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
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Prints R Us produces promotional items
Prints R Us creates polos hats and hoodies
Prints R Us emphasizes craftsmanship
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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
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Prints R Us specializes in t shirt printing
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Prints R Us was awarded Best Custom Printing Studio Jacksonville 2024
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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 constant tension: the push for softer, more breathable prints that people actually delight in using, and the need to produce at scale without compromising the environment or the bottom line. That tension has actually shaped how I choose inks, pretreatments, and fabrics for custom apparel jobs. Over the years, I've discovered that water based inks and discharge printing are not just buzzwords, they are practical tools that produce lovely outcomes and real convenience, particularly for T shirt printing that needs to withstand everyday wear.

If you run a brand, manage bulk t shirt orders, or merely want your personalized shirts to seem like a preferred from the very first wash, it deserves understanding how these ink systems work, where they shine, and where they need care. The right choice can make the difference between a t-shirt that gets used once and one that becomes the go-to.

What water based ink in fact is

Water based inks suspend pigments in water rather than in plasticizers and solvents. Unlike plastisol, which sits on top of the material and treatments into a movie, water based inks absorb into the fibers. That single characteristic explains the majority of the advantages and trade-offs. Prints feel soft because 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 often identical from the t-shirt itself. For customized t t-shirts created for comfort, this is the course to the "retail feel" clients ask for.

There are 2 main households: basic water based and discharge. Standard water based ink works best on white or extremely light t-shirts. It can cover mid-tones with the best base, once you move into darker fabrics, you either need a much heavier print or you switch to discharge. Discharge printing uses an activator that lifts the color from the fabric throughout curing, basically bleaching the shirt's color in the printed locations, then replaces it with your pigment. Completion result is the softest possible print on dark cotton, typically with outstanding detail.

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

Eco friendly inks are not a marketing slogan if you unload the chemistry and the workflow. Water based inks normally include less unstable organic compounds than solvent-heavy options and avoid PVC completely. Many are compliant with stringent standards like Oeko-Tex or fulfill retail testing programs that prohibit particular phthalates and heavy metals. If you offer custom-made apparel into corporate 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: filtering on your washout booth, recover chemistry, energy usage on your clothes dryer, and even fabric sourcing. Discharge needs an activator, usually based upon zinc formaldehyde sulfoxylate or similar substances, which has its own handling and ventilation requirements. In a well-run store, exposure is controlled and waste is caught. If you're utilizing print on demand with a partner, ask how they deal with discharge effluent and whether they have air exchange and curing controls dialed in. Real sustainability hides in the details.

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

Most people do not purchase a graphic tee due to the fact that they love the ink. They purchase it due to the fact that the garment looks good, feels good, and keeps that character after duplicated cleaning. Water Heat press vs screen printing based inks, including discharge, provide you that broken-in convenience from the first day. On a 100 percent ring-spun cotton blank, a water based print is breathable and versatile. You will not hear the crackle you in some cases get from heavy plastisol when you extend throughout the chest.

I keep a shelf of contrast shirts in the studio. One from a surf brand, 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 exact same art looks glossier and still pops more under harsh light, which some streetwear customers prefer, however the user feedback corresponds: water based feels like a premium garment.

Color, protection, and how expectations shape results

Color precision with water based inks refers control, humidity, and the material's own dye. On white or heather light t-shirts, basic water based ink can hit tight Pantones with a determined ink mix and a tidy mesh. On darker cotton, discharge includes variables. Different dye lots discharge in a different way, even within the same brand and color. Black 3001 blanks from one batch might lift to a warm charcoal, while the next batch clears to a cooler grey. The pigment you add guides the last color, but 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. Lots of designers embrace the a little classic character of discharge, where reds land earthy and blues feel deep rather than neon. If your brand demands laser-precise color recreation for corporate logos, either order test prints on the exact batch you prepare to use or think about a water based underbase or hybrid method where required. For wholesale t t-shirts that will be dispersed nationally, put example approvals into your process so there are no surprises at scale.

Fabric matters more than the majority of people think

A water based print is a partnership in between ink and fiber. Ringspun cotton takes ink perfectly. Carded open end cotton is scratchier and beverages ink unevenly. Blends make complex things. A 50/50 poly-cotton or a triblend with rayon can work with water based, however discharge just raises the cotton part. That implies your color fills the cotton while the polyester and rayon stay as-is, frequently yielding a heathered or speckled print that looks deliberate if you style for it. If your objective is flat, brilliant color on a poly blend, traditional plastisol or a specialized low-cure system may be smarter.

