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 two things in constant stress: the push for softer, more breathable prints that individuals actually enjoy wearing, and the requirement to produce at scale without jeopardizing the environment or the bottom line. That stress has shaped how I choose inks, pretreatments, and fabrics for custom apparel projects. For many years, I've discovered that water based inks and discharge printing are not just buzzwords, they are practical tools that produce lovely results and genuine convenience, particularly for T t-shirt printing that needs to withstand day-to-day wear.

If you run a brand name, manage bulk t shirt orders, or merely want your individualized shirts to feel like a preferred from the first wash, it deserves comprehending how these ink systems work, where they shine, and where they need care. The best option can make the distinction between a shirt that gets used as soon as and one that ends up being the go-to.

What water based ink really is

Water based inks suspend pigments in water rather than in plasticizers and solvents. Unlike plastisol, which sits on top of the material and cures into a film, water based inks absorb into the fibers. That single characteristic describes the majority of the benefits and compromises. Prints feel soft since 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 typically equivalent from the shirt itself. For custom t shirts developed for comfort, this is the path to the "retail feel" clients ask for.

There are two main families: basic water based and discharge. Standard water based ink works best on white or very light shirts. It can cover mid-tones with the best base, but once you move into darker fabrics, you either require a heavier print or you change to release. Release printing utilizes an activator that lifts the color from the material throughout treating, essentially bleaching the t-shirt's color in the printed areas, then changes it with your pigment. Completion result is the softest possible print on dark cotton, often with outstanding detail.

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

Eco friendly inks are not a marketing motto if you unpack the chemistry and the workflow. Water based inks normally contain less volatile organic substances than solvent-heavy options and avoid PVC entirely. Numerous are compliant with rigorous requirements like Oeko-Tex or satisfy retail screening routines that prohibit certain phthalates and heavy metals. If you sell custom-made garments into business 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 likewise need to take a look at store practices: purification on your washout booth, reclaim chemistry, energy usage on your clothes dryer, and even fabric 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, exposure is managed and waste is caught. If you're utilizing print on demand with a partner, ask how they handle discharge effluent and whether they have air exchange and curing controls dialed in. Real sustainability conceals in the details.

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

Most individuals do not purchase a graphic tee due to the fact that they love the ink. They purchase it because the garment looks good, feels good, and keeps that character after repeated cleaning. Water based inks, including discharge, offer 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 get from heavy plastisol when you stretch across the chest.

I keep a shelf of contrast t-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 somewhat, and the t-shirts kept moving. A plastisol sample with the exact same art looks glossier and still pops more under severe light, which some streetwear customers choose, however the wearer feedback is consistent: 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 material's own color. On white or heather light shirts, basic water based ink can strike tight Pantones with a determined ink mix and a clean mesh. On darker cotton, discharge includes variables. Various color lots discharge differently, even within the very same brand 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, but you're still working with a background that is shifting as the color is removed.

That's not a defect, it belongs to the medium. Lots of designers accept the a little classic character of discharge, where reds land earthy and blues feel deep instead of neon. If your brand name needs laser-precise color reproduction for business logo designs, either order test prints on the exact batch you plan to utilize or think about 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 many 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 complicate things. A 50/50 poly-cotton or a triblend with rayon can deal with water based, but discharge only lifts the cotton portion. That implies your color saturates the cotton while the polyester and rayon remain as-is, typically yielding a heathered or speckled print that looks deliberate if you style for it. If your goal is flat, vibrant color on a poly mix, traditional 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 presents joints, folds, and irregular pressure that appear as blank micro-gaps. If you must print on completed garments, anticipate little voids along seams, which some customers like as part of the garment's character.

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

Water based inks act in a different way on press. They dry faster in the screen, which works on material however can lock a mesh if you pause too long. Running a greater mesh for detail, say 230 to 305, keeps the deposit thin and crisp. Set up with a misting bottle or a devoted screen rewetting option 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. Automobile presses, with flood bars and constant rate, decrease clogging.

Curing is where numerous 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 adequate air flow makes the difference. You want even heat across the belt and adequate dwell to reach the manufacturer's remedy temperature level throughout the ink layer, not simply at the surface area. Shirts leaving the tunnel must be dry to the touch without any cool areas. For discharge, the chemical reaction occurs throughout this treatment, and you will smell the activator. Good ventilation is non-negotiable.

Durability and wash testing

Durability depends upon appropriate 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 inspection for fading and cracking. Water based prints reveal steady softening and a mild fade in the exact same method denim unwinds. Plastisol's failure mode is different, generally splitting if the ink layer is too thick or under-cured. For individualized shirts that require to look proficient at a family reunion and still be in rotation next summer, water based holds up when produced correctly.

Cost, throughput, and when to choose which method

Costs differ regionally, but the economics fall under familiar patterns. Water based ink itself is frequently equivalent to plastisol at the gallon level, however 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 fit together, squeegee durometer, and off-contact. Once tuned, autos perform at similar speeds. Where it truly settles remains in viewed value. A soft print on a mid-tier blank typically feels premium without jumping to the highest-cost t-shirt. Brands can price accordingly.

For bulk t shirt orders above a few hundred pieces where the art fits the medium, discharge on one hundred percent cotton is a workhorse. For print on demand that needs over night turnaround and art changes continuously, 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 t-shirts with multiple colorways and need to keep inventory flexible, a flexible water based palette on light garments is efficient, since you prevent the weight and stiffness that accumulate with numerous underbases in plastisol.

