Matsui Acrylicon White | Matte Finish Silicone-Like Zero-Tack Water-Based White Ink for Performance Fabric Screen Printing

Matsui Acrylicon White — Silicone-Like Finish Without Silicone Chemistry

There is a specific hand feel that premium athletic brands demand. You know it when you touch it: matte, smooth, soft, and absolutely zero tack. The print feels like it is part of the fabric, not sitting on top of it. It feels expensive.

That finish has traditionally required silicone ink — which means a completely different ink chemistry, different additives, limited pot life, catalyst mixing, and a steeper learning curve. Silicone ink delivers incredible results, but it is a commitment.

Acrylicon White gives you that finish — or as close to it as acrylic ink chemistry can get — without leaving the Matsui acrylic water-based ecosystem. Same additives as every other Matsui acrylic white. Same cure profile. Same screen prep. Same press setup. But a fundamentally different print surface: matte, silicone-like, and zero tack.

That is the distinction. Every other Matsui performance white delivers some version of a soft or silicone-like hand. Stretch White and Soft Stretch White are silicone-like in their softness. Kombat White is silky soft with maximum brightness. But only Acrylicon White combines three things into one print: matte visual appearance + silicone-like tactile softness + absolute zero tack.

That combination is why luxury activewear brands, premium athletic labels, and fashion-forward sportswear shops reach for Acrylicon White. It is not the brightest white (that is Kombat White). It is not the softest white (that is Soft Stretch White for stretch fabrics, or 301W-B for cotton). It is the white with the most refined finish — the one that looks and feels like it belongs on a $100 performance garment.

Where Acrylicon White Fits — The Premium Finish Specialist

Matsui makes nine different white inks. Each optimizes for a different combination of opacity, softness, mesh range, and substrate type. Acrylicon White is the only one that optimizes for finish quality — the visual and tactile character of the cured print surface.

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

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

Acrylicon White vs. Soft Stretch White — Premium Finish vs. Maximum Softness

Both are premium whites targeting the high end of the performance garment market. But they optimize for different aspects of the premium experience.

The bottom line: Both are premium. The difference is what “premium” means for your client. If premium means the print looks and feels like it was done with silicone ink — matte, smooth, zero tack — choose Acrylicon White. If premium means the print practically disappears into the fabric — lightest possible weight, barely-there feel — choose Soft Stretch White. Both deliver. They just deliver different kinds of premium.

Acrylicon White vs. EasyPrint White — Matte Premium Finish vs. High-Mesh Detail

The bottom line: Different priorities entirely. Acrylicon White is the finish specialist at standard mesh — premium matte appearance with superior whiteness. EasyPrint White is the resolution specialist at high mesh — fine detail with medium opacity. If the finished look and feel of the print matters more than detail resolution, Acrylicon. If the print has intricate fine lines or small text that demands 200+ mesh, EasyPrint.

Acrylicon White vs. Kombat White — Premium Finish vs. Maximum Brightness

Both print through 160 mesh. Both have excellent elasticity. Both have superior whiteness. But they optimize for fundamentally different outcomes.

The bottom line: Two different kinds of premium at the same mesh count. Acrylicon White is the refined, sophisticated choice — matte finish, zero tack, silicone-like hand, understated luxury. Kombat White is the bold, eye-catching choice — maximum brightness, anti-foil, in-your-face whiteness. Think of it as the difference between a matte-black luxury car and a high-gloss white sports car. Both are premium. They just appeal to different aesthetics.

Why Screen Printers Choose Acrylicon White

“My clients want that silicone ink feel, but I am not ready to invest in a silicone ink system.”

This is the core Acrylicon White use case. True silicone inks like the Matsui Yama series deliver incredible results — but they require different chemistry, catalyst mixing, limited pot life, and specialized knowledge. Acrylicon White gives you the closest possible silicone-like experience within the standard Matsui acrylic system. Same additives you already use. Same cure profile. Same press setup. Just a dramatically different print surface: matte, smooth, and zero tack.

“I print for premium athletic brands that demand a specific hand feel — matte, smooth, no stickiness.”

High-end activewear and performance fashion brands are increasingly spec-driven about print finish. They do not just want “soft” — they want a specific tactile experience: matte visual, smooth touch, absolutely no tack when the garment is pulled off a stack or out of packaging. Acrylicon White’s zero-tack, silicone-like surface was engineered to meet this exact specification.

“I need a white that looks as good as it feels on dark performance garments.”

