October 18, 2025

Beyond Fundamental 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 2 things in constant stress: the push for softer, more breathable prints that people actually take pleasure in using, and the need to produce at scale without jeopardizing the environment or the bottom line. That tension has formed how I choose inks, pretreatments, and materials for custom clothing projects. Over the years, I have actually learned that water based inks and discharge printing are not just buzzwords, they are useful tools that produce gorgeous results and genuine comfort, especially for T shirt printing that requires to stand up to everyday wear.

If you run a brand name, handle bulk t shirt orders, or merely desire your personalized shirts to feel like a favorite from the first wash, it's worth comprehending how these ink systems work, where they shine, and where they need care. The best option can make the difference between a shirt that gets worn when and one that becomes the go-to.

What water based ink really is

Water based inks suspend pigments in water rather than in plasticizers and solvents. Unlike plastisol, which sits on top of the fabric and treatments into a movie, water based inks absorb into the fibers. That single particular discusses most of the advantages and compromises. Prints feel soft because 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 typically identical from the t-shirt itself. For custom-made t shirts designed for comfort, this is the path to the "retail feel" customers ask for.

There are two main families: basic water based and discharge. Standard water based ink works best on white or extremely light t-shirts. It can cover mid-tones with the ideal base, once you move into darker fabrics, you either require a heavier print or you switch to release. Release printing uses an activator that lifts the color from the material during curing, essentially bleaching the shirt's dye in the printed locations, then changes it with your pigment. The end outcome is the softest possible print on dark cotton, frequently 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 normally contain fewer unpredictable organic substances than solvent-heavy options and prevent PVC completely. Lots of are certified with rigorous standards like Oeko-Tex or satisfy retail testing routines that ban specific phthalates and heavy metals. If you offer custom-made clothing 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 need to look at store practices: purification on your washout cubicle, reclaim chemistry, energy usage on your dryer, and even material sourcing. Discharge needs an activator, typically based upon zinc formaldehyde sulfoxylate or comparable compounds, which has its own handling and ventilation requirements. In a well-run store, direct exposure is controlled and waste is recorded. If you're using print as needed with a partner, ask how they deal with discharge effluent and whether they have air exchange and treating controls called in. Genuine sustainability conceals 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 because the garment looks good, feels excellent, and keeps that character after repeated washing. Water based inks, including discharge, provide you that broken-in convenience 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 often receive from heavy plastisol when you extend throughout the chest.

I keep a rack of contrast shirts in the studio. One from a browse brand, one from a brewery, both printed with discharge on midweight cotton. After 30 to 40 home washes, the prints softened 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 harsh light, which some streetwear clients choose, but the wearer feedback corresponds: water based feels like a premium garment.

Color, coverage, and how expectations form results

Color precision with water based inks is a matter of control, humidity, and the fabric's own dye. On white or heather light t-shirts, basic water based ink can strike tight Pantones with a determined ink mix and a clean mesh. On darker cotton, discharge adds variables. Different color lots discharge in a different way, even within the very same brand name 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, however you're still dealing with a background that is moving as the dye is removed.

That's not a defect, it's part of the medium. Numerous designers accept the a little classic character of discharge, where reds land earthy and blues feel deep instead of neon. If your brand name demands laser-precise color recreation for corporate logos, either order test prints on the specific batch you plan to use or think about a water based underbase or hybrid approach where required. For wholesale t t-shirts that will be dispersed nationally, put swatch approvals into your process so there are no surprises at scale.

Fabric matters more than most people think

A water based print is a collaboration in between ink and fiber. Ringspun cotton takes ink wonderfully. Carded open end cotton is scratchier and beverages ink unevenly. Blends make complex things. A 50/50 poly-cotton or a triblend with rayon can deal with water based, however discharge just raises the cotton portion. That suggests 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 style for it. If your objective is flat, brilliant color on a poly mix, standard plastisol DTG color profiles ICC 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, think about cut-and-sew with water based prints on panels before assembly. Garment printing all over on ended up tees presents seams, folds, and inconsistent pressure that appear as blank micro-gaps. If you need to print on ended up garments, anticipate small spaces along joints, which some customers like as part of the garment's character.

