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 two things in constant stress: the push for softer, more breathable prints that individuals actually 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 customized clothing tasks. For many years, I've learned that water based inks and discharge printing are not just buzzwords, they are useful tools that produce gorgeous results and genuine comfort, specifically for T t-shirt printing that requires to stand up to day-to-day wear.

If you run a brand, handle bulk t shirt orders, or merely want your tailored t-shirts to feel like a preferred from the first wash, it's worth understanding how these ink systems work, where they shine, and where they require care. The right option can make the difference between a shirt that gets used as soon as and one that ends up being 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 material and remedies into a film, water based inks soak up into the fibers. That single particular explains the majority of the benefits and trade-offs. Prints feel soft since you're touching the cotton, not a layer of cured PVC. Colors tend to look more matte and integrated. On light garments, the hand is often equivalent from the t-shirt itself. For custom t shirts developed for comfort, this is the course to the "retail feel" clients ask for.

There are 2 primary households: basic water based and discharge. Basic water based ink works best on white or really light shirts. It can cover mid-tones with the ideal base, once you move into darker fabrics, you either require a much heavier print rush t shirt printing or you switch to release. Discharge printing uses an activator that raises the dye from the fabric during curing, basically bleaching the t-shirt's color in the printed locations, then changes it with your pigment. The end outcome 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 typically consist of fewer unstable organic compounds than solvent-heavy alternatives and prevent PVC completely. Many are compliant with rigorous requirements like Oeko-Tex or fulfill retail testing routines that ban specific phthalates and heavy metals. If you sell customized garments into corporate wellness programs, schools, or health-conscious brand names, those certificates smooth procurement and keep you ahead of compliance.

That stated, "eco friendly" is a system idea. Ink is one part. You also need to take a look at store practices: purification on your washout cubicle, reclaim chemistry, energy usage on your clothes dryer, and even fabric 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, direct exposure is managed 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 called in. Real sustainability conceals in the details.

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

Most people do not purchase a graphic tee since they love the ink. They purchase it since the garment looks great, feels great, and keeps that character after repeated cleaning. Water based inks, including discharge, provide 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 obtain 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 slightly, and the t-shirts kept moving. A plastisol sample with the very same art looks glossier and still pops more under severe light, which some streetwear clients choose, but the wearer feedback is consistent: water based feels like a premium garment.

Color, protection, and how expectations form results

Color accuracy 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 strike tight Pantones with a measured ink mix and a clean mesh. On darker cotton, discharge adds variables. Different color lots discharge differently, even within the very same brand 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 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 becomes part of the medium. Numerous designers embrace the somewhat classic character of discharge, where reds land earthy and blues feel deep instead of neon. If your brand name needs laser-precise color recreation for business logos, either order test prints on the precise batch you plan to use or think about a water based underbase or hybrid approach where needed. 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 many people think

A water based print is a collaboration between ink and fiber. Ringspun cotton takes ink magnificently. 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 deal with water based, however discharge just raises the cotton portion. That indicates your color saturates the cotton while the polyester and rayon remain as-is, often yielding a heathered or speckled print that looks deliberate if you design for it. If your goal is flat, brilliant color on a poly blend, traditional plastisol or a specialized low-cure system may 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 ended up tees presents seams, folds, and inconsistent pressure that appear as blank micro-gaps. If you should print on completed garments, anticipate little voids along seams, which some customers like as part of the garment's character.

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

Water based inks behave differently on press. They dry much faster in the screen, which works on fabric however can lock a mesh if you pause too long. Running a higher mesh for detail, state 230 to 305, keeps the deposit thin and crisp. Establish with a misting bottle or a dedicated screen rewetting solution at hand, and keep the print space humidity in a consistent range, roughly 45 to 55 percent, to prevent premature drying. Manual press operators will discover how quickly a standard water based ink clears the screen compared to a heavy plastisol. Vehicle presses, with flood bars and constant pace, lower clogging.

Curing is where many novices miss the mark. Water based inks require both heat and time for the water to vaporize, then for the binders to cross-link. A dryer tunnel with sufficient air flow makes the distinction. You desire even heat throughout the belt and sufficient dwell to reach the manufacturer's cure temperature throughout the ink layer, not simply at the surface. Shirts leaving the tunnel must be dry to the touch without any cool spots. For discharge, the chain reaction occurs throughout this remedy, and you will smell the activator. Good ventilation is non-negotiable.

Durability and wash testing

Durability depends on correct cure and fiber engagement. A well-cured water based print on cotton can outlive the shirt. I measure toughness by standardized wash tests, 10 to 20 cycles at warm, topple dry medium, then visual inspection for fading and cracking. Water based prints show gradual softening and a mild fade in the very same method denim unwinds. Plastisol's failure mode is different, normally cracking if the ink layer is too thick or under-cured. For personalized shirts that require to look good at a household reunion and still be in rotation next summer, water based holds up when produced correctly.

