Matsui Stretch White 301 | High-Opacity Water-Based White Ink for Stretch & Performance Fabric Screen Printing

Matsui Stretch White 301 — The Workhorse White for Performance Fabric Printing

If you print on athletic wear, Dri-Fit, compression garments, or any high-stretch performance fabric, you need a white ink that does two things simultaneously: lays down opaque white on dark fabrics and stretches with the garment without cracking.

Most white inks can do one or the other. High-opacity whites tend to be rigid — they crack when the fabric stretches because the thick pigment layer cannot flex with the knit. Soft, stretchy whites tend to be low-opacity — you sacrifice coverage to get flexibility, and the result is a washed-out, ghostly white that does not pop on dark garments.

Stretch White 301 was engineered to eliminate that tradeoff. It delivers high opacity through 150-180 mesh — enough pigment load to produce bright, bold white on black Dri-Fit — while maintaining the elasticity to survive the extreme stretch and recovery cycles of performance fabrics without cracking, peeling, or delaminating.

This is the white ink that Matsui designed for the modern garment market, where athletic wear, performance polyester, and stretch synthetics now dominate production volumes. If your shop prints jerseys, team uniforms, fitness apparel, yoga pants, compression shirts, or any garment where the fabric stretches during wear, Stretch White 301 is the ink the job was made for.

Where Stretch White Fits in the Matsui White Ink Lineup

Matsui makes nine different white inks. Each one is formulated for a specific balance of opacity, mesh range, substrate type, elasticity, and hand feel. Choosing the right white is the most critical ink decision in water-based screen printing — the wrong white for your job means poor opacity, cracking prints, stiff hand feel, or ink that will not clear the mesh.

Here is where Stretch White 301 sits relative to every other Matsui white — and exactly when to choose it.

The Complete Matsui White Ink Comparison — Every White, Side by Side

Stretch White vs. EasyPrint White — The Two Performance Whites Every Shop Needs

These two inks are the most commonly confused whites in the Matsui lineup because they are both designed for performance fabrics with excellent elasticity. But they are engineered for fundamentally different jobs, and understanding when to reach for each one is the key to getting the right result every time.

The bottom line: If your dark Dri-Fit job needs bold, bright white that pops — reach for Stretch White. If your performance fabric job needs fine detail through 200+ mesh with the softest possible hand — reach for EasyPrint White.

Most shops that print performance fabrics regularly stock both. Stretch White handles 80% of your performance white work (bold graphics, numbers, names, solid fills, underbases). EasyPrint White handles the other 20% (fine-detail logos, small text, high-mesh halftones, jobs where the print needs to disappear into the garment).

Why Screen Printers Choose Stretch White 301

“I need bright, opaque white on black Dri-Fit that does not crack when the athlete stretches.” This is the exact job Stretch White was built for. It deposits enough pigment through 150-180 mesh to produce a bold, visible white on dark performance polyester, and its acrylic binder is formulated for the elastic recovery cycle of stretch fabrics. The ink film stretches when the garment stretches and returns to its original shape without cracking, peeling, or delaminating — even after repeated wash cycles and heavy athletic use.

“I am printing team jerseys with player names and numbers — I need a white that covers in one pass.” Names and numbers on dark athletic jerseys are the signature Stretch White application. These are large, bold graphic elements where opacity and brightness matter more than ultra-fine detail. Stretch White through 156 mesh delivers a solid, bright, one-pass white on dark knits. The silicone-like finish gives the print a premium feel that stands up to the demands of competitive sports.

“I need a white underbase on performance fabric before overprinting colors.” Stretch White makes an excellent underbase for dark performance fabrics. Its high opacity at 150-180 mesh creates a solid white foundation for overprinting with Matsui Alpha, Infinity, or Neo Pigment-mixed colors. Flash the Stretch White underbase, then print your color layers on top for vibrant, accurate spot colors on dark Dri-Fit and polyester blends.

“My current white ink cracks on compression garments after a few washes.” Cracking on compression apparel is caused by an ink film that cannot survive the fabric’s extreme stretch ratio. Standard white inks — and especially plastisol whites — do not have the elasticity to handle 200-400% fabric elongation without fracturing. Stretch White’s formulation is specifically rated for high-stretch fabrics, and its silicone-like film maintains adhesion and integrity through repeated stretch-and-recovery cycles.

