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 tension: the push for softer, more breathable prints that people really delight in using, and the requirement to produce at scale without jeopardizing the environment or the bottom line. That stress has shaped how I pick inks, pretreatments, and materials for custom-made clothing tasks. Throughout the years, I've learned that water based inks and discharge printing are not just buzzwords, they are useful tools that produce lovely results and genuine comfort, particularly for T t-shirt printing that needs to stand up to day-to-day wear.

If you run a brand name, handle bulk t shirt orders, or just want 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 need care. The ideal option can make the distinction between a shirt that gets worn when and one that ends up being 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 treatments into a movie, water based inks soak up into the fibers. That single characteristic explains most of the benefits and compromises. Prints feel soft due to the fact that you're touching the cotton, not a layer of treated PVC. Colors tend to look more matte and incorporated. On light garments, the hand is often identical from the shirt itself. For custom-made t t-shirts designed for convenience, this is the path to the "retail feel" clients ask for.

There are two main households: basic water based and discharge. Standard water based ink works best on white or really light t-shirts. It can cover mid-tones with the right base, once you move into darker materials, you either require a much heavier print white ink underbase or you change to release. Discharge printing utilizes an activator that raises the dye from the fabric throughout curing, basically bleaching the shirt's color in the printed locations, then changes it with your pigment. The end outcome is the softest possible print on dark cotton, typically 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 unpack the chemistry and the workflow. Water based inks generally contain fewer unpredictable natural compounds than solvent-heavy alternatives and avoid PVC entirely. Lots of are compliant with rigorous requirements like Oeko-Tex or satisfy retail screening programs that ban certain phthalates and heavy metals. If you sell custom garments into corporate health cares, schools, or health-conscious brand names, those certificates smooth procurement and keep you ahead of compliance.

That stated, "eco friendly" is a system concept. Ink is one part. You likewise require to look at store practices: filtering on your washout booth, reclaim chemistry, energy usage on your dryer, and even fabric sourcing. Discharge needs an activator, generally based upon zinc formaldehyde sulfoxylate or similar compounds, which has its own handling and ventilation requirements. 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 manage discharge effluent and whether they have air exchange and curing controls dialed in. Genuine sustainability hides 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 enjoy the ink. They purchase it because the garment looks great, feels great, and keeps that character after repeated washing. Water based inks, including discharge, give you that broken-in comfort from day one. On a 100 percent ring-spun cotton blank, a water based print is breathable and versatile. You will not hear the crackle you in some cases obtain from heavy plastisol when you extend throughout the chest.

I keep a rack of comparison t-shirts in the studio. One from a surf brand, 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 a little, and the shirts kept moving. A plastisol sample with the same art looks glossier and still pops more under severe light, which some streetwear customers choose, but the user feedback is consistent: water based seems 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 shirts, basic water based ink can hit tight Pantones with a measured ink mix and a clean mesh. On darker cotton, discharge includes variables. Different color lots discharge differently, even within the exact same brand name and color. Black 3001 blanks from one batch may raise to a warm charcoal, while the next batch clears to a cooler grey. The pigment you include guides the final color, however you're still dealing with a background that is shifting as the dye is removed.

That's not a flaw, it belongs to the medium. Lots of designers accept the slightly 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 corporate logos, either order test prints on the precise batch you plan to utilize or consider a water based underbase or hybrid approach where required. 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 most people think

A water based print is a partnership between ink and fiber. Ringspun cotton takes ink magnificently. Carded open end cotton is scratchier and drinks ink unevenly. Blends complicate things. A 50/50 poly-cotton or a triblend with rayon can deal with water based, however discharge just lifts the cotton part. That suggests your color saturates the cotton while the polyester and rayon stay as-is, often yielding a heathered or speckled print that looks deliberate if you style for it. If your goal is flat, brilliant color on a poly mix, conventional plastisol or a specialized low-cure system might be smarter.

