I know that everybody seems to recommend using Americolor to get the best colors, so I bought a few different colors (including super black & super red). I love most of them, but I have still not been able to get a good black or a good red yet 
. Could this be because of the icing I use? My recipe is a shortening based recipe, so I was wondering if this could be the reason. Can somebody please tell me what I could be doing wrong? 
Anybody?
Darn it! Now I had to go and bump myself!
Is there some way I can use my regular buttercream and just make it chocolate? I mean to ask if I can just melt chocolate into it or add cocoa powder or something?
As for adding color, I went through nearly an entire bottle of the Americolor Super Red (the small bottle), for about 3/4cups of buttercream. Does this seem like enough color?
Yes, you can (and should) add cooled melted chocolate and/or cocoa powder. It's easier to achieve black when you start with brown. Note that the color will deepen overnight, so, like Sugarbean said, try adding color over a couple of days.
Getting a deep red is a pain, but if you start with a dark pink and then add your red, you'll get a better result.
HTH! 
As far as black...I always use chocolate buttercream now and go from there. I think the recipe for that is on www.wilton.com (for the choc buttercream).
I don't know about the red - I think if you let it sit for a while, it deepens over time...so try and make it ahead of time.
HTH
Is there some way I can use my regular buttercream and just make it chocolate? I mean to ask if I can just melt chocolate into it or add cocoa powder or something?
As for adding color, I went through nearly an entire bottle of the Super Red (the small bottle), for about 3/4cups of buttercream. Does this seem like enough color?
Yes, I just add cocoa powder to my regular buttercream recipe. It works really well as a base for black and it tastes yummy then, too!
As for the red, good luck! I can never seem to get the right red color.
I've never tried the Americolor brand, is the Super Red a no taste like Wilton's? Thanks
Annie
i used the super red americolor today to color my MMF. first time using either! It worked pretty good. i just had to really work the fondant. Then I colored some RI with the super red too and it looks really good. It does darken upon sitting. i made a 3d lightning mcqueen today and I'm glad I had the americolor. The black did darken some. It would look really good if I would have started with brown first. good luck and keep trying.
Thanks to all of you! You have all been so helpful and encouraging! I really appreciate it! 
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