November 3, 2025

Beyond Basic Tees: A Guide to Eco-Friendly Water-Based Inks and Discharge Printing for Custom-made 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 print shop that takes its craft seriously, and you will see 2 things in constant tension: the push for softer, more breathable prints that individuals really delight in wearing, and the need to produce at scale without jeopardizing the environment or the bottom line. That stress has actually shaped how I pick inks, pretreatments, and materials for customized apparel jobs. For many years, I've learned that water based inks and discharge printing are not simply buzzwords, they are useful tools that produce lovely outcomes and genuine convenience, especially for T t-shirt printing that needs to withstand daily wear.

If you run a brand, handle bulk t t-shirt orders, or just desire your individualized t-shirts to seem like a favorite from the first wash, it's worth comprehending how these ink systems work, where they shine, and where they need care. The best option can make the distinction between a t-shirt that gets used when and one that becomes the go-to.

What water based ink actually 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 film, water based inks soak up into the fibers. That single particular discusses most of the benefits and compromises. Prints feel soft because you're touching the cotton, not a layer of cured PVC. Colors tend to look more matte and incorporated. On light garments, the hand is often identical from the shirt itself. For custom t t-shirts created for convenience, this is the course to the "retail feel" clients ask for.

There are two primary households: basic water based and discharge. Standard water based ink works best on white or really light shirts. It can cover mid-tones with the right base, but once you move into darker fabrics, you either require a heavier print or you switch to release. Release printing utilizes an activator that raises the color from the fabric throughout treating, basically bleaching the shirt's color in the printed locations, then changes it with your pigment. Completion result is the softest possible print on dark cotton, frequently with exceptional detail.

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

Eco friendly inks are not a marketing slogan if you unload the chemistry and the workflow. Water based inks usually consist of fewer unstable natural substances than solvent-heavy alternatives and prevent PVC entirely. Many are certified with rigorous requirements like Oeko-Tex or fulfill retail screening routines that prohibit certain phthalates and heavy metals. If you offer custom-made clothing into business wellness programs, 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 require to look at store practices: filtering on your washout cubicle, recover chemistry, energy use on your dryer, and even material sourcing. Discharge needs an activator, typically based upon zinc formaldehyde sulfoxylate or comparable compounds, which has its own handling and ventilation requirements. In a well-run shop, exposure is managed and waste is caught. If you're using print on demand with a partner, ask how they manage discharge effluent and whether they have air exchange and treating controls dialed in. Real sustainability hides in the details.

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

Most people do not buy a graphic tee since they like the ink. They purchase it because the garment looks excellent, feels good, and keeps that character after duplicated washing. Water based inks, consisting of discharge, offer 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 get from heavy plastisol when you stretch throughout the chest.

I keep a shelf of contrast 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 a lot 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 is consistent: water based seems like a premium garment.

Color, coverage, and how expectations shape results

Color accuracy with water based inks is a matter of control, humidity, and the material's own color. On white or heather light shirts, basic water based ink can strike tight Pantones with a measured ink mix and a clean mesh. On darker cotton, discharge includes variables. Different color lots discharge differently, even within the exact 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 include steers the last 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 needs laser-precise color reproduction for business logo designs, either order test prints on the specific batch you plan to utilize or consider a water based underbase or hybrid technique where required. For wholesale t t-shirts that will be dispersed nationally, put example approvals into your process so there are no surprises at scale.

Fabric matters more than most people think

A water based print is a partnership in between ink and fiber. Ringspun cotton takes ink wonderfully. 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, but discharge just raises the cotton portion. That suggests your color fills the cotton while the polyester and rayon remain as-is, often yielding a heathered or speckled print that looks intentional if you style for it. If your objective is flat, vibrant color on a poly blend, standard plastisol or a specialized low-cure system may be smarter.

On all over print tasks, such as a seam-to-seam tonal pattern behind a chest graphic, think about cut-and-sew with water based prints on panels before assembly. Garment printing all over on completed tees introduces seams, folds, and irregular pressure that appear as blank micro-gaps. If you need to print on finished 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 quicker in the screen, which is useful on fabric however can lock a mesh if you stop briefly too long. Running a greater mesh for information, say 230 to 305, keeps the deposit thin and crisp. Set up with a misting bottle or a devoted screen rewetting service at hand, and keep the print room humidity in a steady variety, roughly 45 to 55 percent, to prevent early drying. Manual press operators will observe how quickly a basic water based ink clears the screen compared to a heavy plastisol. Vehicle presses, with flood bars and consistent rate, reduce clogging.

Curing is where lots of newbies 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 enough air flow makes the distinction. You desire even heat across the belt and sufficient dwell to reach the producer's remedy temperature level throughout the ink layer, not simply at the surface. T-shirts leaving the tunnel ought to be dry to the touch with no cool areas. For discharge, the chain reaction takes place throughout this cure, and you will smell the activator. Good ventilation is non-negotiable.

Durability and wash testing

Durability depends upon proper treatment and fiber engagement. A well-cured water based print on cotton can last longer than the shirt. I determine durability by standardized wash tests, 10 to 20 cycles at warm, tumble dry medium, then visual inspection for fading and splitting. Water based prints reveal progressive softening and a gentle fade in the same method denim unwinds. Plastisol's failure mode is different, usually breaking if the ink layer is too thick or under-cured. For individualized t-shirts that require 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 pick which method

Costs vary regionally, but the economics fall under familiar patterns. Water based ink itself is frequently comparable to plastisol at the gallon level, but you invest more in shop environment and drying capability. On press, water based can be a little slower at setup due to the fact that you pay closer attention to mesh, squeegee durometer, and off-contact. When tuned, cars perform at similar speeds. Where it actually settles is in viewed worth. A soft print on a mid-tier blank typically feels premium without leaping to the highest-cost t-shirt. Brand names can price accordingly.

