October 18, 2025

Beyond Standard 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 print shop that takes its craft seriously, and you will see 2 things in constant stress: the push for softer, more breathable prints that people actually delight in wearing, and the requirement to produce at scale without compromising the environment or the bottom line. That tension has shaped how I select inks, pretreatments, and materials for custom-made garments tasks. Throughout the years, I've discovered that water based inks and discharge printing are not just buzzwords, they are useful tools that produce gorgeous outcomes and genuine convenience, especially for T shirt printing that requires to stand up to everyday wear.

If you run a brand name, handle bulk t shirt orders, or just want your personalized t-shirts to feel like a favorite from the very first wash, it deserves understanding how these ink systems work, where they shine, and where they require care. The best choice can make the difference in between a t-shirt that gets used when 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 cures into a film, water based inks take in into the fibers. That single particular explains the majority of the advantages and trade-offs. Prints feel soft due to the fact that 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 identical from the t-shirt itself. For customized t t-shirts created for convenience, this is the course to the "retail feel" customers ask for.

There are two main families: basic water based and discharge. Basic water based ink works best on white or very light t-shirts. It can cover mid-tones with the right base, but once you move into darker fabrics, you either need a much heavier print or you change to discharge. Discharge printing utilizes an activator that raises the dye from the material throughout treating, basically whitening the t-shirt's color in the printed locations, then replaces it with your pigment. The end result is the softest possible print on dark cotton, typically with outstanding detail.

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

Eco friendly inks are not a marketing motto if you unpack the chemistry and the workflow. Water based inks usually include less unpredictable natural compounds than solvent-heavy options and prevent PVC completely. Lots of are compliant with rigorous requirements like Oeko-Tex or meet retail screening programs that prohibit specific phthalates and heavy metals. If you offer custom apparel into corporate health cares, schools, or health-conscious brands, those certificates smooth procurement and keep you ahead of compliance.

That stated, "eco friendly" is a system concept. Ink is one part. You likewise need to look at store practices: purification on your washout booth, reclaim chemistry, energy usage on your clothes dryer, and even material sourcing. Discharge requires an activator, normally based on zinc formaldehyde sulfoxylate or comparable compounds, which has its own handling and ventilation needs. In a well-run store, exposure is managed and waste is captured. If you're using print on demand with a partner, ask how they deal with discharge effluent and whether they have air exchange and curing controls called in. Genuine sustainability conceals in the details.

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

Most people do not purchase a graphic tee because they love the ink. They purchase it because the garment looks great, feels great, and keeps that character after repeated washing. Water based inks, consisting of discharge, give you that broken-in convenience from day one. On a 100 percent ring-spun cotton blank, a water based print is breathable and flexible. You will not hear the crackle you often receive from heavy plastisol when you stretch across the chest.

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

Color, coverage, and how expectations form results

Color accuracy with water based inks is a matter of control, humidity, and the material's own color. On white or heather light shirts, basic water based ink can hit tight Pantones with a measured ink mix and a tidy 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 raise to a warm charcoal, while the next batch clears to a cooler grey. The pigment you include steers the final color, but you're still dealing with a background that is moving as the dye is removed.

That's not a flaw, it's part of the medium. Numerous designers embrace the somewhat vintage character of discharge, where reds land earthy and blues feel deep instead of neon. If your brand demands laser-precise color reproduction for corporate logo designs, either order test prints on the exact batch you prepare to utilize or consider a water based underbase or hybrid method where required. For wholesale t t-shirts that will be distributed 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 between ink and fiber. Ringspun cotton takes ink wonderfully. Carded open end cotton is scratchier and drinks ink unevenly. Blends complicate things. A 50/50 poly-cotton or a triblend with rayon can deal with water based, however discharge only lifts the cotton portion. That suggests your color fills the cotton while the polyester and rayon stay as-is, often yielding a heathered or speckled print that looks intentional if you style for it. If your goal is flat, vivid color on a poly mix, standard plastisol or a specialized low-cure system may 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 presents joints, folds, and inconsistent pressure that appear as blank micro-gaps. If you must print on finished garments, anticipate small spaces along seams, which some customers like as part of the garment's character.

