Inking Up with Charley of Southern Ink
If you’ve ever ordered a tube of Southern Ink and found a Twizzler tucked inside, you’re not alone in smiling at that little surprise. It’s a small gesture that perfectly captures the spirit of Charley and Rick, the two brothers behind the scenes at Southern Ink—generous, lighthearted, and deeply committed to this quirky, vibrant world of print.
In this Season 1 episode of Hot Off The Press, we got the rare chance to sit down with Charley, who’s been formulating and mixing colors for over 30 years. We talked about ink chemistry, color quirks, pantone guides, shelf life mysteries, and yes, the origin story behind those famous Twizzlers.
From Granddad’s Hookup to an Ink Empire
Charley and his brother Rick didn’t necessarily plan to become the inky backbone of the letterpress community. As it turns out, it started with a job hookup from their grandfather. Rick needed work, landed at a print supply house, and invited Charley to tag along. One thing led to another, and soon the two were mixing inks and building experience and across multiple suppliers.
When both suppliers shut down their ink operations, the brothers took the leap to start their own business. That was over 20 years ago—and Southern Ink has been going strong ever since.
A Two-Man Team, a Warehouse of Color
Today, it’s still just Charley and Rick running the show. Rick handles front-end duties like orders and billing, while Charley leads production. But when things get busy, both are willing to jump into each other’s roles. “We make a good team,” Charley told us, and from the outside looking in, it’s clear their partnership runs on trust and complementary strengths.
They serve a mix of commercial printers and small shops, but letterpress has become a growing (and more joyful) part of their business. “Letterpress printers are more creative,” Charley said. “It’s just more fun.”
Oil vs. Rubber? Southern Ink’s Hybrid Secret
One of the most common questions in the letterpress world is: oil-based or rubber-based inks? Southern Ink’s answer is… both. Their custom blend is a hybrid formula designed to deliver the best of each world: the easy cleanup and vibrancy of oil, with the stay-open properties of rubber.
“Letterpress likes heavier-bodied inks,” Charley explained. “Our ink won’t dry on your equipment, and it’s easy to clean up. It also looks better on the sheet than traditional rubber-based formulas.”
Even more impressive? Their metallic and neon inks—traditionally difficult to work with—are also made with their hybrid base. That means you can finally run a neon job without worrying about your press drying up mid-run.
Ink Shelf Life: Don’t Toss Those Vintage Cans
If you’ve inherited a mystery collection of old inks with your press, you might be sitting on gold. Charley assured us that most inks—especially those stored in metal containers—are good for decades, even 30+ years. “If it’s sealed well and not full of flakes, you’re probably good to go,” he said. That’s music to our ears (and maybe a gentle nudge to stop feeling guilty about hoarding old cans).
He did caution that extreme cold can thicken inks and affect additives like waxes. So if you're printing out of a freezing garage, store your ink somewhere stable—your kitchen cabinet works just fine.
Additives, Mixing, and the Myth of the Perfect Formula
We also dug into additives, modifiers, and the science behind ink formulation. While Charley does offer traditional additives like dryers, binders, and reducers, he emphasized that most everyday letterpress projects won’t need them. A little linseed oil can loosen a stiff ink. A touch of binder can thicken up a translucent pastel. “Just mix in a little at a time,” he advised. “And don’t be afraid to adjust.”
In fact, his biggest takeaway? Don’t blindly follow the Pantone formula.
“You’ve gotta trust your eyes,” he said. “Pantone books are just guides. We tweak 70% of the colors we mix because the formulas don’t print accurately.” Letterpress, especially on uncoated paper, tends to print darker and more heavily than offset printing. Charley often recommends ordering one shade lighter if you’re using a Pantone guide—for example, subbing in PMS 464 instead of 466. “You can always go darker, but it’s hard to lighten up.”
Drawdowns and Mixing Tricks
If you’ve ever mixed ink, inking up your press just to see if the color is right can feel like a gamble. Charley walked us through a few simple ways to test your color without dirtying your rollers:
Knife swipe: A basic ink knife and a strip of coated paper can show you how a color lays down.
Tap test: Tap a small dot of ink onto paper with your finger—easier said than done, but a good start.
Roll out proofers: If you have a brayer and a Quick Peek (a simple hand roller with test paper), you can simulate an impression without inking the press.
Even Charley’s team relies on these methods daily. “We have fancy equipment now, but I used a knife and brayer for years,” he said.
To sum it up:
Southern Ink’s hybrid formulas have become a go-to in our own shops, and getting to learn directly from Charley made us appreciate their work even more. From custom color tweaks to chemistry breakdowns, his approach to ink is both technical and incredibly human.
If you’re new to their products, we can’t recommend them enough. Start with their tubes or sample jars, especially if you want to dip your toe into metallics or day-glow neons. And the next time your color is just a little off? Trust your gut—and your eyes. Charley sure does.
You can find Southern Ink at southern-ink.com and follow their inky adventures on Instagram at @letterpressinks.