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

Water based inks act differently on press. They dry faster in the screen, which works on fabric but can lock a mesh if you stop briefly too long. Running a higher mesh for detail, say 230 to 305, keeps the deposit thin and crisp. Establish with a misting bottle or a dedicated screen rewetting service at hand, and keep the print room humidity in a stable range, roughly 45 to 55 percent, to avoid early drying. Manual press operators will notice how rapidly a standard water based ink clears the screen compared to a heavy plastisol. Automobile presses, with flood bars and constant pace, reduce clogging.

Curing is where lots of newbies miss the mark. Water based inks require both heat and time for the water to evaporate, then for the binders to cross-link. A clothes dryer tunnel with adequate airflow makes the distinction. You want even heat across the belt and sufficient dwell to reach the manufacturer's cure temperature level throughout the ink layer, not just at the surface. T-shirts exiting the tunnel ought to be dry to the touch without any cool areas. For discharge, the chain reaction happens during this cure, and you will smell the activator. Good ventilation is non-negotiable.

Durability and wash testing

Durability depends on proper remedy and fiber engagement. A well-cured water based print on cotton can outlive the t-shirt. I determine durability by standardized wash tests, 10 to 20 cycles at warm, tumble dry medium, then visual assessment for fading and cracking. Water based prints show steady softening and a mild fade in the exact same method jeans relaxes. Plastisol's failure mode is different, normally breaking if the ink layer is too thick or under-cured. For customized shirts that need to look proficient at a household reunion and still remain in rotation next summertime, 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 often equivalent to plastisol at the gallon level, however you invest more in shop environment and drying capability. On press, water based can be somewhat slower at setup due to the fact that you pay closer attention to mesh, squeegee durometer, and off-contact. When tuned, automobiles run at similar speeds. Where it actually settles remains in perceived worth. A soft print on a mid-tier blank frequently feels premium without leaping to the highest-cost shirt. Brands can price accordingly.

For bulk t t-shirt orders above a couple of hundred pieces where the art suits the medium, discharge on 100 percent cotton is a workhorse. For print on demand that needs over night turn-around and art changes constantly, direct-to-garment or DTF may be better operationally, though both have their own ecological and feel trade-offs. When you take on wholesale t t-shirts with numerous colorways and must keep stock flexible, a flexible water based palette on light garments is effective, considering that you prevent the weight and tightness that accumulate with several underbases in plastisol.

Design choices that draw out the best in water based and discharge

Design planning starts 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 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 areas can complete with discharge, specifically on high-absorbency cotton. If you need razor negative area, separate the art to print unfavorable shapes as favorable strokes with a clear schedule for squeegee pressure and flashes. Ask your printer for an evidence on the actual garment rather than trusting a digital mockup. A mockup can not capture fiber interplay and color lift.

When you need to state no to discharge

There are times I encourage versus discharge. Polyester-rich garments are top of the list. The activator can cause color migration, especially with sublimated or cationic-dyed performance shirts, causing ghosting or brownish casts. Some garment dyes, particularly reactive black blends, resist lifting, leaving a shadowed print that looks undercured even when it isn't. If a client is sensitive to small smell throughout curing, discharge days in the shop are obvious. Well-managed air flow alleviates this, however it becomes part of the process.

If a customer requires metallics, puff, or specialized textures, plastisol or hybrid systems still own that area. Water based metallics exist, however the particles typically sink, and the impact is more satin than true metal. For high-opacity neons on dark t-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, set up a workflow that eliminates uncertainty. An easy technique keeps surprises at bay and assists you struck due dates for launches and events.

  • Decide on material first, then ink: select one hundred percent ringspun cotton for discharge, or light, premium cotton for standard water based. Prevent high poly unless the heathered result is desired.
  • Request test prints on the precise blanks: one t-shirt per colorway is typically sufficient to lock approvals, particularly 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 prior work you like.
  • Align on care labels and handling: suggest cold wash and low heat dry for consumers, then validate your cure times so clean sturdiness matches the tag guidance.
  • Confirm ecological standards: ask your printer about ink certifications, ventilation, and waste capture, particularly if your brand messaging leans into eco friendly inks.

