Matsui EasyPrint Clear 301 | High-Mesh Water-Based Clear Mixing Base for Custom Colors on Performance & Stretch Fabric Screen Printing

Matsui EasyPrint Clear 301 — Fine-Detail Custom Colors on Performance Fabrics

Custom color work on performance fabrics is a different challenge than custom color on cotton. The fabric stretches. The fabric rebounds. The fabric is made from synthetic fibers that behave differently under ink than cotton does. And increasingly, the designs going onto performance garments demand fine detail — small text, intricate logos, thin lines, halftone gradients — that require high mesh counts to resolve.

That is the gap EasyPrint Clear 301 fills. It is the only Matsui clear base that combines high-mesh capability (225/inch) with excellent stretch and elasticity — allowing you to print fine-detail custom colors on Dri-Fit, athletic wear, and high-stretch synthetics without sacrificing ink performance on the fabric.

The standard performance clears in the Matsui system — Stretch Clear 301 and Soft Stretch Clear 301 — are excellent bases, but they top out at 150-180 mesh. That is fine for bold graphics, names, numbers, and solid fills. It is not fine enough for intricate detail work. If your design has thin lines, small text, detailed logos, or halftone gradients that need 200+ mesh to resolve, you need EasyPrint Clear.

And on the cotton side, 301C Clear goes to 305 mesh but has no stretch rating — it will crack on performance fabrics. EasyPrint Clear bridges that gap: high mesh for detail PLUS the elasticity for stretch fabrics.

How EasyPrint Clear Works with Matsui Neo Pigments and Glow Pigments

EasyPrint Clear is a mixing base — it is the carrier that brings Matsui Neo Pigments and Glow Pigments to life on performance garments. The mixing system works like this:

EasyPrint Clear + Neo Pigments = Fine-Detail Custom Colors on Performance Fabrics. Add up to 15% Matsui Neo Pigments (concentrated color pigments) to EasyPrint Clear to create virtually any color in the Pantone spectrum — with the elasticity needed for the color to flex and rebound on stretch garments. Standard mixing ratio is 5-10% pigment to base by weight. Matsui’s free cloud-based Color Mixer Software provides exact formulas — enter the Pantone number, get the pigment ratios, mix, print.

The Neo Pigment series includes a full spectrum of concentrated color pigments — reds, blues, greens, yellows, oranges, violets, blacks, and more — that intermix precisely for accurate Pantone matching. Because they are concentrated, a small amount goes a long way, keeping per-print ink cost low.

The key advantage over mixing with Stretch Clear or Soft Stretch Clear: EasyPrint Clear at 225 mesh produces a thinner ink deposit with finer detail resolution. If your design has thin lines under 1pt, small text under 8pt, halftone dots at 45-55 LPI, or intricate logos with tight detail — EasyPrint Clear at 200-225 mesh resolves them cleanly where a 150-180 mesh Stretch Clear cannot.

EasyPrint Clear + Glow Pigments = Fluorescent Neon on Performance Fabrics. For high-impact specialty applications, mix Matsui Glow Pigments into EasyPrint Clear to create vivid fluorescent neon prints on stretch garments with fine detail and excellent elasticity.

Important: Matsui Glow Pigments are fluorescent pigments — they produce ultra-bright, electric neon colors in normal daylight, not phosphorescent glow-in-the-dark effects. They do NOT glow on their own in the dark. However, fluorescent pigments are naturally UV/blacklight reactive — under blacklight (UV) illumination, they absorb UV energy and re-emit it as intensely bright visible light, creating a dramatic neon glow effect. Colors like fluorescent yellow, pink, orange, and green produce the most intense blacklight reaction. Ideal for concert tees, festival merch, fun run shirts, nightclub and rave apparel, and any performance garment designed for UV-lit environments.

EasyPrint Clear Alone = Tone-on-Tone on Performance Fabrics. Print EasyPrint Clear without any pigments for subtle, elegant translucent effects on colored performance garments. The print area changes texture and sheen without changing color — a refined technique for premium athletic branding and fashion-forward sportswear.

