October 18, 2025

Beyond Standard 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.

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

What does Prints R Us do?

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

Where is Prints R Us located?

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

What services does Prints R Us provide?

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

Which industries does Prints R Us serve?

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

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

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

Does Prints R Us use high-quality materials?

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

What awards has Prints R Us won?

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

How can I contact Prints R Us?

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

Walk into any printing shop that takes its craft seriously, and you will see 2 things in consistent stress: the push for softer, more breathable prints that individuals really delight in wearing, and the need to produce at scale without compromising the environment or the bottom line. That stress has actually formed how I choose inks, pretreatments, and fabrics for custom apparel projects. Over the years, I've learned that water based inks and discharge printing are not simply buzzwords, they are useful tools that produce stunning outcomes and real comfort, especially for T t-shirt printing that needs to withstand everyday wear.

If you run a brand name, manage bulk t t-shirt orders, or simply desire your personalized t-shirts to feel like a favorite from the first wash, it deserves understanding how these ink systems work, where they shine, and where they require care. The ideal choice can make the difference in between a shirt that gets worn once and one that becomes the go-to.

What water based ink really is

Water based inks suspend pigments in water instead of in plasticizers and solvents. Unlike plastisol, which sits on top of the fabric and remedies into a film, water based inks take in into the fibers. That single characteristic describes most of the benefits and trade-offs. Prints feel soft because 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 frequently indistinguishable from the shirt itself. For customized t shirts created for comfort, this is the path 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 extremely light shirts. It can cover mid-tones with the right base, once you move into darker materials, you either require a much heavier print or you change to discharge. Release printing uses an activator that raises the color from the fabric during treating, essentially bleaching the shirt's color in the printed areas, then replaces it with your pigment. The end outcome is the softest possible print on dark cotton, frequently with impressive 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 typically consist of fewer unpredictable natural substances than solvent-heavy options and prevent PVC altogether. Numerous are compliant with stringent standards like Oeko-Tex or satisfy retail screening routines that prohibit specific phthalates and heavy metals. If you offer custom garments into corporate health cares, schools, or health-conscious brands, those certificates smooth procurement and keep you ahead of compliance.

That said, "eco friendly" is a system idea. Ink is one part. You likewise need to take a look at shop practices: filtration on your washout cubicle, recover chemistry, energy usage on your dryer, and even material sourcing. Discharge needs an activator, normally based on zinc formaldehyde sulfoxylate or comparable substances, which has its own handling and ventilation needs. In a well-run store, direct exposure is managed and waste is captured. If you're utilizing print as needed with a partner, ask how they handle discharge effluent and whether they have air exchange and treating 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 because the garment looks excellent, feels excellent, and keeps that character after repeated washing. Water based inks, including discharge, give you that broken-in comfort 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 sometimes obtain from heavy plastisol when you stretch across 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 slightly, and the shirts kept moving. A plastisol sample with the same art looks glossier and still pops more under severe light, which some streetwear clients choose, but the user feedback corresponds: water based feels like a premium garment.

Color, coverage, and how expectations form 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 hit tight Pantones with a measured ink mix and a clean mesh. On darker cotton, discharge includes 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 include guides the final color, however Eco-friendly inks you're still working with a background that is shifting as the color is removed.

That's not a defect, it's part of the medium. Lots of designers embrace the a little classic character of discharge, where reds land earthy and blues feel deep instead of neon. If your brand name demands laser-precise color recreation for business logos, either order test prints on the precise batch you prepare to use or consider a water based underbase or hybrid approach where needed. 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 the majority of people think

A water based print is a collaboration 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 deal with water based, however discharge only raises the cotton portion. That suggests your color saturates the cotton while the polyester and rayon remain as-is, typically yielding a heathered or speckled print that looks intentional if you style for it. If your goal is flat, brilliant color on a poly mix, standard plastisol or a specialized low-cure system may be smarter.

