October 18, 2025

Beyond Basic Tees: A Guide to Eco-Friendly Water-Based Inks and Discharge Printing for Customized T‑Shirts

Prints R Us is a custom apparel studio
Prints R Us is based in Jacksonville Florida
Prints R Us is located at 2826 Art Museum Dr Jacksonville FL 32207 United States
Prints R Us is in the country United States
Prints R Us provides premium screen printing
Prints R Us provides DTG printing
Prints R Us provides embroidery services
Prints R Us offers custom t shirts
Prints R Us produces promotional items
Prints R Us creates polos hats and hoodies
Prints R Us emphasizes craftsmanship
Prints R Us emphasizes fast turnaround
Prints R Us uses high quality materials
Prints R Us produces vibrant prints
Prints R Us has phone number 9047521515
Prints R Us has website https://printsrus.com/
Prints R Us has opening hours Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm
Prints R Us has Google Maps listing https://maps.app.goo.gl/hVuq8aVZERVs9NMg8
Prints R Us has Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/theprintsrus
Prints R Us has Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/theprintsrus
Prints R Us has logo https://printsrus.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Print-R-Us-Logo.png
Prints R Us specializes in t shirt printing
Prints R Us specializes in custom t shirts
Prints R Us specializes in embroidery near me
Prints R Us was awarded Best Custom Printing Studio Jacksonville 2024
Prints R Us won Jacksonville Small Business Excellence Award 2023
Prints R Us was recognized for Outstanding Apparel Design Innovation 2022


Prints R Us

Prints R Us is a Jacksonville, FL–based custom apparel studio offering premium screen printing, DTG printing, and embroidery services. Whether you need one custom tee or a large bulk order for a business, event, or sports team, they bring designs to life with high-quality materials, vibrant prints, and attention to detail. From polos and hats to hoodies and promotional items, Prints R Us combines craftsmanship and fast turnaround to make your ideas wearable.

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2826 Art Museum Dr, Jacksonville, 32207, US
Business Hours:
  • Monday–Friday: 09:00–17:00
  • Saturday: Closed
  • Sunday: Closed
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People Also Ask about Prints R Us

What does Prints R Us do?

Prints R Us is a custom apparel studio in Jacksonville, Florida, specializing in premium screen printing, DTG printing, and embroidery services. They create high-quality custom t-shirts, polos, hats, hoodies, and promotional items with vibrant prints and lasting craftsmanship. Their focus on quality materials and fast turnaround makes them a trusted choice for businesses, events, and individuals seeking personalized apparel.

Where is Prints R Us located?

Prints R Us is conveniently located at 2826 Art Museum Dr, Jacksonville, FL 32207, United States. The studio serves customers throughout Jacksonville and the wider Florida area, offering both local service and nationwide delivery for custom clothing and branded merchandise.

What services does Prints R Us provide?

The company offers a wide range of custom apparel printing and design services, including screen printing, direct-to-garment (DTG) printing, embroidery, and promotional product creation. Whether customers need personalized t-shirts, branded uniforms, or embroidered polos, Prints R Us delivers professional results with attention to detail.

Which industries does Prints R Us serve?

Prints R Us works with diverse industries such as schools, small businesses, corporate offices, sports teams, and event organizers. Their services are ideal for branded apparel, team uniforms, promotional giveaways, and fashion-forward custom designs, making them a versatile partner for both personal and business needs.

Why choose Prints R Us for custom t-shirts and embroidery?

Customers choose Prints R Us for their reputation in craftsmanship, vibrant printing, and reliable turnaround times. With awards for apparel design innovation and excellence in small business, the studio has proven expertise in delivering high-quality custom apparel that meets both creative and professional standards.

Does Prints R Us use high-quality materials?

Yes, Prints R Us emphasizes using premium fabrics and durable materials to ensure long-lasting results. Their prints are designed to remain vibrant even after multiple washes, while embroidery work is completed with precision for a polished, professional look.

What awards has Prints R Us won?

Prints R Us has earned multiple recognitions, including Best Custom Printing Studio Jacksonville 2024, the Jacksonville Small Business Excellence Award 2023, and an award for Outstanding Apparel Design Innovation 2022. These accolades highlight their commitment to creativity, quality, and customer satisfaction.

