Matsui 301C Clear Base | High-Mesh Water-Based Clear Mixing Base for Custom Color Screen Printing on Cotton
Matsui
Matsui 301C Clear Base (WS0462) is the foundation cotton clear base in the entire Matsui mixing system — engineered for custom color creation and ultra-soft prints on light-colored and 100% cotton garments. Prints through mesh up to 305/inch (120/cm) — the highest mesh capability of any Matsui clear base — producing the softest, thinnest ink deposit achievable in textile screen printing. Mix with Neo Pigments and Glow Pigments (up to 15%) for precise Pantone color matching using the free Matsui Color Mixer Software. Use alone for elegant tone-on-tone and clear overprint effects on light fabrics. Zero viscosity modifications required. Cures at 320F. PVC-free. OEKO-TEX Standard 100, CPSIA, and HR4040 compliant.
Price range: $29.99 through $2,499.99
Description
The Foundation Cotton Clear Base — 305 Mesh. Pantone Accurate. Ultra-Soft.
Matsui 301C Clear Base is where custom color on cotton begins. At 305 mesh the ink deposit is so thin it integrates into the fabric rather than sitting on top. Mix with Neo Pigments up to 15% using the free Matsui CMS for exact Pantone formulas on any cotton garment.
Prints through mesh up to 305/inch — the highest in the Matsui system — producing the thinnest ink deposit and the softest possible hand feel on cotton garments. At 305 mesh the print feels like part of the shirt, not a layer on top.
Mix with Matsui Neo Pigments at 5-15% by weight. Enter your Pantone code in the free Matsui Color Mixer Software for exact mixing ratios. Consistent, repeatable color across runs, operators, and months.
301C Clear is transparent — pigment colors stay vivid and true-to-formula on light-colored cotton. Use it for spot color production, multi-color prints, and any application where accurate Pantone matching is the priority.
Use 301C Clear without any pigment for elegant tone-on-tone overprint effects — the printed area changes texture and light reflection without changing the garment color. Popular in fashion decoration and premium retail apparel.
301C Clear is formulated for light-colored 100% cotton. It can be used on 50/50 blends and polyester with a dye migration blocker first, but its optimal application is cotton where it delivers unmatched softness and color accuracy.
Prints straight from the container on manual and automatic presses. Add Retarder MG (1-5%) for open time, Fixer WF-N (1-5%) for wash fastness, or use Quick Additive (6-9%) for all three in one step.
Complete System — Everything You Need
Matsui Color Matching System
Get exact Neo Pigment mixing ratios for any Pantone® color — instantly, for free. Enter your Pantone code, select your base (301C, Stretch Clear, Discharge, etc.), and the CMS returns the precise formula. Consistent color across runs, operators, and months. No guessing. No waste. No rework.
Every job that needs white on dark fabric pairs 301C Clear colors with a white underbase. 301 White is the companion for cotton printing.
The Matsui Alpha Series and Infinity Series are ready-to-use inks with no mixing required — blendable with each other using your Pantone Formula Guide, no Color Mixer Software needed. Great for shops that want Matsui quality without maintaining a mixing system.
The Matsui 301C Clear Base Mixing System
Mix 301C Clear Base + Neo Pigments at 5-15% by weight for custom colors. Use the Matsui CMS to get the exact Neo Pigment ratios for any Pantone code. Standard spot color jobs use 5-10% pigment. Saturated or dark colors may need closer to 15%. Weigh on a gram scale for consistency.
301C Clear is transparent — it produces vivid, true colors on light cotton. 301M Matte is semi-opaque with a milky, matte finish — it provides more coverage on colored fabrics. Choose 301C for light cotton and accurate Pantone matching. Choose 301M for colored cotton where opacity and a matte look are needed.
301C Clear is for cotton where elasticity is not required. For performance and stretch fabrics, use Stretch Clear 301 (150-180 mesh, silicone-like finish) or EasyPrint Clear 301 (225 mesh, fine detail). 301C goes higher on mesh (305 vs 225) for the softest possible deposit on cotton.
Best Use Cases
The core use case. Mix with Neo Pigments using the Matsui CMS for any Pantone formula. Print on light cotton for precise, repeatable brand colors with the softest possible hand feel.
At 305 mesh, 301C Clear produces a barely-there print that premium fashion and retail brands specify. The ink integrates into the cotton fiber — not on top of it — for a hand feel that sells garments.
Print 301C Clear without pigment on light garments for a subtle, elegant clear overprint. The printed area catches light differently from the unprinted fabric, creating a sophisticated embossed look.
Mix Matsui Glow Pigments into 301C Clear for glow-in-the-dark colors on light cotton. The same CMS formulas apply. Prints bright in daylight and glows under UV/blacklight.