For bulk t shirt orders above a few hundred pieces where the art matches the medium, discharge on 100 percent cotton is a workhorse. For print on demand that needs over night turnaround and art modifications constantly, direct-to-garment or DTF might be much better operationally, though both have their own environmental and feel compromises. When you handle wholesale t shirts with several colorways and should keep stock flexible, a versatile water based scheme on light garments is efficient, because you prevent the weight and tightness that build up with several underbases in plastisol.

Design choices that highlight the best in water based and discharge

Design preparation begins with the material color and ends with curing. 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 Jacksonville T shirt printing for events richness and soft edges. Consider how the t-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, especially on high-absorbency cotton. If you need razor negative 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 trusting a digital mockup. A mockup can not record fiber interaction and dye lift.

When you ought to state no to discharge

There are times I advise against discharge. Polyester-rich garments are top of the list. The activator can trigger color migration, especially with sublimated or cationic-dyed performance 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 client is sensitive to minor odor unique Jacksonville Custom t shirts during curing, discharge days in the shop are obvious. Well-managed air flow alleviates this, but it is part of the process.

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

Practical workflow for brand names and creators

Whether you run your own presses or count on a partner, established a workflow that gets rid of guesswork. A basic method keeps surprises at bay and assists you hit deadlines for launches and events.

  • Decide on fabric initially, then ink: choose 100 percent ringspun cotton for discharge, or light, top quality cotton for standard water based. Avoid high poly unless the heathered effect is desired.
  • Request test prints on the specific blanks: one t-shirt per colorway is generally adequate to lock approvals, particularly for bulk t t-shirt orders where consistency matters.
  • Clarify color expectations in context: provide Pantone targets for light garments and describe appropriate varieties for dark discharge prints, with images of prior work you like.
  • Align on care labels and handling: recommend cold wash and low heat dry for clients, then validate your remedy times so wash sturdiness matches the tag guidance.
  • Confirm ecological standards: ask your printer about ink certifications, ventilation, and waste capture, especially if your brand name messaging leans into eco friendly inks.

How water based fits with print on demand

Print as needed has its own restraints: quick art modifications, small batch sizes, and the requirement for a broad color range. Direct-to-garment has actually ended up being the default, but water based screen printing can fit POD if you organize catalog strategy. For designs that are high volume even at little everyday amounts, pre-burning screens and keeping a small stock of popular sizes lets you deliver very same Jacksonville Custom t shirts printing day with water based prints that feel much better than lots of DTG outputs. It works finest when you keep art to one or two 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. Utilize it where cotton convenience 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 standard plastisol task, I describe what they are buying. They get the soft hand that retail consumers relate with quality, enhanced breathability, and compliance for delicate buyers. On a per-shirt basis, the distinction for a basic three-color front hit might be modest, frequently a little uplift that can be neutralized by picking a somewhat more cost-effective blank. If the program is for wholesale t t-shirts entering into stores or e-commerce at premium price points, the enhancement in perceived worth more than covers the change.

For customized shirts, such as charity runs or college clubs, options matter. Deal 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 enhance for cost, others for feel. Satisfying both lets you serve a wider market without diluting your craft.

Care guidelines that consumers in fact follow

Care labels often check out like legal disclaimers. high quality T shirt printing Keep it easy and sensible so the t-shirt survives reality. Water based and discharge prints prefer cooler washes and lower dryer heat, however they will endure typical laundering if properly treated. I suggest phrasing care tips in human terms on product pages: wash cold with similar colors, tumble dry low, avoid fabric softeners if you want colors to remain crisp. The last note matters because some conditioners can transfer movies on fibers, dulling the visual contrast of great lines.

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

All over print concepts that do not battle the limitations

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

A quick anecdote from a hectic 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 resided in the fabric. We tested on 3 blacks from two mills. Batch one lifted easily with discharge, batch 2 remained stubbornly dark in the mid-rays of the artwork. We logged dye lot numbers, pivoted the ink mix by adding a touch more white pigment to compensate, and adjusted dwell time by 10 to 15 seconds to finish the reaction. The outcome: consistent tees throughout 2,400 systems, 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 chalkboard. The dish 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 first perpetrator. Water based ink that feels dry can still be under-cured if the core of the print never ever hit the needed temperature for the right period. Utilize a donut probe or an ingrained thermochromic strip to measure real ink movie temperature level, not simply clothes dryer setpoints. Screen lockup is the 2nd. Keep a constant rate on press, flood in between prints, and control shop humidity.

A 3rd mistake is overlooking fabric irregularity. If you switch blanks mid-run since a size is out of stock, you might see shifts in color. Develop contingency into your getting. For brands preparing ahead, selecting a standard blank and locking it with your supplier reduces surprises.

Final guidance for selecting your path

If your concern is soft, breathable custom-made apparel that customers keep using, water based inks deserve the knowing curve. Use basic water based on light garments for clean detail and matte color. Relocate to release on custom Jacksonville T shirt printing 100 percent cotton when you desire the softest prints on dark t-shirts. Accept and plan for minor color difference with discharge, especially throughout color lots. For bulk t t-shirt orders, build in a single round of physical tasting on the actual blanks you will use, then document your settings and keep back a recommendation t-shirt for quality control.

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

Custom t t-shirts are evaluated in the hands, not just on screens. When a consumer rubs their thumb throughout a print and feels nothing however fiber, you've won. That's the minute water based and discharge deliver, and why they are worthy of a place 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.