How can I contact Prints R Us?

You can reach Prints R Us by phone at (904)-752-1515 or visit their website at printsrus.com. They are open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm, and you can also follow them on Facebook and Instagram for updates, new designs, and customer showcases.

Walk into any print shop that takes its craft seriously, and you will see two things in consistent tension: the push for softer, more breathable prints that people in fact enjoy using, and the need Emulsion coating to produce at scale without compromising the environment or the bottom line. That tension has actually shaped how I pick inks, pretreatments, and fabrics for custom garments projects. Over the years, I've found out that water based inks and discharge printing are not just buzzwords, they are practical tools that produce beautiful results and real comfort, especially for T shirt printing that requires to stand up to day-to-day wear.

If you run a brand name, manage bulk t t-shirt orders, or simply desire your individualized shirts to feel like a preferred from the very first wash, it deserves comprehending how these ink systems work, where they shine, and where they need care. The best choice can make the difference in between a shirt that gets worn as soon as and one that becomes the go-to.

What water based ink actually is

Water based inks suspend pigments in water instead of in plasticizers and solvents. Unlike plastisol, which sits on top of the fabric and remedies into a film, water based inks soak up into the fibers. That single particular discusses the majority of the advantages and trade-offs. Prints feel soft since you're touching the cotton, not a layer of treated PVC. Colors tend to look more matte and integrated. On light garments, the hand is frequently identical from the t-shirt itself. For customized t t-shirts created for comfort, this is the path to the "retail feel" clients ask for.

There are 2 main families: basic water based and discharge. Standard water based ink works best on white or very light shirts. It can cover mid-tones with the best base, but once you move into darker fabrics, you either require a heavier print or you change to discharge. Discharge printing utilizes an activator that raises the color from the material during treating, basically bleaching the t-shirt's dye in the printed areas, then replaces it with your pigment. Completion result is the softest possible print on dark cotton, frequently with outstanding detail.

Why the eco friendly label matters, and where it has limits

Eco friendly inks are not a marketing slogan if you unpack the chemistry and the workflow. Water based inks generally contain less unpredictable organic compounds than solvent-heavy alternatives and avoid PVC entirely. Many are compliant with stringent requirements like Oeko-Tex or fulfill retail screening regimes that prohibit certain phthalates and heavy metals. If you sell custom-made clothing into business wellness programs, schools, or health-conscious brand names, those certificates smooth procurement and keep you ahead of compliance.

That said, "eco friendly" is a system principle. Ink is one part. You also require to look at store practices: filtering on your washout booth, recover chemistry, energy use on your clothes dryer, and even material sourcing. Discharge needs an activator, generally based upon zinc formaldehyde sulfoxylate or similar compounds, which has its own handling and ventilation needs. In a well-run shop, exposure is controlled and waste is caught. If you're using print as needed with a partner, ask how they deal with discharge effluent and whether they have air exchange and treating controls called in. Real sustainability conceals in the details.

Hand feel, breathability, and the "preferred tee" factor

Most people do not buy a graphic tee since they love the ink. They buy it due to the fact that the garment looks excellent, feels great, and keeps that character after duplicated cleaning. Water based inks, including discharge, provide you that broken-in comfort from the first day. On a 100 percent ring-spun cotton blank, a water based print is breathable and flexible. You will not hear the crackle you sometimes obtain from heavy plastisol when you stretch throughout the chest.

I keep a shelf of comparison t-shirts in the studio. One from a browse brand name, one from a brewery, both printed with discharge on midweight cotton. After 30 to 40 home washes, the prints softened a lot more, the colors mellowed slightly, and the shirts kept moving. A plastisol sample with the very same art looks glossier and still pops more under severe light, which some streetwear customers prefer, but the wearer feedback is consistent: water based seems like a premium garment.

