November 3, 2025

Beyond Fundamental 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 print shop that takes its craft seriously, and you will see two things in consistent tension: the push for softer, more breathable prints that individuals really delight in wearing, and the requirement to produce at scale without compromising the environment or the bottom line. That tension has actually shaped how I select inks, pretreatments, and materials for customized garments jobs. For many years, I have actually learned that water based inks and discharge printing are not simply buzzwords, they are practical tools that produce gorgeous results and genuine comfort, especially for T t-shirt printing that requires to withstand daily wear.

If you run a brand, handle bulk t shirt orders, or simply desire 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 require care. The best option can make the difference between a t-shirt that gets worn as soon as and one that becomes 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 movie, water based inks soak up into the fibers. That single characteristic discusses the majority of the advantages and compromises. Prints feel soft since 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 often equivalent from the t-shirt itself. For custom t t-shirts developed for comfort, this is the course to the "retail feel" customers ask for.

There are two primary families: standard water based and discharge. Standard water based ink works best on white or very light t-shirts. It can cover mid-tones with the best base, but once you move into darker materials, you either require a heavier print or you change to release. Discharge printing uses an activator that raises the color from the material throughout curing, essentially bleaching the t-shirt's dye in the printed areas, then changes it with your pigment. Completion 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 unpack the chemistry and the workflow. Water based inks generally consist of fewer volatile natural substances than solvent-heavy alternatives and prevent PVC completely. Lots of are certified with strict standards like Oeko-Tex or fulfill retail screening routines that prohibit particular phthalates and heavy metals. If you sell custom clothing into corporate wellness programs, schools, or health-conscious brand names, those certificates smooth procurement and keep you ahead of compliance.

That said, "eco friendly" is a system idea. Ink is one part. You also need to take a look at store practices: filtering on your washout cubicle, reclaim chemistry, energy usage on your dryer, and even fabric sourcing. Discharge needs an activator, typically based upon zinc formaldehyde sulfoxylate or similar compounds, which has its own handling and ventilation requirements. In a well-run shop, exposure is controlled and waste is captured. If you're using print as needed with a partner, ask how they deal with discharge effluent and whether they have air exchange and treating controls dialed in. Real sustainability conceals in the details.

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

Most people do not purchase a graphic tee because they love the ink. They buy it due to the fact that the garment looks good, feels excellent, and keeps that character after duplicated washing. Water based inks, consisting of discharge, give you that broken-in convenience from the first day. On an one hundred 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 shelf of contrast shirts in the studio. One from a surf brand name, one from a brewery, both printed with discharge on midweight cotton. After 30 to 40 home washes, the prints softened even more, the colors mellowed slightly, and the t-shirts kept moving. A plastisol sample with the exact same art looks glossier and still pops more under extreme light, which some streetwear customers choose, however the user feedback corresponds: water based feels like a premium garment.

Color, coverage, and how expectations shape results

Color precision with water based inks refers control, humidity, and the fabric's own color. 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 color lots discharge differently, even within the same brand and color. Black 3001 blanks from one batch might raise to a warm charcoal, while the next batch clears to a cooler grey. The pigment you include steers the final color, however you're still dealing with a background that is moving as the dye is removed.

That's not a defect, it's part of the medium. Numerous designers accept the a little vintage character of discharge, where reds land earthy and blues feel deep instead of neon. If your brand name demands laser-precise color reproduction for business logo designs, either order test prints on the precise batch you prepare to use or consider a water based underbase or hybrid technique where needed. For wholesale t t-shirts that will be distributed nationally, put example approvals into your process 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 complicate things. A 50/50 poly-cotton or a triblend with rayon can deal with water based, however discharge only raises the cotton part. That means your color saturates the cotton while the polyester and rayon stay as-is, typically yielding a heathered or speckled print that looks deliberate if you design for it. If your goal is flat, vibrant color on a poly blend, traditional 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 finished tees introduces seams, folds, and irregular pressure that appear as blank micro-gaps. If you must print on completed garments, expect small voids along joints, which some clients 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 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 detail, say 230 to 305, keeps the deposit thin and crisp. Establish with a misting bottle or a devoted screen rewetting solution at hand, and keep the print space humidity in a stable variety, approximately 45 to 55 percent, to avoid premature drying. Manual press operators will discover how quickly a basic water based ink clears the screen compared to a heavy plastisol. Vehicle presses, with flood bars and constant pace, minimize clogging.

Curing is where many newbies fizzle. Water based inks need both heat and time for the water to vaporize, then for the binders to cross-link. A dryer tunnel with adequate air flow makes the difference. You desire even heat throughout the belt and adequate dwell to reach the manufacturer's remedy temperature throughout the ink layer, not simply at the surface area. Shirts exiting the tunnel should be dry to the touch without any cool areas. For discharge, the chain reaction takes place during this treatment, and you will smell the activator. Excellent 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 outlast the t-shirt. I measure sturdiness by standardized wash tests, 10 to 20 cycles at warm, tumble dry medium, then visual examination for fading and splitting. Water based prints reveal gradual softening and a mild fade in the same method denim relaxes. Plastisol's failure mode is various, usually splitting if the ink layer is too thick or under-cured. For tailored t-shirts that require to look proficient at a household reunion and still be in rotation next summer season, water based holds up when produced correctly.

