October 18, 2025

Beyond Standard Tees: A Guide to Eco-Friendly Water-Based Inks and Discharge Printing for Custom-made 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 continuous stress: the push for softer, more breathable prints that people really enjoy wearing, and the requirement to produce at scale without compromising the environment or the bottom line. That tension has formed how I pick inks, pretreatments, and materials for customized garments projects. Throughout the years, I've found out that water based inks and discharge printing are not simply buzzwords, they are practical tools that produce lovely results and real convenience, particularly for T shirt printing that requires to stand up to day-to-day wear.

If you run a brand, handle bulk t shirt orders, or just want your customized t-shirts to seem like a favorite from the very first wash, it's worth understanding how these ink systems work, where they shine, and where they require care. The right option can make the difference in between a t-shirt that gets used when 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 fabric and cures into a film, water based inks take custom youth t shirts in into the fibers. That single particular explains the majority of the advantages and trade-offs. Prints feel soft due to the fact that 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 custom t shirts created for convenience, this is the path to the "retail feel" clients ask for.

There are two primary households: standard water based and discharge. Basic 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 need a much heavier print or you switch to release. Release printing uses an activator that lifts the dye from the material throughout treating, essentially bleaching the shirt's color in the printed areas, then replaces it with your pigment. Completion result 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 motto if you unload the chemistry and the workflow. Water based inks typically contain less unstable organic substances than solvent-heavy options and prevent PVC altogether. Many are certified with rigorous requirements like Oeko-Tex or satisfy retail testing programs that prohibit specific phthalates and heavy metals. If you sell custom clothing 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 idea. Ink is one part. You likewise need to take a look at store practices: filtration on your washout booth, reclaim chemistry, energy use on your clothes dryer, and even fabric sourcing. Discharge needs an activator, usually based upon zinc formaldehyde sulfoxylate or comparable substances, which has its own handling and ventilation requirements. In a well-run store, direct exposure is managed and waste is caught. If you're utilizing print on demand with a partner, ask how they manage discharge effluent and whether they have air exchange and curing controls dialed in. Real sustainability hides in the details.

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

Most people do not purchase a graphic tee because they enjoy the ink. They buy it since the garment looks excellent, feels good, and keeps that character after repeated washing. Water based inks, consisting of discharge, provide you that broken-in comfort from the first day. On a 100 percent ring-spun cotton blank, a water based print is breathable and flexible. You will not hear the crackle you often obtain from heavy plastisol when you extend throughout the chest.

I keep a rack of comparison t-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 even more, the colors mellowed a little, and the shirts kept moving. A plastisol sample with the very same art looks glossier and still pops more under severe light, which DTG t shirts some streetwear customers prefer, however the wearer feedback is consistent: water based seems like a premium garment.

Color, protection, and how expectations shape results

Color precision with water based inks is a matter of control, humidity, and the material's own dye. On white or heather light shirts, standard water based ink can hit tight Pantones with a determined ink mix and a tidy mesh. On darker cotton, discharge adds variables. Different color lots discharge differently, even within the same brand name and color. Black 3001 blanks from one batch might lift to a warm charcoal, while the next batch clears to a cooler grey. The pigment you add steers the last color, however you're still dealing with a background that is moving as the dye is removed.

That's not a flaw, it becomes part of the medium. Numerous designers welcome the somewhat vintage character of discharge, where reds land earthy and blues feel deep rather than neon. If your brand name demands laser-precise color reproduction for corporate logo designs, either order test prints on the exact batch you prepare to use or consider a water based underbase or hybrid technique where required. For wholesale t shirts that will be distributed nationally, put swatch approvals into your procedure so there are not a surprises at scale.

Fabric matters more than many people think

A water based print is a partnership between ink and fiber. Ringspun cotton takes ink perfectly. Carded open end cotton is scratchier and drinks ink unevenly. Blends complicate things. A 50/50 poly-cotton or a triblend with rayon can deal with water based, but discharge only raises the cotton portion. That implies your color saturates the cotton while the polyester and rayon stay as-is, typically yielding a heathered or speckled print that looks intentional if you style for it. If your objective is flat, vivid color on a poly blend, traditional plastisol or a specialized low-cure system may be smarter.

