October 18, 2025

Beyond Fundamental Tees: A Guide to Eco-Friendly Water-Based Inks and Discharge Printing for Customized 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 consistent stress: the push for softer, more breathable prints that individuals in fact delight in wearing, and the need to produce at scale without compromising the environment or the bottom line. That tension has shaped how I pick inks, pretreatments, and materials for custom-made clothing tasks. Over the years, I have actually discovered that water based inks and discharge printing are not just buzzwords, they are useful print on demand DTG tools that produce gorgeous results and real comfort, particularly for T t-shirt printing that requires to withstand everyday wear.

If you run a brand, handle bulk t shirt orders, or simply desire your individualized t-shirts to feel like a preferred from the first wash, it's worth comprehending how these ink systems work, where they shine, and where they need care. The right choice can make the distinction between a t-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 material and treatments into a film, custom hoodies and shirts water based inks absorb into the fibers. That single particular discusses most of the advantages and trade-offs. 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 frequently indistinguishable from the t-shirt itself. For custom-made t shirts developed for convenience, this is the path 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 ideal base, but once you move into darker materials, you either require a much heavier print or you switch to release. Release printing utilizes an activator that raises the color from the material throughout curing, essentially 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 limits

Eco friendly inks are not a marketing slogan if you direct to garment unpack the chemistry and the workflow. Water based inks typically contain less unpredictable organic compounds than solvent-heavy options and prevent PVC entirely. Lots of are compliant with rigorous standards like Oeko-Tex or satisfy retail screening routines that prohibit specific phthalates and heavy metals. If you offer custom-made clothing into business wellness programs, schools, or health-conscious brands, those certificates smooth procurement and keep you ahead of compliance.

That said, "eco friendly" is a system idea. Ink is one part. You also require to take a look at shop practices: filtering on your washout cubicle, recover chemistry, energy use on your clothes dryer, and even fabric sourcing. Discharge requires an activator, normally based upon zinc formaldehyde sulfoxylate or similar compounds, which has its own handling and ventilation needs. In a well-run store, exposure is managed and waste is recorded. If you're using print as needed with a partner, ask how they manage discharge effluent and whether they have air exchange and curing controls called in. Real sustainability hides in the details.

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

Most individuals do not purchase a graphic tee because they love the ink. They purchase it since the garment looks excellent, feels excellent, and keeps that character after repeated washing. Water based inks, including discharge, offer you that broken-in convenience from the first day. On an one hundred percent ring-spun cotton blank, a water based print is breathable and flexible. You will not hear the crackle you in some cases obtain from heavy plastisol when you extend across the chest.

I keep a rack of comparison 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 very same art looks glossier and still pops more under extreme light, which some streetwear clients choose, 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, standard water based ink can hit tight Pantones with a determined ink mix and a clean mesh. On darker cotton, discharge adds variables. Various color lots discharge in a different way, even within the exact same brand name and color. Black 3001 blanks from one batch may raise to a warm charcoal, while the next batch clears to a cooler grey. The pigment you add guides the final color, however you're still dealing with a background that is shifting as the color is removed.

That's not a defect, it's part of the medium. Many designers accept the slightly classic character of discharge, where reds land earthy and blues feel deep rather than neon. If your brand name demands laser-precise color recreation for business logo designs, either order test prints on the exact batch you plan to use or consider a water based underbase or hybrid method where required. For wholesale t shirts that will be dispersed nationally, put example approvals into your process so there are no surprises at scale.