How water based fits with print on demand

Print as needed has its own restrictions: quick art changes, little batch sizes, and the requirement for a broad embroidery shop near me color gamut. Direct-to-garment has ended up being the default, but water based screen printing can fit POD if you arrange brochure technique. For styles that are high volume even at small day-to-day quantities, pre-burning screens and keeping a little stock of popular sizes lets you deliver same day with water based prints that feel better than lots of DTG outputs. It works finest when you keep art to a couple of colors personalized tees and choose light garments.

If your POD model relies 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 care about touch will notice.

Pricing, margins, and communicating value

When customers ask why a water based or discharge print costs more than a fundamental plastisol task, I discuss what they are purchasing. They get the soft hand that retail customers relate with quality, improved breathability, and compliance for sensitive buyers. On a per-shirt basis, the distinction for a standard three-color front hit may be modest, typically a small uplift that can be neutralized by picking a somewhat more cost-effective blank. If the program is for wholesale t shirts going into stores or e-commerce at superior cost points, the enhancement in viewed 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 "convenience upgrade" that includes a ringspun blank with water based ink. You will see a clear split: some clients enhance for expense, others for feel. Fulfilling both lets you serve a broader market without diluting your craft.

Care instructions that customers actually follow

Care labels frequently read like legal disclaimers. Keep it simple and practical so the monogramming t-shirt survives real life. Water based and discharge prints choose cooler washes and lower clothes dryer heat, however they will sustain normal laundering if effectively treated. I recommend phrasing care suggestions in human terms on product pages: wash cold with comparable colors, tumble dry low, avoid fabric conditioners if you want colors to stay crisp. The last note matters because some conditioners can transfer movies on fibers, dulling the visual contrast of fine lines.

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

All over print ideas 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 seams, or use a ghosted grid that looks intentional when it breaks at hems. Alternatively, run panel printing and sew. Brands that sell restricted runs can validate cut-and-sew for 100 to 300 pieces if the design necessitates it. The ended up garments read as custom from a distance, which is the goal.

A brief anecdote from a busy season

One spring we ran a series for a local music festival. The customer wanted soft black tees with a sunburst print that felt like it resided in the fabric. We sampled on three blacks from 2 mills. Batch one raised easily with discharge, batch two stayed stubbornly dark in the mid-rays of the artwork. We logged color 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 response. The outcome: consistent tees across 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 recipe matters, but 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 first culprit. Water based ink that feels dry can still be under-cured if the core of the print never ever struck the required temp for the right period. Utilize a donut probe or an ingrained thermochromic strip to measure true ink movie temperature, not just dryer setpoints. Screen lockup is the Eco-friendly inks second. Keep a consistent rate on press, flood in between prints, and control shop humidity.

A 3rd mistake is ignoring material variability. If you change blanks mid-run due to the fact that a size is out of stock, you might see shifts in color. Build contingency into your purchasing. For brands preparing ahead, picking a standard blank and locking it with your provider reduces surprises.

Final guidance for selecting your path

If your concern is soft, breathable custom apparel that clients keep using, water based inks are worth the learning curve. Usage standard water based on light garments for tidy information and matte color. Move to release on one hundred percent cotton when you want the softest prints on dark shirts. Accept and plan for small color difference with discharge, particularly across color lots. For bulk t shirt orders, integrate in a single round of physical tasting on the actual blanks you will use, then record your settings and hold back a referral shirt for quality control.

If you run a print on demand brochure, take a water based capsule of best sellers on light t-shirts. Market the distinction: eco friendly inks, breathable feel, and retail-quality hand. Keep your specialty results 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 consumer rubs their thumb across a print and feels absolutely nothing however fiber, you have actually won. That's the minute water based and discharge deliver, and why they are worthy of a location in any serious 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.