October 18, 2025

Beyond Basic Tees: A Guide to Eco-Friendly Water-Based Inks and Discharge Printing for Custom 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 printing shop that takes its craft seriously, and you will see 2 things in constant tension: the push for softer, more breathable prints that individuals in fact delight in wearing, and the need to produce at scale without compromising the environment or the bottom line. That stress has formed how I select inks, pretreatments, and fabrics for customized garments projects. Over the years, I've learned that water based inks and discharge printing are not just buzzwords, they are useful tools that produce gorgeous results and genuine convenience, particularly for T t-shirt printing that requires to stand up to everyday wear.

If you run a brand, manage bulk t t-shirt orders, or simply desire your tailored t-shirts to feel like a preferred from the first wash, it deserves understanding how these ink systems work, where they shine, and where they need care. The ideal option can make the distinction 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 rather than in plasticizers and solvents. Unlike plastisol, which sits on top of the material and cures into a film, water based inks absorb into the fibers. That single characteristic explains the majority of the advantages and compromises. Prints feel soft since you're touching the cotton, not a layer of treated PVC. Colors tend to look more matte and incorporated. On light garments, the hand is frequently equivalent from the t-shirt itself. For customized t shirts created for comfort, this is the course to the "retail feel" clients ask for.

There are two main families: standard water based and discharge. Basic water based ink works best on white or really light shirts. It can cover mid-tones with the best base, once you move into darker materials, you either need a much heavier print or you switch to release. Discharge printing uses an activator that raises the color from the material during treating, essentially bleaching the t-shirt's color in the printed locations, then changes it with your pigment. The end result is the softest possible print on dark cotton, frequently with impressive detail.

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

Eco friendly inks are not a marketing motto if you unload the chemistry and the workflow. Water based inks typically include fewer volatile organic compounds than solvent-heavy options and prevent PVC altogether. Lots of are certified with rigorous requirements like Oeko-Tex or fulfill retail testing regimes that ban particular phthalates and heavy metals. If you sell custom-made garments into business health cares, schools, or health-conscious brand names, those certificates smooth procurement and keep you ahead of compliance.

That said, "eco friendly" is a system concept. Ink is one part. You also need to take a look at store practices: purification on your washout booth, reclaim chemistry, energy usage on your clothes dryer, and even material sourcing. Discharge needs an activator, generally based on zinc formaldehyde sulfoxylate or comparable substances, which has its own handling and ventilation needs. In a well-run shop, exposure is managed and waste is captured. If you're utilizing print as needed with a partner, ask how they deal with discharge effluent and whether they have air exchange and treating controls dialed in. Real sustainability conceals in the details.

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

Most people do not purchase a graphic tee due to the fact that they love the ink. They buy it because the garment looks good, feels great, and keeps that character after repeated washing. Water based inks, including discharge, provide you that broken-in convenience from day one. On an one hundred percent ring-spun cotton blank, a water based print is breathable and flexible. You will not hear the crackle you in some cases get from heavy plastisol when you extend throughout the chest.

I keep a rack of comparison shirts in the studio. One from a surf 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 a little, and the t-shirts kept moving. A plastisol sample with the exact same art looks glossier and still pops more under severe light, which some streetwear clients prefer, but the wearer feedback is consistent: water based feels like a premium garment.

Color, coverage, and how expectations shape results

Color accuracy with water based inks refers control, humidity, and the material's own color. On white or heather light t-shirts, standard water based ink can hit tight Pantones with a measured ink mix and a tidy mesh. On darker cotton, discharge includes variables. Different dye lots discharge differently, even within the very 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 steers the final color, however you're still working with a background that is shifting as the dye is removed.

That's not a flaw, it belongs to the medium. Numerous designers accept the a little vintage character of discharge, where reds land earthy and blues feel deep rather than neon. If your brand name needs laser-precise color recreation for business logo designs, either order test prints on the exact batch you plan to utilize or consider a water based underbase or hybrid technique where required. For wholesale t shirts that will be dispersed nationally, put example approvals into your procedure so there are no surprises at scale.