Explore the full Matsui Neo Pigment and Glow Pigment collection here.

How Matsui Additives Improve Your Production with EasyPrint Clear

The base and pigments create the color. Matsui additives optimize the production process — solving common water-based printing challenges that cost you time, money, and rejected garments.

The problem: Water-based ink dries in the screen during production pauses, forcing you to clean and re-flood. This is especially problematic at high mesh counts where finer mesh openings dry faster.
The additive solution: Retarder MG (1-5%) extends open time in the screen, giving you more working time between prints. At 200+ mesh, Retarder MG is particularly valuable.

The problem: Prints fade or crack after repeated washing, especially on athletic garments that see heavy laundry cycles.
The additive solution: Fixer WF-N (1-5%) crosslinks the acrylic binder for dramatically improved wash fastness. Also lowers cure temperature to 300°F (150°C). Highly recommended for any performance garment that will be washed frequently.

The problem: The ink sits on top of the synthetic fibers instead of bonding into them, affecting adhesion and hand feel.
The additive solution: Softener MG (1-4%) helps the ink penetrate deeper into the garment for better adhesion and an even softer hand feel.

The problem: You want all three benefits but do not want to measure and mix three separate additives.
The additive solution: Quick Additive (6-9%) is a pre-balanced all-in-one blend of Retarder MG, Fixer WF-N, and Softener MG. One additive, one measurement, all three production benefits.

Additional additives for specialized needs: Thickener B (0.25-1%) increases viscosity for halftone dot control at high mesh. RV Additive (1-3%) reduces viscosity for better flow and fabric penetration.

Browse the complete Matsui additive collection here.

Where EasyPrint Clear Fits — Every Matsui Base, Side by Side

Matsui makes twelve different clear bases and mixing bases. Each one is designed to be mixed with Neo Pigments and Glow Pigments and enhanced with Matsui additives. The base you choose determines the substrate, mesh range, opacity, elasticity, and finish. The pigments determine the color. The additives optimize the process.

EasyPrint Clear occupies a unique and critical position: the ONLY Matsui clear base that combines 225 mesh resolution with stretch-rated elasticity. It is the fine-detail clear for performance fabrics.

The Complete Matsui Water-Based Base & Clear Comparison — All 12 Bases, Side by Side

All acrylic bases above are compatible with the full Matsui Neo Pigment and Glow Pigment series and the complete Matsui additive lineup. Polyurethane 350 Series bases use Fixer V instead of Fixer WF-N.

EasyPrint Clear vs. 301C Clear — Performance Specialist vs. Cotton Specialist

The bottom line: EasyPrint Clear is for performance fabrics with fine detail. 301C Clear is for cotton with the softest possible deposit. Both mix with the same Neo Pigments and Glow Pigments and use the same additives. 301C goes higher on mesh (305 vs. 225) but has no stretch. EasyPrint Clear has the stretch but caps at 225 mesh. Multi-substrate shops stock both.

EasyPrint Clear vs. Stretch Clear — Fine Detail vs. Bold Coverage on Performance

The bottom line: Both are stretch-rated performance clears that mix with the same Neo Pigments. EasyPrint Clear is the detail specialist (225 mesh, thinner deposit, finer lines). Stretch Clear is the coverage specialist (150-180 mesh, heavier deposit, bolder colors, silicone-like finish). Many performance shops stock both: EasyPrint Clear for 20% of jobs that need fine detail, Stretch Clear for the 80% that need bold graphics.

Why Screen Printers Choose EasyPrint Clear

“I print detailed logos and small text on Dri-Fit and athletic wear.”
This is the core EasyPrint Clear use case. At 225 mesh, it resolves fine lines, small text, and intricate logo details that 150-180 mesh bases cannot hold. Mix with Neo Pigments for detailed Pantone colors with the elasticity to flex and rebound on stretch garments. Add Retarder MG — open time is especially important at high mesh where screen openings dry faster.

