October 18, 2025

Beyond Basic 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 print shop that takes its craft seriously, and you will see 2 things in continuous tension: the push for softer, more breathable prints that people actually take pleasure in wearing, and the need to produce at scale without jeopardizing the environment or the bottom line. That stress has actually formed how I pick inks, pretreatments, and materials for custom garments projects. Over the years, I've found out that water based inks and discharge printing are not just buzzwords, they are practical tools that produce lovely results and real comfort, specifically for T t-shirt printing that requires to withstand day-to-day wear.

If you run a brand, manage bulk t shirt orders, or just want your customized t-shirts to feel like a preferred from the first wash, it's worth understanding how these ink systems work, where they shine, and where they need care. The ideal option can make the distinction in 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 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 particular discusses most of the advantages and compromises. 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 typically identical from the shirt itself. For custom-made t shirts designed for convenience, this is the course to the "retail feel" customers ask for.

There are two main families: standard water based and discharge. Standard water based ink works best on white or extremely light shirts. It can cover mid-tones with the ideal base, once you move into darker fabrics, you either require a heavier print or you change to release. Discharge printing utilizes an activator that lifts the dye from the fabric during treating, essentially bleaching the shirt's dye in the printed areas, then replaces it with your pigment. Completion outcome is the softest possible print on dark cotton, often with impressive detail.

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

Eco friendly inks are not a marketing slogan if you unpack the chemistry and the workflow. Water based inks usually include fewer unstable organic compounds than solvent-heavy alternatives and prevent PVC altogether. Numerous are compliant with stringent requirements like Oeko-Tex or fulfill retail screening regimes that prohibit specific phthalates and heavy metals. If you sell custom-made apparel into corporate wellness programs, schools, or health-conscious brands, those certificates smooth procurement and keep you ahead of compliance.

That said, "eco friendly" is a system concept. Ink is one part. You also require to look at store practices: filtration on your washout cubicle, reclaim chemistry, energy use on your clothes dryer, and even material sourcing. Discharge requires an activator, usually based on 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 recorded. If you're utilizing print as needed with a partner, ask how they deal with discharge effluent and whether they have air exchange and treating controls dialed in. Real sustainability hides in the details.

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

Most people do not purchase a graphic tee since they love the ink. They buy it because the garment looks excellent, feels excellent, and keeps that character after repeated cleaning. Water based inks, including discharge, give you that broken-in comfort from day one. On an one hundred percent ring-spun cotton blank, a water based print is breathable and versatile. You will not hear the crackle you sometimes receive from heavy plastisol best fabrics for DTG printing when you stretch across 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 a lot more, the colors mellowed slightly, 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 wearer feedback corresponds: water based seems like a premium garment.

Color, coverage, and how expectations form results

Color accuracy with water based inks refers control, humidity, and the material's own color. On white or heather light t-shirts, standard water based ink can strike tight Pantones with a determined ink mix and a tidy mesh. On darker cotton, discharge adds variables. Various color lots discharge differently, even within the very same brand and color. Black 3001 blanks from one batch may lift to a warm charcoal, while the next batch clears to a cooler grey. The pigment you add steers the last color, but you're still dealing with a background that is shifting as the color is removed.

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

Fabric matters more than the majority of people think

A water based print is a collaboration in between ink and fiber. Ringspun cotton takes ink perfectly. Carded open end cotton is scratchier and beverages 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 indicates your color saturates 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 goal is flat, brilliant color on a poly mix, conventional 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 joints, folds, and inconsistent pressure that appear as blank micro-gaps. If you need to print on ended up garments, anticipate little spaces along joints, 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 quicker in the screen, which is useful on fabric however can lock a mesh if you pause too long. Running a greater mesh for detail, state 230 to 305, keeps the deposit thin and crisp. Set up with a misting bottle or a dedicated screen rewetting service at hand, and keep the print space humidity in a constant range, approximately 45 to 55 percent, to avoid early drying. Manual press operators will discover how quickly a basic water based ink clears the screen compared to a heavy plastisol. Auto presses, with flood bars and consistent rate, decrease clogging.

Curing is where numerous beginners fizzle. Water based inks require 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 desire even heat across the belt and adequate dwell to reach the producer's cure temperature throughout the ink layer, not simply at the surface area. T-shirts exiting the tunnel needs to be dry to the touch with no cool spots. For discharge, the chemical reaction takes place throughout this cure, and you will smell the activator. Excellent ventilation is non-negotiable.

Durability and wash testing

Durability depends upon 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 assessment for fading and breaking. Water based prints reveal progressive softening and a gentle fade in the very same method denim unwinds. Plastisol's failure mode is different, normally breaking if the ink layer is too thick or under-cured. For personalized 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 choose which method

Costs differ regionally, but the economics fall under familiar patterns. Water based ink itself is typically comparable to plastisol at the gallon level, however you invest more in shop environment and drying capacity. On press, water based can be somewhat slower at setup since you pay closer attention to mesh, squeegee durometer, and off-contact. As soon as tuned, automobiles run at similar speeds. Where it really pays off is in perceived worth. A soft print on a mid-tier blank typically feels premium without leaping to the highest-cost t-shirt. Brand names can price accordingly.