On all over print tasks, such as a seam-to-seam tonal pattern behind a chest graphic, consider 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 show up as blank micro-gaps. If you should print on ended up garments, anticipate little voids along joints, which some clients like as part of the garment's character.

The production reality: 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 greater mesh for detail, say 230 to 305, keeps the deposit thin and crisp. Establish with a misting bottle or a devoted screen rewetting solution at hand, and keep the print room humidity in a constant range, approximately 45 to 55 percent, to avoid early drying. Manual press operators will see how quickly a basic water based ink clears the screen compared to a heavy plastisol. Auto presses, with flood bars and consistent rate, reduce clogging.

Curing is where lots of novices fizzle. Water based inks require 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 across the belt and adequate dwell to reach the producer's remedy DTG printer cost temperature level throughout the ink layer, not just at the surface area. Shirts leaving the tunnel ought to be dry to the touch with no cool areas. For discharge, the chain reaction takes place throughout this remedy, and you will smell the activator. Excellent ventilation is non-negotiable.

Durability and wash testing

Durability depends upon correct treatment and fiber engagement. A well-cured water based print on cotton can outlive the shirt. I determine toughness by standardized wash tests, 10 to 20 cycles at warm, topple dry medium, then visual assessment for fading and cracking. Water based prints show steady softening and a mild fade in the same way jeans unwinds. Plastisol's failure mode is different, usually splitting if the ink layer is too thick or under-cured. For customized t-shirts that need to look good at a household reunion and still remain in rotation next summertime, water based holds up when produced correctly.

Cost, throughput, and when to pick which method

Costs vary regionally, but the economics fall into familiar patterns. Water based ink itself is typically comparable to plastisol at the gallon level, however you invest more in store environment and drying capacity. On press, water based can be a little slower at setup because you pay closer attention to mesh, squeegee durometer, and off-contact. Once tuned, cars run at comparable speeds. Where it actually pays off remains in viewed worth. A soft print on a mid-tier blank typically feels premium without jumping to the highest-cost t-shirt. Brand names can price accordingly.

For bulk t shirt orders above a few hundred pieces where the art fits the medium, discharge on 100 percent cotton is a workhorse. For print as needed that needs over night turn-around and art changes continuously, direct-to-garment or DTF might be better operationally, though both have their own ecological and feel compromises. When you handle wholesale t shirts with numerous colorways and must keep stock flexible, a versatile water based palette on light garments is efficient, considering that you prevent the weight and tightness that collect with multiple underbases in plastisol.

Design choices that draw out the very best in water based and discharge

Design planning starts with the fabric color and ends with treating. 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 subdue. On dark cotton, discharge shines with mid-tone richness and soft edges. Consider how the shirt color peeks through. A charcoal heather with a discharge cream graphic looks like it grew there.

Type weight matters. Very thin knockouts inside heavy flood locations can fill in with discharge, especially on high-absorbency cotton. If you need razor unfavorable space, different the art to print negative shapes as positive strokes with a clear schedule for squeegee pressure and flashes. Ask your printer for a proof on the real garment instead of relying on a digital mockup. A mockup can not catch fiber interplay and dye lift.

When you ought to state no to discharge

There are times I advise against discharge. Polyester-rich garments are leading of the list. The activator can cause dye migration, especially with sublimated or cationic-dyed efficiency shirts, resulting in 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 customer is delicate to small smell throughout treating, discharge days in the store are noticeable. Well-managed air flow alleviates this, however it belongs to the process.

If a client requires metallics, puff, DTG t-shirt printing or specialized textures, plastisol or hybrid systems still own that space. Water based metallics exist, but the particles typically sink, and the effect is more satin than true metal. For high-opacity neons on dark shirts that must be billboard-bright, you might 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 depend on a partner, established a workflow that eliminates guesswork. A simple technique keeps surprises at bay and assists you hit due dates for launches and events.

