MATSUI WATER-BASED & DISCHARGE INKS FOR SCREEN PRINTING
The best water-based screen printing ink system on the market. Matsui inks deliver the softest hand feel in the industry — softer than plastisol, softer than any competing water-based brand. Three complete mixing systems: Alpha Series (water-based + discharge), Infinity Series (RFU water-based), and Neo Pigments (20+ base options with CMS software). Match any Pantone® color using your Pantone book — no software required. PVC-free. OEKO-TEX® certified. Trusted by print shops, fashion brands, and contract printers worldwide.
WHY SCREEN PRINTERS ARE SWITCHING FROM PLASTISOL TO MATSUI WATER-BASED INK
Matsui water-based inks solve the three biggest problems with plastisol: heavy hand feel, PVC/phthalate concerns, and inability to discharge. Shops switching to Matsui report softer prints, happier customers, and access to retail accounts that require PVC-free certification.
Softest Prints in Screen Printing
Matsui inks produce a hand feel that plastisol cannot match. The ink penetrates the fabric instead of sitting on top. Retail brands like Comfort Colors and Champion spec Matsui for this reason.
PVC-Free & Certified Safe
OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 certified (highest grade — safe for infant skin contact). CPSIA and HR4040 compliant. Zero PVC, zero phthalates, zero heavy metals. Required by major retailers and EU export regulations.
Three Ways to Mix Any Color
Alpha Series: ready-for-use + discharge capable. Infinity Series: ready-for-use water-based with matte finish. Neo Pigments: concentrated pigments with 20+ base options and CMS software. One ink brand covers every printing workflow.
Pantone® Matching Without Software
Alpha and Infinity Series use formulas printed directly in your Pantone Formula Guide. Open the book to any color, follow the percentages, weigh on a gram scale, mix, and print. No computer, no CMS software, no learning curve.
MATSUI ALPHA SERIES — THE ONLY RFU INK THAT DOES WATER-BASED AND DISCHARGE
Alpha Series is the only ready-for-use screen printing ink that works two ways: print it as a water-based ink on light garments, OR add Discharge Activator and it becomes a discharge ink on dark 100% cotton. Match any Pantone color using your Pantone book — no software, no computer, no CMS. 16 mixing colors + Trans White. The fastest path from plastisol to water-based for any screen printing shop.
ALPHA SERIES MIXING COLORS
Print straight from the bucket as spot colors OR blend together using your Pantone Formula Guide. Dual-mode: water-based on lights, dischargeable on dark 100% cotton with activator.
Dual-Mode Printing
Mode 1: Water-based on light/medium garments — no activator needed.
Mode 2: Add 3-8% Discharge Activator for dark 100% cotton. 12-hour pot life.
Pantone Matching — No Software
Open your Pantone Formula Guide, follow the printed formula, weigh on a gram scale, mix, print.
MATSUI INFINITY SERIES — READY-FOR-USE WATER-BASED INK WITH MATTE FINISH
Infinity Series delivers the same Pantone-book color matching as Alpha, but optimized for water-based-only printing with a distinctive matte finish. Prints through finer 305 mesh for sharper detail. 17 mixing colors + 4-color process CMYK set. Ideal for shops that do not need discharge capability but want premium matte-finish water-based prints with no software required.
INFINITY RFU COLOR SERIES
Hybrid acrylic RFU inks. Every color prints from the bucket or blends with others for Pantone matching using book formulas. Matte surface appearance.
⚠ Infinity vs. Alpha — Key Difference
Infinity = water-based ONLY. Cannot discharge. For discharge on dark cotton, choose Alpha Series instead.
Starter Kits
NEO PIGMENTS & MATSUI BASES — MAXIMUM FLEXIBILITY WITH 20+ BASE OPTIONS
For shops that need maximum control over hand feel, stretch, opacity, and finish. Neo Pigments are concentrated color that you mix into any of 20+ Matsui bases — choose 301C Clear for standard cotton, Stretch Clear for athletic wear, Soft Stretch for luxury retail, EasyPrint for beginners, or discharge bases for the softest prints on dark cotton. Requires Matsui CMS software for Pantone formulas. 13 standard pigments + 8 glow fluorescents.
NEO PIGMENT CONCENTRATES
Concentrated pigments that mix into ANY Matsui base. Use CMS Software for Pantone formulas. 20+ bases for different finishes.
