Waterbase Inks

Our Waterbase Ink line offers customers a variety of Standard Pantone SIM Colors, Specialty Bases & Pantone Color matching system. They provide a soft hand and are excellent for printing on Towels.

Waterbase Pigments

Waterbase Inks

Waterbase inks not only provide a softer hand print but they have a softer impact on the environment. Today’s Waterbase inks are more Eco-friendly, they clean up quick and easy with water or a mild bio-degradable Ink Wash.
To achieve proper curing it is necessary to cure waterbase inks and discharge inks with a conveyor dryer at 300F for 2-3 min. Flash curing is not recommended.

Printing Parameters: Click here:Tech Sheet
Substrates: Cotton, Polyester and 50/50% Blends
* White and Pastel color fabrics only
Emulsion: Water Resistant /Dual-Cure (Textile DW, Graphic DX or Graphic HU)

Mesh: 86-156ct t/in
Curing Temp: 300°F for 2-3 min.
Clean Up: Water or Ink Wash
* Waterbase Colors are very transparent and are designed to print on White fabrics only.

Waterbase Additives

WB Softener
WB Retarder
WB Extender Base
WB Stretch Clear & White
WB Fixer N

Waterbase Specialty

WB Metallic Silver
WB Puff Base
WB Crack Binder
WB Burn-Out
WB Shine Binder

Waterbase Extender Base 301CLEAR

301 Eco Clear Extender Base

Clear 301C Base - A clear binder base for use on white and light colored fabrics. Can be printed through a high mesh count screen up to 305 which will produce an ultra soft hand. Mix 5-10% pigment to binder by weight. Click here: Tech Sheet
Matte 301M Base - A semi opaque matte white binder base for use on colored fabrics. Can be printed through a high mesh count screen up to 305. Mix 5-10% pigment to binder by weight.
White 301W Base - A high opaque white base for use on dark or colored fabrics. Can be used as an under-base, high opaque spot white ink or mixed with pigment (5-10% pigment to base by weight) Mesh counts up to 305.
Matsui's new 301 ECO-Series Water Based Ink System base binders, pigments and inks are specifically designed for today's high speed automatic screen printing presses. The Eco-friendly 301 ECO-Series inks offer advantages over the traditional plastisol inks and are superior to plastisol ink systems currently being used in high volume textile shops.

The 301 Eco Series Inks manufactured by Matsui Shikiso Chemical Co., Ltd., Japan contains no harmful chemicals or toxic substances as known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm, at levels which would require a warning under the California Proposition 65 (Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986) law.

Waterbase Stretch Base and White

Waterbase Stretch White

Stretch Clear 301 Base - A base binder formulated for use on stretch fabrics such as Lycra-Spandex, athletic clothing etc. Add any of the Matsui 301 Eco-Series pigments for unlimited color matching capabilities. Screen mesh recommendations up to 150.
Stretch White 301 Base - A high opaque white ink for printing on stretch fabrics such as Lycra-Spandex, athletic clothing etc. Screen mesh recommendations up to 150.

Waterbase Crack Binder 812

WB Crack Binder

Crack Binder 812 - Click here: Tech SHEET
This is a matte white binder that produces a crackling effect on cotton or cotton/polyester knit or woven fabrics. Combine with waterbase pigments to create colorful effects, add 5-10% of pigment to Crack Binder.
Printing Parameters:
Substrates: Cotton, Polyester and 50/50% Blends
Emulsion: Water Resistant /Dual-Cure (Textile DW, Graphic DX or Graphic HU)
Mesh: 86-110ct t/in
Curing Temp: 300°F for 2-3 min.

Waterbase Metallic Silver & Colors

WB Metallic Inks

Metallic Binder 301 - A silver metallic shimmer base that can be used as a stand alone product or be combined with 301 ECO-Series pigments to change the look and color of a design. Great for use on 100% cotton or poly/rayon/cotton blends. Screen mesh recommendations up to 120.
Printing Parameters:
Substrates: Cotton, Polyester and 50/50% Blends
Emulsion: Water Resistant /Dual-Cure (Textile DW, Graphic DX or Graphic HU)
Mesh: 86-110ct t/in
Curing Temp: 300°F for 2-3 min.

Waterbase Discharge Printing

Waterbase Discharge

Discharge Inks, like all water-based systems are designed to penetrate the garment. The print in essence becomes part of the garment, eliminating such problems as heavy hand and fibrillation. In addition, you can dry clean or iron the garment without distorting or damaging the image. Designs printed with Plastisol would melt and distort with the heat or break down and lose adhesion. Most importantly, Waterbase Discharge Inks give you the ability to print dark garments without the use of an under-base white. The best result is a print with a softer hand.

The garment is the most important factor, since not all garments are dischargeable. The fabric must be 100% COTTON. Second, the garment must be dyed with dischargeable dyes and the results can differ from dye lot to dye lot. Polyester or Poly Blends will not discharge. The color of the garment can affect the results and some Colors discharge better than others. That is why is recommended to always test before you start production.

Here are some additional details; Waterbase inks do have a particular smell that takes some getting used to. The Discharge Agent is the source of the odor or bad smell. Always work in a ventilated area when handling these products, refer to the products’ MSDS for recommendations regarding proper use. With proper dryer ventilation, this odor can be controlled. After the curing process is completed most f the smell will diminish from the garment.

Discharge Products

Discharge Brite Base
Discharge White
Discharge Activator

Discharge Formula

Brite Base & DSM-2 Discharge Base (Conventional)

Matsui Dscharge Base

All the components are liquid with the exception of the Discharge Agent, which is a crystallized powder. Using a stainless metal spatula mix the Discharge Base and Pigment concentrates first and add the activator last. Continue to homogenize until all of the components are thoroughly blended, when mixing larger quantities we recommend to homogenize with a high-speed mixer. Click here: Tech Sheet

Never activate more than can be used within a few hours. Unactivated discharge (no powder added) can last an indefinite time with proper storage in a dry, cool environment. Unlike Plastisol inks, Waterbase inks require a properly closed lid when they’re not in use; this will prevent the ink from air-drying.

Discharge Base available in: 16oz Pint, 32oz Quart, 1gallon & 5gallon Pail

Discharge PLUS (no powder required)

The smell of the conventional Discharge inks have always been an issue for users, with the introduction of the Discharge Plus Base customers can now eliminate the use of a Formaldehyde-based product. This product does not require activation with Discharge Powder and it exhibits a pleasant smell. Storage requirements: Keep product closed in a airtight container while not being used. Use Discharge PLUS Base directly on 100% cotton to remove the dye color of the fabric or add waterbase pigments to achieve a desired color tone. Addition level of Pigment Concentrates is the same as any other waterbase product. Refer to the Printing Parameters for the proper use of this product.

Discharge PLUS is available in: 16oz Pint, 32oz Quart, 1gallon & 5gallon Pail

Printing parameters are the same for conventional Discharge and Discharge Plus

Printing Parameters: Click here: TECH SHEET
Recommended Substrates: Cotton 100% (Treated with dischargeable dyes)
NOT RECOMMENDED for Polyester or Poly blends

Mesh: 86-110 t/in (34-43 t/cm) for better discharge.
Mesh: 110-195 t/in (43-77 t/cm) for finer lines.
Flash Temp: N/A
Curing Temp: 300°F for 2-3 min.
(Waterbase inks require longer exposure to heat to completely evaporate the water content, a dryer with a recirculation blower would be more efficient)

Stencil: Water-Resistant Emulsion
Stencil Hardener is recommended when emulsions are not sufficiently resistant to Discharge inks.