Fabric matters more than many 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 make complex things. A 50/50 poly-cotton or a triblend with rayon can deal with water based, but discharge just raises the cotton part. That means your color saturates the cotton while the polyester and rayon stay as-is, typically yielding a heathered or speckled print that looks deliberate if you design for it. If your goal is flat, brilliant color on a poly blend, standard 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, think about cut-and-sew with water based prints on panels before assembly. Garment printing all over on ended up tees introduces seams, folds, and irregular pressure that appear as blank micro-gaps. If you must print on finished garments, anticipate small 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 act in a different way on press. They dry much faster in the screen, which works on material however can lock a mesh if you pause too long. Running a higher mesh for detail, state 230 to 305, keeps the deposit thin and crisp. Establish with a misting bottle or a devoted screen rewetting solution at hand, and keep the print room humidity in a constant variety, approximately 45 to 55 percent, to avoid premature drying. Manual press operators will discover how quickly a standard water based ink clears the screen compared to a heavy plastisol. Automobile presses, with flood bars and consistent rate, lower clogging.

Curing is where numerous newbies fizzle. Water based inks need both heat and time for the water to vaporize, then for the binders to cross-link. A clothes dryer tunnel with adequate air flow makes the difference. You want even heat throughout the belt and adequate dwell to reach the maker's cure temperature throughout the ink layer, not just at the surface. T-shirts exiting the tunnel needs to be dry to the touch without any cool areas. For discharge, the chain reaction takes place throughout this cure, and you will smell the activator. Good ventilation is non-negotiable.

Durability and wash testing

Durability depends on proper cure and fiber engagement. A well-cured water based print on cotton can last longer than the shirt. I determine resilience by standardized wash tests, 10 to 20 cycles at warm, topple dry medium, then visual inspection for fading and breaking. Water based prints reveal gradual softening and a gentle fade in the exact same way jeans unwinds. Plastisol's failure mode is different, normally splitting if the ink layer is too thick or under-cured. For tailored t-shirts that require to look good at a household reunion and still be in rotation next summertime, water based holds up when produced correctly.

Cost, throughput, and when to select which method

Costs differ regionally, however the economics fall into familiar patterns. Water based ink itself is typically similar to plastisol at the gallon level, however you invest more in store 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. When tuned, automobiles run at similar speeds. Where it truly settles is in viewed value. A soft print on a mid-tier blank frequently feels premium without jumping to the highest-cost t-shirt. Brands can price accordingly.

For bulk t t-shirt orders above a few hundred pieces where the art fits the medium, discharge on 100 percent cotton is a workhorse. For print on demand that requires overnight turn-around and art changes continuously, direct-to-garment or DTF may be much better operationally, though both have their own ecological and feel compromises. When you take on wholesale t shirts with several colorways and need to keep inventory versatile, a flexible water based scheme on light garments is effective, because you avoid the weight and tightness that accumulate with several underbases in plastisol.

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

Design planning starts with the fabric color and ends with treating. 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 subdue. On dark cotton, discharge shines with mid-tone richness and soft edges. Think about how the t-shirt color looks through. A charcoal heather with a discharge cream graphic looks like it grew there.

Type weight matters. Very thin knockouts inside heavy flood locations can complete with discharge, especially on high-absorbency cotton. If you need razor unfavorable space, separate the art to print negative shapes as positive strokes with a clear schedule for squeegee pressure and flashes. Ask your printer for an evidence on the actual garment instead of relying on a digital mockup. A mockup can not capture fiber interaction and color lift.

When you should state no to discharge

There are times I recommend versus discharge. Polyester-rich garments are leading of the list. The activator can cause dye migration, especially with sublimated or cationic-dyed efficiency personalized gifts t-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 minor smell throughout treating, discharge days in the store are noticeable. Well-managed air flow mitigates this, however it belongs to the process.

If a customer needs metallics, puff, or specialized textures, plastisol or hybrid systems still own that area. Water based metallics exist, but the heat transfer vinyl particles typically sink, and the effect is more satin than real metal. For high-opacity neons on dark t-shirts that should be billboard-bright, you might 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, established a workflow that eliminates guesswork. A simple technique keeps surprises at bay and helps you hit deadlines for launches and events.

