Matsui Alpha Series Ready-for-Use Starter Kit with Pantone Book | Complete Water-Based and Discharge Color Mixing System — All 14 Alpha Colors + Trans White + Retarder MG + Pantone Formula Guide Coated & Uncoated — No Software Required

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Matsui Alpha Starter Kit
Pantone Book
Matsui Alpha Starter Kit
Pantone Book

The Matsui Alpha Series Starter Kit with Pantone Book is the complete ready-to-print water-based and discharge color mixing system — everything you need to start matching Pantone® colors on day one, with ZERO software required. This kit includes all 14 Alpha Series ready-for-use (RFU) mixing colors in quart sizes, plus Trans White, plus Retarder MG, PLUS both the coated and uncoated Pantone Formula Guide books. Open the Pantone book, follow the formula, weigh and mix, print. No base needed. No CMS software needed. No pigment calculations. Every Alpha color can be printed straight from the bucket as a spot color or blended together using the Pantone book formulas. Dual-mode: water-based on light garments, dischargeable on dark 100% cotton when activated with Discharge Activator (sold separately). Mesh up to 230. Cure at 320°F (160°C). PVC-free. Ultra-soft hand feel. ⚠️ Pantone books drop ship from the manufacturer — allow 7-10 business days for processing and shipping.

Price range: $508.00 through $1,208.00

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Description

Everything You Need to Start Matching Pantone® Colors — In One Box

This is the fastest path from “I want to start printing water-based inks” to “I am matching Pantone® colors on press.” One purchase. One box. Zero software. Zero separate bases. Zero pigment math.

The Alpha Series is a complete, ready-for-use ink system. Every color prints straight from the bucket. Every color blends with every other color. The Pantone Formula Guide tells you exactly which colors to mix and in what ratios — for any Pantone code your customer requests. And the Retarder MG keeps the ink open in your screens during production.

If you already own a Pantone Formula Guide, consider the Alpha Series Starter Kit without Pantone Book instead — same inks, same Retarder, lower price.

What Is in the Kit

Item Size What It Does
14 ALPHA SERIES RFU MIXING COLORS (Quarts)
Yellow 012 C Quart/Gallon Primary yellow
Orange 021 C Quart/Gallon Primary orange
Warm Red C Quart/Gallon Warm, orange-leaning red
Red 032 C Quart/Gallon True primary red
Rubine Red C Quart/Gallon Cool, blue-leaning red / crimson
Rhodamine Red C Quart/Gallon Bright pink-red / magenta
Purple C Quart/Gallon Primary purple
Medium Purple C Quart/Gallon Mid-tone purple
Violet C Quart/Gallon Deep blue-violet
Dark Blue C Quart/Gallon Deep navy / dark blue
Reflex Blue C Quart/Gallon Vivid blue. Common in corporate branding.
Process Blue C Quart/Gallon Cyan / process blue
Green C Quart/Gallon Primary green
Black C Quart/Gallon Mixing black. Darkens and mutes other colors.
TRANS WHITE + ADDITIVE
Trans White C Quart/Gallon Translucent white. Lightens and pastelizes other Alpha colors.
Retarder MG Pint Extends open time in the screen. Prevents ink from drying during production. Use 1-3%.
PANTONE FORMULA GUIDE (INCLUDED IN THIS KIT)
Pantone Formula Guide — Coated & Uncoated 2 books Physical color reference + mixing formulas. Coated (glossy) and uncoated versions. The Pantone book IS the mixing guide — no software needed. ⚠️ Drop ships from manufacturer — allow 7-10 business days.

What is NOT included (sold separately): Discharge Activator (required for discharge mode on dark cotton), Spot Black C (for opaque solid black — Black C in the kit is a mixing/shading black), Blue 072 C (additional vivid blue).

How It Works — Open the Book, Follow the Formula, Print

Step 1: Customer selects a Pantone® color from the included Pantone Formula Guide.

Step 2: Open the book to that color. The formula is printed right there — showing which Alpha colors to mix and at what ratios by weight.

Step 3: Weigh Alpha colors on a gram scale per the formula. Mix thoroughly in a clean container.

Step 4: Print a test swatch on your actual garment. Compare to the Pantone page. Adjust if needed. Run production.

No CMS software. No computer. No app. The Pantone book IS the mixing guide.

Two Modes — Water-Based on Lights, Discharge on Darks

Mode 1: Water-based on light and medium garments. Print Alpha colors directly. No activator needed. The ink deposits color on the fabric surface with an ultra-soft hand feel. Cotton and cotton-poly blends.

Mode 2: Discharge on dark 100% cotton. Add 3-8% Discharge Activator (sold separately) to the mixed ink. The discharge chemistry removes the garment dye and replaces it with your Alpha color — embedded in the cotton fibers. 12-hour pot life once activated. 100% cotton with dischargeable (reactive) dyes only.

On dark garments WITHOUT discharge: Print over a white underbase with appropriate blocker. Or print-flash-print (two hits with a flash in between).

Alpha Series vs. Neo Pigments — Why Choose Alpha?

