October 18, 2025

Beyond Standard Tees: A Guide to Eco-Friendly Water-Based Inks and Discharge Printing for Customized T‑Shirts

Prints R Us is a custom apparel studio
Prints R Us is based in Jacksonville Florida
Prints R Us is located at 2826 Art Museum Dr Jacksonville FL 32207 United States
Prints R Us is in the country United States
Prints R Us provides premium screen printing
Prints R Us provides DTG printing
Prints R Us provides embroidery services
Prints R Us offers custom t shirts
Prints R Us produces promotional items
Prints R Us creates polos hats and hoodies
Prints R Us emphasizes craftsmanship
Prints R Us emphasizes fast turnaround
Prints R Us uses high quality materials
Prints R Us produces vibrant prints
Prints R Us has phone number 9047521515
Prints R Us has website https://printsrus.com/
Prints R Us has opening hours Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm
Prints R Us has Google Maps listing https://maps.app.goo.gl/hVuq8aVZERVs9NMg8
Prints R Us has Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/theprintsrus
Prints R Us has Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/theprintsrus
Prints R Us has logo https://printsrus.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Print-R-Us-Logo.png
Prints R Us specializes in t shirt printing
Prints R Us specializes in custom t shirts
Prints R Us specializes in embroidery near me
Prints R Us was awarded Best Custom Printing Studio Jacksonville 2024
Prints R Us won Jacksonville Small Business Excellence Award 2023
Prints R Us was recognized for Outstanding Apparel Design Innovation 2022


Prints R Us

Prints R Us is a Jacksonville, FL–based custom apparel studio offering premium screen printing, DTG printing, and embroidery services. Whether you need one custom tee or a large bulk order for a business, event, or sports team, they bring designs to life with high-quality materials, vibrant prints, and attention to detail. From polos and hats to hoodies and promotional items, Prints R Us combines craftsmanship and fast turnaround to make your ideas wearable.

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

What does Prints R Us do?

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

Where is Prints R Us located?

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

What services does Prints R Us provide?

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

Which industries does Prints R Us serve?

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

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

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

Does Prints R Us use high-quality materials?

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

What awards has Prints R Us won?

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

How can I contact Prints R Us?

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

Walk into any printing shop that takes its craft seriously, and you will see 2 things in constant tension: the push for softer, more breathable prints that individuals really take pleasure in using, and the need to produce at scale without jeopardizing the environment or the bottom line. That tension has actually formed how I choose inks, pretreatments, and materials for custom-made apparel projects. For many years, I've learned that water based inks and discharge printing are not just buzzwords, they are useful tools that produce gorgeous results and genuine convenience, particularly for T t-shirt printing that needs to stand up to daily wear.

If you run a brand, handle bulk t t-shirt orders, or just desire your individualized 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 need care. The right choice can make the distinction in between a shirt that gets worn once and one that ends up being the go-to.

What water based ink actually is

Water based inks suspend pigments in water instead of in plasticizers and solvents. Unlike plastisol, which sits on top of the material and cures into a movie, water based inks absorb into the fibers. That single characteristic discusses most 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 identical from the shirt itself. For custom t t-shirts developed for convenience, this is the path to the "retail feel" customers ask for.

There are 2 main families: standard water based and discharge. Basic water based ink works best on white or really light t-shirts. It can cover mid-tones with the ideal base, once you move into darker materials, you either require a heavier print or you change to release. Release printing uses an activator that lifts the color from the fabric during curing, essentially bleaching the t-shirt's color in the printed areas, then changes it with your pigment. The end result is the softest possible print on dark cotton, often with outstanding detail.

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

Eco friendly inks are not a marketing slogan if you unload the chemistry and the workflow. Water based inks generally consist of fewer unpredictable organic compounds than solvent-heavy alternatives and avoid PVC completely. Numerous are compliant with rigorous standards like Oeko-Tex or fulfill retail screening regimes that prohibit certain phthalates and heavy metals. If you offer custom-made apparel 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 require to take a look at shop practices: purification on your washout booth, reclaim chemistry, energy usage on your clothes dryer, and even material sourcing. Discharge requires an activator, normally based on zinc formaldehyde sulfoxylate or similar compounds, which has its own handling and ventilation requirements. In a well-run shop, direct exposure is managed and waste is captured. If you're utilizing print on demand with a partner, ask how they handle discharge effluent and whether they have air exchange and treating controls dialed in. Real sustainability hides in the details.

