Ink Mixing Helper
Scaled batch
Each ink's weight for the batch size you picked.
| Component | Share | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Total | 100% |
Where to get your formula
A formula is a recipe for an ink color. It lists which inks to mix and how much of each one. This calculator has no color recipes in it. (PMS/Pantone-style color references are numbered standard colors, like "PMS 186 C".) You get the recipe from the company that made your ink.
Each recipe only works with that company's own mixing inks. So use the site that matches the brand on your ink buckets:
- International Coatings UltraMix: type in a Pantone number and get a recipe for their UltraMix inks.
- Avient IMS 3.0 Mobile: recipes for Wilflex, Rutland and Union Ink. You need an account. The shop that sells you ink has to approve it.
- Green Galaxy Fusion Color Mixer: recipes in grams for Green Galaxy water-based inks.
- Matsui ColorMixer: Matsui's online recipe tool for their water-based inks.
Example formula (made-up numbers for practice)
These numbers are made up. They are not a real Pantone recipe. Say your recipe says:
- Mixing White: 12 parts
- Yellow: 3 parts
- Red: 1 part
"Parts" just means shares. 12 parts white means 12 times as much white as red. Here there are 16 parts in all.
A batch is the total amount of ink you mix at one time. Say you want about a quart. This tool works by weight, not by volume, so there is no quart setting. Many ink makers write recipes for a 1,000 gram batch. That is roughly a quart of ink, but the exact amount depends on the ink.
- Leave Formula is in on Parts / ratio.
- Type each ink name and its parts (12, 3, 1) in the rows.
- Set Batch size to 1000 and Unit to g (grams).
- The table shows: Mixing White 750.0 g, Yellow 187.5 g, Red 62.5 g. That adds up to 1000 g.
Does your scale read in ounces? Pick oz and type 35.27. That is the same as 1,000 g. If your recipe uses percents, pick Percent. If they don't add up to 100, the tool fixes that for you.
Tips: Put the empty cup on the scale and press zero first. Add dark colors last, a little at a time. Print a test and heat it fully (this is called curing) before you compare it with the color reference.
Mixing tips
- Weigh ink on a gram scale. Don't measure it with cups or spoons.
- Mix well. Print a test on the same kind of shirt, then heat it fully (cure it) before you compare it with the color reference.
- The printed color can change with the shirt color, the screen, how much ink goes down, and whether you print a white layer under it first.