Most performance whites optimize for either brightness or softness. Acrylicon White optimizes for finish quality — the combination of how the print looks visually (matte, refined, not shiny) and how it feels to the touch (smooth, silicone-like, no tack). On dark Dri-Fit and performance polyester, this translates to a white that looks expensive and sophisticated rather than just bright and bold.

“I want to mix custom colors with a silicone-like matte finish on performance fabrics.”

Mix Acrylicon White with up to 15% Matsui Neo Pigments. The resulting custom colors retain Acrylicon White’s matte finish and zero-tack surface — which means your custom pastel or tinted colors will have the same premium feel as the white itself. No other Matsui acrylic mixing base delivers matte-finish custom colors with this tactile quality. Pair it with Acrylicon Clear for the same finish in transparent color mixing.

“I print luxury fashion athletic and streetwear where print quality is a brand differentiator.”

When the garment retails for $80-$150 and the print finish is part of the brand identity — when customers literally reach out and touch the print in the store — Acrylicon White delivers a print surface that communicates quality. The matte finish reads as intentional and designed, not just “printed.” The zero tack means garments do not stick together in stacks. The silicone-like smoothness invites touch.

“I am tired of prints that feel tacky or sticky on performance fabrics.”

Some water-based whites — especially on certain polyester knits — can cure with a slight tack or sticky feel, particularly in humid conditions or with marginal cure temperatures. Acrylicon White’s zero-tack formulation eliminates this problem by design. The cured surface is smooth and non-adhesive regardless of the fabric substrate.

Matsui Acrylicon White Key Features

• Unique Matte, Silicone-Like Finish — The only Matsui acrylic white that produces a true matte visual appearance combined with a silicone-like tactile surface. No other acrylic white in the Matsui system delivers this combination.
• Zero Tack — Absolutely No Stickiness — Cured prints have no adhesion or sticky feel. Garments stack cleanly, fold without sticking, and feel smooth to every touch. This is a formulation-level feature, not just a cure characteristic.
• Superior Whiteness — Acrylicon White delivers above-average whiteness in the Matsui acrylic lineup — not the absolute brightest (that is Kombat White), but superior to standard performance whites. Bright, clean white with a refined matte appearance.
• Silicone Ink Alternative Within the Acrylic System — Get results that rival true silicone inks without changing your ink chemistry, additives, cure profile, or press setup. The closest thing to silicone in the Matsui acrylic ecosystem.
• Excellent Elasticity for Performance Fabrics — Despite its finish-first engineering, Acrylicon White maintains excellent elasticity for Dri-Fit, athletic wear, compression garments, and high-stretch synthetics. Prints flex without cracking.
• Prints Through Mesh Up to 160/inch (63/cm) — Optimized for standard production mesh counts. For fine detail above 160 mesh, pair with EasyPrint White for the detail layer.
• Dual-Purpose: Direct Print White AND Mixing Base — Use as a standalone white for matte-finish prints, or mix with up to 15% Matsui Neo Pigments. Mixed colors inherit the matte, zero-tack finish.
• Zero Viscosity Modifications Required — Prints straight from the bucket on manual and automatic presses. Consistent, smooth flow.
• Compatible with All Standard Matsui Acrylic 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).
• Acrylicon System Compatibility — Pair with Acrylicon Clear for the same matte, zero-tack finish in clear/transparent color mixing applications.
• PVC-Free and Eco-Compliant — OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 certified, CPSIA compliant, HR4040 compliant. Free of PVC, phthalates, and co-solvents.

How to Print with Acrylicon White

Screen Setup: Use mesh counts up to 160/inch (63/cm). For maximum opacity and the fullest matte finish, use 110-156 mesh. For moderate detail with excellent finish quality, use 156-160 mesh.

Emulsion: Use a water-resistant emulsion. Standard stencil thickness works well for Acrylicon White.

Printing: Print straight from the bucket with no viscosity modifications. Use a medium-hardness squeegee at approximately 45 degrees. Acrylicon White flows smoothly on both manual and automatic presses.

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

Curing: Cure at 320°F (160°C). Full cure is essential — Acrylicon White’s zero-tack finish and matte appearance reach their best quality only at complete cure. Under-curing may result in a slightly tacky surface that defeats the purpose of this formulation. Verify garment surface temperature with a temperature probe or heat strips.

Contamination Warning: Mix Acrylicon White in clean vessels using clean mixing blades and utensils only. Contamination from other ink sources or non-approved additives may cause the ink to test positive for restricted PVC substances. This is especially important when switching between Acrylicon White and other whites — residual ink in vessels can compromise the finish.

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