“I switched from plastisol and need a water-based white that is easy to print without a lot of adjustments.” Stretch White requires zero viscosity modifications. It prints straight from the bucket with consistent viscosity for both manual and automatic presses. If you are transitioning from plastisol, this is the most forgiving performance white in the Matsui lineup — it behaves predictably, holds its viscosity throughout production runs, and does not require the constant attention that some water-based whites demand.

“I want to create custom colors for performance apparel from a white base.” Mix Stretch White with up to 15% Matsui Neo Pigments to create thousands of custom pastel and tinted shades. The high-opacity white base produces true, vibrant colors that maintain Stretch White’s elasticity and soft hand — ideal for branded team colors, fashion-forward athletic lines, or custom client work.

Matsui Stretch White 301 Key Features

• High Opacity on Dark Performance Fabrics: Delivers bright, bold white coverage through 150-180 mesh — enough pigment load to produce visible, opaque white on black and dark-colored Dri-Fit, polyester, and stretch blends. The workhorse white for dark-garment performance printing.
• Excellent Elasticity — Will Not Crack on Stretch Fabrics: The acrylic binder is engineered for the extreme stretch-and-recovery cycles of athletic wear, compression garments, Dri-Fit, and high-stretch synthetics. The ink film stretches with the fabric and rebounds without cracking, peeling, or delaminating.
• Silicone-Like Soft Finish: Cured prints have a smooth, silicone-like feel that is dramatically softer than plastisol or PVC inks. The print integrates with the garment’s hand feel rather than creating a stiff, plasticky layer.
• Zero Viscosity Modifications Required: Prints straight from the bucket for manual and automatic presses. No thinning, no thickening, no mixing required for standard production — the most efficient workflow possible.
• Works as Standalone White AND Underbase: Use Stretch White as a standalone direct-print white for bold designs, or as a high-opacity underbase for overprinting colors on dark performance fabrics. Versatile enough to handle both roles.
• Custom Color Mixing: Compatible with up to 15% Matsui Neo Pigments for creating custom pastel and tinted shades while retaining full elasticity and softness.
• Compatible with All Standard Matsui Additives: Works with

Retarder MG (open time), Fixer WF-N (wash fastness), Softener MG (fabric penetration), Thickener B (viscosity increase), RV Additive (viscosity reduction), and Quick Additive (all-in-one).

• PVC-Free and Eco-Compliant: OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 certified, CPSIA compliant, HR4040 compliant. Free of PVC, phthalates, and co-solvents.
• Safe for Ironing and Dry Cleaning: Cured prints can be ironed or dry cleaned without damage — critical for branded athletic apparel and team uniforms.

How to Print with Stretch White 301

Screen Setup: Use mesh counts between 150-180/inch. For maximum opacity and coverage on dark garments, use 150-156 mesh. For moderate detail with good coverage, use 160-180 mesh. Do not use mesh above 180 — if you need higher mesh, switch to EasyPrint White 301  (225 mesh max).

Emulsion: Use a water-resistant emulsion. Standard stencil thickness works well — you do not need an unusually thick or thin stencil for Stretch White.

Printing: Print straight from the bucket with no viscosity modifications. Use a medium-hardness squeegee at approximately 45 degrees. Stretch White’s silicone-like formulation provides smooth, consistent prints on both manual and automatic presses.

Dark Polyester: For dark-colored polyester, print an Under Base Blocker first, flash, then apply Stretch White on top. This prevents dye sublimation from the polyester migrating into the white print and causing discoloration.

Underbase Technique: When using Stretch White as an underbase, print the white layer, flash at 160°F (71°C), then overprint your color layers. Stretch White’s high opacity provides a solid white foundation for true, accurate color reproduction on dark performance fabrics.

Curing: Cure at 320°F (160°C). Verify garment surface temperature with a temperature probe or heat strips. Full cure is essential — under-cured Stretch White will have poor wash fastness and may feel tacky. The ink should feel dry and smooth to the touch after curing.

Flash Temperature: 160°F (71°C) between layers when needed.

Recommended Additives: