Matsui Silver Shimmer 620 | Water-Based Metallic Silver Shimmer Ink for Soft Luxury Screen Printing on Cotton & Blends — Tintable with Neo Pigments for Custom Cool-Tone Metallics
Matsui
Matsui Silver Shimmer 620 (WS0547) is a water-based special-effect metallic silver ink that delivers brilliant, cool-toned silver shimmer with an ultra-soft hand feel. Use straight from the container for standalone silver metallic, OR tint with up to 5% Matsui Neo Pigments or Glow Pigments to create cool-tone custom metallics — metallic blue, green, purple, ice, pink, gunmetal, dark chrome. Prints through mesh up to 110/inch. White underbase on very dark garments for brightest silver. +a(“Retarder MG”,RMG)+” essential for metallic particle flow.
Price range: $39.99 through $699.99
Description
Brilliant Silver. Cool-Tone Custom Metallics. Ultra-Soft.
Matsui Silver Shimmer 620 is the cool-tone metallic specialist. Where Gold Shimmer 620 produces warm metallics (copper, bronze, rose gold), Silver Shimmer 620 produces clean, vivid cool-tone metallics — metallic blue, metallic green, metallic purple, gunmetal, and dark chrome. With a water-based formulation that integrates with the fabric for dramatically softer feel than metallic plastisol.
Clean, vivid silver metallic shimmer with cool undertones. On black garments it reads as chrome. On white garments it reads as ice. On dark navy it reads as platinum. Silver is the modern, precise metallic choice.
Add up to 5% Neo Pigments to create cool-tone custom metallic shades: metallic blue (steel blue shimmer), metallic green (emerald metallic), metallic purple (violet chrome), metallic pink (rose chrome), gunmetal (dark, industrial silver). Each requires only a small pigment addition for a dramatic shift.
Add Matsui Glow Pigments for fluorescent silver metallic with UV/blacklight reactivity — a stunning combination for UV-lit events and festival apparel.
Prints through mesh up to 110/inch for optimal metallic particle coverage and a soft, captivating shimmer texture.
Silver shimmer creates maximum visual impact on dark fabrics where the contrast is highest. Can often be printed directly on dark cotton depending on garment color and desired effect — but for the brightest possible silver, print a white underbase first.
Water-based formulation integrates metallic particles with the fabric rather than sitting them on top — the metallic area is flexible, comfortable, and dramatically softer than metallic plastisol.
Silver Shimmer vs Gold Shimmer — When to Choose
Silver reads as modern, clean, technical, and precise. Works on black garments (chrome effect), white garments (ice effect), and dark navy (platinum effect). Add cool-tone Neo Pigments for metallic blue, green, purple, and gunmetal. Best for tech brands, modern streetwear, sports apparel, and contemporary fashion.
Gold reads as luxury, warmth, and tradition. Add warm-tone Neo Pigments for copper, bronze, and rose gold. Best for fashion branding, luxury merchandise, traditional sports awards, and any application where warmth and prestige are the communication.
Client says modern/tech → Silver. Client says luxury/premium → Gold. Client says fashion → test both. Client specifies rose gold → Gold Shimmer + pink/orange pigment. Client specifies chrome → Silver Shimmer + no pigment or slight blue pigment.
Best Use Cases
Maximum visual impact — chrome-style effects on black tees, silver logos on black performance gear. The contrast creates a premium metallic that photographs exceptionally well.
Technology brands, sports teams, and performance brands that use silver as a key brand color. Silver Shimmer 620 delivers the metallic version of their brand identity.
For fashion clients that specify specific cool-tone metallic shades: steel blue metallic for a winter apparel line, purple chrome for a fashion collaboration, gunmetal for an industrial-aesthetic brand.
Silver shimmer for concert merch, festival apparel, and events where metallic impact under stage lighting or UV creates premium visual experiences.
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
Same as Gold Shimmer — metallic particles clog mesh when ink dries. Add Retarder MG at 2-4% to all Silver Shimmer batches.
Beyond 5%, pigment overwhelms the metallic particles and reduces shimmer. 2-3% produces significant color shifts — start low.
For the absolute brightest silver on dark garments, print white first, flash, then Silver Shimmer on top. For standard dark-on-silver contrast, test direct printing first — it often works depending on the garment color.
For polyester, print Blocker Gray or Blocker Black LG first, then white underbase if printing on dark polyester, then Silver Shimmer on top.