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

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

I keep a rack of contrast shirts in the studio. One from a browse brand, one from a brewery, both printed with discharge on midweight cotton. After 30 to 40 home washes, the prints softened a lot more, the colors mellowed slightly, and the 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, but the user feedback corresponds: water based feels like a premium garment.

Color, coverage, and how expectations shape results

Color precision with water based inks is a matter of control, humidity, and the fabric's own dye. On white or heather light shirts, standard water based ink can strike tight Pantones with a measured ink mix and a clean mesh. On darker cotton, discharge includes variables. Various color lots discharge differently, even within the same brand name and color. Black 3001 blanks from one batch may lift to a warm charcoal, while the next batch clears to a cooler grey. The pigment you include steers the final color, but you're still dealing with a background that is moving as the color is removed.

That's not a flaw, it becomes part of the medium. Numerous designers welcome 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 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 required. For wholesale t t-shirts that will be dispersed nationally, put swatch approvals into your procedure so there are no surprises at scale.

Fabric matters more than the majority of people think

A water based print is a collaboration 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, however discharge just lifts the cotton portion. That means your color fills the cotton while the polyester and rayon remain as-is, frequently yielding a heathered or speckled print that looks intentional if you design for it. If your goal is flat, brilliant color on a poly mix, traditional plastisol or a specialized low-cure system might be smarter.

On all over print tasks, 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 presents joints, folds, and inconsistent pressure that appear as blank micro-gaps. If you need to print on finished garments, anticipate small 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 behave in a different way on press. They dry much faster in the screen, which works on fabric however can lock a mesh if you stop briefly too long. Running a greater mesh for information, state 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 consistent variety, approximately 45 to 55 percent, to prevent early drying. Manual press operators will notice how quickly a standard water based ink clears the screen compared to a heavy plastisol. Automobile presses, with flood bars and constant rate, reduce clogging.

Curing is where many novices fizzle. Water based inks need both heat and time for the water to evaporate, then for the binders to cross-link. A clothes dryer tunnel with adequate airflow makes the distinction. You want even heat across the belt and enough dwell to reach the maker's treatment temperature throughout the ink layer, not just at the surface area. Shirts exiting the tunnel ought to be dry to the touch without any cool spots. For discharge, the chain reaction happens during this cure, and you will smell the activator. Good ventilation is non-negotiable.

Durability and wash testing

Durability depends on proper cure and fiber engagement. A well-cured water based print on cotton can last longer than the shirt. I measure sturdiness by standardized wash tests, 10 to 20 cycles at warm, topple dry medium, then visual examination for fading and splitting. Water based prints reveal progressive softening and a mild fade in the very same method denim relaxes. Plastisol's failure mode is different, typically splitting if the ink layer is too thick or under-cured. For tailored shirts that require 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 pick which method

Costs vary regionally, but the economics fall into familiar patterns. Water based ink itself is frequently similar to plastisol at the gallon level, however you invest more in shop environment and drying capacity. On press, water based can be somewhat slower at setup since you pay closer attention to fit together, squeegee durometer, and off-contact. When tuned, vehicles perform at similar speeds. Where it really settles remains in perceived value. A soft print on a mid-tier blank often feels premium without jumping to the highest-cost t-shirt. Brand names 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 turnaround and art changes constantly, direct-to-garment or DTF may be better operationally, though both have their own ecological and feel trade-offs. When you take on wholesale t shirts with numerous colorways and should keep inventory flexible, a versatile water based palette on light garments is efficient, given that you avoid the weight and tightness that accumulate with numerous underbases in plastisol.

Design options that draw out the best in water based and discharge

Design planning begins with the fabric 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 overpower. On dark cotton, discharge shines with mid-tone richness and soft edges. Consider how the t-shirt color looks through. A charcoal heather with a discharge cream graphic appear like it grew there.

Type weight matters. Extremely thin knockouts inside heavy flood areas can fill out with discharge, especially on high-absorbency cotton. If you require razor unfavorable area, separate the art to print unfavorable shapes as positive strokes with a clear schedule for squeegee pressure and flashes. Ask your printer for a proof on the real garment instead of relying on a digital mockup. A mockup can not catch fiber interaction and color lift.

When you ought to say no to discharge

There are times I encourage against discharge. Polyester-rich garments are top of the list. The activator can trigger dye migration, particularly with sublimated or cationic-dyed performance shirts, resulting in 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 small odor throughout treating, discharge days in the store are visible. Well-managed airflow alleviates this, however it is part of the process.

If a customer needs metallics, puff, or specialized textures, plastisol or hybrid systems still own that space. Water garment pre-treatment process 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 may require 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 guesswork. A basic method keeps surprises at bay and assists you struck deadlines for launches and events.