For bulk t shirt orders above a few hundred pieces where the art suits the medium, discharge on 100 percent cotton is a workhorse. For print on demand that needs overnight turnaround and art modifications continuously, 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 numerous colorways and must keep stock versatile, a flexible water based scheme on light garments is efficient, because you avoid the weight and stiffness that build up with multiple underbases in plastisol.

Design choices that highlight the best in water based and discharge

Design planning starts with the material color and ends with treating. On light shirts, lean into detail: thin lines, halftones, hand-drawn textures. Basic water based ink prints those with a special that plastisol tends to subdue. On dark cotton, discharge shines with mid-tone richness and soft edges. Think about how the shirt color glances 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 fill in with discharge, specifically on high-absorbency cotton. If you need razor negative area, 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 rather than trusting a digital mockup. A mockup can not record fiber interplay and dye lift.

When you ought to say no to discharge

There are times 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, resulting in 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 client is sensitive to small smell throughout treating, discharge days in the store are noticeable. Well-managed air flow mitigates this, but it is part of 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 typically sink, and the result is more satin than true metal. For high-opacity neons on dark t-shirts that need to be billboard-bright, you might 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 count on a partner, established a workflow that eliminates uncertainty. A simple method keeps surprises patches and emblems at bay and helps you struck due dates for launches and events.

  • Decide on fabric initially, then ink: choose one hundred percent ringspun cotton for discharge, or light, premium cotton for basic water based. Prevent high poly unless the heathered result is desired.
  • Request test prints on the specific blanks: one t-shirt per colorway is typically enough 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 explain appropriate varieties for dark discharge prints, with pictures of previous work you like.
  • Align on care labels and handling: advise cold wash and low heat dry for clients, then validate your treatment times so wash durability 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 as needed has its own constraints: quick art changes, little batch sizes, and the requirement for a broad color gamut. Direct-to-garment has ended up being the default, but water based screen printing can fit POD if you organize catalog strategy. For designs that are high volume even at small daily amounts, pre-burning screens and keeping a small stock of popular sizes lets you ship very same day with water based prints that feel much better than many DTG outputs. It works best when you keep art to a couple of colors and select 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. Consumers who appreciate touch will notice.

Pricing, margins, and interacting value

When clients ask why a water based or discharge print costs more than a fundamental plastisol job, I explain what they are buying. They get the soft hand that retail consumers equate with quality, improved breathability, and compliance for delicate buyers. 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 economical blank. If the program is for wholesale t shirts entering into stores or e-commerce at exceptional rate points, the improvement in perceived worth more than covers the change.

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

Care directions that customers really follow

Care labels frequently read like legal disclaimers. Keep it simple and sensible so the shirt survives real life. Water based and discharge prints choose cooler washes and lower clothes dryer heat, however they will endure normal laundering if properly cured. I recommend phrasing care suggestions in human terms on item pages: wash cold with comparable colors, tumble dry low, avoid fabric conditioners if you desire colors to remain crisp. The last note matters due to the fact that some conditioners can deposit films on fibers, dulling the visual contrast of great lines.

I have actually tested these directions 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 revealed somewhat faster fading of mid-tones, yet still looked excellent. That tolerance originates from right remedy, not from babying the garment.

All over print concepts that do not battle the limitations

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

A brief anecdote from a hectic season

One spring we ran a series for a regional music festival. The client wanted 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 remained stubbornly dark in the mid-rays of the art work. We logged dye 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 finish the response. The outcome: constant 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 blackboard. The dish matters, however so does tasting and adjusting.

Common risks and how to avoid them

Most problems I see trace back to procedure, not the ink household. Under-curing is the Custom apparel printing first culprit. Water based ink that feels dry can still be under-cured if the core of the print never hit the required temp for the best period. Utilize a donut probe or an embedded thermochromic strip to measure true ink movie temperature level, not simply dryer setpoints. Screen lockup is the 2nd. Keep a consistent rate on press, flood between prints, and control shop humidity.

A third risk is disregarding fabric variability. If you switch blanks mid-run due to the fact that a size runs out stock, you may see shifts in color. Develop contingency into your buying. For brands preparing ahead, selecting a basic blank and locking it with your supplier minimizes surprises.

Final assistance for picking your path

If your concern is soft, breathable custom-made garments that clients keep using, water based inks are worth the knowing curve. Use basic water based on light garments for tidy detail and matte color. Transfer to discharge on 100 percent cotton when you want the softest prints on dark t-shirts. Accept and prepare for minor color variation with discharge, especially throughout dye lots. For bulk t t-shirt orders, build in a single round of physical tasting on the real blanks you will utilize, then document your settings and hold back a reference t-shirt for quality control.

If you run a print as needed catalog, carve out a water based capsule of finest 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 shirts are judged in the hands, not simply on screens. When a customer rubs their thumb throughout a print and feels absolutely nothing but fiber, you've won. That's the minute water based and discharge deliver, and why they should have a location in any major 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.