Matsui Kombat Black | Premium Water-Based Black Ink for Halftone & Spot Printing on Performance & Stretch Fabrics — Meets Major Sports Apparel Standards
Matsui
Matsui Kombat Black (WB0629) is a premium direct-printing black ink designed for halftone and spot printing on performance fabrics — specifically engineered for the stringent requirements of major sports apparel manufacturers. Unlike RC 301 Spot Black which is optimized for cotton, Kombat Black is formulated for performance fabrics (Dri-Fit, athletic knits, synthetic performance wear) with excellent wash fastness and the soft hand feel that sports brands require. Prints through high mesh for detail work on activewear. PVC-free, OEKO-TEX compliant.
Price range: $119.99 through $3,899.99
Description
Premium Performance Black — Built for Sports Apparel Quality Standards
Matsui Kombat Black meets the requirements of major sports apparel manufacturers. For shops producing branded athletic wear under strict quality programs, Kombat Black delivers the performance fabric compatibility, halftone capability, wash fastness, and compliance that those programs demand.
Where RC 301 Spot Black is optimized for cotton, Kombat Black is formulated for performance synthetics — Dri-Fit, athletic knits, and technical sports fabrics where the ink must bond to synthetic fibers with excellent elasticity.
Kombat Black handles both halftone gradients and solid spot black on performance fabrics. The formulation delivers clean dot reproduction through high mesh counts for photorealistic halftone work on activewear.
Developed to meet the stringent quality requirements of major sports apparel manufacturers — the brands that specify exact ink performance criteria including wash fastness, bleed resistance, and hand feel.
Bonds strongly to synthetic performance fibers for wash durability that stands up to the repeated machine washing that sports apparel undergoes.
Delivers a soft, performance-fabric-integrated hand feel that the sports apparel market demands — not a plastisol-style surface layer.
Compatible with Retarder MG, Fixer WF-N, Quick Additive at standard Matsui rates for production optimization.
Best Use Cases
For shops producing under licensed sports brand programs (NFL, NBA, NCAA) where specific ink performance standards are required.
Photo-quality halftone black for performance fabrics — detailed player graphics, photorealistic designs on sports jerseys and athletic shirts.
Spot black printing directly on Dri-Fit, athletic knits, and technical synthetic fabrics without the dye migration concerns that plastisol black can cause.
For performance athletic garments where both the print performance and the compliance requirements of sports brands are a specification.
Compatible Matsui Additives
All additives below are compatible. Do not exceed 15% total additives by weight. PVC-free, OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified.
| Additive | Dose | What It Does |
|---|---|---|
| Quick Additive | 6-9% | All-in-one: open time + hand feel + wash fastness + dot retention |
| Retarder MG | 1-5% | Extends screen open time — prevents ink drying in mesh |
| Fixer WF-N | 1-5% | Wash & crock fastness crosslinker — no pot life — meets all RSLs |
| Softener MG | 1-4% | Soft hand feel — improved fabric penetration and elasticity |
| Thickener B | 0.25-1% | Raises viscosity — halftone dot retention |
| RV Additive | 1-3% | Reduces viscosity — better than water for thinning |
Pro Tips & Critical Notes
For dark performance polyester, print a dye migration blocker first. Test before production on each specific garment brand.
For licensed brand programs that specify wash fastness testing, add Fixer WF-N at 1-5% and ensure proper cure at 320F.
Kombat Black is for performance fabrics. For everyday cotton black work, RC 301 Spot Black is the simpler, faster choice.
Technical Specifications
Matsui Kombat Black (WB0629) — Technical Specifications
| Specification | Value / Detail |
|---|---|
| SKU | WB0629 |
| Product Type | Premium direct-print black ink for performance fabrics |
| Color | Black |
| Cure Temperature | 320F (160C) |
| Fabric Compatibility | Performance synthetics: Dri-Fit, athletic knits, sports fabrics |
| Printing Mode | Halftone and spot black |
| Wash Fastness | Excellent — designed for sports apparel wash programs |
| Retarder MG | Retarder MG 1-5% for screen open time |
| Fixer WF-N | Fixer WF-N 1-5% for wash fastness |
| Compliance | OEKO-TEX Standard 100, CPSIA, HR4040, PVC-free |
Technical Sheets / Safety Data Sheets / Documents
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the difference between Kombat Black and RC 301 Spot Black?
They are designed for different substrates. Kombat Black is built for performance and high-stretch fabrics such as Dri-Fit, athletic wear, and team jerseys, with excellent elasticity and fastness that meets major sports apparel standards. RC 301 Spot Black is designed for cotton and cotton blends used in fashion, retail, and general production, with the softest hand at 305 mesh. Cotton black goes to Spot Black. Performance black goes to Kombat Black. Stock both.
Can I print halftones with Kombat Black on stretch garments?
Yes. Kombat Black is designed for both halftone and spot printing on performance fabrics. For tighter halftone dot control on stretch garments, add Thickener B at 0.25–1%.
What does “meets requirements of major sports apparel manufacturers” mean?
Major sports brands test screen-printed garments for wash fastness, stretch recovery, and color retention. That means the print must survive repeated industrial wash cycles, stretch with the garment and rebound without cracking, and keep the black deep and saturated instead of fading or graying out. Kombat Black is formulated to pass those kinds of tests.
What is the Kombat system?
It is a three-product system designed to work together on performance fabric: Kombat Blocker for dye migration control on polyester, Kombat White for a bright white with stretch and anti-foil performance, and Kombat Black for deep black with stretch. The blocker stops dye bleed. The white provides the underbase. The black handles the black elements.
Can I use Kombat Black on cotton?
Kombat Black will work on cotton, but it is optimized for performance fabrics. For cotton-specific jobs where maximum softness at 305 mesh is the priority, RC 301 Spot Black is the better choice.
Do I need a blocker on dark polyester?
Yes. Use Kombat Blocker, Blocker Gray, or Blocker Black LG as the first layer on dark polyester to prevent dye sublimation migration. Flash the blocker, then print Kombat Black on top.
What additives should I use with Kombat Black?
Use Softener MG at 1–4% for fabric penetration and a softer hand, Thickener B at 0.25–1% for halftone dot control, and RV Additive at 1–3% if the ink needs thinner flow. Browse all Matsui additives here.
Will Kombat Black crack on stretch garments after washing?
No. Kombat Black is formulated with excellent elasticity specifically for performance fabrics. The ink stretches with the garment and rebounds to its original position without cracking, even after repeated wash cycles on high-stretch garments.
Can I mix Kombat Black with other Matsui inks?
Kombat Black is a ready-to-use premixed black. It is not designed as a mixing base. For custom dark colors on performance fabrics, use bases such as Stretch Clear or EasyPrint Clear with Neo Pigments.
Can Kombat Black be dry cleaned and ironed?
Yes. Prints can be safely dry cleaned and ironed without compromising print quality.
Is Kombat Black safe?
Yes. Kombat Black is PVC-free and environmentally safe.
What print sequence should I use on a dark polyester jersey?
Kombat Blocker → flash → Kombat White for white elements → flash → Kombat Black for black elements → cure at 320°F (160°C). The Kombat system is designed to handle the complete job.
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