On all over print jobs, 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 introduces seams, folds, and inconsistent pressure that show up as blank micro-gaps. If you must print on ended up garments, expect little spaces along joints, which some customers like as part of the garment's character.

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

Water based inks act in a different way on press. They dry much faster in the screen, which is useful on fabric but can lock a mesh if you stop briefly too long. Running a higher mesh for information, say 230 to 305, keeps the deposit thin and crisp. Set up with a misting bottle or a dedicated screen rewetting service at hand, and keep the print space humidity in a steady variety, approximately 45 to 55 percent, to prevent early drying. Manual press operators will observe how rapidly a standard water based ink clears the screen compared to a heavy plastisol. Car presses, with flood bars and consistent pace, minimize clogging.

Curing is where numerous novices miss the mark. Water based inks need both heat and time for the water to vaporize, then for the binders to cross-link. A dryer tunnel with enough air flow makes the difference. You want even heat throughout the belt and sufficient dwell to reach the manufacturer's remedy temperature throughout the ink layer, not just at the surface area. T-shirts exiting the tunnel ought to be dry to the touch without any cool areas. For discharge, the chemical reaction occurs throughout this cure, and you will smell the activator. Excellent ventilation is non-negotiable.

Durability and wash testing

Durability depends on proper treatment 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, topple dry medium, then visual examination for fading and cracking. Water based prints reveal DTG print resolution progressive softening and a mild fade in the same method jeans unwinds. Plastisol's failure mode is different, typically cracking if the ink layer is too thick or under-cured. For individualized shirts that need to look good at a household reunion and still be in rotation next summertime, water based holds up when produced correctly.

Cost, throughput, and when to choose which method

Costs differ regionally, however the economics fall into familiar patterns. Water based ink itself is typically similar to plastisol at the gallon level, but you invest more in store environment and drying capability. On press, water based can be somewhat slower at setup due to the fact that you pay closer attention to mesh, squeegee durometer, and off-contact. When tuned, vehicles run at comparable speeds. Where it truly pays off is 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 t-shirt orders above a few hundred pieces where the art suits the medium, discharge on 100 percent cotton is a workhorse. For print as needed that requires over night turn-around and art changes constantly, direct-to-garment or DTF might be better operationally, though both have their own ecological and feel compromises. When you handle wholesale t t-shirts with multiple colorways and need to keep inventory versatile, a flexible water based combination on light garments is efficient, since you prevent the weight and tightness that build up with multiple underbases in plastisol.

Design options that highlight the very best in water based and discharge

Design preparation starts with the material color and ends with curing. On light shirts, lean into information: thin lines, halftones, hand-drawn textures. Standard water based ink prints those with a delicacy that plastisol tends to overpower. On dark cotton, discharge shines with mid-tone richness and soft edges. Consider 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 complete with discharge, especially on high-absorbency cotton. If you require razor negative space, separate the art to print unfavorable shapes as favorable strokes with a clear schedule for squeegee pressure and flashes. Ask your printer for a proof on the real garment rather than relying on a digital mockup. A mockup can not capture fiber interaction and color lift.

When you should say no to discharge

design your own shirt

There are times I encourage against discharge. Polyester-rich garments are top of the list. The activator can cause dye migration, particularly with sublimated or cationic-dyed efficiency shirts, resulting in ghosting or brownish casts. Some garment dyes, especially reactive black blends, resist lifting, leaving a shadowed print that looks undercured even when it isn't. If a customer is sensitive to minor smell during curing, discharge days in the shop are noticeable. Well-managed air flow reduces this, but it becomes part of the process.

If a customer needs metallics, puff, or specialized textures, plastisol or hybrid systems still own that area. Water based metallics exist, however the particles typically sink, and the impact is more satin than real metal. For high-opacity neons on dark shirts that must be billboard-bright, you may 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 removes uncertainty. A basic method keeps surprises at bay and assists you hit due dates for launches and events.

