 1200 rpm |
Pantone Spot Colors for Letterpress
MixMasters is a Pantone-licensed ink blender. We stock all twelve standard Pantone mixing base colors plus a selection of frequently ordered PMS spot colors in both the Patriot (oil-base) and Ideal (hybrid) series—ready to ship. For any Pantone number not stocked as a ready-made blend, we mix to order using licensed Pantone formulas. Rubber-base Pantone blends are also available by request.
Patriot Series — Pantone Colors (Oil-Base)
| 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 |
Ideal Series — Pantone Colors (Hybrid Oil/Rubber-Base)
| Pantone Color | 1 lb | 5 lb |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow | $18.45 | $15.45 |
| Warm Red | $18.95 | $15.95 |
| Rubine Red | $17.60 | $14.60 |
| Rhodamine Red | $24.80 | $21.80 |
| Violet | $29.95 | $26.95 |
| Purple | $28.95 | $25.95 |
| Reflex Blue | $19.55 | $16.55 |
| Process Blue | $17.05 | $14.05 |
| Green | $23.70 | $20.70 |
| Neutral Black | $19.85 | $16.85 |
| Transparent White | $17.30 | $14.30 |
| Opaque White | $19.25 | $16.25 |
Popular PMS Blends
| PMS Number | Patriot 1 lb | Patriot 5 lb | Ideal 1 lb | Ideal 5 lb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PMS 021 | $20.95 | $17.95 | $22.95 | $19.95 |
| PMS 032 | $20.95 | $17.95 | $22.95 | $19.95 |
| PMS 072 | $24.95 | $21.95 | $25.95 | $22.95 |
| PMS 185 | $20.95 | $17.95 | $22.95 | $19.95 |
| PMS 199 | $20.95 | $17.95 | $22.95 | $19.95 |
| PMS 201 | $20.95 | $17.95 | $22.95 | $19.95 |
| PMS 221 | $20.95 | $17.95 | $22.95 | $19.95 |
| PMS 286 | $20.95 | $17.95 | $22.95 | $19.95 |
| PMS 293 | $20.95 | $17.95 | $22.95 | $19.95 |
| PMS 300 | $20.95 | $17.95 | $22.95 | $19.95 |
| PMS 340 | $20.95 | $17.95 | $22.95 | $19.95 |
| PMS 347 | $20.95 | $17.95 | $22.95 | $19.95 |
| PMS 469 | $20.95 | $17.95 | $22.95 | $19.95 |
| PMS 485 | $20.95 | $17.95 | $22.95 | $19.95 |
| PMS 541 | $20.95 | $17.95 | $22.95 | $19.95 |
| Any Pantone Special Blend | $41.95 | $21.95 | $43.95 | $23.95 |
Rubber-base Pantone blends are also available—contact us with the PMS number and quantity for pricing. We blend any Pantone number to order in any series. Place your order here or call us directly.
Specialty Letterpress Inks
Metallic Inks
Metallic inks produce gold, silver, copper, and other reflective finishes that are especially popular in letterpress wedding invitations, stationery, certificates, and packaging. The deep impression of a letterpress combined with a metallic finish creates a distinctive tactile and visual effect. Our metallic inks are oil-base formulations.
Fluorescent Inks
Fluorescent inks deliver intense, high-visibility colors for posters, art prints, and promotional pieces. The heavy ink film characteristic of letterpress printing produces vivid fluorescent results. Best on bright white, uncoated paper where the translucent pigments can achieve maximum vibrancy.
Surface Oxidizing Inks
For letterpress printing on non-porous substrates—Tyvek, foil, acetate, and similar materials—our surface oxidizing inks dry by chemical oxidation rather than absorption. Immediate press wash-up is required after every run to prevent the ink from drying on rollers and the ink disc.
Typical Letterpress Applications
MixMasters inks are used by letterpress printers across a wide range of applications:
- Wedding invitations & social stationery — Pantone spot colors, metallics, and dense blacks on cotton and uncoated stocks where deep impression and color accuracy matter.
- Fine-art prints & broadsides — Rubber-base inks favored for their matte finish, consistent color, and unlimited open time for multi-color registration work.
- Business cards & letterheads — Oil-base or hybrid inks for production runs with fast set times and crisp impression edges.
- Packaging & labels — Metallic, fluorescent, and Pantone spot colors for short-run specialty packaging printed on platen and cylinder presses.
- Greeting cards & art cards — Multi-color work on heavyweight uncoated stocks where the tactile quality of letterpress impression is the primary appeal.
- Book arts & limited editions — Rubber-base inks on handmade and fine papers where long make-ready time and careful registration are part of the craft.
Choosing the Right Letterpress Ink
With three full ink series available for letterpress, selecting the right product comes down to three questions:
- What paper are you printing on? Rubber-base and Ideal inks are best for uncoated stocks. Patriot oil-base works on both coated and uncoated papers.
- How fast do you need prints to dry? Patriot oil-base sets the fastest. Ideal is moderate with optional drier. Rubber-base dries by absorption only and is the slowest—an advantage when you need extended open time.
- How do you manage your press? If you leave ink on the press between sessions, Ideal and rubber-base will not skin. Patriot oil-base requires nightly wash-up.
Not sure which formulation is right for your job? Contact us—we are happy to recommend the right ink for your press, paper, and production requirements.
Packaging & Ordering
Every letterpress ink, specialty product, and additive is available in two sizes:
- 1 lb cans — Convenient for short runs, color proofing, and studios 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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Oil-base, hybrid, and rubber-base Pantone colors, dense blacks, metallics & more.
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