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

Water based inks act in a different way on press. They dry quicker in the screen, which works on material but can lock a mesh if you stop briefly too long. Running a higher mesh for detail, state 230 to 305, keeps the deposit thin and crisp. Set up with a misting bottle or a devoted screen rewetting service at hand, and keep the print room humidity in a consistent variety, roughly 45 to 55 percent, to prevent early drying. Manual press operators will observe how rapidly a basic water based ink clears the screen compared to a heavy plastisol. Vehicle presses, with flood bars and constant rate, lower clogging.

Curing is where lots of novices fizzle. Water based inks need both heat and time for the water to vaporize, then for the binders to cross-link. A dryer tunnel with adequate airflow makes the distinction. You want even heat throughout the belt and sufficient dwell to reach the manufacturer's cure temperature level throughout the ink layer, not simply at the surface. T-shirts leaving the tunnel must be dry to the touch without any cool areas. For discharge, the chemical reaction takes place throughout this treatment, and you will smell the activator. Excellent ventilation is non-negotiable.

Durability and wash testing

Durability depends upon appropriate remedy and fiber engagement. A well-cured water based print on cotton can outlive the shirt. I determine sturdiness by standardized wash tests, 10 to 20 cycles at warm, topple dry medium, then visual assessment for fading and breaking. Water based prints show gradual softening and a mild fade in the exact same method denim unwinds. Plastisol's failure mode is different, normally splitting if the ink layer is too thick or under-cured. For personalized t-shirts that need to look proficient at a household reunion and still be in rotation next summertime, bulk order embroidery water based holds up when produced correctly.

Cost, throughput, and when to choose which method

Costs vary regionally, but the economics fall under familiar patterns. Water based ink itself is typically comparable to plastisol at the gallon level, however you invest more in shop environment and drying capability. On press, water based can be slightly slower at setup due to the fact that you pay closer attention to fit together, squeegee durometer, and off-contact. When tuned, cars perform at comparable speeds. Where it really pays off remains in viewed worth. A soft print on a mid-tier blank typically 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 100 percent cotton is a workhorse. For print on demand that needs overnight turnaround and art changes continuously, direct-to-garment or DTF might be better operationally, though both have their own environmental and feel compromises. When you handle wholesale t shirts with numerous colorways and should keep stock versatile, a flexible water based combination on light garments is effective, because you avoid the weight and tightness that collect with numerous underbases in plastisol.

Design options that highlight the best in water based and discharge

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

Type weight matters. Really thin knockouts inside heavy flood locations can complete with discharge, particularly on high-absorbency cotton. If you need razor unfavorable area, different the art to print negative shapes as positive strokes with a clear schedule for squeegee pressure and flashes. Ask your printer for an evidence on the real garment rather than trusting a digital mockup. A mockup can not catch fiber interaction and dye lift.

When you should say no to discharge

There are times I recommend against discharge. Polyester-rich garments are top of the list. The activator can trigger color migration, particularly with sublimated or cationic-dyed performance t-shirts, causing ghosting or brownish casts. Some garment dyes, especially reactive black blends, withstand lifting, leaving a shadowed print that looks undercured even when it isn't. If a customer is delicate to minor odor during treating, discharge days in the shop are obvious. Well-managed airflow mitigates this, but it is part of the process.

If a customer requires metallics, puff, or specialty textures, plastisol or hybrid systems still own that space. Water based metallics exist, however the particles often sink, and the effect is more satin than real metal. For high-opacity neons on dark shirts that must be billboard-bright, you may require 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 count on a partner, set up a workflow that removes uncertainty. A basic method keeps surprises at bay and helps you struck due dates for launches and events.

  • Decide on fabric first, then ink: select 100 percent ringspun cotton for discharge, or light, high-quality cotton for basic water based. Prevent high poly unless the heathered impact is desired.
  • Request test prints on the specific blanks: one t-shirt per colorway is normally enough to lock approvals, especially for bulk t shirt orders where consistency matters.
  • Clarify color expectations in context: offer Pantone targets for light garments and explain appropriate ranges for dark discharge prints, with pictures of previous work you like.
  • Align on care labels and handling: recommend cold wash and low heat dry for clients, then verify your remedy times so wash durability matches the tag guidance.
  • Confirm environmental standards: ask your printer about ink certifications, ventilation, and waste capture, particularly if your brand messaging leans into eco friendly inks.