  • Decide on fabric first, then ink: select 100 percent ringspun cotton for discharge, or light, high-quality cotton for basic water based. Avoid high poly unless the heathered result is desired.
  • Request test prints on the exact blanks: one shirt per colorway is generally adequate to lock approvals, especially for bulk t shirt orders where consistency matters.
  • Clarify color expectations in context: offer Pantone targets for light garments and describe appropriate varieties for dark discharge prints, with photos of previous work you like.
  • Align on care labels and handling: suggest cold wash and low heat dry for consumers, then confirm your remedy times so wash sturdiness matches the tag guidance.
  • Confirm environmental standards: ask your printer about ink certifications, 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 need 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 brochure 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 very same day with water based prints that feel better than numerous DTG outputs. It works finest when you keep art to a couple of colors and choose light garments.

If your POD model counts 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. Consumers who care about touch will notice.

Pricing, margins, and interacting value

When clients 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 affordable blank. If the program is for wholesale t shirts going into shops or e-commerce at exceptional cost points, the improvement in perceived value more than covers the change.

For customized shirts, such as charity runs or college clubs, choices matter. Deal a base price with plastisol on midweight cotton, then a "convenience 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 broader market without diluting your craft.

Care guidelines that customers in fact follow

Care labels typically check out like legal disclaimers. Keep it basic and reasonable so the t-shirt survives reality. Water based and discharge prints choose cooler washes and lower clothes dryer heat, but they will withstand regular laundering if appropriately treated. I recommend phrasing care ideas in human terms on item pages: wash cold with similar colors, tumble dry low, avoid fabric conditioners if you desire colors to stay crisp. The last note matters since some softeners can deposit movies on fibers, dulling the visual contrast of great lines.

I've tested these directions in-house: 2 similar shirts, one washed cold and dried low, the other washed warm and dried high. After 15 cycles, the warm/high tee showed somewhat faster fading of mid-tones, yet still looked great. That tolerance originates from correct cure, not from babying the garment.

All over print concepts that do not battle 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 joints, style for them. Usage tone-on-tone patterns that fade naturally at seams, or apply a ghosted grid that looks deliberate rush order t shirts when it breaks at hems. Alternatively, run panel printing and stitch. Brands that offer restricted runs can justify cut-and-sew for 100 to 300 pieces if the design necessitates it. The ended up garments read full color prints as custom from a distance, which is the goal.

A short anecdote from a hectic season

One spring we ran a series for a local music festival. The customer desired soft black tees with a sunburst print that seemed like it lived in the fabric. We sampled on three blacks from 2 mills. Batch one raised easily with discharge, batch two remained stubbornly dark in the mid-rays of the art work. 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: constant tees throughout 2,400 systems, each with a soft, breathable print that sold out by day two.

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

Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

Most issues I see trace back to process, not the ink family. Under-curing is the first offender. Water based ink that feels dry can still be under-cured if the core of the print never struck the needed temp for the ideal duration. Use a donut probe or an embedded thermochromic strip to measure true ink film temperature level, not simply dryer setpoints. Screen lockup is the second. Keep a constant speed on press, flood between prints, and control store humidity.

A third risk is disregarding material variability. If you switch blanks mid-run since a size runs out stock, you may see shifts in color. Develop contingency into your purchasing. For brands preparing ahead, picking a standard blank and locking it with your provider reduces surprises.

Final assistance for selecting your path

If your priority is soft, breathable customized clothing that customers keep wearing, water based inks deserve the learning curve. Usage standard water based on light garments for tidy information and matte color. Move to release on 100 percent cotton when you desire the softest prints on dark shirts. Accept and prepare for minor color difference with discharge, specifically 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 referral t-shirt for quality control.

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

Custom t t-shirts are judged in the hands, not just on screens. When a client rubs their thumb across a print and feels absolutely nothing but fiber, you have actually won. That's the moment water based and discharge deliver, and why they are worthy of a location in any severe store or brand name's toolkit.

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

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