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

Design planning begins with the fabric 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 t-shirt color glimpses through. A charcoal heather with a discharge cream graphic appear like it grew there.

Type weight matters. Very thin knockouts inside heavy flood locations can complete with discharge, particularly on high-absorbency cotton. If you need razor negative area, 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 relying on a digital mockup. A mockup can not catch fiber interaction and dye lift.

When you should say no to discharge

There are times I recommend versus discharge. Polyester-rich garments are top of the list. The activator can cause color migration, specifically with sublimated or cationic-dyed performance t-shirts, leading to ghosting or brownish casts. Some garment dyes, specifically reactive black blends, withstand lifting, leaving a shadowed print that looks undercured even when it isn't. If a customer is delicate to minor smell throughout curing, discharge days in the store are visible. Well-managed air flow reduces this, but it is part of the process.

If a customer requires metallics, puff, or specialized textures, plastisol or hybrid systems still own that space. Water based metallics exist, but the particles frequently sink, and the impact is more satin than real metal. For high-opacity neons on dark t-shirts that should be billboard-bright, you may 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 rely on a partner, established a workflow that eliminates guesswork. A simple method keeps surprises at bay and assists you hit due dates for launches and events.

  • Decide on material first, then ink: choose one hundred percent ringspun cotton for discharge, or light, top quality cotton for basic water based. Avoid high poly unless the heathered effect is desired.
  • Request test prints on the specific blanks: one t-shirt per colorway is typically adequate to lock approvals, specifically for bulk t t-shirt orders where consistency matters.
  • Clarify color expectations in context: supply Pantone targets for light garments and describe acceptable 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 clients, then verify your treatment times so clean sturdiness matches the tag guidance.
  • Confirm ecological requirements: ask your printer about ink certifications, ventilation, and waste capture, particularly if your brand 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 need for a broad color gamut. Direct-to-garment has actually become the default, however water based screen printing can fit POD if you organize catalog method. For designs that are high volume even at small everyday amounts, pre-burning screens and keeping a small stock of popular sizes lets you ship exact 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 design depends 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 comfort and breathability are the selling points. Customers who appreciate touch will notice.

Pricing, margins, and communicating value

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

For personalized shirts, such as charity runs or college clubs, choices matter. Deal a base rate 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. Satisfying both lets you serve a wider market without diluting your craft.

Care instructions that consumers really follow

Care labels often check out like legal disclaimers. Keep it simple and practical so the shirt survives reality. Water based and discharge prints prefer cooler washes and lower clothes dryer heat, however they will endure typical laundering if appropriately cured. I suggest phrasing care tips in human terms on item pages: wash cold with similar colors, tumble dry low, prevent fabric softeners if you want colors to stay crisp. The last note matters because some conditioners can deposit films on fibers, dulling the visual contrast of fine lines.

I've checked these instructions in-house: 2 similar t-shirts, one washed cold and dried low, the other washed warm and dried high. After 15 cycles, the warm/high tee revealed slightly much faster fading of mid-tones, yet still looked good. That tolerance comes from proper remedy, not from babying the garment.

All over print ideas that do not fight the limitations

All over print catches attention, however printing flood coats on assembled garments with water based inks can be unforgiving. Instead of battling seams, design for them. Usage tone-on-tone patterns that fade naturally at seams, or apply a ghosted grid that looks deliberate when it breaks at hems. Alternatively, run panel printing and sew. Brand names that sell limited runs can justify cut-and-sew for 100 to 300 pieces if the design necessitates it. The completed garments read as custom from a range, which is the goal.

A quick anecdote from a busy season

One spring we ran a series for a local music celebration. The customer wanted soft black tees with a sunburst print that seemed like it lived in the material. We tested on 3 blacks from two mills. Batch one lifted cleanly with discharge, batch 2 remained stubbornly dark in the mid-rays of the art work. We logged color lot numbers, pivoted the ink mix by including a touch more white pigment to compensate, and changed dwell time by 10 to 15 seconds to complete the response. The outcome: consistent tees throughout 2,400 units, each with a soft, breathable print that offered out by day two.

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

Common mistakes and how to prevent them

Most issues 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 full-color photo printing on fabric never struck the required temperature for the ideal duration. Use a donut probe or an embedded thermochromic strip to measure true ink film temperature, not simply dryer setpoints. Screen lockup is the second. Keep a consistent rate on press, flood between prints, and control store humidity.

A third mistake is overlooking material variability. If you change blanks mid-run because a size is out of stock, you may see shifts in color. Develop contingency into your acquiring. For brand names planning ahead, selecting a basic blank and locking it with your provider reduces surprises.

Final assistance for picking your path

If your top priority is soft, breathable custom clothing that customers keep wearing, water based inks deserve the learning curve. Usage basic water based upon light garments for tidy information and matte color. Move to discharge on one hundred percent cotton when you desire the softest prints on dark t-shirts. Accept and plan for minor color variance with discharge, particularly throughout color lots. For bulk t t-shirt orders, integrate in a single round of physical tasting on the actual blanks you will use, then document your settings and hold back a referral shirt for quality control.

If you operate a print on demand brochure, take a water based pill of finest sellers on light shirts. Market the difference: eco friendly inks, breathable feel, and retail-quality hand. Keep your specialized effects 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 consumer rubs their thumb across a print and feels absolutely nothing but fiber, you've won. That's the minute water based and discharge deliver, and why they are worthy of a location 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.