Matsui Alpha Series Spot Black C (Dark Gray) | Ready-for-Use Water-Based and Dischargeable opaque spot black Ink — Print Straight from the Bucket or Mix Custom Pantone® Colors Using Your Pantone Book — No Software Required
Matsui
Matsui Alpha Black C (Dark Gray) is a ready-for-use (RFU) water-based hybrid ink — a complete mixing black / dark gray — darkens and mutes other colors ink that prints straight from the bucket with no base required. Print it as a spot mixing black / dark gray — darkens and mutes other colors on light garments, or blend with other Alpha Series colors using your Pantone Formula Guide to match any Pantone® color — no software needed. Dual mode: water-based on light/medium garments (no activator), or dischargeable on dark 100% cotton with 3–8% Discharge Activator added. Part of the 17-color Alpha Series system. Mesh up to 230. Cure at 320°F. PVC-free. Ultra-soft hand feel.
✓Ready-for-Use — Print Straight from Bucket
✓No Base Needed
✓Pantone® Book Matching — No Software
✓Water-Based on Light Garments
✓Discharge on Dark 100% Cotton
✓Wet-on-Wet Capable
✓Mesh Up to 230
✓PVC-Free Formula
🚚 FREE Shipping on orders over $200|📦 In-Stock: Usually ships same or next business day|🏪 Free In-Store Pickup · San Antonio, TX
Price range: $24.99 through $1,949.99
Description
Alpha Black C (Dark Gray) — Mixing black / dark gray
Alpha Black C (Dark Gray) is a complete, ready-for-use mixing black / dark gray — darkens and mutes other colors ink. Open the bucket and print — no base to mix, no software to run, no separate pigment calculations. Use it as a standalone spot color, or blend it with other Alpha Series colors following your Pantone Formula Guide to hit any Pantone® shade in the vicinity of mixing black / dark gray — darkens and mutes other colors.
Key Features
🪣
Ready for Use — No Base
Alpha inks are complete inks — not pigment concentrates. Open the container and print. No base to stock, no pigment ratios to calculate.
📖
Pantone Book Matching
Blend with other Alpha colors using Pantone Formula Guide ratios. The formula is printed right in the book — no CMS software needed.
⚡
Dual Mode: WB + Discharge
Water-based on light garments (no activator). Add 3–8% Discharge Activator for soft-hand discharge on dark 100% cotton.
🌊
Wet-on-Wet Capable
Alpha inks support wet-on-wet printing for faster multicolor production without flashing between every color.
🧵
Ultra-Soft Hand Feel
Water-based chemistry produces prints dramatically softer than plastisol. Discharge mode embeds color into the cotton fiber itself.
✅
PVC-Free
Environmentally friendly formulation. Safe for OEKO-TEX® compliant production.
📖 How to Match a Pantone® Color — Alpha Series Method
- Customer selects a Pantone color (e.g., PMS 286 C) from the Pantone Formula Guide.
- Open the Guide to that Pantone code. The Alpha Series formula is printed right there — showing color ratios by weight.
- Follow those ratios using Alpha Series colors on a gram scale. Mix thoroughly.
- Print a test swatch on your actual garment. Fully cure.
- Compare cured swatch to the Pantone page. Minor adjustments may be needed for fabric vs. paper variation.
Note: Pantone book formulas are designed for ink on paper. Minor adjustments may be needed for fabric. Discharge colors shift during curing — always test before production.
Two Printing Modes
Mode 1 — Water-Based (Light Garments)
Print directly on white, ash, light-colored, or medium-colored cotton and cotton-poly blend garments. No activator needed. Cures soft with excellent hand feel.
Mode 2 — Discharge (Dark 100% Cotton)
Add 3–8% Discharge Activator by weight. 12-hour pot life. Discharge removes garment dye and replaces it with mixing black / dark gray — darkens and mutes other colors — embedded in cotton fibers, zero surface buildup. 100% cotton + reactive dyes only.
Blending Alpha Black C (Dark Gray) with Other Alpha Colors
Mixing black / dark gray — cures as a dark gray rather than a solid black. Primary function: darkening, shading, and muting other Alpha colors. For opaque spot black printing, use Spot Black instead.
