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.

View on Google Maps
2826 Art Museum Dr, Jacksonville, 32207, US
Business Hours:
  • Monday–Friday: 09:00–17:00
  • Saturday: Closed
  • Sunday: Closed
Follow Us:

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 continuous stress: the push for softer, more breathable prints that individuals really take pleasure in wearing, and the requirement to produce at scale without jeopardizing the environment or the bottom line. That tension has shaped how I choose inks, pretreatments, and fabrics for custom clothing projects. Over the years, I have actually found out that water based inks and discharge printing are design your own t shirt not just buzzwords, they are practical tools that produce lovely results and genuine comfort, particularly for T shirt printing that needs to withstand daily wear.

If you run a brand name, handle bulk t t-shirt orders, or merely want your individualized t-shirts to seem like a favorite from the first wash, it deserves comprehending how these ink systems work, where they shine, and where they require care. The right option can make the distinction in between a shirt that gets used once and one that becomes 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 treatments into a film, water based inks absorb into the fibers. That single characteristic describes the majority 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 integrated. On light garments, the hand is typically indistinguishable from the shirt itself. For custom t t-shirts designed 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 very light t-shirts. It can cover mid-tones with the right base, but once you move into darker materials, you either need a much heavier print or you switch to release. Release printing utilizes an activator that raises the color from the material throughout treating, basically whitening the shirt's color in the printed areas, then replaces it with your pigment. Completion outcome is the softest possible print on dark cotton, often with exceptional detail.

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

Eco friendly inks are not a marketing motto if you moisture wicking shirts unpack the chemistry and the workflow. Water based inks typically contain fewer volatile natural compounds than solvent-heavy alternatives and prevent PVC completely. Lots of are certified with stringent requirements like Oeko-Tex or meet retail screening regimes that ban particular phthalates and heavy metals. If you sell customized garments into corporate wellness programs, 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 need to look at store practices: purification on your washout booth, reclaim chemistry, energy use on your dryer, and even fabric sourcing. Discharge needs an activator, normally based on zinc formaldehyde sulfoxylate or similar compounds, which has its own handling and ventilation requirements. In a well-run store, direct exposure is controlled and waste is recorded. 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 conceals in the details.

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

Most individuals do not buy a graphic tee due to the fact that they like the ink. They buy it due to the fact that the garment looks great, feels good, and keeps that character after repeated washing. Water based inks, consisting of discharge, provide you that broken-in comfort 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 sometimes receive from heavy plastisol when you extend throughout the chest.

I keep a rack 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 much more, the colors mellowed somewhat, 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 customers prefer, however the user feedback corresponds: water based feels like a premium garment.

Color, protection, and how expectations shape results

Color accuracy with water based inks refers control, humidity, and the fabric's own color. On white or heather light shirts, standard water based ink can strike tight Pantones with a measured ink mix and a tidy mesh. On darker cotton, discharge adds variables. Various dye lots discharge differently, even within the very same brand name and color. Black 3001 blanks from one batch may raise to a warm charcoal, while the next batch clears to a cooler grey. The pigment you add guides the last color, however you're still dealing with a background that is moving as the dye is removed.

That's not a defect, it's part of the medium. Lots of designers embrace the slightly vintage character of discharge, where reds land earthy and blues feel deep instead of neon. If your brand name needs laser-precise color recreation for corporate logos, either order test prints on the specific batch you prepare to utilize or think about a water based underbase or hybrid technique where needed. For wholesale t t-shirts that will be distributed nationally, put swatch approvals into your procedure so there are no surprises at scale.

Fabric matters more than most 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 drinks ink unevenly. Blends make complex things. A 50/50 poly-cotton or a triblend with rayon can deal with water based, but discharge only lifts the cotton part. That implies your color saturates the cotton while the polyester and rayon stay as-is, often yielding a heathered or speckled print that looks intentional if you style for it. If your objective is flat, vivid color on a poly blend, conventional plastisol or a specialized low-cure system might be smarter.