Technical Specifications
Matsui Silver Shimmer 620 (WS0547) — Technical Specifications
| Specification | Value / Detail |
|---|---|
| SKU | WS0547 |
| Product Type | Water-based metallic silver shimmer ink |
| Color | Silver metallic — cool tone |
| Max Mesh | 110/inch (43/cm) |
| Cure Temperature | 320F (160C) |
| Finish | Shimmer/metallic — captivating texture |
| Neo Pigment Mix Rate | Up to 5% — metallic blue, green, purple, pink, gunmetal variants |
| Glow Pigment Compatible | Yes — fluorescent silver metallic under UV/blacklight |
| Retarder MG Required | Retarder MG 2-4% — CRITICAL to prevent metallic particle clogging |
| Dark Garments | White underbase for brightest result; can print directly on many dark fabrics — test first |
| Polyester | Blocker first, white underbase if dark, then Silver Shimmer |
| Compliance | OEKO-TEX Standard 100, CPSIA, HR4040, PVC-free |
Technical Sheets / Safety Data Sheets / Documents
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can I tint Silver Shimmer 620 with Neo Pigments to make other metallic colors?
Yes — add up to 5% Matsui Neo Pigments to shift the silver shimmer into cool-tone custom metallic shades such as metallic blue, metallic green, metallic purple, metallic pink, gunmetal, dark chrome, and more. Keep additions at or below 5% to preserve the metallic shimmer effect. For warm-tone metallics like copper, bronze, and rose gold, use Gold Shimmer 620 as the base instead.
What is the difference between Silver Shimmer 620 and Gold Shimmer 620?
Silver Shimmer 620 produces cool-tone metallics such as silver, platinum, metallic blue, metallic green, metallic purple, and gunmetal. Gold Shimmer 620 produces warm-tone metallics such as gold, copper, bronze, rose gold, and amber. Both tint with the same Neo Pigments. Stock both to cover the full range of metallic requests.
Why does Silver Shimmer produce cleaner metallic blues and greens than Gold Shimmer?
Silver Shimmer has a neutral cool base that amplifies cool pigment additions without warm-tone interference. Gold Shimmer has a warm base that fights cool pigment directions, producing muddier results when tinted with blue or green. For any cool-tone metallic, Silver Shimmer is the correct base.
How do I make gunmetal or dark chrome?
Add a very small amount of Neo Pigment Black to Silver Shimmer 620. Start at 1–2% and increase gradually. The silver darkens to gunmetal, then anthracite, then dark chrome depending on the amount added. This is one of the most popular tinted metallic shades for streetwear.
What mesh count should I use?
Up to 110/inch (43/cm). Lower mesh counts such as 80–100 deposit more metallic particles for brighter shimmer. Do not exceed 110 mesh, because finer openings can filter out metallic particles and reduce shimmer.
Can I print Silver Shimmer 620 on dark garments?
Yes — silver on dark garments creates maximum visual impact. For the brightest silver, print a white underbase first, flash, then print Silver Shimmer on top. For standard dark-on-silver contrast, Silver Shimmer can often be printed directly on dark cotton. Test to determine whether an underbase is needed for your specific garment and desired effect.
Can I print Silver Shimmer 620 on polyester?
Yes, with a blocker underbase to prevent dye migration. Print Blocker Gray or Blocker Black LG first, flash, add a white underbase if printing on dark polyester, flash again, then print Silver Shimmer 620 on top.
Is Silver Shimmer 620 softer than metallic plastisol?
Dramatically softer. Silver Shimmer 620 is water-based, so the metallic particles integrate with the fabric instead of sitting on top as a rigid PVC layer. The hand feel difference is immediately noticeable.
What additives should I use with Silver Shimmer 620?
For most jobs, use Quick Additive at 6–9%. For individual control, use Retarder MG at 1–5% — especially important with metallics to prevent screen clogging — plus Fixer WF-N at 1–5% and Softener MG at 1–4%. Browse all Matsui additives here.
Can I create fluorescent metallic silver with Silver Shimmer 620?
Yes — add Glow Pigment Green or Blue, up to 5%, to Silver Shimmer 620. The result is a metallic silver shimmer that is also fluorescent neon and UV or blacklight reactive. It creates an electric neon shimmer under blacklight and is a premium specialty effect for concert and event apparel.
My metallic shimmer keeps fading after washing. How do I fix this?
Add Fixer WF-N at 1–5% to crosslink the binder and help lock metallic particles in place. Also make sure the print is fully cured at 320°F (160°C), because undercuring is the number one cause of wash failure.
Is Silver Shimmer 620 the same as printing with silver foil?
No — they are different products for different effects. Silver Shimmer 620 is a metallic ink that you screen print directly and cure as a soft shimmer metallic finish. Foil Adhesive TFG 301 plus silver foil creates a mirror-like reflective surface through a heat press process. Shimmer is a soft particle effect integrated into the fabric. Foil is a smooth, mirror-like surface. Different process, different texture, different look.
Can Silver Shimmer 620 be dry cleaned and ironed?
Yes — prints made with Silver Shimmer 620 can be safely dry cleaned and ironed without compromising the metallic finish.
Is Silver Shimmer 620 safe for children’s clothing?
Yes. Silver Shimmer 620 is OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 certified, CPSIA compliant, and HR4040 compliant. It is PVC-free and environmentally safe.
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