+ Any Alpha color at 5–15%
→ darkens and deepens the color
+ Trans White at various ratios
→ gray scale from light to dark
+ Dark Blue C
→ near-black charcoal and very deep navy
Alpha vs. Neo Pigments vs. Infinity — Which System?
| Feature | Alpha Series | Neo Pigments | Infinity Series |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Ready-for-use (RFU) complete ink. No base needed. | Pigment concentrates — MUST be mixed into a separate Matsui base. | Ready-for-use (RFU) complete ink. No base needed. |
| Color Matching | Pantone book formulas DIRECTLY — NO software required | CMS Software required for Pantone formulas | Pantone book formulas directly — no software required |
| Print from Bucket? | YES — each color is a printable spot color on its own | NO — pigment alone will not adhere to fabric | YES — each color is a printable spot color |
| Discharge Capable? | YES — add 3–8% activator for dark cotton | YES — when mixed into a discharge base + activator | NO — water-based only |
| Colors Available | 17 (15 colors + Spot Black + Trans White) | 21 (13 Neo + 8 Glow pigments) — requires separate bases | 15 colors |
| Mesh | Up to 230 | Up to 305+ (varies by base) | Up to 305+ |
| Best For | Fastest Pantone matching. No software. No base. WB + discharge. Simplest workflow. | Maximum base flexibility (20+ finishes). CMS precision. Highest mesh capability. | RFU water-based on lights. Book-formula mixing. Budget-friendly. |
Additives
| Additive | Dosage | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Discharge Activator | 3–8% | ⚠️ REQUIRED FOR DISCHARGE MODE. Enables discharge chemistry on dark 100% cotton. 12-hour pot life once added. Not needed for water-based mode. |
| Retarder MG | 1–3% | Extends open time — prevents ink drying in screen during longer runs. |
| Fixer WF-N | 1–3% | Improves wash fastness — crosslinks binder for laundry durability. |
| Softener MG | 1–5% | Improves fabric penetration and softens hand feel. |
| Fixer L | 1–3% | Low-cure option for electric dryers where 320°F is difficult to reach. |
| Quick Additive | 6–9% | All-in-one: Retarder MG + Fixer WF-N + Softener MG. One measurement, three benefits. Recommended for most jobs. |
⚠️ Discharge Activator — Required for Discharge Mode
Alpha Series inks will not discharge without the Discharge Activator — it is a required component, not optional. Add at 3–8% by weight to any Alpha color before printing on dark 100% cotton. 12-hour pot life once activated. Mix only what you need per session.
⚠️ Discharge Mode Rules — Alpha Series
- 100% cotton with reactive (dischargeable) dyes only. Polyester and synthetics do not discharge. On blends, only cotton threads discharge — creating a distressed look.
- Discharge Activator required at 3–8% by weight. No activator = no discharge.
- 12-hour pot life once activated. Mix only what you need per session.
- Colors shift during curing. The wet color in the bucket will NOT match the final cured result. Always fully cure test swatches before production comparison.
- Ventilation recommended during printing and curing.
- Water-resistant emulsions required (Chromaline CPTex or Hydro-X recommended).
- Pre-test everything. Discharge effectiveness varies by garment brand and dye lot.
🛡️ Dark Garment Blocker Guide (Water-Based Mode)
When printing on dark garments in water-based mode, print a white underbase with a blocker underneath to prevent dye migration:
- Level 1 — Under Base Blocker Gray: Dark cotton. Standard starting point.
- Level 2 — Under Base Blocker Black LG: Polyester and poly-blends with aggressive dye migration.
- Level 3 — Kombat Blocker: Sublimation-printed polyester only.
- No blocker needed: Light garments and discharge mode (discharge removes garment dye).
- 48-hour rule: Print, cure, wait 48 hours. If dye bleeds through, escalate to next blocker level.
💡 Discharge Note for Alpha Black C (Dark Gray): Black C discharges on 100% cotton to a dark gray (not true black). For deeper black discharge, use Spot Black instead. Test swatches always required.