Spec Alpha Series (This Kit) Neo Pigment Set
Type Ready-for-use complete inks. No base needed. Pigment concentrates. MUST buy a separate base.
Color Matching Pantone book formulas directly — NO software CMS Software required
Print from bucket? YES — every color is a printable spot color NO — pigment alone will not adhere to fabric
Discharge capable? YES — add activator for dark cotton YES — when mixed into discharge base + activator
Base flexibility N/A — Alpha IS the complete ink Choose from 20+ bases (acrylic, matte, stretch, PU, shimmer, etc.)
Best for Fastest, simplest workflow. No software, no base, no pigment math. Maximum flexibility. 20+ base finishes. CMS precision. High mesh (305+).

Recommended Additional Purchases

Discharge Activator — required for discharge mode on dark 100% cotton. Not included in the kit.

Quick Additive — all-in-one (Retarder + Fixer WF-N + Softener) at 6-9%. Saves time vs. adding individual additives.

Fixer WF-N — improves wash fastness (1-3%). Recommended for production garments.

Spot Black C — dedicated opaque black for solid black prints. The Black C in the kit is a mixing/shading black, not an opaque spot black.

Blue 072 C — additional vivid blue that sits between Reflex Blue and Process Blue.

Under Base Blocker Gray / Black LG — for printing on dark garments in water-based mode (non-discharge).

Water-resistant emulsions — Chromaline CPTex or Hydro-X recommended for water-based and discharge printing.

⚠️ Discharge Rules

100% cotton with dischargeable (reactive) dyes only. Does not discharge polyester or synthetics.

Discharge Activator required (3-8%). Sold separately. No activator = no discharge.

12-hour pot life once activated. Mix only what you need.

Cure at 320°F (160°C) for 2+ minutes. Colors shift during curing — wet color differs from cured color. Test before production.

Ventilation recommended.

Water-resistant emulsions required.

⚠️ Contamination Warning

Alpha Series inks MUST be mixed in clean vessels using clean mixing blades and utensils. Any contamination from other ink sources or non-approved additives could cause Alpha inks to test positive for restricted PVCs.

⚠️ Pantone Book Shipping Note

The Pantone Formula Guide books included in this kit drop ship directly from the manufacturer. Allow 7-10 business days for processing and shipping. The Alpha inks and Retarder MG ship separately and may arrive before the Pantone books.

Technical Specifications

Technical Specifications

Specification Detail
Product Name Matsui Alpha Series Ready-for-Use Starter Kit with Pantone Book
Kit Contents 14 Alpha mixing colors (quarts) + Trans White (quart) + Retarder MG (pint) + Pantone Formula Guide Coated & Uncoated (2 books)
Ink Type Ready-for-use (RFU) water-based / dischargeable hybrid inks. No base needed.
Color Matching Pantone Formula Guide (included) — book formulas directly. No software required.
Discharge Mode Add 3-8% Discharge Activator (sold separately). 12-hour pot life. 100% cotton only.
Mesh Up to 230
Cure 320°F (160°C). Flash at 160°F.
Printing Method Wet-on-wet capable
Substrates Cotton, cotton-poly blends. Discharge: 100% cotton only.
Storage 65°F to 95°F (18°C to 35°C). Avoid direct sunlight.
Cleanup Water and mild soap/detergent
Formulation PVC-free

Technical Sheets / Safety Data Sheets / Documents

MSDS

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Does this kit include a Pantone book?

YES — this kit includes the Pantone Formula Guide in both coated and uncoated versions. The Pantone books drop ship from the manufacturer — allow 7-10 business days. If you already own a Pantone book, consider the Alpha Series Starter Kit without Pantone Book for a lower price.

Do I need software to match Pantone® colors?

NO. The Alpha Series is designed to work with the physical Pantone Formula Guide directly. Open the book, read the formula, weigh and mix. No CMS software, no computer, no app.

Can I print these inks straight from the bucket?

YES. Every Alpha color is a complete, ready-for-use ink. Print it as a spot color on its own, or blend it with other Alpha colors for custom Pantone shades.

Do I need a separate base?

NO. Alpha Series inks are complete — no base, no pigment calculations, no mixing software. This is the key difference from Neo Pigments, which require a separate Matsui base.

Can I print on dark garments?

Yes, two ways: (1) Discharge mode — add 3-8% Discharge Activator (sold separately) on dark 100% cotton. (2) Water-based over white underbase with appropriate blocker.

Is Discharge Activator included?

No — Discharge Activator is sold separately. It is only needed for discharge mode on dark 100% cotton. On light garments, Alpha prints as standard water-based ink with no activator.

What is the difference between Black C and Spot Black?

Black C (included in this kit) is a mixing/shading black — it darkens and mutes other colors but prints as a dark gray, not an opaque black. Spot Black C (sold separately) is the dedicated opaque black for solid black text, logos, and fills.

What mesh should I use?

Up to 230 mesh.

Will the Pantone books arrive with the inks?

⚠️ The Pantone books drop ship directly from the manufacturer — allow 7-10 business days for processing and shipping. The Alpha inks and Retarder MG ship separately and may arrive before the Pantone books.

What additives should I use?

Retarder MG (included in kit) at 1-3% for screen open time. For additional performance: Quick Additive (6-9%) for all-in-one, Fixer WF-N (1-3%) for wash fastness, Softener MG (1-5%) for fabric penetration.

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