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 people in fact delight in wearing, and the need to produce at scale without compromising the environment or the bottom line. That tension has actually formed how I choose inks, pretreatments, and fabrics for custom apparel jobs. For many years, I've found out that water based inks and discharge printing are not just buzzwords, they are practical tools that produce lovely outcomes and real comfort, particularly for T shirt printing that requires to withstand daily wear.

If you run a brand name, handle bulk t t-shirt orders, or simply want your customized shirts to feel like a favorite from the first wash, it's worth comprehending how these ink systems work, where they shine, and where they require care. The ideal choice can make the distinction in between a t-shirt that gets worn once and one that becomes the go-to.

What water based ink in fact 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 movie, water based inks take in into the fibers. That single particular discusses the majority of the advantages and compromises. 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 often indistinguishable from the t-shirt itself. For custom-made t shirts designed for comfort, this is the path to the "retail feel" customers ask for.

There are 2 main families: standard water based and discharge. Basic water based ink works best on white or very light shirts. It can cover mid-tones with the ideal base, once you move into darker fabrics, you either need a heavier print or you change to release. Release printing uses an activator that lifts the color from the material during curing, essentially whitening the shirt's color in the printed areas, then changes it with your pigment. The end outcome is the softest possible print on dark cotton, frequently 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 unload the chemistry and the workflow. Water based inks typically consist of fewer unstable organic compounds than solvent-heavy alternatives and prevent PVC completely. Lots of are certified with rigorous standards like Oeko-Tex or fulfill retail screening regimes that prohibit particular phthalates and heavy metals. If you sell customized garments into business health cares, schools, or health-conscious brands, 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 use on your dryer, and even material sourcing. Discharge requires an activator, usually based upon zinc formaldehyde sulfoxylate or similar compounds, which has its own handling and ventilation requirements. In a well-run store, exposure is controlled and waste is captured. 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 "favorite tee" factor

Most people do not purchase a graphic tee because they love the ink. They buy it because the garment looks great, feels good, and keeps that character after duplicated cleaning. Water based inks, consisting of discharge, offer you that broken-in convenience from day one. 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 obtain from heavy plastisol when you stretch throughout the chest.

I keep a rack of contrast 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 even 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 harsh light, which some streetwear clients prefer, but the wearer feedback corresponds: water based seems like a premium garment.

Color, protection, and how expectations form results

Color accuracy with water based inks refers control, humidity, and the fabric's own dye. 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 includes variables. Different color lots discharge differently, even within the exact same brand and color. Black 3001 blanks from one batch might raise to a warm charcoal, while the next batch clears to a cooler grey. The pigment you include steers the final color, however 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. Many designers welcome the slightly vintage character of discharge, where reds land earthy and blues feel deep rather than neon. If your brand name demands laser-precise color recreation for corporate logos, either order test prints on the precise batch you prepare to use or consider a water based underbase or hybrid method where needed. For wholesale t shirts that will be distributed nationally, put swatch approvals into your procedure so there are not a surprises at scale.

Fabric matters more than most people think

A water based print is a collaboration in between ink and fiber. Ringspun cotton takes hat embroidery 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 raises the cotton part. That implies your color saturates 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 goal is flat, brilliant color on a poly blend, conventional plastisol or a specialized low-cure system might be smarter.

On all over print projects, 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 should print on completed garments, expect little voids along joints, which some customers like as part of the garment's character.

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

Water based inks act in a different way on press. They dry quicker in the screen, which is useful on material however can lock a mesh if you stop briefly too long. Running a higher mesh for information, state 230 to 305, keeps the deposit thin and crisp. Set up with a misting bottle or a dedicated screen rewetting option at hand, and keep the print room humidity in a stable variety, roughly 45 to 55 percent, to prevent early drying. Manual press operators will notice how quickly a basic water based ink clears the screen compared to a heavy plastisol. Car presses, with flood bars and consistent pace, minimize clogging.

Curing is where many newbies fizzle. Water based inks need both heat and time for the water to evaporate, then for the binders to cross-link. A clothes dryer tunnel with sufficient airflow makes the distinction. You desire even heat throughout the belt and adequate dwell to reach the manufacturer's treatment temperature throughout the ink layer, not just at the surface. Shirts exiting the tunnel ought to be dry to the touch without any cool spots. For discharge, the chemical reaction happens throughout this remedy, and you will smell the activator. Excellent ventilation is non-negotiable.

Durability and wash testing

Durability depends on appropriate treatment and fiber engagement. A well-cured water based print on cotton can outlive the t-shirt. I measure durability by standardized wash tests, 10 to 20 cycles at warm, topple dry medium, then visual assessment for fading and cracking. Water based prints reveal progressive softening and a gentle fade in the exact same way denim relaxes. Plastisol's failure mode is various, embroidery shop near me generally splitting if the ink layer is too thick or under-cured. For individualized t-shirts that need to look proficient at a household reunion and still remain in rotation next summer, water based holds up when produced correctly.

Cost, throughput, and when to choose which method

Costs vary regionally, but the economics fall into familiar patterns. Water based ink itself is typically similar to plastisol at the gallon level, but you invest more in shop environment and drying capacity. On press, water based can be slightly slower at setup because you pay closer attention to mesh, squeegee durometer, and off-contact. When tuned, autos perform at similar speeds. Where it truly settles remains in viewed worth. A soft print on a mid-tier blank frequently feels premium without leaping to the highest-cost shirt. Brands can price accordingly.

