November 3, 2025

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

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


Prints R Us

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

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

What does Prints R Us do?

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

Where is Prints R Us located?

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

What services does Prints R Us provide?

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

Which industries does Prints R Us serve?

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

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

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

Does Prints R Us use high-quality materials?

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

What awards has Prints R Us won?

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

How can I contact Prints R Us?

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

Walk into any printing shop that takes its craft seriously, and you will see two things in constant tension: the push for softer, more breathable prints that people actually enjoy using, and the requirement to produce at scale without compromising the environment or the bottom line. That stress has shaped how I pick inks, pretreatments, and fabrics for custom-made apparel tasks. Over the years, I have actually discovered that water based inks and discharge printing are not simply buzzwords, they are useful tools that produce beautiful outcomes and genuine convenience, especially for T shirt printing that needs to withstand daily wear.

If you run a brand name, handle bulk t t-shirt orders, or simply want your tailored shirts to feel like a preferred from the very first wash, it deserves understanding how these ink systems work, where they shine, and where they require care. The ideal option can make the distinction between a t-shirt that gets worn 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 material and cures into a movie, water based inks soak up into the fibers. That single characteristic explains most of the benefits 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 incorporated. On light garments, the hand is frequently equivalent from the shirt itself. For customized t shirts designed for comfort, this is the course to the "retail feel" clients ask for.

There are two main households: standard water based and discharge. Basic water based ink works best on white or really 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 uses an activator that lifts the dye from the fabric throughout treating, essentially whitening the shirt's dye in the printed locations, then replaces it with your pigment. The end result is the softest possible print on dark cotton, frequently with exceptional 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 generally include less unstable organic compounds than solvent-heavy options and avoid PVC entirely. Lots of are compliant with rigorous standards like Oeko-Tex or meet retail testing routines that prohibit certain phthalates and heavy metals. If you offer custom garments into corporate health cares, schools, or health-conscious brand names, those certificates smooth procurement and keep you ahead of compliance.

That said, "eco friendly" is a system concept. Ink is one part. You likewise require to take a look at shop practices: filtration on your washout cubicle, recover chemistry, energy use on your dryer, and even fabric sourcing. Discharge needs an activator, usually based upon zinc formaldehyde sulfoxylate or similar substances, which has its own handling and ventilation needs. In a well-run shop, exposure is managed and waste is captured. If you're using print as needed with a partner, ask how they handle discharge effluent and whether they have air exchange and treating controls dialed in. Genuine sustainability hides in the details.

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

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

I keep a shelf of comparison 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 much more, the colors mellowed a little, and the t-shirts kept moving. A plastisol sample with the same art looks glossier and still pops more under extreme light, which some streetwear customers prefer, however the user feedback is consistent: water based feels like a premium garment.

Color, protection, and how expectations form results

Color precision with water based inks refers control, humidity, and the fabric's own color. On white or heather light t-shirts, basic water based ink can strike tight Pantones with a measured ink mix and a tidy mesh. On darker cotton, discharge adds variables. Various dye lots discharge in a different way, even within the same brand name and color. Black 3001 blanks from one batch might 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 working with a background that is moving as the color is removed.

That's not a defect, it belongs to the medium. Lots of designers welcome the a little classic 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 specific batch you prepare to utilize or think about a water based underbase or hybrid method 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 the majority of people think

A water based print is a collaboration 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 work with water based, however discharge only raises the cotton portion. That implies your color fills the cotton while the polyester and rayon stay as-is, frequently yielding a heathered or speckled print that looks intentional if you design for it. If your objective is flat, brilliant color on a poly blend, traditional plastisol or a specialized low-cure system might 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 finished tees introduces seams, folds, and irregular pressure that show up as blank micro-gaps. If you need to print on finished garments, expect little voids along joints, which some customers like as part of the garment's character.

The production truth: 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 material but can lock a mesh if you stop briefly too long. Running a higher mesh for information, state 230 to 305, keeps the deposit thin and crisp. Establish with a misting bottle or a devoted screen rewetting service at hand, and keep the print room humidity in a consistent range, roughly 45 to 55 percent, to prevent premature drying. Manual press operators will notice how quickly a basic water based ink clears the screen compared to a heavy plastisol. Auto presses, with flood bars and constant speed, decrease clogging.

Curing is where numerous beginners miss the mark. Water based inks require both heat and time for the water to vaporize, then for the binders to cross-link. A clothes dryer tunnel with adequate airflow makes the distinction. You desire even heat across the belt and enough dwell to reach the producer's cure temperature level throughout the ink layer, not simply at the surface. Shirts exiting the tunnel ought to be dry to the touch T shirt printing near Jacksonville without any cool areas. For discharge, the chain reaction takes place during this cure, and you will smell the activator. Good ventilation is non-negotiable.

Durability and wash testing

Durability depends upon proper remedy and fiber engagement. A well-cured water based print on cotton can outlast the shirt. I measure sturdiness by standardized wash tests, 10 to 20 cycles at warm, topple dry medium, then visual examination for fading and breaking. Water based prints reveal steady softening and a gentle fade in the exact same way jeans relaxes. Plastisol's failure mode is various, typically splitting if the ink layer is too thick or under-cured. For personalized t-shirts that require to look good at a household reunion and still remain in rotation next summertime, water based holds up when produced correctly.

Cost, throughput, and when to pick which method

Costs differ regionally, however the economics fall into familiar patterns. Water based ink itself is often comparable to plastisol at the gallon level, but you invest more in store 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 mesh, squeegee durometer, and off-contact. Once tuned, autos run at similar speeds. Where it actually settles remains in viewed worth. A soft print on a mid-tier blank typically feels premium without jumping to the highest-cost shirt. Brands can price accordingly.

