Matsui HM Discharge Base | High Mesh Water-Based Discharge Mixing Base for Halftone & Simulated Process Discharge Printing on Dark Cotton — Mix with Neo Pigments

Matsui HM Discharge Base — The Halftone Discharge Specialist

Spot color discharge is straightforward: one color, one screen, solid fill. Any discharge base handles it.

Halftone discharge is a different art. You are printing tiny dots on a dark garment at 45–65 LPI, counting on each dot to discharge the garment dye in its microscopic footprint and deposit a precise amount of pigment. The dots must hold their shape through high mesh. The ink must flow smoothly through 230, 260, even 305 mesh without clogging, without bridging, and without losing the tonal gradients that make photorealistic and simulated process discharge work.

HM Discharge Base is formulated specifically for this.

The “HM” stands for High Mesh. The formulation is optimized for flow and release through the finest mesh counts — up to 305/inch — while maintaining the discharge chemistry needed to strip garment dye and replace it with Neo Pigment color. Where Brite Discharge Base prioritizes maximum color brightness, HM Discharge Base prioritizes maximum print detail and halftone fidelity.

The Brite + HM Blending Strategy

Matsui designed these two discharge bases to work together:

Brite Discharge Base alone: Brightest possible color results. Prints through mesh up to 305, but optimized for spot color where maximum vibrancy is the priority.

HM Discharge Base alone: Finest possible detail at the highest mesh counts. Optimized for halftone and simulated process where dot fidelity and smooth gradients are the priority.

Brite + HM blended 50/50: The sweet spot — brighter than HM alone, finer than Brite alone, and prints smoothly through mesh up to 230/inch. This blend is the go-to formula for shops that want vivid color and good halftone detail in the same print.

Many shops keep both on the shelf and blend to suit the job: more Brite for spot color brightness, more HM for halftone precision, and 50/50 for general-purpose discharge.

How Discharge Printing Works

Step 1: Mix. Combine HM Discharge Base + discharge activator (3–8%) + Neo Pigments for color in a clean vessel.

Step 2: Print. Screen print the activated ink onto a dark 100% cotton garment with reactive dischargeable dyes. For halftone work, use mesh 230–305 for the finest dot reproduction.

Step 3: Cure. Cure at 320°F (160°C) for 2–3 minutes. The discharge activator chemically breaks down the garment dye. The Neo Pigment color replaces it, embedding into the cotton fibers.

Step 4: Result. Photorealistic halftone gradients on a dark garment with zero hand feel. The print is in the fabric, not on it.

⚠️ The Discharge Rules

• 100% cotton with reactive dyes only. It does not discharge polyester or synthetic fibers. On blends, only the cotton threads discharge.
• Discharge activator is required at 3–8%. It will not discharge without activator.
• 12-hour pot life once activated. Mix only what you need.
• Cure 2–3 minutes at 320°F. Extended dwell time is required for discharge chemistry.
• Ventilation is required. Discharge produces fumes during curing.
• Always test garments before production. Discharge effectiveness varies by brand and dye lot.

The Matsui Discharge Product Guide — All Seven Products Compared

Quick Decision Guide

Brightest custom colors → Brite Discharge Base + Neo Pigments + activator

Finest halftone color detail → HM Discharge Base + Neo Pigments + activator

One base for light and dark → 301DM Base

Softest halftone white at 305 mesh → HM Discharge White

Brightest spot white → Brite Discharge White

Budget pre-blended white → Brite Discharge Super 75

Alpha hybrid system → Alpha Trans White

The 50/50 Blending Shortcuts

Brite Discharge Base + HM Discharge Base (50/50) → Brighter colors at up to 230 mesh

Brite Discharge White + HM Discharge White (50/50) → Brighter white at up to 230 mesh

Recommended Additives for HM Discharge Base Production

Pro tip — mesh lubricant: Mix 30% Softener MG + 70% water in a spray bottle. Wipe on the ink side of the mesh before printing. This lubricates the mesh threads and prevents ink from sticking in the open areas, helping keep your image crisp and preventing the design from closing in during the run.

Production best practices: Less ink is better on the screen. Add a small amount and continuously add fresh, hydrated ink during the run. Do not let discharge ink sit unused in the screen — it dries faster than standard water-based inks.

Browse the complete Matsui additive collection here.

Why Screen Printers Choose HM Discharge Base

“I print photorealistic simulated process discharge on dark tees.” HM Discharge Base flows smoothly through 230–305 mesh for the finest halftone dot reproduction in discharge printing.

“I need both brightness and detail — can I have both?” Blend 50/50 with Brite Discharge Base. The blend is brighter than HM alone, finer than Brite alone, and prints through mesh up to 230.

“My Brite Discharge Base clogs at 260+ mesh on halftone work.” HM Discharge Base is formulated specifically for high mesh flow without clogging on fine halftone dots.

“I want the softest possible halftone discharge prints.” At 305 mesh, HM Discharge Base deposits minimal ink, so the halftone print is whisper-thin and virtually disappears into the fabric.

Key Features

• Optimized for halftone and simulated process discharge through mesh up to 305/inch
• Neutral clear base with no color or pigment
• Mixes with Neo Pigments up to 15% for custom Pantone-matched colors
• Blends 50/50 with Brite Discharge Base for brighter colors through mesh up to 230/inch
• Zero hand feel because discharge embeds color into cotton fibers
• Requires activator at 3–8% with a 12-hour pot life
• Designed for 100% cotton with reactive dyes only
• PVC-free