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 print shop that takes its craft seriously, and you will see two things in constant stress: the push for softer, more breathable prints that individuals really take pleasure in using, and the need to produce at scale without jeopardizing the environment or the bottom line. That tension has actually shaped how I choose inks, pretreatments, and fabrics for custom-made apparel projects. For many years, I have actually found out that water based inks and discharge printing are not just buzzwords, they are useful tools that produce beautiful results and genuine convenience, especially for T shirt printing that requires to withstand day-to-day wear.

If you run a brand, handle bulk t t-shirt orders, or just want your customized 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 need care. The ideal choice can make the distinction between a shirt that gets worn as soon as 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 fabric and treatments into a movie, water based inks soak up into the fibers. That single characteristic describes the majority of the benefits and compromises. Prints feel soft since you're touching the cotton, not a layer of treated PVC. Colors tend to look more matte and incorporated. On light garments, the hand is often identical from the shirt itself. For customized t t-shirts developed for convenience, this is the path to the "retail feel" customers ask for.

There are two primary households: standard water based and discharge. Standard water based ink works best on white or really light shirts. It can cover mid-tones with the ideal base, but once you move into darker materials, you either need a much heavier print or you change to discharge. Discharge printing uses an activator that lifts the color from the material during treating, basically bleaching the shirt's color in the printed locations, then changes it with your pigment. Completion result is the softest possible print on dark cotton, often with outstanding detail.

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

Eco friendly inks are not a marketing slogan if you unpack the chemistry and the workflow. Water based inks typically consist of less unstable organic compounds than solvent-heavy alternatives and prevent PVC altogether. Numerous are certified with strict requirements like Oeko-Tex or fulfill retail screening regimes that ban certain phthalates and heavy metals. If you offer custom garments into business wellness programs, schools, or health-conscious brand names, those certificates smooth procurement and keep you ahead of compliance.

That said, "eco friendly" is a system idea. Ink is one part. You also need to take a look at shop practices: purification on your washout cubicle, reclaim chemistry, energy usage on your clothes dryer, and even fabric sourcing. Discharge requires an activator, typically based upon zinc formaldehyde sulfoxylate or comparable compounds, which has its own handling and ventilation needs. In a well-run store, exposure is managed and waste is caught. 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 called in. Real sustainability conceals in the details.

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

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

I keep a rack of contrast t-shirts in the studio. One from a surf 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 somewhat, and the shirts kept moving. A plastisol sample with the same art looks glossier and still pops more under extreme light, which some streetwear clients prefer, but the wearer feedback corresponds: water based seems like a premium garment.

Color, protection, and how expectations shape results

Color accuracy with water based inks is a matter of 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 determined ink mix and a tidy mesh. On darker cotton, discharge includes variables. Various dye lots discharge differently, even within the very same brand 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 include guides the final color, but you're still dealing with a background that is moving as the color is removed.

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

Fabric matters more than most people think

A water based print is a collaboration in between ink and fiber. Ringspun cotton takes ink perfectly. Carded open end cotton is scratchier and drinks ink unevenly. Blends make complex things. A 50/50 poly-cotton or a triblend with rayon can deal with water based, however discharge only raises the cotton portion. That means your color fills the cotton while the polyester and rayon stay as-is, often yielding a heathered or speckled print that looks intentional if you design for it. If your goal is flat, brilliant color on a poly blend, standard plastisol or a specialized low-cure system may be smarter.

On all over print jobs, such as a seam-to-seam tonal pattern behind a chest graphic, consider cut-and-sew with water based prints on panels before assembly. Garment printing all over on ended up tees presents joints, folds, and inconsistent pressure that show up as blank micro-gaps. If you must print on ended up garments, expect small voids along joints, which some customers like as part of the garment's character.

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

Water based inks behave differently on press. They dry faster in the screen, which works on fabric however can lock a mesh if you stop briefly too long. Running a higher mesh for detail, state 230 to 305, keeps the deposit thin and crisp. Set up with a misting bottle or a devoted screen rewetting option at hand, and keep the print room humidity cotton t shirts in a stable range, roughly 45 to 55 percent, to prevent premature drying. Manual press operators will see how quickly a standard water based ink clears the screen compared to a heavy plastisol. Vehicle presses, with flood bars and constant pace, decrease clogging.

Curing is where numerous novices fizzle. 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 across the belt and sufficient dwell to reach the manufacturer's treatment temperature level throughout the ink layer, not simply at the surface. Shirts exiting the tunnel should be dry to the touch without any cool areas. For discharge, the chemical reaction happens during this remedy, and you will smell the activator. Great ventilation is non-negotiable.

Durability and wash testing

Durability depends on appropriate treatment and fiber engagement. A well-cured water based print on cotton can last longer than the t-shirt. I measure sturdiness by standardized wash tests, 10 to 20 cycles at warm, topple dry medium, then visual assessment for fading and splitting. Water based prints show gradual softening and a gentle fade in the same way jeans relaxes. Plastisol's failure mode is different, typically splitting if the ink layer is too thick or under-cured. For tailored t-shirts that require to look proficient at a household 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 often comparable to plastisol at the gallon level, however you invest more in store environment and drying capacity. On press, water based can be slightly slower at setup since you pay closer attention to mesh, squeegee durometer, and off-contact. As soon as tuned, cars perform at comparable speeds. Where it really pays off is in viewed worth. 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 suits the medium, discharge on 100 percent cotton is a workhorse. For print on demand that needs overnight turnaround and Screen printing art changes constantly, direct-to-garment or DTF may be much better operationally, though both have their own environmental and feel trade-offs. When you take on wholesale t shirts with multiple colorways and need to keep stock versatile, a flexible water based combination on light garments is effective, given that you avoid the weight and stiffness that collect with numerous underbases in plastisol.