Popular Bases
301C Clear • 301M Matte • EasyPrint Clear • EasyPrint Mat • Stretch Clear • Stretch Mat • Soft Stretch Clear
Discharge Bases
Brite Discharge Base • HM Discharge Base • Brite Discharge White • HM Discharge White • Discharge Activator
Performance & Blockers
Under Base Blocker Gray • Under Base Blocker Black LG • Kombat Blocker • Kombat Black
HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT MATSUI WHITE INK, PRINTING BASE & DISCHARGE SYSTEM
Matsui offers two completely different systems for printing on dark garments: water-based whites + bases (surface deposit on any fabric) and discharge bases + whites (dye removal on 100% cotton). Each base and white ink serves a specific purpose. Choosing the right one determines your hand feel, opacity, stretch, and durability.
Water-Based System (Surface Deposit)
How it works: Ink sits ON TOP of the fabric surface. Works on any fabric color, any fabric type (cotton, polyester, blends). Requires a white underbase on dark garments. The ink film is what you feel.
When to use: Polyester, blends, athletic wear, stretch fabrics, any non-cotton garment, or when you need guaranteed opacity on any color.
Products needed: A printing base (clear or matte) + Neo Pigments for color, OR a ready-to-use white ink for underbasing, OR Alpha/Infinity as complete RFU inks.
Discharge System (Dye Removal)
How it works: Chemistry removes the garment dye and replaces it with your ink color — embedded IN the cotton fibers. Zero surface buildup. The softest possible hand feel because there is no ink film at all.
When to use: Dark 100% cotton with reactive (dischargeable) dyes ONLY. Will not work on polyester, blends, or pigment-dyed garments. Requires Discharge Activator (12-hour pot life once mixed).
Products needed: A discharge base (Brite or HM) + Neo Pigments for color + Discharge Activator, OR Alpha Series colors + Activator (Alpha IS the complete discharge ink).
WATER-BASED PRINTING BASES — Mix with Neo Pigments to create colored inks
Every base below is a clear or matte carrier that you add Neo Pigment concentrates into. The base determines the finish, stretch, hand feel, and mesh compatibility. Choose by garment type and print requirements.
WATER-BASED WHITE INKS — Opaque white for underbasing & spot printing on dark garments
White inks provide opacity on dark garments. They serve as underbases (print white first, then color on top) or as standalone white prints. Each white matches the stretch and hand feel of its corresponding base system.
DISCHARGE BASES & WHITES — Dye removal on dark 100% cotton
Discharge chemistry removes garment dye and replaces it with your color. The result is embedded in the fiber with zero surface buildup — the softest possible hand feel. Requires Discharge Activator (3-8% by weight). 12-hour pot life once mixed. 100% cotton with reactive dyes only.
QUICK DECISION GUIDE — WHICH WHITE & BASE DO I NEED?
Printing on Dark Cotton Tees?
Softest hand feel (discharge): Use Alpha Series colors + Activator. Or Neo Pigments in Brite/HM Base + Activator.
Maximum opacity (water-based): Underbase with 301W-B HO White, flash, then print color on top. Use Blocker Gray under the white to prevent dye migration.
Printing on Athletic / Stretch Fabrics?
Must use Stretch system. Standard 301 inks will crack on stretch fabrics.
Base: Stretch Clear or Stretch Mat. White: Stretch White. Premium: Soft Stretch White + Soft Stretch Clear.
New to Water-Based Printing?
Start with EasyPrint. EasyPrint Clear + EasyPrint White are the most forgiving. Slower drying, longer open time, less clogging. Graduate to 301C/301W-B HO once comfortable.
Premium Retail / Fashion Brands?
Phantom Clear for near-zero hand feel on lights. Soft Stretch system for luxury activewear. Discharge for the absolute softest prints on dark cotton. These are the bases that brand-name retailers specify.
SPECIALTY MATSUI PRODUCTS
Shimmer, pearl, glitter, flock, foil, crack effects, hydrochromic, digital hybrid system, and water-repellent fabric inks.
SWR Series — Water-Repellent Fabrics
For nylon windbreakers, coated polyester, DWR-treated outerwear. Standard inks will not adhere to these surfaces.