• Decide on material first, then ink: choose 100 percent ringspun cotton for discharge, or light, high-quality cotton for standard water based. Prevent high poly unless the heathered effect is desired.
• Request test prints on the exact blanks: one shirt per colorway is usually enough to lock approvals, particularly for bulk t shirt orders where consistency matters.
• Clarify color expectations in context: supply 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 consumers, then validate your remedy times so wash durability matches the tag guidance.
• Confirm ecological standards: ask your printer about ink accreditations, 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 constraints: quick art modifications, little batch sizes, and the requirement for a broad color gamut. Direct-to-garment has ended up being the default, but water based screen printing can fit POD if you arrange catalog strategy. For designs that are high volume even at small everyday amounts, pre-burning screens and keeping a little stock of popular sizes lets you ship exact same day with water based prints that feel much better than lots of DTG outputs. It works best when you keep art to a couple of colors and choose light garments.

If your POD design depends 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 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 task, I describe what they are purchasing. They get the soft hand that retail customers relate with quality, improved breathability, and compliance for sensitive purchasers. On a per-shirt basis, the distinction for a basic three-color front hit might be modest, often a little uplift that can be reduced the effects of by choosing a slightly more cost-effective blank. If the program is for wholesale t t-shirts going into shops or e-commerce at exceptional rate points, the improvement in viewed value more than covers the change.

For personalized shirts, such as charity runs or college clubs, choices matter. Deal a base cost 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 enhance for expense, others for feel. Fulfilling both lets you serve a larger market without diluting your craft.

Care directions that clients actually follow

Care labels frequently check out like legal disclaimers. Keep it easy and practical so the shirt makes it through reality. Water based and discharge prints choose cooler washes and lower dryer heat, however they will withstand normal laundering if effectively cured. I recommend phrasing care pointers in human terms on product pages: wash cold with comparable colors, tumble dry low, prevent material softeners if you desire 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 tested these instructions in-house: two similar shirts, one washed 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 correct treatment, not from babying the garment.

All over print concepts that do not fight the limitations

All over print captures attention, however printing flood coats on put together garments with water based inks can be unforgiving. Rather of combating joints, style for them. Use tone-on-tone patterns that fade naturally at joints, or use a ghosted grid that looks deliberate when it breaks at hems. Alternatively, run panel printing and sew. Brand names that sell restricted runs can justify cut-and-sew for 100 to 300 pieces if the style necessitates it. The ended up garments check out as customized from a distance, which is the goal.

A brief anecdote from a hectic season

One spring we ran a series for a local music festival. The client desired soft black tees with a sunburst print that felt like it lived in the fabric. We tested on three blacks from two mills. Batch one raised easily with discharge, batch 2 remained stubbornly dark in the mid-rays of the art work. We logged dye lot numbers, rotated the ink mix by including a touch more white pigment to compensate, and changed dwell time by 10 to 15 seconds to complete the response. The result: constant tees throughout 2,400 units, each with a soft, breathable print that sold out by day two.

That task taught the crew to deal with discharge like cooking, not chemistry text printing on shirts on a chalkboard. The recipe matters, but so does tasting and adjusting.

Common risks and how to prevent them

Most issues I see trace back to process, not the ink family. Under-curing is the first culprit. Water based ink that feels dry can still be under-cured if the core of the print never ever struck the needed temperature for the best period. Utilize a donut probe or an embedded thermochromic strip to measure real ink movie temperature, not simply dryer setpoints. Screen lockup is the 2nd. Keep a constant speed on press, flood between prints, and control shop humidity.

A 3rd risk is overlooking fabric variability. If you switch blanks mid-run because a size is out of stock, you may see shifts in color. Build contingency into your getting. For brands planning ahead, picking a standard blank and locking it with your provider reduces surprises.

Final assistance for selecting your path

If your top priority is soft, breathable custom-made apparel that consumers keep wearing, water based inks deserve the knowing curve. Use basic water based on light garments for clean information and matte color. Relocate to release on one hundred percent cotton when you want the softest prints on dark t-shirts. Accept screen printing and embroidery and prepare for slight color variance with discharge, specifically throughout color lots. For bulk t shirt orders, build in a single round of physical sampling on the actual blanks you will utilize, then record your settings and hold back a reference shirt for quality control.

If you run a print on demand brochure, take a water based pill of finest sellers on light t-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 customer rubs their thumb across a print and feels nothing but fiber, you've won. That's the minute water based and discharge provide, and why they are worthy of a location 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