On all over print jobs, 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 ended up tees introduces joints, folds, and irregular pressure that appear as blank micro-gaps. If you must print on completed garments, expect small 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 in a different way on press. They dry quicker in the screen, which works on custom hoodie printing 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. Set up with a misting bottle or a devoted screen rewetting solution at hand, and keep the print space humidity in a constant variety, roughly 45 to 55 percent, to prevent premature drying. Manual press operators will discover how rapidly a standard water based ink clears the screen compared to a heavy plastisol. Car presses, with flood bars and consistent speed, lower clogging.

Curing is where numerous newbies fizzle. Water based inks require both heat and time for the water to vaporize, then for the binders to cross-link. A clothes dryer tunnel with enough air flow makes the distinction. You want even heat throughout the belt and adequate dwell to reach the manufacturer's cure temperature level throughout the ink layer, not just at the surface. Shirts leaving the tunnel should be dry to the touch without any cool spots. For discharge, the chemical reaction takes place throughout this cure, and you will smell the activator. Great ventilation is non-negotiable.

Durability and wash testing

Durability depends upon appropriate remedy and fiber engagement. A well-cured water based print on cotton can outlive the shirt. I determine resilience by standardized wash tests, 10 to 20 cycles at warm, tumble dry medium, then visual evaluation for fading and cracking. Water based prints reveal steady softening and a mild fade in the exact same way jeans relaxes. Plastisol's failure mode is various, generally breaking if the ink layer is too thick or under-cured. For individualized t-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 select which method

Costs differ regionally, but the economics fall under familiar patterns. Water based ink itself is typically equivalent to plastisol at the gallon level, but you invest more in store environment and drying capacity. On press, water based can be somewhat slower at setup because you pay closer attention to fit together, squeegee durometer, and off-contact. As soon as tuned, automobiles run at similar speeds. Where it actually pays off is in viewed worth. A soft print on a mid-tier blank frequently feels premium without jumping to the highest-cost t-shirt. Brands can price accordingly.

For bulk t t-shirt orders above a few hundred pieces where the art suits the medium, discharge on one hundred percent cotton is a workhorse. For print on demand that needs over night 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 handle wholesale t t-shirts with multiple colorways and should keep inventory flexible, a flexible water based palette on light garments is effective, because you prevent the weight and stiffness that collect with numerous underbases in plastisol.

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

Design preparation starts with the fabric color and ends with treating. On light t-shirts, lean into information: thin lines, halftones, hand-drawn textures. Standard 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. Think about how the shirt color glances through. A charcoal heather with a discharge cream graphic looks like it grew there.

Type weight matters. Extremely thin knockouts inside heavy flood locations can fill in with discharge, particularly on high-absorbency cotton. If you require razor negative area, different the art to print unfavorable shapes as favorable strokes with a clear schedule for squeegee pressure and flashes. Ask your printer for an evidence on the real garment instead of relying on a digital mockup. A mockup can not capture fiber interaction and color lift.

When you need to state no to discharge

There are times I encourage against discharge. Polyester-rich garments are leading of the list. The activator can trigger color migration, specifically with sublimated or cationic-dyed efficiency shirts, leading to ghosting or brownish casts. Some garment dyes, specifically reactive black blends, resist lifting, leaving a shadowed print that looks undercured even when it isn't. If a customer is sensitive to small smell during treating, discharge days in the store are obvious. Well-managed airflow reduces this, however it becomes part of the process.

If a customer needs metallics, puff, or specialty textures, plastisol or hybrid systems still own that area. Water based metallics exist, but the particles typically sink, and the effect is more satin than true metal. For high-opacity neons on dark t-shirts that must be billboard-bright, you may 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, established a workflow that eliminates uncertainty. A basic approach keeps surprises at bay and assists you hit deadlines for launches and events.

  • Decide on fabric first, then ink: select one hundred percent ringspun cotton for discharge, or light, top quality cotton for standard water based. Avoid high poly unless the heathered result is desired.
  • Request test prints on the precise blanks: one shirt per colorway is normally sufficient to lock approvals, specifically for bulk 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 pictures of prior work you like.
  • Align on care labels and handling: suggest cold wash and low heat dry for consumers, then confirm your cure times so clean sturdiness matches the tag guidance.
  • Confirm environmental requirements: ask your printer about ink accreditations, ventilation, and waste capture, particularly if your brand name messaging leans into eco friendly inks.