Cost, throughput, and when to choose which method

Costs differ regionally, however the economics fall under familiar patterns. Water based ink itself is often comparable to plastisol at the gallon level, however you invest more in shop environment and drying capacity. On press, water based can be slightly slower at setup due to the fact that you pay closer DTG t shirts attention to mesh, squeegee durometer, and off-contact. Once tuned, automobiles run at similar speeds. Where it truly settles remains in viewed value. A soft print on a mid-tier blank frequently 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 requires overnight turn-around and art changes continuously, direct-to-garment or DTF might be much better operationally, though both have their own ecological and feel trade-offs. When you take on wholesale t shirts with several colorways and should keep inventory flexible, a flexible water based scheme on light garments is effective, considering that you avoid the weight and stiffness that collect with several underbases in plastisol.

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

Design preparation begins with the fabric color and ends with treating. On light 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 glimpses through. A charcoal heather with a discharge cream graphic appear like it grew there.

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

When you should state no to discharge

There are times I recommend 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, leading to 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 delicate to minor smell during curing, discharge days in the shop are obvious. Well-managed airflow mitigates this, however it is part of the process.

If a customer requires metallics, puff, or specialized textures, plastisol or hybrid systems still own that space. Water based metallics exist, however the particles often sink, and the impact is more satin than real metal. For high-opacity neons on dark t-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 rely on a partner, established a workflow that eliminates guesswork. A basic approach keeps surprises at bay and assists you hit due dates for launches and events.

  • Decide on fabric initially, then ink: pick 100 percent ringspun cotton for discharge, or light, premium cotton for standard water based. Prevent high poly unless the heathered result is desired.
  • Request test prints on the exact blanks: one t-shirt per colorway is normally enough to lock approvals, particularly for bulk t t-shirt orders where consistency matters.
  • Clarify color expectations in context: offer Pantone targets for light garments and explain acceptable varieties for dark discharge prints, with photos of previous work you like.
  • Align on care labels and handling: advise cold wash and low heat dry for clients, then validate your remedy times so clean sturdiness matches the tag guidance.
  • Confirm ecological requirements: 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 on demand has its own restrictions: quick art changes, small batch sizes, and the need for a broad color gamut. Direct-to-garment has ended up being the default, however water based screen printing can fit POD if you organize brochure strategy. For styles that are high volume even at little everyday amounts, pre-burning screens and keeping a little stock of popular sizes lets you deliver same day with water based prints that feel much better than numerous DTG outputs. It works finest when you keep art to a couple of colors and select 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 convenience 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 fundamental plastisol job, I explain what they are buying. They get the soft hand that retail consumers equate with quality, enhanced breathability, and compliance for delicate purchasers. On a per-shirt basis, the difference for a basic three-color front hit may be modest, often a little uplift that can be neutralized by picking a slightly more economical blank. If the program is for wholesale t shirts going into stores or e-commerce at premium price points, the improvement in viewed worth more than covers the change.

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

Care guidelines that consumers actually follow

Care labels frequently read like legal disclaimers. Keep it simple and reasonable so the shirt makes it through reality. Water based and discharge prints choose cooler washes and lower dryer heat, but they will withstand normal laundering if appropriately treated. I suggest phrasing care ideas in human terms on product pages: wash cold with similar colors, tumble dry low, avoid fabric conditioners if you desire colors to remain crisp. The last note matters due to the fact that some conditioners can transfer films on fibers, dulling the visual contrast of fine lines.

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

All over print concepts that do not fight the limitations

All over print catches attention, however printing flood coats on put together garments with water based inks can be unforgiving. Rather of fighting seams, style for them. Usage 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 offer limited runs can validate cut-and-sew for 100 to 300 pieces if the style warrants it. The completed garments read as custom-made from a distance, which is the goal.

A short anecdote from a hectic season

One spring we ran a series for a regional music celebration. The customer wanted soft black tees with a sunburst print that felt like it resided in the fabric. We tested on three blacks from 2 mills. Batch one raised cleanly with discharge, batch two stayed stubbornly dark in the mid-rays of the artwork. We logged color lot numbers, rotated the ink mix by adding a touch more white pigment to compensate, and adjusted dwell time by 10 to 15 seconds to complete the reaction. The result: consistent tees digitizing services throughout 2,400 units, each with a soft, breathable print that sold out by day two.

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

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

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

A 3rd mistake is disregarding material variability. If you switch blanks mid-run since a size runs out stock, you might see shifts in color. Construct contingency into your getting. For brand names preparing ahead, choosing a basic blank and locking it with your provider reduces surprises.

Final assistance for selecting your path

If your priority is soft, breathable custom-made apparel that clients keep using, water based inks deserve the learning curve. Usage basic water based on light garments for clean information and matte color. Move to release on one hundred percent cotton when you desire the softest prints on dark shirts. Accept and plan for minor color variation with discharge, particularly across 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 recommendation t-shirt for quality control.

If you run a print on demand catalog, take a water based pill of best sellers on light shirts. Market the difference: eco friendly inks, breathable feel, and retail-quality hand. Keep your specialty results and neon stunners in plastisol or hybrid systems where they belong.

Custom t shirts are judged in the hands, not just on screens. When a customer rubs their thumb across a print and feels nothing but fiber, you have actually won. That's the moment water based and discharge deliver, and why they deserve a location in any serious shop 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.