Fabric matters more than most people think

A water based print is a partnership in between ink and fiber. Ringspun cotton takes ink beautifully. Carded open end cotton is scratchier and drinks ink unevenly. Blends make complex things. A 50/50 poly-cotton or a triblend with rayon can work with water based, however discharge just lifts the cotton portion. That means your color fills the cotton while the polyester and rayon stay as-is, typically yielding a heathered or speckled print that looks deliberate if you design for it. If your goal is flat, vibrant 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 completed tees presents seams, folds, and inconsistent pressure that appear as blank micro-gaps. If you need to print on completed garments, expect little voids along joints, which some customers like as part of the garment's character.

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

Water based inks behave in a different way on press. They dry faster in the screen, which works on fabric but can lock a mesh if you stop briefly too long. Running a greater mesh for detail, state 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, roughly 45 to 55 percent, to avoid premature drying. Manual press operators will discover how rapidly a standard water based ink clears the screen compared to a heavy plastisol. Automobile presses, with flood bars and constant pace, decrease clogging.

Curing is where numerous novices fizzle. Water based inks require both heat and time for the water to evaporate, then for the binders to cross-link. A dryer tunnel with sufficient airflow makes the distinction. You want even heat across the belt and enough dwell to reach the maker's cure temperature throughout the ink layer, not just at the surface. T-shirts leaving the tunnel needs to be dry to the touch with no cool areas. For discharge, the chemical reaction occurs throughout this remedy, and you will smell the activator. Excellent ventilation is non-negotiable.

Durability and wash testing

Durability depends upon appropriate cure and fiber engagement. A well-cured water based print on cotton can last longer than the t-shirt. I determine sturdiness by standardized wash tests, 10 to 20 cycles at warm, topple dry medium, then visual assessment for fading and splitting. Water based prints reveal steady softening and a gentle fade in the same method jeans relaxes. Plastisol's failure mode is various, typically splitting if the ink layer is too thick or under-cured. For customized t-shirts that require to look proficient at a family 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, however the economics fall under familiar patterns. Water based ink itself is typically comparable to plastisol at the gallon level, but you invest more in store environment and drying capability. On press, water based can be slightly slower at setup due to the fact that you pay closer attention to mesh, squeegee durometer, and off-contact. When tuned, cars perform at similar speeds. Where it actually settles is in perceived worth. A soft print on a mid-tier blank frequently feels premium without leaping to the highest-cost shirt. Brand names can price accordingly.

For bulk t 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 needs over night turnaround and art changes continuously, direct-to-garment or DTF may be much better operationally, though both have their own environmental and feel trade-offs. When you take on wholesale t shirts with several colorways and need to keep inventory flexible, a flexible water based combination on light garments is effective, since you prevent the weight and stiffness that accumulate with multiple underbases in plastisol.

Design options that bring out the very best in water based and discharge

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

Type weight matters. Really thin knockouts inside heavy flood areas can fill out with discharge, particularly on high-absorbency cotton. If you need razor negative area, different the art to print negative shapes as favorable strokes with a clear schedule for squeegee pressure and flashes. Ask your printer for a proof on the actual garment rather than relying on a digital mockup. A mockup can not catch fiber interplay and dye lift.

When you must say no to discharge

There are times I advise against discharge. Polyester-rich garments are top of the list. The activator can cause color migration, particularly with sublimated or cationic-dyed efficiency shirts, causing ghosting or brownish casts. Some garment dyes, particularly reactive black blends, resist lifting, leaving a shadowed print that looks undercured even when it isn't. If a client is delicate to small odor during treating, discharge days in the shop are obvious. Well-managed air flow reduces this, but it is part of the process.

If a client requires metallics, puff, or specialized textures, plastisol or hybrid systems still own that space. Water based metallics exist, but the particles often sink, and the effect is more satin than true metal. For high-opacity neons on dark shirts that need to 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 method keeps surprises at bay and assists you hit deadlines for launches and events.

  • Decide on material first, then ink: choose one hundred percent ringspun cotton for discharge, or light, high-quality cotton for standard water based. Avoid high poly unless the heathered result is desired.
  • Request test prints on the specific blanks: one shirt per colorway is usually enough to lock approvals, specifically for bulk t shirt orders where consistency matters.
  • Clarify color expectations in context: provide Pantone targets for light garments and explain appropriate ranges for dark discharge prints, with photos of prior work you like.
  • Align on care labels and handling: suggest cold wash and low heat dry for clients, then confirm your remedy times so clean toughness matches the tag guidance.
  • Confirm environmental 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 constraints: fast art modifications, small batch sizes, and the requirement for a broad color range. Direct-to-garment has actually ended up being the default, but water based screen printing can fit POD if you organize brochure 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 very same day with water based prints that feel much better than numerous DTG outputs. It works best when you keep art to a couple of colors and choose light garments.