On all over print jobs, 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 introduces joints, folds, and irregular pressure that appear as blank micro-gaps. If you must print on completed garments, expect 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 act differently 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 information, state 230 to 305, keeps the deposit thin and crisp. Establish with a misting bottle or a dedicated screen rewetting solution at hand, and keep the print room humidity in a stable range, approximately 45 to 55 percent, to prevent early drying. Manual press operators will see how quickly a basic water based ink clears the screen compared to a heavy plastisol. Automobile presses, with flood bars and constant speed, reduce clogging.

Curing is where lots of novices miss the mark. 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 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 simply at the surface. Shirts exiting the tunnel should be dry to the touch with no cool areas. For discharge, the chain reaction takes place throughout this remedy, and you will smell the activator. Great ventilation is non-negotiable.

Durability and wash testing

Durability depends upon appropriate treatment and fiber engagement. A well-cured water based print on cotton can outlast the shirt. I determine durability by standardized wash tests, 10 to 20 cycles at warm, topple dry medium, then visual evaluation for fading and splitting. Water based prints reveal steady softening and a gentle fade in the exact same way denim unwinds. Plastisol's failure mode is various, usually 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 remain in rotation next summer season, water based holds up when produced correctly.

Cost, throughput, and when to select which method

Costs vary regionally, however the economics fall into familiar patterns. Water based ink itself is frequently similar to plastisol at the gallon level, however you invest more in store environment and drying capability. On press, water based can be somewhat slower at setup because you pay closer attention to fit together, squeegee durometer, and off-contact. When tuned, automobiles perform at similar speeds. Where it actually settles remains in perceived worth. 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 fits the medium, discharge on one hundred percent cotton is a workhorse. For print as needed that needs over night turn-around and art changes constantly, direct-to-garment or DTF might be much better operationally, though both have their own ecological and feel compromises. When you handle wholesale t shirts with multiple colorways and need to keep inventory flexible, a versatile water based palette on light garments is effective, considering that you prevent the weight and stiffness that build up with several underbases in plastisol.

Design choices that bring out the very best in water based and discharge

Design planning begins with the fabric color and ends with curing. On light t-shirts, lean into detail: thin lines, halftones, hand-drawn textures. Basic water based ink prints those with a delicacy that plastisol tends to subdue. On dark cotton, discharge shines with mid-tone richness and soft edges. Think about how the shirt color peeks 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 require razor negative space, 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 instead of relying on a digital mockup. A mockup can not record fiber interaction and dye lift.

When you ought to say no to discharge

There are times I advise versus discharge. Polyester-rich garments are leading of the list. The activator can trigger dye migration, specifically with sublimated or cationic-dyed performance shirts, causing ghosting or brownish casts. Some garment dyes, especially 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 treating, discharge days in the shop are noticeable. Well-managed airflow reduces this, but it belongs to the process.

If a customer requires metallics, puff, or specialty textures, plastisol or hybrid systems still own that space. Water based metallics exist, however the particles typically 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 brand names and creators

Whether you run your own presses or depend on a partner, established a workflow that gets rid of uncertainty. A simple method keeps surprises at bay and helps you struck deadlines for launches and events.