Cost, throughput, and when to pick which method

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

For bulk t shirt orders above a couple of hundred pieces where the art fits the medium, discharge on one hundred percent cotton is a workhorse. For print on demand that needs overnight turnaround and art modifications constantly, direct-to-garment or DTF might be better operationally, though both have their own environmental and feel compromises. When you handle wholesale t shirts with several colorways and must keep inventory flexible, a flexible water based scheme on light garments is effective, given that you avoid the weight and tightness 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 t-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. Think about how the shirt color looks through. A charcoal heather with a discharge cream graphic looks like it grew there.

Type weight matters. Really thin knockouts inside heavy flood areas can fill in with discharge, especially on high-absorbency cotton. If you need razor negative area, separate the art to print negative shapes as favorable strokes with a clear schedule for squeegee pressure and flashes. Ask your printer for an evidence on the real garment rather than relying on a digital mockup. A mockup can not catch fiber interplay and color lift.

When you should state no to discharge

There are times I encourage versus discharge. Polyester-rich garments are top of the list. The activator can cause color migration, specifically with sublimated or cationic-dyed performance shirts, causing ghosting or brownish casts. Some garment dyes, particularly reactive black blends, resist lifting, leaving a shadowed print that looks undercured even when it isn't. If a customer is delicate to minor smell during treating, discharge days in the shop are visible. Well-managed airflow reduces this, but it belongs to the process.

If a client 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 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 brands and creators

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

  • Decide on fabric first, then ink: pick one hundred percent ringspun cotton for discharge, or light, premium cotton for basic water based. Prevent high poly unless the heathered result is desired.
  • Request test prints on the precise blanks: one t-shirt per colorway is usually adequate to lock approvals, specifically for bulk t shirt orders where consistency matters.
  • Clarify color expectations in context: supply Pantone targets for light garments and explain acceptable varieties for dark discharge prints, with pictures of previous work you like.
  • Align on care labels and handling: advise cold wash and low heat dry for customers, then validate your treatment times so wash sturdiness matches the tag guidance.
  • Confirm environmental standards: ask your printer about ink accreditations, 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 restrictions: fast art changes, small batch sizes, and the need for a broad color range. Direct-to-garment has become the default, however water based screen printing can fit POD if you arrange catalog technique. For designs that are high volume even at little everyday quantities, pre-burning screens and keeping a little stock of popular sizes lets you deliver same day with water based prints that feel better than numerous DTG outputs. It works finest when you keep art to one or two colors and choose light garments.

If your POD model relies 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 care about touch will notice.

Pricing, margins, and communicating value

When customers ask why a water based or discharge print costs more than a standard plastisol job, I describe what they are purchasing. They get the soft hand that retail clients relate with quality, improved breathability, and compliance for delicate buyers. On a per-shirt basis, the distinction for a standard three-color front hit may be modest, often a small uplift that can be reduced the effects of by selecting a slightly more economical blank. If the program is for wholesale t t-shirts going into boutiques or e-commerce at superior cost points, the enhancement in viewed value more than covers the change.

For customized 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 consists of a ringspun blank with water based ink. You will see a clear split: some clients optimize for expense, others for feel. Meeting both lets you serve a larger market without diluting your craft.

Care guidelines that consumers actually follow

Care labels T shirt printing designs frequently check out like legal disclaimers. Keep it simple and reasonable so the t-shirt endures real life. Water based and discharge prints prefer cooler washes and lower clothes dryer heat, but they will sustain regular laundering if appropriately treated. I suggest phrasing care tips in human terms on item pages: wash cold with similar colors, tumble dry low, prevent material softeners if you want colors to stay crisp. The last note matters since some conditioners can transfer films on fibers, dulling the visual contrast of great lines.

I've 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 quicker fading of mid-tones, yet still looked good. That tolerance comes from appropriate cure, not from babying the garment.

All over print concepts that do not fight 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, design for them. Use tone-on-tone patterns that fade naturally at seams, or apply a ghosted grid that looks intentional when it breaks at hems. Additionally, run panel printing and sew. Brands that offer restricted runs can justify cut-and-sew for 100 to 300 pieces if the style requires it. The completed garments check out as customized 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 client wanted soft black tees with a sunburst print that felt like it resided in the material. We sampled on 3 blacks from 2 mills. Batch one lifted cleanly with discharge, batch 2 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 adjusted dwell time by 10 to 15 seconds to finish the response. The outcome: constant tees across affordable T shirt printing in Jacksonville 2,400 systems, each with a soft, breathable print that sold out by day two.

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

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Most problems I see trace back to process, not the ink family. Under-curing is the very first perpetrator. Water based ink that feels dry can still be under-cured if the core of the print never hit the required temp for the right duration. Use a donut probe or an ingrained thermochromic strip to determine true ink movie temperature, not just clothes dryer setpoints. Screen lockup is the second. Keep a consistent speed on press, flood between prints, and control store humidity.

A third pitfall is neglecting fabric irregularity. If you change blanks mid-run since a size is out of stock, you might see shifts in color. Build contingency into your acquiring. For brand names planning ahead, choosing a basic blank and locking it with your supplier lowers surprises.

Final assistance for choosing your path

If your top priority is soft, breathable custom apparel 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. Move to release on 100 percent cotton when you desire the softest prints on dark shirts. Accept and plan for slight color difference with discharge, particularly across color lots. For bulk t t-shirt orders, build in a single round of physical tasting on the actual blanks you will utilize, then document your settings and hold back a reference shirt for quality control.

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

Custom t t-shirts are judged in the hands, not simply on screens. When a client rubs their thumb throughout a print and feels nothing but fiber, you've won. That's the moment water based and discharge deliver, and why they should have a place in any major shop or brand name's toolkit.

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

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