  • Decide on material first, then ink: choose 100 percent ringspun cotton for discharge, or light, high-quality cotton for standard water based. Avoid high poly unless the heathered effect is desired.
  • Request test prints on the specific blanks: one shirt per colorway is generally enough to lock approvals, particularly for bulk t shirt orders where consistency matters.
  • Clarify color expectations in context: offer Pantone targets for light garments and explain 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 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 on demand has its own restraints: quick art changes, small batch sizes, and the requirement for a broad color range. Direct-to-garment has become the default, however water based screen printing can fit POD if you organize catalog strategy. For styles that are high volume even at small daily quantities, pre-burning screens and keeping a small stock of popular sizes lets you deliver very same day with water based prints that feel much better than many DTG outputs. It works finest when you keep art to a couple of colors and choose light garments.

If your POD model depends on all over print sublimation for polyester garments, water based screen printing is not a replacement, it is a parallel offering. Use it where cotton convenience and breathability are the selling points. Clients who appreciate touch will notice.

Pricing, margins, and interacting value

When clients ask why a water based or discharge print costs more than a basic plastisol job, I discuss what they are purchasing. They get the soft hand that retail clients correspond with quality, improved breathability, and compliance for sensitive purchasers. On a per-shirt basis, the difference for a basic three-color front hit might be modest, often a small uplift that can be neutralized by choosing a slightly more economical blank. If the program is for wholesale t shirts entering into boutiques or e-commerce at superior rate points, the enhancement in perceived worth more than covers the change.

For personalized 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 enhance for expense, others for feel. Fulfilling both lets you serve a wider market without diluting your craft.

Care directions that customers in fact follow

Care labels typically read like legal disclaimers. Keep it basic and reasonable so the shirt makes it through real life. Water based and discharge prints choose cooler washes and lower dryer heat, however they will withstand normal laundering if effectively cured. I recommend phrasing care tips in human terms on product pages: wash cold with similar colors, topple dry low, prevent fabric softeners if you want colors to remain crisp. The last note matters due to the fact that some softeners can deposit movies on fibers, dulling the visual contrast of fine lines.

I have actually evaluated these directions in-house: 2 identical t-shirts, one washed cold and dried low, the other washed warm and dried high. After 15 cycles, the warm/high tee showed a little quicker fading of mid-tones, yet still looked excellent. That tolerance originates from correct cure, not from babying the garment.

All over print concepts that do not battle the limitations

All over print captures attention, but printing flood coats on assembled garments with water based inks can be unforgiving. Instead of combating 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 stitch. Brands that offer minimal runs can validate cut-and-sew for 100 to 300 pieces if the style warrants it. The finished garments check out as custom from a distance, which is the goal.

A short anecdote from a busy season

One spring we ran a series for a regional music celebration. The customer wanted soft black tees with a sunburst print that seemed like it resided in the fabric. We sampled on 3 blacks from 2 mills. Batch one raised cleanly with discharge, batch 2 stayed stubbornly dark in the mid-rays of the artwork. We logged color lot numbers, rotated the ink mix by adding a touch more white pigment to compensate, and adjusted dwell time by 10 to 15 seconds to complete the response. The result: constant tees across 2,400 systems, each with a soft, breathable print that offered out by day two.

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

Common pitfalls and how to prevent them

Most issues I see trace back to procedure, 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 hit the needed temperature for the best period. Utilize a donut probe or an embedded thermochromic strip to measure true ink film temperature, not simply clothes dryer setpoints. Screen lockup is the second. Keep a consistent rate on press, flood in between prints, and control shop humidity.

A 3rd pitfall is overlooking material irregularity. If you change blanks mid-run since a size is out of stock, you may see shifts in color. Build contingency into your acquiring. For brands planning ahead, selecting a basic blank and locking it with your provider decreases surprises.

Final assistance for choosing your path

If your concern is soft, breathable custom apparel that consumers keep wearing, water based inks deserve the learning curve. Usage standard water based upon light garments for tidy information and matte color. Relocate to discharge on one hundred percent cotton when you want the softest prints on dark t-shirts. Accept and prepare for small color variance with discharge, specifically throughout color lots. For bulk t shirt orders, build in a single round of physical tasting on the actual blanks you will use, then record your settings and keep back a referral t-shirt for quality control.

If you run a print on demand catalog, take a water based pill 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 shirts are evaluated in the hands, not simply on screens. When a client rubs their thumb across a print and feels absolutely nothing however fiber, you've won. That's the minute water based and discharge provide, and why they deserve a place in any severe 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.