Author Topic: ink mixing systems  (Read 4670 times)

Offline 3Deep

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ink mixing systems
« on: June 23, 2022, 10:51:19 AM »
I know most of you might have an inhouse mixing system, but let me ask you these, when a customer gives you pms numbers and you mix them or have a ink company mix them and they still don't match the colour of the old printed garment what's up!!!!  I know getting the colour dead on takes knowing what ink brands the other company used or did they just mix by eye and slap a pms colour number on it for there shop?  I don't have a mixing system per say but I do go by an old mixing book I've had around the shop and pretty much have got dang close that it was passable.  Never really thought about getting a true mixing system because we don't have those type clients looking for that service, but when we do I just get the numbers and send to my ink company, but this job has been a tuffy :-[
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Offline Frog

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Re: ink mixing systems
« Reply #1 on: June 23, 2022, 11:49:30 AM »
When the mixing system follows their formula for a given Pantone, but doesn't match the last garment, my first suspect is the previous garment. How do each compare to a Pantone swatch? That said, some colors mix more accurately than others. When there is a known stinker, I have seen updated formulas come from folks like Union in the past.
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Offline rusty

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Re: ink mixing systems
« Reply #2 on: June 23, 2022, 12:15:38 PM »
Matching an old garment would have to be done by eye.  I wouldn't trust another shops number. Also if the shirt has been washed, wouldn't it be faded/Dulled down?

Offline Frog

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Re: ink mixing systems
« Reply #3 on: June 23, 2022, 12:32:39 PM »
In the end, it should be the client's decision as to whether they want a specific Pantone, or an attempt to match the previous garment. Then, get an OK. Put the responsibility on them!
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Offline 3Deep

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Re: ink mixing systems
« Reply #4 on: June 23, 2022, 01:53:20 PM »
To answer rusty, the sample garment is new never worn, like I said I do mix by eye which I'm doing now with this print, my only problem is repeating this months or a year from now, I'm really bad at not documenting my steps ::)
Life is like Kool-Aid, gotta add sugar/hardwork to make it sweet!!

Offline Frog

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Re: ink mixing systems
« Reply #5 on: June 23, 2022, 02:07:32 PM »
Well, even on eyeballed mixes, weights of each component could be recorded.
That rug really tied the room together, did it not?