MATSUI WATER-BASED PRINTING BASES & WHITE / BLACK INKS
The base is the foundation of every Matsui water-based print. It determines hand feel, stretch, finish, mesh compatibility, and fabric type. Mix any base with up to 15% Matsui Neo Pigments to create custom Pantone® colors using free CMS software. Choose the right base for your garment, add pigment for color, and print. One pigment set + the right base = the exact ink for every job.
HOW MATSUI PRINTING BASES WORK WITH NEO PIGMENTS
Matsui printing bases are not colored inks — they are clear, white, or black carrier inks that you add Neo Pigment concentrates to for color. The base controls everything about the print EXCEPT the color: hand feel, stretch, finish (gloss vs matte), mesh compatibility, and fabric type. The same Neo Pigment color in different bases produces completely different performance characteristics.
Step 1: Pick Your Base
Standard cotton tee? 301C Clear. Athletic jersey? Stretch Clear. Nylon windbreaker? SWR Clear. Dark cotton discharge? Brite Discharge. The garment determines the base.
Step 2: Add Neo Pigments
Add up to 15% Neo Pigment by weight for any Pantone color. Use free CMS software for exact formulas. Different bases require different pigment ratios — the software handles this automatically.
Step 3: Mix & Print
Stir thoroughly in clean vessels. Print through your screen. Cure at 320°F. The result has the exact performance of the base you chose — with the exact Pantone color from the CMS formula. One pigment set, unlimited ink variations.
CLEAR MIXING BASES — ADD NEO PIGMENTS FOR COLOR
Clear bases are the most common Matsui bases. They are transparent — add Neo Pigments for color, or print them alone for tone-on-tone and clear-coat effects. Every clear base below accepts up to 15% Neo Pigments.
| Base | Finish | Max Mesh | What It Does & When to Use It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gloss | 305 | The default. Brightest colors, glossy finish. Most popular Matsui base. Mix with up to 15% Neo Pigments for any Pantone color. Standard cotton tees and light garments. | |
| Matte | 305 | Same as 301C but flat matte finish. For customers who want no sheen. Mix with Neo Pigments for matte-finish custom colors on cotton. | |
| Gloss | 305 | Premium acrylic-based clear. Superior color brightness, higher opacity, and better wash fastness than 301C. The upgrade pick for shops wanting the best results. | |
| Gloss | 230 | More forgiving than 301C. Slower drying = longer open time on screen. Ideal for shops new to water-based or printing in hot environments. | |
| Matte | 230 | Same forgiving printability as EasyPrint Clear but matte finish. Great for shops transitioning from plastisol to water-based. |
STRETCH BASES — INK THAT MOVES WITH THE GARMENT
Standard bases crack on stretch fabrics. Stretch bases flex with the garment and recover without breaking. REQUIRED for Dri-Fit, Lycra, spandex, compression wear, and any fabric with elastane content. All accept up to 15% Neo Pigments.
| Base | Finish | Max Mesh | What It Does & When to Use It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gloss | 180 | Ink stretches with garment without cracking. REQUIRED for spandex, Dri-Fit, Lycra, athletic wear. Standard bases will crack on stretch fabrics. | |
| Matte | 180 | Stretch performance + matte look. Modern athletic aesthetics with full stretch recovery. | |
| Soft Gloss | 230 | Softest stretch base. Ultra-soft hand feel + full stretch recovery. Premium price point for baby apparel, luxury activewear. | |
| Matte | 160 | Next-generation acrylic-based white for high-stretch performance fabrics. Silicone-like feel without the tack. Mix with Neo Pigments for custom stretch colors. |
� Do NOT Use Standard Bases on Stretch Fabrics
301C, 301M, EasyPrint, and Acrylicon Clear will crack and peel on stretch fabrics. If the garment has ANY stretch or elastane content, use a Stretch base. This is the #1 mistake shops make when transitioning to water-based.