  • Decide on material initially, then ink: pick one hundred percent ringspun cotton for discharge, or light, premium cotton for standard water based. Avoid high poly unless the heathered effect is desired.
  • Request test prints on the precise blanks: one shirt per colorway is usually enough to lock approvals, specifically for bulk t t-shirt orders where consistency matters.
  • Clarify color expectations in context: offer Pantone targets for light garments and explain appropriate ranges for dark discharge prints, with pictures of previous work you like.
  • Align on care labels and handling: recommend cold wash and low heat dry for consumers, then validate your treatment times so clean sturdiness matches the tag guidance.
  • Confirm environmental standards: ask your printer about ink accreditations, 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 constraints: quick art modifications, little batch sizes, and the requirement for a broad color range. Direct-to-garment has become the default, but water based screen printing can fit POD if you organize catalog method. For styles that are high volume even at small daily amounts, pre-burning screens and keeping a little stock of popular sizes lets you ship very same day with water based prints that feel much better than lots of DTG outputs. It works finest when you keep art to one or two colors and 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. Use it where cotton convenience and breathability are the selling points. Customers 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 discuss what they are buying. They get the soft hand that retail clients equate with quality, enhanced breathability, and compliance for sensitive buyers. On a per-shirt basis, the difference for a basic three-color front hit may be modest, often a little uplift that can be reduced the effects of by picking a somewhat more cost-effective blank. If the program is for wholesale t shirts going into boutiques or e-commerce at premium cost points, the improvement in viewed worth more than covers the change.

For individualized t-shirts, such as charity runs or college clubs, alternatives matter. Deal a base cost with plastisol on midweight cotton, then a "comfort upgrade" that includes a ringspun blank with water based ink. You will see a clear split: some customers enhance for cost, others for feel. Meeting both lets you serve a wider market without diluting your craft.

Care instructions that customers really follow

Care labels frequently read like legal disclaimers. Keep it basic and practical so the shirt makes it through reality. Water based and discharge prints prefer cooler washes and lower clothes dryer heat, however they will withstand typical laundering if correctly cured. I suggest phrasing care tips in human terms on item pages: wash cold with similar colors, topple dry low, prevent fabric conditioners if you desire colors to remain crisp. The last note matters due to the fact that some softeners can deposit films on fibers, dulling the visual contrast of great lines.

I have actually tested these instructions in-house: 2 similar t-shirts, one cleaned 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 excellent. That tolerance originates from correct cure, not from babying the garment.

All over print ideas that do not fight the limitations

All over print captures attention, however printing flood coats on assembled garments with water based inks can be unforgiving. Rather of battling joints, style for them. Use tone-on-tone patterns that fade naturally at seams, or use a ghosted grid that looks intentional when it breaks at hems. Alternatively, run panel printing and sew. Brands that offer restricted runs can validate cut-and-sew for 100 to 300 pieces if the design requires it. The completed garments check out as custom-made from a range, which is the goal.

A quick anecdote from a hectic season

One spring we ran a series for a local music festival. The client desired soft black tees with a sunburst print that seemed like it lived in the fabric. We sampled on three blacks from two mills. Batch one raised cleanly with discharge, batch two remained stubbornly dark in the mid-rays of the artwork. We logged dye lot numbers, rotated the ink mix by including 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 crew 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 issues I see trace back to process, not the ink household. 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 needed temp for the best period. Use a donut probe or an embedded thermochromic strip to measure real ink movie temperature, not just clothes dryer setpoints. Screen lockup is the second. Keep a consistent pace on press, flood between prints, and control store humidity.

A third pitfall is ignoring material variability. If you switch blanks mid-run due to the fact that a size is out of stock, you might see shifts in color. Develop contingency into your purchasing. For brand names planning ahead, selecting a basic blank and locking it with your provider minimizes surprises.

Final guidance for selecting your path

If your priority is soft, breathable custom-made clothing that customers keep wearing, water based inks deserve the knowing curve. Use standard water based on light garments for clean information and matte color. Transfer to release on 100 percent cotton when you desire the softest prints on dark t-shirts. Accept and plan for small color variance with discharge, specifically throughout dye lots. For bulk t t-shirt orders, build in a single round of physical tasting on the real blanks you will use, then record your settings and keep back a recommendation shirt for quality control.

If you run a print on demand brochure, take a water based pill of best sellers on light t-shirts. Market the difference: 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 shirts are judged in the hands, not just on screens. When a client rubs their thumb throughout a print and feels nothing but fiber, you have actually won. That's the moment water based and discharge provide, and why they should have a place in any serious shop 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.