Matsui Simple White 301 | Cost-Effective Water-Based White Ink for Cotton, Polyester & Performance Fabric Screen Printing

Matsui Simple White — One White Ink for Every Substrate

Most screen print shops do not print on a single fabric type. Monday’s job is cotton t-shirts. Tuesday’s is polyester performance jerseys. Wednesday’s is 50/50 blends. Thursday’s is Dri-Fit compression shirts. And every time the fabric changes, the question is the same: do I need to swap my white ink?

With most Matsui whites, the answer is yes. 301W-B is optimized for cotton. Stretch White is optimized for performance fabrics. Kombat White is optimized for maximum brightness on darks. Each one excels on its target substrate — but that specialization means you need multiple whites on the shelf.

Simple White eliminates that problem for shops that need one reliable white ink that works everywhere.

It prints on cotton. It prints on polyester. It prints on 50/50 blends. It prints on Dri-Fit and stretch synthetics. It delivers high opacity, excellent elasticity, and a soft hand feel across all of them — and it does it at a lower price point than the specialty whites, because Matsui engineered it as the economical version of their Stretch Clear/White system.

Simple White is not the best white for any single substrate. 301W-B is softer on cotton. Stretch White has a wider mesh range on performance fabrics. Kombat White is brighter on dark synthetics. But Simple White is the best white for shops that print on everything and need one ink that handles all of it reliably, efficiently, and affordably.

That is why it exists. Some shops need specialists. Every shop needs a generalist.

Where Simple White Fits in the Matsui White Ink Lineup

Matsui makes nine different white inks. Each one is formulated for a specific combination of opacity, mesh range, substrate type, elasticity, and hand feel. Simple White occupies a unique position — it is the only Matsui white designed from the ground up as a multi-substrate generalist at an economical price point.

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

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

Simple White vs. Stretch White — Economy vs. Premium Performance

This is the comparison every shop needs to make. Simple White is explicitly the economical version of the Stretch system. Here is what you gain and what you trade off.

The bottom line: Simple White gives you 90% of Stretch White’s performance at a lower price point, with broader substrate compatibility. Stretch White gives you a wider mesh range (up to 180 vs. 160), a silicone-like finish, and a softer hand. If your shop prints primarily on performance fabrics and hand feel is a selling point, invest in Stretch White. If your shop prints on everything and needs one reliable, affordable white, Simple White is the smarter buy.

Simple White vs. EasyPrint White — Value Generalist vs. High-Mesh Specialist

The bottom line: Different tools for different jobs. Simple White is your high-opacity, cost-effective generalist for standard-mesh production across every substrate. EasyPrint White is your high-mesh fine-detail specialist for performance fabric work. If your designs live at 160 mesh or below, Simple White gives you more opacity at a lower cost. If your designs need 200+ mesh, EasyPrint is the only option.

Why Screen Printers Choose Simple White

“I run a multi-substrate shop and I am tired of swapping whites every time the fabric changes.”
This is the core Simple White use case. When your production schedule bounces between cotton, poly, blends, and Dri-Fit — and most of your jobs are standard production designs (names, numbers, logos, bold graphics) — Simple White lets you keep one bucket on the press for all of it. One ink, one setup, one workflow. The production efficiency gain alone justifies the choice.

“I am transitioning from plastisol to water-based and I need a starting point that is not overwhelming.”
Simple White is Matsui’s most beginner-friendly performance white. It prints straight from the bucket with no viscosity modifications. It works on every substrate you already print on. It uses the same additives as every other Matsui acrylic white, so the recipes you learn transfer directly when you are ready to upgrade to specialty whites. And it does all of this at the lowest entry cost in the Matsui white lineup.

“I need a reliable white for high-volume production where cost per print matters.”
For shops running thousands of prints per week across mixed substrates, the cost of ink is a real line item. Simple White delivers Matsui-quality opacity, elasticity, and compliance at a lower price per gallon than the specialty performance whites. When your margin depends on ink cost and the garment does not demand a premium finish, Simple White is the business-smart choice.