On all over print projects, 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 completed tees introduces seams, folds, and inconsistent pressure that show up as blank micro-gaps. If you need to print on completed garments, expect small 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 behave in a different way on press. They dry quicker in the screen, which works on material but can lock a mesh if you stop briefly 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 solution at hand, and keep the print room humidity in a constant range, approximately 45 to 55 percent, to avoid premature drying. Manual press operators will notice how quickly a basic water based ink clears the screen compared to a heavy plastisol. Automobile presses, with flood bars and constant pace, minimize clogging.

Curing is where numerous 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 dryer tunnel with sufficient air flow makes the distinction. You want even heat throughout the belt and adequate dwell to reach the producer's treatment temperature level throughout the ink layer, not simply at the surface area. T-shirts leaving the tunnel should be dry to the touch with no cool spots. For discharge, the chemical reaction takes place during this remedy, and you will smell the activator. Excellent ventilation is non-negotiable.

Durability and wash testing

Durability depends on correct cure and fiber engagement. A well-cured water based print on cotton can outlive the shirt. I measure toughness by standardized wash tests, 10 to 20 cycles at warm, tumble dry medium, then visual examination for fading and breaking. Water based prints show progressive softening and a gentle fade in the very same way jeans unwinds. Plastisol's failure mode is various, typically splitting if the ink layer is too thick or under-cured. For customized t-shirts that require to look proficient at a household reunion and still be in rotation next summer season, water based holds up when produced correctly.

Cost, throughput, and when to choose which method

Costs vary regionally, however the economics fall under familiar patterns. Water based ink itself is frequently equivalent to plastisol at the gallon level, however you invest more in store environment and drying capability. On press, water based can be slightly slower at setup because you pay closer attention to mesh, squeegee durometer, and off-contact. Once tuned, automobiles run at similar speeds. Where it actually settles remains in viewed value. A soft print on a mid-tier blank often feels premium without leaping to the highest-cost t-shirt. Brand names can price accordingly.

For bulk t t-shirt orders above a couple of hundred pieces where the art fits the medium, discharge on one hundred percent cotton is a workhorse. For print as needed that needs over night turnaround and art changes constantly, direct-to-garment or DTF may be better operationally, though both have their own environmental and feel compromises. When you take on eco-friendly inks wholesale t t-shirts with several colorways and need to keep inventory versatile, a versatile water based combination on light garments is effective, considering that you prevent the weight and stiffness that collect with numerous underbases in plastisol.

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

Design preparation 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 special that plastisol tends to overpower. On dark cotton, discharge shines with mid-tone richness and soft edges. Consider how the shirt color peeks through. A charcoal heather with a discharge cream graphic looks like it grew there.

Type weight matters. Really thin knockouts inside heavy flood locations can complete with discharge, especially on high-absorbency cotton. If you require razor unfavorable space, separate 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 trusting a digital mockup. A mockup can not capture fiber interplay and dye lift.

When you should state no to discharge

There are times I encourage versus discharge. Polyester-rich garments are leading of the list. The activator can cause dye migration, specifically with sublimated or cationic-dyed performance t-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 curing, discharge days in the shop are visible. Well-managed air flow mitigates this, but it is part of the process.

If a client requires metallics, puff, or specialty textures, plastisol or hybrid systems still own that space. Water based metallics exist, however the particles frequently sink, and the result is more satin than true 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 depend on a partner, established a workflow that removes uncertainty. A simple method keeps surprises at bay and assists you hit due dates for launches and events.

  • Decide on fabric initially, then ink: select 100 percent ringspun cotton for discharge, or light, premium cotton for standard water based. Prevent high poly unless the heathered impact is desired.
  • Request test prints on the exact blanks: one shirt per colorway is normally sufficient 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 describe appropriate varieties for dark discharge prints, with pictures of prior work you like.
  • Align on care labels and handling: advise cold wash and low heat dry for customers, then confirm your remedy times so wash resilience matches the tag guidance.
  • Confirm environmental requirements: ask your printer about ink accreditations, ventilation, and waste capture, especially if your brand name messaging leans into eco friendly inks.