If your POD design relies on all over print sublimation for polyester garments, water based screen printing is not a replacement, it is a parallel offering. Utilize it where cotton comfort 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 basic plastisol job, I describe what they are purchasing. They get the soft hand that retail clients correspond with quality, improved breathability, and compliance for sensitive purchasers. On a per-shirt basis, the difference for a basic three-color front hit may be modest, often a small uplift that can be neutralized by choosing a somewhat more cost-effective blank. If the program is for wholesale t t-shirts going into stores or e-commerce at premium price points, the enhancement in viewed worth more than covers the change.

For individualized shirts, such as charity runs or college clubs, options matter. Deal a base cost with plastisol on midweight cotton, then a "comfort upgrade" that includes a ringspun blank with water based ink. You will see a clear split: some clients optimize for expense, others for feel. Meeting both lets you serve a wider market without diluting your craft.

Care guidelines that consumers actually follow

Care labels typically read like legal disclaimers. Keep it simple and realistic so the shirt survives reality. Water based and discharge prints choose cooler washes and lower clothes dryer heat, however they will withstand regular laundering if effectively treated. I suggest phrasing care suggestions in human terms on item pages: wash cold with comparable colors, tumble dry low, prevent material conditioners if you want colors to remain crisp. The last note matters because some softeners can transfer films on fibers, dulling the visual contrast of fine lines.

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

All over print concepts that do not combat the limitations

All over print catches attention, however printing flood coats on assembled garments with water based inks can be unforgiving. Instead of fighting seams, design for them. Usage tone-on-tone patterns that fade naturally at seams, or apply a ghosted grid that looks intentional when it breaks at hems. Alternatively, run panel printing and stitch. Brand names that offer restricted runs can justify cut-and-sew for 100 to 300 pieces if the design warrants it. The finished garments read as custom-made from a distance, which is the goal.

A brief anecdote from a busy season

One spring we ran a series for a local music celebration. The customer desired soft black tees with a sunburst print that felt like it lived in the material. We sampled on 3 blacks from 2 mills. Batch one raised cleanly with discharge, batch two stayed stubbornly dark in the mid-rays of the artwork. We logged dye lot numbers, pivoted the ink mix by adding a touch more white pigment to compensate, and changed dwell time by 10 to 15 seconds to finish the response. The outcome: constant tees across 2,400 systems, each with a soft, breathable print that offered out by day two.

That job taught the team to deal with discharge like cooking, not chemistry on a chalkboard. The recipe matters, but so does tasting and adjusting.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Most problems I see trace back to procedure, not the ink household. Under-curing is the very first culprit. Water based ink that feels dry can still be under-cured if the core of the print never hit the required temp for the right duration. Utilize a donut probe or personalized gifts an ingrained thermochromic strip to determine real ink film temperature, not simply clothes dryer setpoints. Screen lockup is the second. Keep a consistent rate on press, flood in between prints, and control shop humidity.

A third risk is neglecting fabric irregularity. If you switch blanks mid-run since a size runs out stock, you may see shifts in color. Build contingency into your buying. For brands planning ahead, picking a basic blank and locking it with your provider decreases surprises.

Final guidance for selecting your path

If your top priority is soft, breathable customized clothing that consumers keep using, water based inks are worth the learning curve. Use standard water based on light garments for clean detail and matte color. Relocate to discharge on one hundred percent cotton when you want the softest prints on dark shirts. Accept and prepare for slight color variation with discharge, particularly across dye lots. For bulk t shirt orders, integrate in a single round of physical tasting on the real blanks you will utilize, then document your settings and hold back a referral t-shirt for quality control.

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

Custom t t-shirts are evaluated in the hands, not simply on screens. When a consumer rubs their thumb across a print and feels absolutely nothing but fiber, you have actually won. That's the moment water based and discharge provide, and why they are worthy of a place in any severe 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.