The Complete Alpha Series — All 17 Colors
Every color is RFU — print straight from the bucket or blend with any other Alpha color using your Pantone Formula Guide. Click any swatch to shop that color. Browse full Alpha category →
15 Spot Colors + Spot Black + Trans White — All Discharge CapableAdd Discharge Activator 3–8% for dark cotton
⚠️ Discharge Activator Required for Discharge Mode
Add at 3–8% by weight to any Alpha color for discharge printing on dark 100% cotton. 12-hr pot life. Mix only what you need per session.
Questions? We’re here to help.
Call us at (512) 454-0505 Mon–Fri 9am–5pm CT
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Product Name | Matsui Alpha Series Black C |
| Pantone Reference | Black C (Dark Gray) |
| Type | Ready-for-use (RFU) water-based / dischargeable hybrid ink. No base needed. |
| Ink System | Matsui Alpha Series — 17-color RFU Pantone mixing system |
| SKU | Matsui Alpha Black C |
| Color | Mixing black / dark gray — darkens and mutes other colors |
| Color Matching | Pantone Formula Guide (book formulas directly, no software required) |
| Water-Based Mode | Print directly on light/medium garments. No activator needed. |
| Discharge Mode | Add 3–8% Discharge Activator for dark 100% cotton. 12-hour pot life once activated. 100% cotton + reactive dyes only. |
| Mesh | Up to 230/inch (90/cm) |
| Cure Temperature | 320°F (160°C) |
| Flash Temperature | 160°F (71°C) |
| Printing Method | Wet-on-wet capable |
| Substrates | Cotton, cotton-poly blends. Light, medium, dark fabrics. Discharge: 100% cotton only. |
| Viscosity | Ready for use — no modifications needed for standard production. |
| Emulsion | Water-resistant emulsions required (Chromaline CPTex or Hydro-X recommended) |
| Storage | 65°F to 95°F (18°C to 35°C). Avoid direct sunlight. |
| Cleanup | Water and mild soap/detergent |
| Formulation | PVC-free |
| ⚠️ Contamination Warning | Mix in clean vessels only. Contamination from other ink sources may cause positive PVC tests. |
| Available Sizes | Quart, Gallon, 5 Gallon, 30 Gallon |
| Technical Documents | MSDS / Safety Data Sheet |
Technical Sheets / Safety Data Sheets / Documents
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the difference between Alpha Black C and Spot Black?
Alpha Black C is a mixing black that cures as a dark gray — its primary use is as a shading and darkening agent in formulas. It is not designed for opaque spot black printing. Spot Black is formulated specifically for solid, opaque black spot colors and has superior darkness and opacity for direct printing.
Can Black C create gray shades when mixed with Trans White?
Yes — Black C + Trans White creates the full gray scale from light silver-gray to charcoal. The more Black C, the darker the gray. Use Pantone Formula Guide for specific Cool Gray and Warm Gray Pantone codes.
Do I need a separate base to print this ink?
NO. Alpha Series inks are ready-for-use (RFU) — complete inks that print directly from the container. No base, no pigment calculations, no mixing software. This is the key difference from Neo Pigments, which require a separate Matsui base.
How do I match a Pantone® color?
Open your Pantone Formula Guide to the desired Pantone code. The Alpha Series formula is printed right there — ratios by weight. Follow those ratios using Alpha colors and a gram scale. No software needed.
Can I print it on dark garments?
Yes — two ways. (1) Discharge mode: add 3–8% Discharge Activator and print on dark 100% cotton. (2) Water-based mode over white underbase: print a blocker + white underbase on the dark garment, then print this Alpha color on top.
Will the color shift during discharge curing?
Yes — discharge ink colors shift during curing. The wet color in the bucket will differ from the final cured result. Always print a test swatch, cure it fully, and compare to the Pantone page before production.
What mesh should I use?
Up to 230 mesh. For maximum detail at high mesh (200+), test ink flow first.
Is this ink safe for children’s garments?
Alpha Series inks are PVC-free. For RSL compliance on specific major brand garments, contact us with your requirements.
Questions? We’re here to help.
Call us at (512) 454-0505 Mon–Fri 9am–5pm CT
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