October 18, 2025

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

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


Prints R Us

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

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

What does Prints R Us do?

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

Where is Prints R Us located?

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

What services does Prints R Us provide?

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

Which industries does Prints R Us serve?

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

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

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

Does Prints R Us use high-quality materials?

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

What awards has Prints R Us won?

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

How can I contact Prints R Us?

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

Walk into any printing shop that takes its craft seriously, and you will see 2 things in consistent tension: the push for softer, more breathable prints that individuals actually take pleasure in using, and the need to produce at scale without compromising the environment or the bottom line. That tension has actually formed how I select inks, pretreatments, and fabrics for custom-made clothing projects. For many years, I have actually found out that water based inks and discharge printing are not just buzzwords, they are useful tools that produce beautiful results and real convenience, especially for T shirt printing that requires to stand up to day-to-day wear.

If you run a brand, manage bulk t shirt orders, or simply want your tailored shirts to feel like a preferred from the very first wash, it deserves comprehending how these ink systems work, where they shine, and where they need care. The ideal option can make the difference between a t-shirt that gets worn when and one that ends up being the go-to.

What water based ink really is

Water based inks suspend pigments in water rather than in plasticizers and solvents. Unlike plastisol, which sits on top of the fabric and cures into a movie, water based inks soak up into the fibers. That single particular explains most of the benefits 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 equivalent from the t-shirt itself. For custom t shirts created for comfort, this is the path to the "retail feel" customers ask for.

There are 2 main families: basic water based and discharge. Basic water based ink works best on white or really light t-shirts. It can cover mid-tones with the best base, once you move into darker fabrics, you either require a heavier print or you switch to discharge. Discharge printing uses an activator that raises the color from the fabric throughout curing, basically 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 limits

Eco friendly inks are not a marketing slogan if you unpack the chemistry and the workflow. Water based inks usually consist of less unpredictable natural substances than solvent-heavy options and prevent PVC entirely. Numerous are compliant with rigorous requirements like Oeko-Tex or monogramming satisfy retail screening programs that prohibit specific phthalates and heavy metals. If you offer custom garments into business health cares, schools, or health-conscious brands, those certificates smooth procurement and keep you ahead of compliance.

That stated, "eco friendly" is a system principle. Ink is one part. You also require to take a look at store practices: filtration on your washout booth, reclaim chemistry, energy usage on your dryer, and even material sourcing. Discharge requires an activator, generally based on zinc formaldehyde sulfoxylate or comparable compounds, which has its own handling and ventilation requirements. In a well-run store, exposure is managed and waste is captured. If you're using print as needed with a partner, ask how they manage discharge effluent and whether they have air exchange and curing controls dialed in. Real sustainability conceals 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 enjoy the ink. They purchase it because the garment looks great, feels excellent, and keeps that character after repeated cleaning. Water based inks, including 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 in some cases get from heavy plastisol when you stretch throughout the chest.

I keep a rack of comparison 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 much more, the colors mellowed somewhat, and the shirts kept moving. A plastisol sample with the exact same art looks glossier and still pops more under severe light, which some streetwear clients choose, but the wearer feedback corresponds: water based seems like a premium garment.

Color, protection, and how expectations form results

Color precision with water based inks is a matter of control, humidity, and the material's own dye. 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. Various dye lots discharge differently, even within the very 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 final color, but you're still working with a background that is shifting as the color is removed.

That's not a flaw, it belongs to the medium. Many designers accept the slightly classic character of discharge, where reds land earthy and blues feel deep rather than neon. If your brand needs laser-precise color reproduction for corporate logos, either order test prints on the precise batch you prepare to use or think about a water based underbase or hybrid approach where required. For wholesale t t-shirts that will be dispersed nationally, put example approvals into your procedure so there are no surprises at scale.