How water based fits with print on demand

Print as needed has its own restrictions: fast art 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 arrange catalog technique. For designs that are high volume even at small 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 lots of DTG outputs. It works finest when you keep art to one or two 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. Utilize it where cotton comfort 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 fundamental plastisol task, I explain what they are buying. They get the soft hand that retail customers equate with quality, enhanced breathability, and compliance for sensitive purchasers. On a per-shirt basis, the difference for a basic three-color front hit may be modest, frequently a small uplift that can be neutralized by picking a somewhat more affordable blank. If the program is for wholesale t t-shirts going into stores or e-commerce at superior price points, the improvement in perceived value more than covers the change.

For individualized t-shirts, such as charity runs or college clubs, choices matter. Deal a base cost 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 customers optimize for expense, others for feel. Satisfying both lets you serve a wider market without diluting your craft.

Care guidelines that consumers really follow

Care labels often read like legal disclaimers. Keep it easy and reasonable so the t-shirt makes it through reality. Water based and discharge prints prefer cooler washes and lower dryer heat, but they will sustain typical laundering if appropriately treated. I suggest phrasing care tips in human terms on product pages: wash cold with comparable colors, topple dry low, prevent fabric softeners if you want colors to stay crisp. The last note matters due to the fact that some conditioners can transfer movies on fibers, dulling the visual contrast of great lines.

I've evaluated these instructions in-house: two identical 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 comes from correct cure, not from babying the garment.

All over print ideas that do not battle the limitations

All over print captures attention, however printing flood coats on put together garments with water based inks can be unforgiving. Instead of combating joints, style for them. Use tone-on-tone patterns that fade naturally at joints, or apply a ghosted grid that looks deliberate when it breaks at hems. Alternatively, run panel printing and sew. Brands that sell limited runs can validate cut-and-sew for 100 to 300 pieces if the design necessitates it. The finished garments check out as custom-made from a range, which is the goal.

A quick anecdote from a busy season

One spring we ran a series for a regional music celebration. The client desired soft black tees with a sunburst print that felt like it lived in the material. We tested on three blacks from 2 mills. Batch one raised cleanly with discharge, batch two stayed 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 adjusted dwell time by 10 to 15 seconds to finish the reaction. The result: constant tees across 2,400 units, 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, but so does tasting and adjusting.

Common mistakes and how to prevent them

Most issues I see trace no minimum order shirts back to procedure, not the ink family. Under-curing is the first culprit. Water based ink that feels dry can still be under-cured if the core of the print never ever hit the needed temp for the ideal period. Utilize a donut probe or an embedded thermochromic strip to determine true ink film temperature, not simply clothes dryer setpoints. Screen lockup is the second. Keep a consistent pace on press, flood in between prints, and control shop humidity.

A 3rd risk is overlooking material variability. If you switch blanks mid-run due to the fact that a size runs out stock, you might see shifts in color. Develop contingency into your purchasing. For brand names preparing ahead, picking a basic blank DTG t-shirt printing and locking it with your provider lowers surprises.

Final guidance for choosing your path

If your priority is soft, breathable customized clothing that consumers keep using, water based inks are worth the learning curve. Usage standard water based on light garments for clean information and matte color. Transfer to discharge on one hundred percent cotton when you desire the softest prints on dark shirts. Accept and prepare for small color difference with discharge, especially across color lots. For bulk t t-shirt orders, integrate in a single round of physical sampling on the real blanks you will utilize, then document your settings and keep back a recommendation t-shirt for quality control.

If you run a print on demand catalog, take a water based capsule of best 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 judged in the hands, not just on screens. When a customer rubs their thumb across a print and feels nothing however fiber, you have actually won. That's the moment water based and discharge provide, and why they are worthy of a place in any major 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.