Complete Matsui Base Comparison
| Feature | 301C Clear ★ | 301M Matte | Extender Base | Stretch Clear 301 | Soft Stretch Clear | Stretch Mat 301 | Simple Clear | EasyPrint Clear | EasyPrint Mat | Acrylicon Clear | Soft-Tex 350 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Substrate | ★ Cotton | Cotton | Cotton/blends | Performance | Performance | Performance | Performance | Performance | Performance | Performance | Extreme stretch |
| Max Mesh | ★ 305/in | 305/in | 305/in | 150-180/in | 150-180/in | 150-180/in | 150-180/in | 225/in | 225/in | 150-180/in | 110-160/in |
| Opacity | Clear | Semi-opaque | Translucent | Clear | Clear | Semi-opaque | Clear | Clear | Semi-opaque | Clear | Clear |
| Finish | Soft | Matte | Translucent | Silicone-like | ★ Ultra-soft | Matte | Soft | Detail | Matte detail | Zero-tack matte | Silicone-like |
| Elasticity | None | None | Good | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | ★ Rubber-like |
| Binder | Acrylic | Acrylic | Acrylic | Acrylic | Acrylic | Acrylic | Acrylic | Acrylic | Acrylic | Acrylic | ⚠ PU — Fixer V |
| Neo Pigments | 15% | 15% | 10% | 15% | 15% | 15% | 15% | 15% | 15% | 15% | 15% |
| Best For | Soft cotton spot color | Colored cotton | Economy mixing | Standard activewear | Premium softness | Colored performance | Economy performance | Fine detail activewear | Colored fine detail | Zero-tack performance | Extreme stretch fabrics |
⚠ Soft-Tex 350 uses Fixer V for wash fastness — NOT Fixer WF-N. All acrylic bases use Fixer WF-N.
Compatible Matsui Additives
All additives below are compatible. Do not exceed 15% total additives by weight. PVC-free, OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified.
| Additive | Dose | What It Does |
|---|---|---|
| Quick Additive | 6-9% | All-in-one: open time + hand feel + wash fastness + dot retention |
| Retarder MG | 1-5% | Extends screen open time — prevents ink drying in mesh |
| Fixer WF-N | 1-5% | Wash & crock fastness crosslinker — no pot life — meets all RSLs |
| Softener MG | 1-4% | Soft hand feel — improved fabric penetration and elasticity |
| Thickener B | 0.25-1% | Raises viscosity — halftone dot retention |
| RV Additive | 1-3% | Reduces viscosity — better than water for thinning |
Pro Tips & Critical Notes
Enter your Pantone code into the free Matsui Color Mixer Software for exact Neo Pigment ratios. Eyeballing pigment amounts produces inconsistent color batch-to-batch.
301C Clear is transparent. On dark garments it will not provide opacity or coverage. For dark garment printing with water-based inks use a discharge system or an appropriate opaque base.
For polyester or high-poly blends, print Under Base Blocker 301 Gray or Blocker Black LG first, flash, then print 301C Clear colors. Without a blocker, polyester dyes will migrate into the ink and discolor your print.
For the softest possible hand feel, use the highest mesh appropriate to your artwork. 280-305 mesh for fine-detail cotton work. 160-230 mesh for standard production where some extra ink deposit is acceptable.
Technical Specifications
Matsui 301C Clear Base — Technical Specifications
| Specification | Value / Detail |
|---|---|
| SKU | WS0462 |
| Product Type | High-mesh water-based clear mixing base |
| Max Mesh | 305/inch (120/cm) |
| Cure Temperature | 320F (160C) |
| Viscosity Modifications | None required |
| Color | Clear — transparent |
| Neo Pigment Mix Rate | 5-15% by weight |
| Color Software | Matsui Color Mixer Software (free) |
| Fabric Compatibility | Light-colored 100% cotton (primary). Blends/polyester with blocker. |
| Elasticity | None — formulated for cotton |
| Retarder MG | Retarder MG 1-5% for screen open time |
| Fixer WF-N | Fixer WF-N 1-5% for wash fastness |
| Softener MG | Softener MG 1-4% for hand feel and penetration |
| Quick Additive | Quick Additive 6-9% for all-in-one additive solution |
| Compliance | OEKO-TEX Standard 100 (suitable for baby products), CPSIA, HR4040, PVC-free, phthalate-free |
| Dry Clean / Iron Safe | Yes |
Technical Sheets / Safety Data Sheets / Documents
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is 301C Clear Base and what do I mix into it?
Matsui 301C Clear Base (WS0462) is a clear, transparent water-based mixing base for custom color screen printing on cotton. Mix it with Matsui Neo Pigments at 5-15% by weight for custom colors. Use the free Matsui Color Mixer Software to get exact Pantone-matched formulas. The base is clear by itself — it requires Neo Pigments for color.
What is the difference between 301C Clear and 301M Matte?
301C Clear is transparent — it produces vivid, true colors on light cotton and is the correct choice for accurate Pantone color matching. 301M Matte is semi-opaque with a milky, matte finish — it provides more coverage on medium-colored fabrics and adds a matte character to mixed colors. Use 301C for light cotton. Use 301M for colored cotton where opacity and matte look are needed.
Can I use 301C Clear on dark garments?
301C Clear is transparent — it will not provide opacity or coverage on dark garments. It will print but the dark garment color will show through the ink, making colors appear different from the formula. For dark garments, use a discharge system or a semi-opaque base. For light to medium fabrics, 301C Clear is the correct choice.
Can I use 301C Clear on polyester?
Yes, but you must print a dye migration blocker first. Print Under Base Blocker 301 Gray (standard) or Blocker Black LG (maximum density for aggressive bleeders), flash, then print your 301C Clear colors. Without a blocker, polyester dyes will migrate into the ink during curing and discolor your print.
What mesh count should I use?
301C Clear prints through mesh up to 305/inch. For the softest possible hand feel on cotton, use 280-305 mesh — the thinnest ink deposit possible. For standard production on cotton with good color saturation, use 230-280 mesh. For performance or stretch fabrics, use Stretch Clear 301 or EasyPrint Clear 301 instead, which are formulated for elasticity.
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