For bulk t t-shirt orders above a couple of hundred pieces where the art fits 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 might be much better operationally, though both have their own ecological and feel trade-offs. When you handle wholesale t shirts with numerous colorways and need to keep stock versatile, a flexible water based palette on light garments is efficient, considering that you prevent the weight and stiffness that collect with multiple 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 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 peeks through. A charcoal heather with a discharge cream graphic appear like it grew there.

Type weight matters. Very thin knockouts inside heavy flood areas can fill in with discharge, particularly on high-absorbency cotton. If you need razor unfavorable area, different 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 trusting a digital mockup. A mockup can not capture fiber interplay and color lift.

When you ought to state no to discharge

There are times custom t shirts printing I encourage versus discharge. Polyester-rich garments are top of the list. The activator can trigger dye migration, particularly with sublimated or cationic-dyed efficiency shirts, causing 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 during treating, discharge days in the shop are obvious. Well-managed airflow reduces this, however it is part of top rated custom t shirts Jacksonville the process.

If a client requires metallics, puff, or specialized textures, plastisol or hybrid systems still own that area. Water based metallics exist, but the particles frequently sink, and the result is more satin than true metal. For high-opacity neons on dark shirts that should 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 rely on a partner, set up a workflow that eliminates uncertainty. A simple method keeps surprises at bay and helps you hit due dates for launches and events.

  • Decide on material first, then ink: choose 100 percent ringspun cotton for discharge, or light, premium cotton for basic water based. Prevent high poly unless the heathered effect is desired.
  • Request test prints on the precise blanks: one shirt per colorway is generally 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 ranges for dark discharge prints, with images of prior work you like.
  • Align on care labels and handling: recommend cold wash and low heat dry for clients, then verify your treatment times so clean resilience matches the tag guidance.
  • Confirm ecological standards: ask your printer about ink accreditations, ventilation, and waste capture, particularly if your brand name messaging leans into eco friendly inks.

How water based fits with print on demand

Print on demand has its own constraints: fast art changes, little batch sizes, and the requirement for a broad color gamut. Direct-to-garment has become the default, however water based screen printing can fit POD if you arrange catalog strategy. For designs that are high volume even at little daily amounts, 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 best when you keep art to one or two colors and choose light garments.

If your POD design counts 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 convenience and breathability are the selling points. Clients who care about touch will notice.

Pricing, margins, and interacting value

When customers ask why a water based or discharge print costs more than a standard plastisol task, I describe what they are purchasing. They get the soft hand that retail consumers correspond with quality, enhanced breathability, and compliance for sensitive purchasers. On a per-shirt basis, the distinction for a standard three-color front hit might be modest, typically a little uplift that can be reduced the effects of by choosing a slightly more cost-effective blank. If the program is for wholesale t t-shirts going into boutiques or e-commerce at exceptional price points, the enhancement in viewed worth more than covers the change.

For personalized shirts, such as charity runs or college clubs, choices matter. Offer a base rate with plastisol on midweight cotton, then a "convenience upgrade" that includes a ringspun blank with water based ink. You will see a clear split: some clients optimize for expense, others for feel. Fulfilling both lets you serve a broader market without diluting your craft.

Care guidelines that consumers in fact follow

Care labels often check out like legal disclaimers. Keep it simple and practical so the t-shirt endures reality. Water based and discharge prints prefer cooler washes and lower dryer heat, however they will withstand typical laundering if properly cured. I suggest phrasing care suggestions in human terms on item pages: wash cold with comparable colors, topple dry low, avoid material conditioners if you desire colors to stay crisp. The last note matters because some softeners can deposit movies on fibers, dulling the visual contrast of fine lines.

I have actually tested these instructions in-house: two identical shirts, one cleaned cold and dried low, the other washed warm and dried high. After 15 cycles, the warm/high tee revealed a little quicker fading of mid-tones, yet still looked excellent. That tolerance comes from proper treatment, 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 seams, style for them. Usage 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 stitch. Brand names that offer restricted runs can justify cut-and-sew for 100 to 300 pieces if the style necessitates it. The finished 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 high quality Jacksonville T shirt printing local music festival. The client desired soft black tees with a sunburst print that felt like it resided in the material. We tested on 3 blacks from two mills. Batch one raised cleanly with discharge, batch 2 remained stubbornly dark in the mid-rays of the artwork. We logged dye 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 finish the response. The result: constant tees throughout 2,400 units, each with a soft, breathable print that sold out by day two.

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

Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

Most problems I see trace back to process, 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 temp for the best duration. Utilize a donut probe or an embedded thermochromic strip to measure true ink custom t shirts for teams movie temperature, not simply clothes dryer setpoints. Screen lockup is the second. Keep a constant speed on press, flood in between prints, and control shop humidity.

A third pitfall is neglecting material irregularity. If you change blanks mid-run because a size is out of stock, you might see shifts in color. Develop contingency into your acquiring. For brands preparing ahead, choosing a basic blank and locking it with your provider lowers surprises.

Final guidance for selecting your path

If your priority is soft, breathable custom garments that clients keep wearing, water based inks deserve the knowing curve. Use standard water based upon light garments for clean detail and matte color. Transfer to discharge on 100 percent cotton when you want the softest prints on dark shirts. Accept and plan for slight color variation with discharge, specifically throughout dye lots. For bulk t shirt orders, integrate in a single round of physical tasting on the actual blanks you will use, then document your settings and keep back a reference t-shirt for quality control.

If you operate a print as needed catalog, carve out 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 impacts and neon stunners in plastisol or hybrid systems where they belong.

Custom t t-shirts are judged in the hands, not just on screens. When a customer rubs their thumb throughout a print and feels absolutely nothing however fiber, you've won. That's the minute water based and discharge deliver, and why they are worthy of a place in any severe store or brand name's toolkit.

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

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