White SWR (opaque for darks) • Clear SWR (translucent mixing base)
Digital Hybrid System
Screen + digital inkjet in one workflow. Full breakdown below. ↓
MATSUI INKS FOR M&R DIGITAL SQUEEGEE & ROQ HYBRID PRINTING SYSTEMS
Matsui manufactures the screen-printed ink layers specifically engineered for the M&R Digital Squeegee and ROQ Hybrid / ROQ Now digital-screen hybrid printing systems. These inks provide the white underbase, clear primer, and protective top coat that digital inkjet inks need to bond properly, produce vibrant colors, and survive repeated washing. Every ink below is PVC-free, OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 certified, and cures at 320°F (160°C). If your shop runs an M&R or ROQ automatic press with an integrated digital inkjet module, these are the Matsui products you need.
How Digital Hybrid Printing Works
Step 1 — Screen print the base layers. White underbase (for dark garments) and/or a clear primer layer are screen printed onto the garment using standard screens, squeegees, and flash units. This is the foundation that gives digital inks something to bond to.
Step 2 — Digital inkjet prints the color. The press rotates the garment under a digital inkjet head (the M&R Digital Squeegee module or ROQ’s integrated inkjet bridge). CMYK+ digital inks are jetted directly onto the wet or flashed screen-printed base. No separations, no extra screens — unlimited colors from a single digital file.
Step 3 — Screen print the top coat. A clear protective top coat is screen printed over the digital layer to seal, protect, and enhance durability and wash fastness. The garment then passes through the conveyor dryer at 320°F.
Why Digital Hybrid Instead of All-Screen or All-Digital?
vs. Traditional Screen Printing: Eliminates color separations for complex artwork. No limit on color count. Photographic detail, gradients, and fine text that would require 8-12 screens can be printed with zero extra screens. Faster setup for short runs and one-offs.
vs. DTG (Direct-to-Garment): Much faster throughput — hybrid runs on a production screen press at production speeds. Screen-printed white underbase is far more opaque than DTG white. Better wash durability. Lower cost per print at volume.
Best for: Shops running M&R or ROQ automatic presses who want unlimited-color photographic prints at screen-press speed, with the opacity and durability screen printers expect.
MATSUI DIGITAL HYBRID INK LINEUP — Every ink and its role in the print sequence
Each product below serves a specific step in the hybrid workflow. They are printed in sequence: underbase → primer/clear → digital color → top coat. Choose products based on your garment type (dark vs. light, cotton vs. stretch) and your equipment platform.
COMMON PRINT SEQUENCES BY GARMENT TYPE
Dark Cotton Tee (Standard)
Station 1: Screen → DS Hybrid UB White
Flash
Station 2: Screen → Digiace Screen Clear
Station 3: Digital inkjet → CMYK color
Station 4: Screen → DS Hybrid Top Coat
Dryer: 320°F × 2-3 min
Dark Cotton (Softest Hand)
Station 1: Screen → Digiace Discharge White + Activator
Flash
Station 2: Screen → Digiace Screen Clear
Station 3: Digital inkjet → CMYK color
Station 4: Screen → DS Hybrid Top Coat
Dryer: 320°F × 2-3 min
100% cotton, reactive dyes only
Fewer Stations (Simplified)
Station 1: Screen → DS Hybrid Pre-Digital White
Flash
Station 2: Digital inkjet → CMYK color
Station 3: Screen → DS Hybrid Top Coat
Dryer: 320°F × 2-3 min
Pre-Digital White acts as BOTH white underbase and primer — eliminates the separate clear station
ADDITIVES & SERVICES
ALPHA vs. INFINITY vs. NEO PIGMENTS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Alpha Series can do both water-based AND discharge printing. Infinity Series is water-based only — it cannot discharge. That is the key difference. Both are ready-for-use inks that use Pantone book formulas with no software required. Both cure at 320°F (160°C). Choose Alpha if you print on dark 100% cotton and need discharge capability. Choose Infinity if you only print water-based and prefer the matte finish. Alpha prints through 230 mesh; Infinity through 305 mesh for finer detail.
No — not with Alpha or Infinity Series. Open your Pantone Formula Guide to any color swatch. The mixing formula is printed right there showing which Alpha or Infinity colors to combine and at what percentages. Weigh on a gram scale, mix, and print. No computer needed. Neo Pigments DO require Matsui CMS software because the pigment-to-base ratios vary by which base you choose. The trade-off: Neo gives you 20+ base options for different finishes, but requires the software step.