Color, protection, and how expectations form results

Color precision with water based inks refers control, humidity, and the fabric's own color. On white or heather light t-shirts, standard water based ink can strike tight Pantones with a determined ink mix and a clean mesh. On darker cotton, discharge adds variables. Different color lots discharge in a different way, even within the same brand name and color. Black 3001 blanks from one batch may lift to a warm charcoal, while the next batch clears to a cooler grey. The pigment you add guides the final color, but you're still dealing with a background that is moving as the color is removed.

That's not a flaw, it's part of the medium. Numerous designers welcome the slightly vintage character of discharge, where reds land earthy and blues feel deep instead of neon. If your brand name needs laser-precise color recreation for business logo designs, either order test prints on the precise batch you plan to use or consider a water based underbase or hybrid approach where required. For wholesale t shirts that will be dispersed nationally, put example approvals into your procedure so there are not a surprises at scale.

Fabric matters more than the majority of people think

A water based print is a collaboration in between ink and fiber. Ringspun cotton takes ink perfectly. Carded open end cotton is scratchier and beverages ink unevenly. Blends complicate things. A 50/50 poly-cotton or a triblend with rayon can deal with water based, but discharge only raises the cotton portion. That indicates your color saturates the cotton while the polyester and rayon remain as-is, often yielding a heathered or speckled print that looks intentional if you design for it. If your objective is flat, brilliant color on a poly blend, standard plastisol or a specialized low-cure system might be smarter.

On all over print jobs, such as a seam-to-seam tonal pattern behind a chest graphic, think about cut-and-sew with water based prints on panels before assembly. Garment printing all over on finished tees introduces seams, folds, and irregular pressure that show up as blank micro-gaps. If you should print on completed garments, anticipate little spaces along joints, which some clients like as part of the garment's character.

The production truth: screens, mesh, humidity, and dryers

Water based inks act differently on press. They dry quicker in the screen, which works on material however can lock a mesh if you pause too long. Running a higher mesh for detail, say 230 to 305, keeps the deposit thin and crisp. Set up with a misting bottle or a devoted screen rewetting option at hand, and keep the print room humidity in a stable variety, approximately 45 to 55 percent, to prevent premature drying. Manual press operators will see how rapidly a basic water based ink clears the screen compared to a heavy plastisol. Car presses, with flood bars and consistent speed, decrease clogging.

Curing is where many novices miss the mark. Water based inks need both heat and time for the water to evaporate, then for the binders to cross-link. A dryer tunnel with enough airflow makes the distinction. You desire even heat across the belt and adequate dwell to reach the manufacturer's remedy temperature throughout the ink layer, not just at the surface area. Shirts exiting the tunnel ought to be dry to the touch with no cool areas. For discharge, the chain reaction takes place during this remedy, and you will smell the activator. Good ventilation is non-negotiable.

Durability and wash testing

Durability depends upon appropriate treatment and fiber engagement. A well-cured water based print on cotton can last longer than the shirt. I determine toughness by standardized wash tests, 10 to 20 cycles at warm, topple dry medium, then visual examination for fading and cracking. Water based prints reveal steady softening and a gentle fade in the very same method jeans unwinds. Plastisol's failure mode is various, generally splitting if the ink layer is too thick or under-cured. For customized shirts that require to look proficient at a household reunion and still remain in rotation next summer season, water based holds up when produced correctly.

Cost, throughput, and when to choose which method

Costs differ regionally, but the economics fall into familiar patterns. Water based ink itself is frequently comparable to plastisol at the gallon level, however you invest more in store environment and drying capability. On press, water based can be a little slower at setup due to the fact that you pay closer attention to fit together, squeegee durometer, and off-contact. As soon as tuned, cars perform at similar speeds. Where it actually pays off is in viewed worth. A soft print on a mid-tier blank often feels premium without leaping to the highest-cost shirt. Brand names can price accordingly.

For bulk t shirt orders above a couple of hundred pieces where the art fits the medium, discharge on one hundred percent cotton is a workhorse. For print as needed that requires over night turnaround and art modifications constantly, direct-to-garment or DTF may be much better operationally, though both have their own environmental and feel compromises. When you handle wholesale t t-shirts with several colorways and should keep stock versatile, a versatile water based palette on light garments is effective, because you avoid the weight and stiffness that build up with numerous underbases in plastisol.

