Rubber-based inks are our ink of choice for general letterpress printing. They have a matte finish and are slow-drying on rollers, so you can leave on the press overnight. This ink sets rapidly on uncoated papers, but takes longer to dry on coated and metallic papers. It will not skin in the can. Rubber-based inks are not recommended for use with coated or non-absorbent paper.
Tell me more about the ink colors that you carry.
We offer all 15 base Pantone mixing inks. These inks, paired with the Pantone formula guide, will allow you to mix any of the guide’s hundreds of Pantone colors. The base inks are: Red (023); Pantone Black (mixing black); Blue (072); Green; Transparent White (mixing white); Orange (021); Process Blue; Purple; Reflex Blue; Rhodamine Red; Rubine Red; Violet; Warm Red; and Yellow. We also carry opaque white for printing white or printing on dark paper stock; universal printing black, the perfect black letterpress ink (available in oil-based or rubber-based only); and custom mixes that match any Pantone number. View a PDF of the Van Son color chart.
What ink should I use: oil base, rubber base, or acrylic?
We recommend rubber-based inks for general letterpress printing—it’s the type of ink we use in our own print shop. Use the oil-based inks if you’d like a glossier ink that works well with coated papers (though you won’t be able to leave the ink on press overnight). Try the acrylic if you’re looking for a glossier ink that can still stay open on the press.
*For custom ink colors, please write in Pantone number for your custom ink in the "comments" section during checkout
Can you mix an acrylic ink with an oil-based or rubber-based ink?
It is best to mix only inks from the same family – oil base with oil base, rubber base with rubber, acrylic with acrylic.
What are the most essential basic ink colors for me to have in my shop?
Try our letterpress ink basic starter kit, which includes Printing Black; Flame Red (032); Reflex Blue; Yellow; Transparent White (mixing white); and Opaque White (printing white). If you’re ready for more, you may want to try the remaining Pantone base colors.
How do I firm up my thin ink?
Add magnesium carbonate liberally to your ink. Magnesium carbonate is available from Daniel Smith Art Supply.
How do I print light ink on dark paper?
With letterpress, we tend to print dark ink on light paper, because that is letterpress printing’s strength! Light ink on dark paper is really best suited for engraving. That said, if you really want light ink on dark paper, just be prepared for paper show through. Letterpress uses transparent inks. Even with opaque white, printing light ink on dark paper will be like using a thin coat of white paint on a brown wall: you’ll see the brown color through the paint. If using a pure white ink or metallic ink, you can run a piece through the press twice to create a more dense color.
Why shouldn’t I let oil-based ink dry on my rollers
Oil based inks will dry within a few hours if left unattended on press; dried oil-based inks can take a long time to clean and can even cause rollers to be permanently damaged.
Once I’m done printing, how do I clean the ink off my rollers/plates?
To clean ink off your press, we recommend California Wash used with rags or disposable shop towels. This press wash cleans up acrylic, oil based and rubber based inks well, is a low VOC solvent, and has a mild somewhat citrus odor.
Tell me more about the ink colors that you carry.