How water based fits with print on demand

Print on demand has its own restrictions: quick art changes, little batch sizes, and the requirement for a broad color range. Direct-to-garment has actually become the default, however water based screen printing can fit POD if you arrange catalog strategy. For styles that DTF vs DTG are high volume even at little daily amounts, pre-burning screens and keeping a small stock of popular sizes lets you ship exact same day with water based prints that feel better than lots of DTG outputs. It works finest when you keep art to one or two colors and select 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 clients ask why a water based or discharge print costs more than a standard plastisol job, I explain what they are purchasing. They get the soft hand that retail clients correspond with quality, enhanced breathability, and compliance for delicate purchasers. On a per-shirt basis, the difference for a basic three-color front hit might be modest, typically a little uplift that can be neutralized by picking a somewhat more economical blank. If the program is for wholesale t shirts entering into shops or e-commerce at superior rate points, the enhancement in perceived value more than covers the change.

For individualized t-shirts, such as charity runs or college clubs, choices matter. Deal 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 customers optimize for expense, others for feel. Satisfying both lets you serve a wider market without diluting your craft.

Care directions that clients really follow

Care labels frequently check out like legal disclaimers. Keep it simple and reasonable so the shirt endures reality. Water based and discharge prints choose cooler washes and lower dryer heat, but they will endure regular laundering if appropriately treated. I recommend phrasing care suggestions in human terms on product pages: wash cold with similar colors, topple dry low, avoid fabric softeners if you want colors to remain crisp. The last note matters since some conditioners can transfer movies 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 a little faster fading of mid-tones, yet still looked good. That tolerance originates from right cure, not from babying the garment.

All over print concepts that do not battle the limitations

All over print catches attention, but printing flood coats on put together garments with water merchandise printing based inks can be unforgiving. Instead of combating seams, design for them. Use tone-on-tone patterns that fade naturally at joints, or apply a ghosted grid that looks deliberate when it breaks at hems. Additionally, run panel printing and stitch. Brands that offer limited runs can validate cut-and-sew for 100 to 300 pieces if the style necessitates it. The completed garments read as custom from a range, which is the goal.

A short anecdote from a hectic 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 fabric. We sampled on 3 blacks from two mills. Batch one lifted easily with discharge, batch two remained stubbornly dark in the mid-rays of the artwork. We logged dye lot numbers, pivoted the ink mix by including a touch more white pigment to compensate, and changed dwell time by 10 to 15 seconds to finish the reaction. The result: constant tees throughout 2,400 units, each with a soft, breathable print that sold out by day two.

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

Common risks and how to prevent them

Most problems I see trace back to procedure, not the ink family. Under-curing is the first offender. Water based ink that feels dry can still be under-cured if the core of the print never ever hit the needed temperature for the best duration. Utilize a donut probe or an embedded thermochromic strip to determine real ink movie temperature level, not just clothes dryer setpoints. Screen lockup is the 2nd. Keep a consistent speed on press, flood in between prints, and control store humidity.

A third risk is ignoring fabric variability. If you change blanks mid-run because a size is out of stock, you might see shifts in color. Construct contingency into your acquiring. For brand names planning ahead, picking a basic blank and locking it with your supplier minimizes surprises.

Final assistance for selecting your path

If your concern is soft, breathable customized garments that customers keep wearing, water based inks deserve the knowing curve. Use standard water based on light garments for clean detail and matte color. Relocate to discharge on 100 percent cotton when you desire the softest prints on dark shirts. Accept and prepare for small color variation with discharge, specifically across dye lots. For bulk t t-shirt orders, integrate in a single round of physical tasting on the actual blanks you will use, then record your settings and keep back a recommendation shirt for quality control.

If you run a print as needed brochure, take a water based pill of best sellers on light t-shirts. Market the distinction: 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 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 have actually won. That's the minute water based and discharge deliver, and why they deserve a location in any serious store or brand'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.