How water based fits with print on demand

Print as needed has its own restrictions: quick art modifications, little batch sizes, and the requirement for a broad color range. Direct-to-garment has actually ended up being 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 quantities, 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 lots of DTG outputs. It works finest when you keep art to a couple of colors and select light garments.

If your POD design relies on all over print sublimation for polyester garments, water based screen printing is not a replacement, it is a parallel offering. Utilize it where cotton convenience and breathability are the selling points. Consumers 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 standard plastisol task, I discuss what they are purchasing. 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, often a little uplift that can be neutralized by selecting a slightly more economical blank. If the program is for wholesale t shirts entering into shops or e-commerce at superior cost points, the enhancement in perceived value more than covers the change.

For individualized shirts, such as charity runs or college clubs, options matter. Deal a base rate 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 enhance for cost, others for feel. Meeting both lets you serve a larger market without diluting your craft.

Care guidelines that customers actually follow

Care labels typically read like legal disclaimers. Keep it easy and realistic so the t-shirt survives reality. Water based and discharge prints choose cooler washes and lower clothes dryer heat, however they will sustain typical laundering if properly treated. I recommend phrasing care suggestions in human terms on item pages: wash cold with similar colors, topple dry low, avoid material softeners if you desire colors to remain crisp. The last note matters since some softeners can transfer films on fibers, dulling the visual contrast of great lines.

I've evaluated these directions in-house: two similar shirts, one cleaned cold and dried low, the other washed warm and dried high. After promotional products 15 cycles, the warm/high tee showed slightly faster fading of mid-tones, yet still looked good. That tolerance originates from right treatment, not from babying the garment.

All over print ideas that do not battle the limitations

All over print catches attention, but printing flood coats on assembled garments with water based inks can be unforgiving. Rather of battling joints, style for them. Usage 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. Brands that offer minimal runs can justify cut-and-sew for 100 to 300 pieces if the design requires it. The ended up garments check out as custom-made from a distance, which is the goal.

A quick anecdote from a hectic season

One spring we ran a series for a local music celebration. The customer desired soft black tees with a sunburst print that seemed like it lived in the fabric. We tested on 3 blacks from two mills. Batch one raised cleanly with discharge, batch 2 remained stubbornly dark in the mid-rays of the artwork. 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 finish the response. The outcome: constant tees throughout 2,400 systems, 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 on a blackboard. The recipe matters, however so does tasting and adjusting.

Common risks and how to avoid them

Most issues I see trace back to process, not the ink family. Under-curing is the very first culprit. 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 duration. Use a donut probe or an embedded thermochromic strip to measure real ink movie temperature, not just dryer setpoints. Screen lockup is the 2nd. Keep a consistent speed on press, flood between prints, and control shop humidity.

A third pitfall is disregarding material variability. If you switch blanks mid-run due to the fact that a size is out of stock, you might see shifts in color. Develop contingency into your buying. For brands preparing ahead, picking a standard blank and locking it with your supplier reduces surprises.

Final guidance for picking your path

If your top priority is soft, breathable customized apparel that consumers keep wearing, water based inks deserve the knowing curve. Usage basic water based on light garments for clean detail and matte color. Move to release on 100 percent cotton when you want the softest prints on dark shirts. Accept and plan for small color difference with discharge, especially throughout dye lots. For bulk t shirt orders, build in a single round of physical sampling on the actual blanks you will use, then document your settings and hold back a recommendation t-shirt for quality control.

If you operate a print on demand brochure, carve out 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 effects and neon stunners in plastisol or hybrid systems where they belong.

Custom t t-shirts are evaluated in the hands, not just on screens. When a consumer rubs their thumb across a print and feels nothing however fiber, you've won. That's the moment water based and discharge provide, and why they deserve a location in any major store or brand's toolkit.

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

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