“I need halftone gradients on performance fabrics that actually hold dot integrity.”
Halftone work on stretch fabrics is unforgiving. The dots need to be clean and the mesh needs to be high enough to resolve them. EasyPrint Clear at 200-225 mesh delivers clean halftone dots at 45-55 LPI on stretch fabrics — with the elasticity to keep those dots intact through garment stretch and recovery. Add Thickener B at 0.25-1% for better dot control if needed.

“I want to create fluorescent neon prints with fine detail on performance garments — that react under blacklight.”
Mix Matsui Glow Pigments into EasyPrint Clear for vivid fluorescent neon colors with fine-detail capability and stretch. These pigments are naturally UV/blacklight reactive — they glow intensely under blacklight illumination while remaining ultra-bright neon in normal daylight. Ideal for concert tees, festival merch, fun run shirts, and any performance garment designed for UV-lit environments.

“My current clear base cracks on stretch fabrics, and 301C Clear is too soft for performance garments.”
301C Clear goes to 305 mesh but has no stretch rating — it will crack on Dri-Fit. EasyPrint Clear is specifically engineered with excellent elasticity for performance fabrics while maintaining high mesh capability at 225. It bridges the gap between cotton-grade detail and performance-grade stretch.

“My water-based ink keeps drying in the screen at high mesh.”
High mesh counts dry faster because the mesh openings are smaller. Matsui additives solve this. Add Retarder MG at 1-5% — at 200+ mesh, Retarder MG is not optional, it is essential. Or use Quick Additive at 6-9% for open time, wash fastness, and softness in one shot.

“I print athletic apparel that needs to survive 50+ wash cycles without fading.”
Add Fixer WF-N at 1-5% to crosslink the acrylic binder for dramatically improved wash durability. Athletic garments get washed more frequently and more aggressively than casual wear — Fixer WF-N is not optional on performance work, it is a production necessity.

Key Features

• Highest Mesh of Any Stretch-Rated Matsui Clear Base (225/inch): Resolves fine lines, small text, halftone gradients, and intricate logos that 150-180 mesh bases cannot hold — with full elasticity for performance fabrics.
• Excellent Elasticity for Performance Fabrics: Stretch-rated for Dri-Fit, athletic wear, compression garments, and high-stretch synthetics. Prints flex and rebound without cracking.
• Premium Custom Color Creation with Neo Pigments: Mix with up to 15% Matsui Neo Pigments for Pantone-accurate custom colors with fine detail and stretch. Use Matsui’s cloud-based Color Mixer Software for exact formulas.
• Fluorescent Neon & Blacklight-Reactive Capability with Glow Pigments: Mix with Matsui Glow Pigments for vivid fluorescent neon colors that are naturally UV/blacklight reactive — with fine-detail capability and stretch. Ideal for events, concerts, and UV-lit environments.
• Tone-on-Tone on Performance Fabrics: Use alone for subtle translucent effects on colored stretch garments.
• Production-Optimized with Matsui Additives: Compatible with the full Matsui additive lineup — Retarder MG for open time (especially important at high mesh), Fixer WF-N for wash fastness, Softener MG for fabric penetration, or Quick Additive for all three in one shot.
• Soft Sheen Finish: Refined translucent finish with a soft, natural sheen — not matte, not high-gloss.
• Also Works on Cotton: EasyPrint Clear’s 225 mesh capability makes it a fine-detail option on cotton as well, though for maximum softness on cotton-only work, 301C Clear at 305 mesh is even softer.
• Compatible with Polyester (with Blocker): Usable on polyester when paired with a sublimation blocker to prevent dye migration.
• Zero Viscosity Modifications Required: Prints straight from the container on manual and automatic presses.
• PVC-Free and Eco-Compliant: OEKO-TEX® Standard 100, CPSIA, HR4040 compliant. Free of PVC, phthalates, and co-solvents. Safe for ironing.

Recommended Additives for EasyPrint Clear Production

Browse the complete Matsui additive collection here.