  • Decide on fabric initially, then ink: pick 100 percent ringspun cotton for discharge, or light, top quality cotton for standard water based. Avoid high poly unless the heathered impact is desired.
  • Request test prints on the specific blanks: one t-shirt per colorway is normally enough to lock approvals, particularly for bulk t t-shirt orders where consistency matters.
  • Clarify color expectations in context: offer Pantone targets for light garments and explain acceptable ranges for dark discharge prints, with images of previous work you like.
  • Align on care labels and handling: suggest cold wash and low heat dry for customers, then validate your remedy times so wash sturdiness matches the tag guidance.
  • Confirm ecological requirements: ask your printer about ink accreditations, 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: fast art changes, small batch sizes, and the requirement for a broad color range. Direct-to-garment has ended up being the default, however water based screen printing can fit POD if you arrange catalog strategy. For designs that are high volume even at small day-to-day amounts, pre-burning screens and keeping a small stock of popular sizes lets you ship exact 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 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. Utilize it where cotton convenience and breathability are the selling points. Consumers who appreciate touch will notice.

Pricing, margins, and interacting value

When customers ask why a water based or discharge print costs more than a basic plastisol task, I discuss what they are purchasing. They get the soft hand that retail consumers 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, frequently a small uplift that can be neutralized by picking a somewhat more affordable blank. If the program is for wholesale t t-shirts entering into shops or e-commerce at superior price points, the improvement in perceived value more than covers the change.

For customized shirts, such as charity runs or college clubs, alternatives matter. Offer a base cost 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 clients optimize for cost, others for feel. Satisfying both lets you serve a broader market without diluting your craft.

Care instructions that clients really follow

Care labels typically check out like legal disclaimers. Keep it basic and reasonable so the shirt makes it through reality. Water based and discharge prints prefer cooler washes and lower clothes dryer heat, however they will endure regular laundering if correctly treated. I suggest phrasing care ideas in human terms on item pages: wash cold with comparable colors, tumble dry low, prevent fabric softeners if you desire colors to remain crisp. The last note matters because some conditioners can deposit films on fibers, dulling the visual contrast of great lines.

I've evaluated 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 showed slightly much faster fading of mid-tones, yet still looked excellent. That tolerance originates from proper remedy, not from babying the garment.

All over print concepts that do not fight the limitations

All over print captures attention, however printing flood coats on put together garments with water based inks can be unforgiving. Rather of fighting seams, design for them. Use tone-on-tone patterns that fade naturally at seams, or apply a ghosted grid that looks deliberate when it breaks at hems. Additionally, run panel printing and stitch. Brands that sell minimal runs can justify cut-and-sew for 100 to 300 pieces if the design warrants it. The completed garments read as custom-made from a distance, which is the goal.

A brief anecdote from a busy season

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

That task taught the team 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 procedure, not the ink family. Under-curing is the very first perpetrator. Water based ink that feels dry can still be under-cured if the core of the print never ever struck the needed temperature for the right period. Utilize a donut probe or an ingrained thermochromic strip to determine real ink film temperature level, not just clothes dryer setpoints. Screen lockup is the second. Keep a consistent rate on press, flood in between prints, and control store humidity.

A third mistake is neglecting material variability. If you switch blanks mid-run due to the fact that a size runs out stock, you may see shifts in color. Construct contingency into your acquiring. For brands planning ahead, selecting a standard blank and locking it with your provider reduces surprises.

Final guidance for choosing your path

If your top priority is soft, breathable custom clothing that customers keep using, water based inks are worth the knowing curve. Use basic water based upon light garments for clean detail and matte color. Transfer to release on one hundred percent cotton when you want the softest prints on dark shirts. Accept and prepare for minor color difference 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 utilize, then record 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 pill of best sellers on light t-shirts. Market the distinction: eco friendly inks, breathable feel, and retail-quality hand. Keep your specialized results 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 client rubs their thumb throughout a print and feels absolutely nothing but fiber, you have actually won. That's the moment water based and discharge deliver, and why they should have a location 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.