WHITE INKS — UNDERBASE, DIRECT PRINT & MIXING
White inks serve two purposes: printing white designs directly on garments, and as the opaque underbase layer beneath colored inks on dark garments. Choose by fabric type.
| White Ink | Finish | Max Mesh | What It Does & When to Use It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matte | 305 | Standard white for light-colored 100% cotton. Ultra-soft hand feel. Standalone white print or white underbase layer beneath colored inks. | |
| Matte | 225 | Forgiving white ink for shops new to water-based. Slower drying for longer open time. Standalone white or underbase on dark garments. Great for manual presses. | |
| Matte | 160 | Performance white for high-stretch fabrics. Designed for athletic wear. Stretches and recovers without cracking. Mix with Neo Pigments. | |
| Silicone-like | 180 | White ink specifically for stretch and performance fabrics. Excellent elasticity. Soft, silicone-like finish. Dri-Fit, Lycra, compression wear. | |
| Soft Matte | 180 | Ultra-soft white for premium stretch and performance fabrics. The softest stretch white available. Pillow-soft hand feel. Luxury activewear, baby apparel. |
BLACK INKS — BOLD, DEEP, OPAQUE COVERAGE
Dedicated black inks for spot color printing. Rich, opaque, true black for text, logos, and solid fills.
| Black Ink | Finish | Max Mesh | What It Does & When to Use It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Soft Matte | 305 | Deep, rich, opaque true black for spot color printing. Bold graphics, clean text, fine detail. Professional-grade coverage on cotton and blends. The go-to black for everyday production. | |
| Matte | 200 | Maximum dye-blocking black. For dark polyester with extreme dye migration. Also works as standalone opaque black on difficult substrates where standard black inks bleed through. |
UNDERBASE BLOCKERS — PREVENT DYE BLEED-THROUGH
When printing water-based ink on dark or polyester garments, garment dyes migrate upward through your white underbase and stain your print. Blockers prevent this. Start at Level 1 and escalate only if bleed-through appears after the 48-hour test.
| Blocker | Level | Max Mesh | What It Does & When to Use It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | 305 | Default blocker for dark cotton garments. Prevents garment dye from migrating through your white underbase. Gray → flash → White → flash → color on top. | |
| Level 2 | 305 | Stronger blocker for polyester, poly-blends, and fabrics with aggressive dye migration that Blocker Gray cannot stop. | |
| Level 3 | 200 | Maximum blocking power. For sublimation-printed polyester where dyes are the most aggressive migrators in screen printing. | |
| Level 3 | 200 | Same maximum blocking as Kombat Blocker but in black. For dark polyester with extreme dye migration. |
48-Hour Dye Migration Test
Print, cure at 320°F, then wait 48 hours before evaluating. Dye migration develops over 24-48 hours. If bleed-through appears, escalate blocker level.
SPECIAL EFFECT INKS & BASES
| Product | Finish | Max Mesh | What It Does & When to Use It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matte | 120 | Disappearing clear ink. Prints invisible, reveals when wet from perspiration or water. Perfect for activewear and gym apparel. Moisture-activated hidden designs. | |
| White / Disappearing | 110 | Disappearing white ink. Prints as standard white when dry, becomes invisible when wet, reappears when dry. The white version of Phantom Clear. Gym apparel, novelty merch. | |
| Pearlescent | 110 | Creates dazzling pearlescent shimmer effects. Use straight for subtle glow or mix with up to 15% Neo Pigments for custom pearlescent colors. | |
| Gloss | 110 | Water-based adhesive for foil applications. Screen print the adhesive, dry, then heat press foil on top at 300-320°F for metallic foil finishes. |
MATSUI ADDITIVES — WHAT THEY DO AND WHEN TO USE THEM
Additives solve specific water-based printing problems. Add them to ANY Matsui base after mixing in your Neo Pigments. Start with Quick Additive (the all-in-one), then use individual additives as your printing demands require.
Quick Additive
Add 6-9% by weightWhat it does: Combines Retarder, Fixer, and Softener into one product. Slows drying, improves wash fastness, and softens hand feel. The simplest additive workflow for any Matsui base.
Start here. The default additive for every job.
Retarder MG
Add 1-3% by weight (up to 5% in extreme heat)What it does: Slows evaporation to keep ink open on the screen longer. Essential in hot, dry environments and for manual presses where print speed is slower.
Problem it solves: “My ink keeps drying in the screen.”
Fixer WF-N
Add 1-3% by weightWhat it does: Cross-links ink film during curing for stronger fabric-to-ink bond. Prints survive 50+ washes. Critical for athletic wear, uniforms, children’s clothing.