Fabric matters more than the majority of people think

A water based print is a partnership 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 only lifts the cotton portion. That implies your color saturates the cotton while the polyester and rayon stay as-is, often yielding a heathered or speckled print that looks deliberate if you style for it. If your objective is flat, vivid color on a poly blend, standard 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, consider cut-and-sew with water based prints on panels before assembly. Garment printing all over on finished tees introduces joints, folds, and inconsistent pressure that appear as blank micro-gaps. If you should print on ended up garments, expect little voids along seams, 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 much faster in the screen, which is useful on fabric but can lock a mesh if you stop briefly too long. Running a higher mesh for information, say 230 to 305, keeps the deposit thin and crisp. Set up with a misting bottle or a dedicated screen rewetting solution at hand, and keep the print space humidity in a steady variety, approximately 45 to 55 percent, tri-blend t shirts to avoid early drying. Manual press operators will discover how rapidly a basic water based ink clears the screen compared to a heavy plastisol. Car presses, with flood bars and constant rate, lower clogging.

Curing is where numerous beginners miss the mark. 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 difference. You desire even heat throughout the belt and adequate dwell to reach the maker's cure temperature level throughout the ink layer, not just at the surface area. T-shirts exiting the tunnel must be dry to the touch with no cool spots. For discharge, the chain reaction takes place during this remedy, and you will smell the activator. Great ventilation is non-negotiable.

Durability and wash testing

Durability depends on appropriate remedy and fiber engagement. A well-cured water based print on cotton can last longer than the t-shirt. I determine toughness by standardized wash tests, 10 to 20 cycles at warm, tumble dry medium, then visual evaluation for fading and splitting. Water based prints show progressive softening and a mild fade in the exact same way denim unwinds. Plastisol's failure mode is different, normally breaking if the ink layer is too thick or under-cured. For personalized t-shirts that require to look proficient at a household reunion and still remain in rotation next summertime, water based holds up when produced correctly.

Cost, throughput, and when to select 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 shop environment and drying capability. On press, water based can be somewhat slower at setup due to the fact that you pay closer attention to mesh, squeegee durometer, and off-contact. Once tuned, cars run at similar speeds. Where it really settles is in viewed value. A soft print on a mid-tier blank often feels premium without leaping to the highest-cost shirt. Brands 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 on demand that requires over night turnaround and art modifications continuously, direct-to-garment or DTF might be better operationally, though both have their own environmental and feel trade-offs. When you handle wholesale t t-shirts with numerous colorways and need to keep inventory flexible, a versatile water based palette on light garments is effective, given that you avoid the weight and stiffness that build up with numerous underbases in plastisol.

Design choices that draw out the very 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. 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 shirt color glimpses through. A charcoal heather with a discharge cream graphic appear like it grew there.

Type weight matters. Extremely thin knockouts inside heavy flood locations can fill out with discharge, particularly on high-absorbency cotton. If you require 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 actual garment instead of relying on a digital mockup. A mockup can not capture fiber interaction and dye lift.

When you must state no to discharge

There are times I advise versus discharge. Polyester-rich garments are leading of the list. The activator can trigger color migration, specifically with sublimated or cationic-dyed efficiency t-shirts, causing ghosting or brownish casts. Some garment dyes, particularly reactive black blends, withstand lifting, leaving a shadowed print that looks undercured even when it isn't. If a customer is sensitive to small odor throughout treating, discharge days in the shop are visible. Well-managed air flow reduces this, however it belongs to the process.

If a client needs metallics, puff, or specialized textures, plastisol or hybrid systems still own that space. Water based metallics exist, but the particles typically sink, and the impact is more satin than real metal. For high-opacity neons on dark shirts that need to be billboard-bright, you might require 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 count on a partner, set up a workflow that gets rid of uncertainty. An easy approach keeps surprises at bay and helps you struck due dates for launches and events.

  • Decide on fabric initially, then ink: choose 100 percent ringspun cotton for discharge, or light, high-quality cotton for basic water based. Prevent high poly unless the heathered result is desired.
  • Request test prints on the specific blanks: one t-shirt per colorway is usually sufficient to lock approvals, especially for bulk t 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 photos of prior work you like.
  • Align on care labels and handling: suggest cold wash and low heat dry for consumers, then validate your treatment times so wash toughness matches the tag guidance.
  • Confirm environmental standards: ask your printer about ink certifications, ventilation, and waste capture, especially if your brand messaging leans into eco friendly inks.