Alpha: up to 230. Infinity: up to 305. Neo in 301 bases: up to 305. 4-Color Process: 305 required. Discharge: Brite up to 160, HM up to 230. SWR: 135.
Water-based whites (301W-B HO, Stretch White, Soft Stretch White, EasyPrint White) deposit an opaque white ink film ON TOP of the fabric. They work on any fabric type — cotton, polyester, blends, stretch. Use them as underbases on dark garments or for standalone white prints. The trade-off is a slightly thicker hand feel because the ink sits on the surface.
Discharge whites (Brite Discharge White, HM Discharge White) use chemistry to REMOVE the garment dye and replace it with white — embedded in the cotton fibers. Zero surface buildup, zero hand feel. But they ONLY work on dark 100% cotton with reactive (dischargeable) dyes. They require Discharge Activator (12-hour pot life) and will not work on polyester, blends, or pigment-dyed garments.
Bottom line: Need the softest possible white on dark cotton? Discharge white. Need white on polyester, blends, or any non-cotton fabric? Water-based white.
301C Clear is the standard, most popular base — gloss finish, up to 305 mesh, brightest colors. Start here for regular cotton tees. 301M Matte is the same but with a matte finish.
EasyPrint Clear/Matte is more forgiving — slower drying, longer open time. Ideal if you're new to water-based or printing in hot/dry environments where ink dries in the screen. Limited to 230 mesh.
Stretch Clear/Matte is required for athletic and stretch fabrics. The ink film flexes with the garment. Standard 301 inks will crack on spandex/performance fabrics. Soft Stretch Clear adds an ultra-soft hand feel to the stretch capability — premium price for premium retail.
Phantom Clear delivers virtually zero hand feel — the closest water-based gets to a discharge-like result without discharge chemistry. For retail brands that specify "no hand feel" on their spec sheets.
Both are discharge systems that require Activator. The difference is mesh compatibility and detail level. Brite Discharge (base and white) prints through up to 160 mesh — heavier ink deposit, brighter/more vivid colors, best for bold spot designs and large fill areas. HM Discharge (base and white) prints through up to 230 mesh — finer detail, halftones, simulated process, small text. Choose by your artwork: bold designs = Brite. Fine detail = HM.
Matsui provides the screen-printed layers — the digital CMYK inks come from your equipment manufacturer. For dark garments, the standard sequence is: (1) Screen print DS Hybrid UB White as an underbase, flash, (2) Screen print Digiace Digital Screen Clear as a primer for the digital inks, (3) Digital inkjet prints CMYK color, (4) Screen print DS Hybrid Top Coat to seal and protect. For fewer stations, use DS Hybrid Pre-Digital White which combines the white underbase and primer into one product. For the softest result on dark cotton, use Digiace Discharge White + Activator as the underbase instead.
Yes — (1) Discharge mode with Alpha or Neo + discharge base (dark 100% cotton, add activator). (2) White underbase with blocker — any Matsui ink on any dark fabric. (3) Print-flash-print. Use Blocker Gray for dark cotton, Black LG for dark polyester, Kombat for sublimation polyester.
Black C is a MIXING black that prints as DARK GRAY — it darkens other colors in Pantone formulas. NOT a true black. Spot Black is dedicated OPAQUE black for solid text, logos, fills. Rule: mixing = Black C, printing black = Spot Black.
All Matsui water-based inks cure at 320°F (160°C). Flash at 160°F. For discharge, cure at 320°F for minimum 2 minutes. Test before production.
Yes. PVC-free. OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 certified (highest grade, approved for skin contact). CPSIA and HR4040 compliant. No phthalates, no heavy metals, no formaldehyde.
Standard Matsui inks will not adhere to water-repellent (DWR) treated fabrics. Use the SWR Series — White SWR for darks, Clear SWR as a mixing base. Specifically formulated for slick, coated surfaces.
READY TO PRINT WITH MATSUI?
Join the thousands of screen printers who have switched from plastisol to Matsui water-based inks. Softer prints, PVC-free certification, Pantone color matching with no software, and the only RFU ink system that does both water-based and discharge. Free shipping on orders over $200. Same-day shipping before 3:30 PM CT. Authorized Matsui dealer since 2008.