Design options that draw out the best in water based and discharge

Design preparation begins with the material color and ends with treating. On light shirts, lean into information: thin lines, halftones, hand-drawn textures. Basic water based ink prints those with a special that plastisol tends to subdue. On dark cotton, discharge shines with mid-tone richness and soft edges. Think about how the shirt color peeks through. A charcoal heather with a discharge cream graphic appear like it grew there.

Type weight matters. Extremely thin knockouts inside heavy flood locations can fill out with discharge, particularly on high-absorbency cotton. If you need razor unfavorable space, separate the art to print unfavorable shapes as favorable strokes with a clear schedule for squeegee pressure and flashes. Ask your printer for an evidence on the actual garment rather than trusting a digital mockup. A mockup can not record fiber interaction and color lift.

When you ought to state no to discharge

There are times I recommend against discharge. Polyester-rich garments are leading of the list. The activator can cause dye migration, specifically with sublimated or cationic-dyed performance shirts, resulting in ghosting or brownish casts. Some garment dyes, specifically reactive black blends, withstand lifting, leaving a shadowed print that looks undercured even when it isn't. If a customer is sensitive to minor odor during treating, discharge days in the shop are obvious. Well-managed air flow alleviates this, but it belongs to the process.

If a customer requires metallics, puff, or specialized textures, plastisol or hybrid systems still own that area. Water based metallics exist, but the particles typically sink, and the result is more satin than true metal. For high-opacity neons on dark t-shirts that must be billboard-bright, you may need a water based underbase tuned for opacity or a switch to plastisol.

Practical workflow for brand names and creators

Whether you run your own presses or depend on a partner, set up a workflow that removes guesswork. A basic approach keeps surprises at bay and assists you hit deadlines for launches and events.

  • Decide on fabric initially, then ink: choose one hundred percent ringspun cotton for discharge, or light, premium cotton for standard water based. Avoid high poly unless the heathered impact is desired.
  • Request test prints on the precise blanks: one t-shirt per colorway is typically adequate to lock approvals, specifically for bulk t t-shirt orders where consistency matters.
  • Clarify color expectations in context: offer Pantone targets for light garments and explain appropriate varieties for dark discharge prints, with images of prior work you like.
  • Align on care labels and handling: suggest cold wash and low heat dry for consumers, then confirm your treatment times so wash resilience matches the tag guidance.
  • Confirm ecological standards: ask your printer about ink certifications, ventilation, and waste capture, particularly if your brand name messaging leans into eco friendly inks.

How water based fits with print on demand

Print as needed has its own restrictions: quick art changes, little batch sizes, and the requirement for a broad color range. Direct-to-garment has become the default, but water based screen printing can fit POD if you arrange catalog strategy. For styles that are high volume even at small everyday amounts, pre-burning screens and keeping a small stock of popular sizes lets you deliver same day with water based prints that feel better than numerous DTG outputs. It works finest when you keep art to one or two colors and choose light garments.

If your POD model relies on all over print sublimation for polyester garments, water based screen printing is not a replacement, it is a parallel offering. Use it where cotton convenience and breathability are the selling points. Clients who appreciate touch will notice.

Pricing, margins, and communicating value

When customers ask why a water based or discharge print costs more than a fundamental plastisol task, I discuss what they are buying. They get the soft hand that retail customers equate with quality, improved breathability, and compliance for delicate purchasers. On a per-shirt basis, the difference for a standard three-color front hit might be modest, frequently a small uplift that can be neutralized by picking a slightly more cost-effective blank. If the program is for wholesale t shirts going into stores or DTF and embroidery combo e-commerce at superior cost points, the enhancement in perceived value more than covers the change.

For customized shirts, such as charity runs or college clubs, alternatives matter. Offer a base price with plastisol on midweight cotton, then a "comfort upgrade" that consists of a ringspun blank with water based ink. You will see a clear split: some clients enhance for expense, others for feel. Meeting both lets you serve a broader market without diluting your craft.