Problem it solves: “My prints fade after a few washes.”
Softener MG
Add 1-5% by weightWhat it does: Improves ink penetration into fibers for softer hand feel. Reduces surface deposit so the print feels like part of the garment, not on top of it.
Problem it solves: “The print feels too thick or stiff.”
Fixer L
Add 1-3% by weightWhat it does: Same cross-linking as Fixer WF-N but for lower cure temperatures. For electric dryers that struggle to hold 320°F or heat-sensitive fabrics.
Problem it solves: “My dryer can’t reach 320°F consistently.”
Thickener B
Add 0.25-1% by weightWhat it does: Makes ink thicker. Reduces bleed-through and spread. Use 0.25% increments — a little goes a long way.
Problem it solves: “My ink is too thin / bleeds through the screen.”
RV Additive
Add 1-3% by weightWhat it does: Makes ink thinner and more fluid. Helps flow through high mesh counts and fine-detail stencils.
Problem it solves: “My ink won’t push through the screen cleanly.”
Discharge Activator
Add 3-8% by weight • REQUIRED for dischargeWhat it does: Triggers the discharge reaction when using Brite or HM Discharge Base. Without it, discharge bases will NOT remove garment dye. 12-hour pot life once mixed. 100% cotton with reactive dyes only.
Required for: Every discharge print. No activator = no discharge.
Additive Stacking
Multiple additives can be combined. Typical: 2% Retarder + 2% Fixer WF-N + 2% Softener = 6% total. Or use 6-9% Quick Additive alone. If using discharge base, add 3-8% Discharge Activator on top. Do not exceed 15% total additives (excluding pigment). Beyond that, color saturation and ink film integrity suffer.
MATSUI BASES & INKS — FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
301C Clear. It is the most popular Matsui base, works on standard cotton, has a gloss finish, and prints through 305 mesh. For premium color brightness and wash fastness, upgrade to Acrylicon Clear. For matte finish, use 301M Matte.
Yes. Clear bases print as a transparent clear coat — useful for tone-on-tone effects and protective overlays. White inks and black inks are complete inks that print directly without pigment. Whites are also used as the underbase layer beneath colored inks on dark garments.
Add up to 15% Matsui Neo Pigments by weight to any clear or white base. Use the free Matsui CMS Color Matching Software for exact Pantone formulas. The software calculates the correct pigment-to-base ratio for your selected base.
No. 301C Clear, 301M Matte, EasyPrint, and Acrylicon Clear will crack on stretch fabrics. You MUST use Stretch Clear, Stretch Matte, Soft Stretch Clear, or Acrylicon White for stretch or performance fabrics.
Both are gloss-finish clear bases for cotton that print through 305 mesh. Acrylicon Clear is the premium upgrade — it produces brighter colors, higher opacity, and better wash fastness than 301C. If budget allows, Acrylicon Clear delivers the best results. 301C is the standard workhorse.
Two options: (1) Discharge — use Brite or HM Discharge Base + Neo Pigments + Discharge Activator on 100% cotton. (2) Underbase — print Blocker Gray → flash → EasyPrint White → flash → colored ink on top. Works on any fabric.
301W-B HO (High Opacity) is the standard underbase white. Print it over your blocker layer for maximum opacity beneath your color. For stretch fabrics, use Stretch WhiteSoft Stretch White instead.
Start with Blocker Gray (Level 1) for dark cotton. Escalate to Blocker Black LG (Level 2) for polyester and blends. Use Kombat Blocker (Level 3) for sublimation-printed polyester. Always wait 48 hours after curing before evaluating for dye migration.
Yes. All Matsui bases, whites, blacks, and blockers are PVC-free, OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 certified (safe for infant skin contact), CPSIA and HR4040 compliant. Zero phthalates, heavy metals, or formaldehyde. Must be mixed in clean vessels to maintain certification.
FIND THE RIGHT BASE FOR YOUR NEXT JOB
20+ bases, whites, blacks, and specialty inks — each designed for a specific garment type. Mix with Neo Pigments for any Pantone color. Free CMS software. PVC-free. OEKO-TEX certified. Free shipping over $200. Same-day shipping before 3:30 PM CT.