“I need a mixing base that works across cotton AND performance fabrics.”
Simple White mixes with up to 15% Matsui Neo Pigments for custom pastel and tinted colors — and unlike 301W-B (cotton-focused) or Stretch White (performance-focused), Simple White’s broad substrate compatibility means your mixed colors work on everything. One batch of mixed ink, every fabric type.

“I need an opaque white for dark garments on a budget.”
Simple White’s high opacity delivers bright, visible white through 160 mesh on dark cotton, dark polyester, and dark blends. For dark polyester, print an Under Base Blocker first, flash, then apply Simple White on top. You get solid white coverage without paying for the premium hand feel of Stretch White or the maximum brightness of Kombat White.

“My shop needs to get started with Matsui water-based inks without a huge investment.”
Simple White is designed as the entry point to the Matsui ecosystem. Start here, learn the system (additives, cure profiles, screen prep), and then graduate to specialty whites as your customer base and production demands evolve. The additive system is identical across all Matsui acrylic whites — Retarder MG, Fixer WF-N, Softener MG, Quick Additive — so everything you learn with Simple White applies to every Matsui white you ever use.

Matsui Simple White Key Features

• Broadest Substrate Compatibility of Any Matsui White — Prints on cotton, polyester, 50/50 blends, Dri-Fit, and performance stretch fabrics — all from one bucket.
• Economical Version of the Stretch Clear/White System — High opacity and excellent elasticity at a lower cost per gallon for the best value-to-performance ratio in the lineup.
• High Opacity Through 160 Mesh — Bright, visible white coverage on light and dark fabrics through mesh up to 160/inch (63/cm).
• Excellent Elasticity for Stretch Fabrics — Prints flex with Dri-Fit, athletic wear, and performance synthetics without cracking.
• Soft Hand Feel — Softer than plastisol/PVC inks; not as premium-soft as Soft Stretch White or Stretch White, but still delivers Matsui-grade softness.
• Zero Viscosity Modifications Required — Prints straight from the bucket on manual and automatic presses.
• Multi-Purpose: Standalone White, Underbase, AND Mixing Base — Use as a direct-print white, underbase on darks, or mixing base with up to 15% Matsui Neo Pigments.
• Compatible with All Standard Matsui Acrylic Additives — Works with Retarder MG, Fixer WF-N, Softener MG, Thickener B, RV Additive, and Quick Additive.
• PVC-Free and Eco-Compliant — OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 certified, CPSIA compliant, HR4040 compliant. Safe for ironing and dry cleaning.
• Ideal Plastisol-to-Water-Based Transition Ink — Versatile, forgiving entry point into the Matsui system.

How to Print with Simple White

Screen Setup: Use mesh counts up to 160/inch (63/cm). For maximum opacity on dark garments, use 110-156 mesh. For standard production on light and medium fabrics, 156-160 mesh provides a good balance of coverage and detail.

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

Printing: Print straight from the bucket with no viscosity modifications. Simple White flows smoothly and consistently on both manual and automatic presses — designed for high-volume production efficiency.

Cotton: Print directly with no underbase on light-colored cotton. For dark cotton, print an underbase layer, flash, then apply Simple White on top.

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

Performance Fabrics: Simple White’s excellent elasticity handles Dri-Fit, athletic wear, and stretch synthetics without cracking. For dark performance polyester, use the Under Base Blocker technique.

Color Mixing: Add up to 15% Matsui Neo Pigments to create custom pastel, tinted, or Pantone-matched colors. Simple White’s broad substrate compatibility means your mixed colors work on cotton, poly, blends, and performance fabrics — one color batch for every substrate.

Curing: Cure at 320°F (160°C). Verify garment surface temperature with a temperature probe or heat strips. Full cure is essential for wash durability and proper hand feel.

Contamination Warning: Mix Simple 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.

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