Design options that draw out the very best in water based and discharge

Design planning begins with the material color and ends with curing. On light t-shirts, lean into information: thin lines, halftones, hand-drawn textures. Basic water based ink prints those with a delicacy that plastisol tends to subdue. On dark cotton, discharge shines with mid-tone richness and soft edges. Consider how the shirt color looks through. A charcoal heather with a discharge cream graphic appear 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 negative space, separate the art to print unfavorable shapes as positive strokes with a clear schedule for squeegee pressure and flashes. Ask your printer for an evidence on the real garment instead of trusting a digital mockup. A mockup can not record fiber interaction and dye lift.

When you ought to say no to discharge

There are times I encourage versus discharge. Polyester-rich garments are leading of the list. The activator can trigger dye migration, specifically with sublimated or cationic-dyed efficiency shirts, leading to ghosting or brownish casts. Some garment dyes, specifically reactive black blends, resist lifting, leaving a shadowed print that looks undercured even when it isn't. If a customer is sensitive to minor smell throughout treating, discharge days in the shop are noticeable. Well-managed air flow alleviates this, however it belongs to the process.

If a customer needs metallics, puff, or specialized textures, plastisol or hybrid systems still own that space. Water based metallics exist, but the particles frequently sink, and the result is more satin than real 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 count on a partner, established a workflow that removes guesswork. A basic method keeps surprises at bay and helps you struck deadlines for launches and events.

  • Decide on material initially, then ink: select one hundred percent ringspun cotton for discharge, or light, premium cotton for standard water based. Avoid high poly unless the heathered result is desired.
  • Request test prints on the exact blanks: one shirt per colorway is generally enough to lock approvals, particularly for bulk t shirt orders where consistency matters.
  • Clarify color expectations in context: provide Pantone targets for light garments and describe appropriate varieties for dark discharge prints, with images of previous work you like.
  • Align on care labels and handling: advise cold wash and low heat dry for consumers, then verify your cure times so wash sturdiness matches the tag guidance.
  • Confirm ecological standards: ask your printer about ink certifications, 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 restraints: quick art changes, little batch sizes, and the requirement for a broad color gamut. Direct-to-garment has actually ended up being the default, but water based screen printing can fit POD if you arrange brochure method. For styles 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 much better than lots of DTG outputs. It works best when you keep art to one or two colors and choose light garments.

If your POD design relies 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 appreciate touch will notice.

Pricing, margins, and communicating value

When clients ask why a water based or discharge print costs more than a fundamental plastisol task, I explain what they are purchasing. They get the soft hand that retail clients relate with quality, enhanced breathability, and compliance for delicate purchasers. On a per-shirt basis, the distinction for a standard three-color front hit may be modest, typically a small uplift that can be reduced the effects of by choosing a slightly more affordable blank. If the program is for wholesale t shirts entering into shops or e-commerce at premium price points, the enhancement in viewed value more than covers the change.

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

Care directions that clients in fact follow

Care labels frequently check out like legal disclaimers. Keep it basic and practical so the shirt makes it through reality. Water based and discharge prints prefer cooler washes and lower clothes dryer heat, but they will withstand normal laundering if effectively treated. I recommend phrasing care tips in human terms on item pages: wash cold with comparable colors, topple dry low, prevent material conditioners if you want colors to remain crisp. The last note matters since some softeners can deposit films on fibers, dulling the visual contrast of great lines.

I have actually tested these instructions in-house: two similar 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 good. That tolerance comes from appropriate treatment, not from babying the garment.

All over print concepts that do not combat the limitations

All over print captures attention, but printing flood coats on assembled garments with water based inks can be unforgiving. Instead of battling 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 sew. Brand names that sell minimal runs can validate cut-and-sew for 100 to 300 pieces if the design requires it. The finished garments check out as customized from a range, which is the goal.

A brief anecdote from a hectic season

One spring we ran a series for a local music festival. The customer desired soft black tees with a sunburst print that seemed like it lived in the fabric. We tested on three blacks from two mills. Batch one lifted cleanly with discharge, batch 2 stayed 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 across 2,400 units, each with a soft, breathable print that sold out by day two.

That task taught the team to deal with discharge like cooking, not chemistry on a chalkboard. The dish matters, however so does tasting and adjusting.

Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

Most problems I see trace 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 struck the required temp for the right period. Utilize a donut probe or an ingrained thermochromic strip to measure real ink film temperature level, not just dryer setpoints. Screen lockup is the second. Keep a consistent rate on press, flood in between prints, and control store humidity.

A 3rd pitfall is neglecting fabric variability. If you change blanks mid-run due to the fact that a size runs out stock, you may see shifts in color. Develop contingency into your purchasing. For brands preparing ahead, selecting a basic blank and locking it with your provider reduces surprises.

Final guidance for selecting your path

If your top priority is soft, breathable customized apparel that clients keep wearing, water based inks are worth the learning curve. Usage basic water based upon light garments for clean information and matte color. Transfer to release on 100 percent cotton when you desire the softest prints on dark t-shirts. Accept and plan for slight color variance with discharge, specifically throughout dye lots. For bulk t t-shirt orders, build in a single round of physical tasting on the actual blanks you will use, then record your settings and keep back a referral t-shirt for quality control.

If you run a print on demand catalog, carve out 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 specialized impacts and neon stunners in plastisol or hybrid systems where they belong.

Custom t t-shirts are evaluated in the hands, not just on screens. When a client rubs their thumb throughout a print and feels nothing but fiber, you have actually won. That's the moment water based and discharge provide, and why they deserve a location in any major store 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.