How water based fits with print on demand

Print as needed has its own constraints: quick art modifications, small batch sizes, and the need for a broad color range. Direct-to-garment has actually become the default, however water based screen printing can fit POD if you arrange brochure 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 same day with water based prints that feel better than lots of DTG outputs. It works best when you keep art to one or two 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. Customers who appreciate touch will notice.

Pricing, margins, and interacting value

When customers ask why a water based or discharge print costs more than a fundamental plastisol job, I discuss what they are buying. They get the soft hand that retail customers equate with quality, enhanced breathability, and compliance for delicate purchasers. On a per-shirt basis, the difference for a standard three-color front hit might be modest, often a small uplift that can be reduced the effects of by selecting a somewhat more affordable blank. If the program is for wholesale t shirts entering into shops or e-commerce at premium rate points, the enhancement in perceived worth more than covers the change.

For customized t-shirts, such as charity runs or college clubs, options matter. Deal a base cost embroidery hoops and stabilizers with plastisol on midweight cotton, then a "comfort upgrade" that consists of a ringspun blank with water based ink. You will see a clear split: some clients optimize for cost, others for feel. Satisfying both lets you serve a wider market without diluting your corporate apparel embroidery craft.

Care guidelines that consumers actually follow

Care labels typically check out like legal disclaimers. Keep it easy and reasonable so the t-shirt endures reality. Water based and discharge prints prefer cooler washes and lower dryer heat, however they will sustain typical laundering if appropriately treated. I recommend phrasing care tips in human terms on product pages: wash cold with similar colors, tumble dry low, prevent fabric conditioners if you desire colors to remain crisp. The last note matters since some conditioners can deposit films on fibers, dulling the visual contrast of fine lines.

I have actually checked these instructions in-house: 2 identical shirts, one washed cold and dried low, the other washed warm and dried high. After 15 cycles, the warm/high tee showed somewhat faster fading of mid-tones, yet still looked great. That tolerance comes from appropriate cure, not from babying the garment.

All over print ideas that do not combat the limitations

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

A short anecdote from a busy season

One spring we ran a series for a regional music festival. The customer desired soft black tees with a sunburst print that seemed like it lived in the fabric. We tested on three blacks from two mills. Batch one lifted cleanly with discharge, batch two event t shirts remained stubbornly dark in the mid-rays of the art work. We logged dye lot numbers, rotated the ink mix by adding a touch more white pigment to compensate, and changed dwell time by 10 to 15 seconds to complete the response. The result: consistent tees across 2,400 systems, each with a soft, breathable print that offered out by day two.

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

Common risks and how to prevent them

Most issues I see trace back to procedure, not the ink family. Under-curing is the first perpetrator. Water based ink that feels dry can still be under-cured if the core of the print never ever struck the required temperature for the right period. Utilize a donut probe or an ingrained thermochromic strip to determine true ink movie temperature level, not simply clothes dryer setpoints. Screen lockup is the 2nd. Keep a consistent rate on press, flood between prints, and control store humidity.

A 3rd risk is neglecting fabric irregularity. If you change blanks mid-run since a size is out of stock, you may see shifts in color. Build contingency into your acquiring. For brand names planning ahead, selecting a standard blank and locking it with your supplier minimizes surprises.

Final guidance for picking your path

If your top priority is soft, breathable custom clothing that customers keep wearing, water based inks are worth the learning curve. Usage basic water based upon 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 plan for small color variation with discharge, particularly across color lots. For bulk t 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 recommendation t-shirt for quality control.

If you operate a print on demand catalog, 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 specialized results 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 customer rubs their thumb throughout a print and feels nothing but fiber, you've won. That's the minute water based and discharge deliver, and why they should have a location in any major store or brand name's toolkit.

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

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