For bulk t shirt orders above a couple of hundred pieces where the art matches the medium, discharge on one hundred percent cotton is a workhorse. For print on demand that requires over night turn-around and art modifications continuously, direct-to-garment or DTF might be much better operationally, though both have their own environmental and feel trade-offs. When you handle wholesale t t-shirts with multiple colorways and must keep stock flexible, a versatile water based combination on light garments is effective, given that you prevent the weight and stiffness that collect with numerous underbases in plastisol.

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

Design preparation starts with the material color and ends with treating. On light shirts, lean into detail: thin lines, halftones, hand-drawn textures. Standard water based ink prints those with a delicacy that plastisol tends to overpower. On dark cotton, discharge shines with mid-tone richness and soft edges. Think about how the t-shirt color peeks 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 fill out with discharge, especially on high-absorbency cotton. If you require razor negative space, separate 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 actual garment rather than trusting a digital mockup. A mockup can not catch fiber interplay and dye lift.

When you must say no to discharge

There are times I encourage versus discharge. Polyester-rich garments are leading of the list. The activator can cause color migration, specifically with sublimated or cationic-dyed efficiency t-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 client is sensitive to minor smell during treating, discharge days in the shop are visible. Well-managed airflow alleviates this, however it belongs to the process.

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

Practical workflow for brands and creators

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

  • Decide on material first, then ink: choose 100 percent ringspun cotton for discharge, or light, top quality cotton for standard water based. Prevent high poly unless the heathered impact is desired.
  • Request test prints on the exact blanks: one t-shirt per colorway is usually sufficient to lock approvals, specifically for bulk t t-shirt orders where consistency matters.
  • Clarify color expectations in context: provide Pantone targets for light garments and explain acceptable ranges for dark discharge prints, with images of previous work you like.
  • Align on care labels and handling: recommend cold wash and low heat dry for consumers, then verify your remedy times so clean resilience matches the tag guidance.
  • Confirm ecological requirements: ask your printer about ink accreditations, ventilation, and waste capture, especially if your brand messaging leans into eco friendly inks.

How water based fits with print on demand

Print on demand has its own restraints: fast art modifications, small 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 organize catalog strategy. For designs that are high volume even at small everyday quantities, 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 best when you keep art to a couple of colors and select light garments.

If your POD design counts 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 care about touch will notice.

Pricing, margins, and interacting value

When customers ask why a water based or discharge print costs more than a basic plastisol job, I describe what they are buying. They get the soft hand that retail consumers equate with quality, improved breathability, and compliance for delicate purchasers. On a per-shirt basis, the difference for a standard three-color front hit may be modest, typically a small uplift that can be neutralized by choosing a slightly more economical blank. If the program is for wholesale t t-shirts going into shops or e-commerce at superior cost points, the improvement in viewed value more than covers the change.

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

Care instructions that customers really follow

Care labels often read like legal disclaimers. Keep it simple and practical so the shirt survives real life. Water based and discharge prints prefer cooler washes and lower clothes dryer heat, however they will endure regular laundering if correctly cured. I suggest phrasing care suggestions in human terms on item pages: wash cold with similar colors, tumble dry low, avoid fabric conditioners if you want colors to remain crisp. The last note matters because some conditioners can deposit films on fibers, dulling the visual contrast of great lines.

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

All over print ideas that do not battle the limitations

All over print captures attention, but printing flood coats on put together garments with water based inks can be unforgiving. Instead of fighting joints, style 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 sell limited runs can justify cut-and-sew for 100 to 300 pieces if the design warrants it. The completed garments check out as customized from a range, which is the goal.

A brief anecdote from a busy season

One spring we ran a series for a regional 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 raised cleanly 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 outcome: consistent 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, however so does tasting and adjusting.

Common risks and how to avoid them

Most issues I see trace back to procedure, not the ink family. Under-curing is the very first perpetrator. Water based ink that feels dry can still be under-cured if the core of the print never hit the required temp for the best duration. Utilize a donut probe or an embedded thermochromic strip to measure true ink film temperature level, not simply dryer setpoints. Screen lockup is the 2nd. Keep a constant pace on press, flood between prints, and control store humidity.

A 3rd mistake is ignoring fabric irregularity. If you switch blanks mid-run because a size runs out stock, you may see shifts in color. Construct contingency into your buying. For brands planning ahead, selecting a basic blank and locking it with your provider minimizes surprises.

Final assistance for selecting your path

If your top priority is soft, breathable custom-made clothing that clients keep wearing, water based inks are worth the knowing curve. Usage basic water based upon light garments for clean information and matte color. Move to discharge on 100 percent cotton when you want the softest prints on dark t-shirts. Accept and prepare for minor color variation with discharge, specifically across color 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 keep back a recommendation shirt for quality control.

If you operate a print as needed brochure, take a water based capsule of best sellers on light t-shirts. Market the distinction: eco friendly inks, breathable feel, and retail-quality hand. Keep your specialty impacts and neon stunners in plastisol or hybrid systems where they belong.

Custom t shirts are judged in the hands, not simply on screens. When a client 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 deserve a place in any severe shop 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.