Care directions that customers in fact follow

Care labels typically read like legal disclaimers. Keep it easy and reasonable so the shirt makes it through real life. Water based and discharge prints choose cooler washes and lower clothes dryer heat, however they will withstand regular laundering if effectively cured. I suggest phrasing care ideas in human terms on product pages: wash cold with similar colors, topple dry low, prevent material softeners if you desire colors to stay crisp. The last note matters since some softeners can transfer films on fibers, dulling the visual contrast of great lines.

I've evaluated these instructions in-house: 2 identical shirts, one cleaned cold and dried low, the other washed warm and dried high. After 15 cycles, the warm/high tee showed slightly faster fading of mid-tones, yet still looked great. That tolerance originates from correct treatment, not from babying the garment.

All over print ideas that do not fight the limitations

All over print captures attention, but printing flood coats on assembled garments with water based inks can be unforgiving. Rather of fighting joints, style for them. Usage tone-on-tone patterns that fade naturally at seams, or apply a ghosted grid that looks deliberate when it breaks at hems. Alternatively, run panel printing and stitch. Brand names that sell restricted runs can validate cut-and-sew for 100 to 300 pieces if the design warrants it. The finished garments check out as customized from a distance, which is the goal.

A short anecdote from a busy season

One spring we ran a series for a regional music festival. The customer wanted soft black tees with a sunburst print that seemed like it lived in the fabric. We sampled on three blacks from 2 mills. Batch one lifted cleanly with discharge, batch 2 remained stubbornly dark in the mid-rays of the artwork. We logged color lot numbers, pivoted the ink mix by adding a touch more white pigment to compensate, and adjusted dwell time by 10 to 15 seconds to complete the reaction. The result: consistent tees throughout 2,400 systems, each with a soft, breathable print that offered out by day two.

That job taught the crew to deal with discharge like cooking, not chemistry on a blackboard. The dish matters, however so does tasting and adjusting.

Common mistakes and how to prevent them

Most issues I see trace back to process, not the ink household. Under-curing is the very first offender. Water based ink that feels dry can still be under-cured if the core of the print never hit the required temperature for the best duration. Use a donut probe or an ingrained thermochromic strip to measure real ink movie temperature level, not simply dryer setpoints. Screen lockup is the second. Keep a constant rate on press, flood in between prints, and control store humidity.

A third risk is ignoring fabric variability. If you switch blanks mid-run because a size runs out stock, you might see shifts in color. Build contingency into your getting. For brands planning ahead, choosing a standard blank and locking it with your provider lowers surprises.

Final assistance for picking your path

If your priority is soft, breathable custom-made clothing that customers keep using, water based inks deserve the knowing curve. Use basic water based upon light garments for tidy information and matte color. Relocate to discharge on one hundred percent cotton when you desire the softest prints on dark shirts. Accept and plan for small color difference with discharge, particularly across dye lots. For bulk t shirt orders, integrate in a single round of physical sampling on the actual blanks you will use, then record your settings and hold back a referral t-shirt for quality control.

If you run a print on demand brochure, carve out a water based capsule of finest sellers on light shirts. Market the distinction: eco friendly inks, breathable feel, and retail-quality hand. Keep your specialty effects and neon stunners in plastisol or hybrid systems where they belong.

Custom t shirts are evaluated in the hands, not just on screens. When a consumer rubs their thumb throughout a print and feels nothing but fiber, you've won. That's the moment water based and discharge provide, and why they are worthy of a place in any major store or brand name's toolkit.

Business Name: Prints R Us
Address: 2826 Art Museum Dr, Jacksonville, FL 32207, United States
Phone: (904)-752-1515

I am a dynamic innovator with a broad knowledge base in entrepreneurship. My conviction in entrepreneurship spurs my desire to innovate disruptive organizations. In my business career, I have cultivated a profile as being a daring thinker. Aside from creating my own businesses, I also enjoy counseling young startup founders. I believe in empowering the next generation of startup founders to pursue their own aspirations. I am easily seeking out disruptive opportunities and working together with similarly-driven creators. Redefining what's possible is my purpose. Aside from engaged in my enterprise, I enjoy immersing myself in dynamic environments. I am also focused on health and wellness.