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 print shop that takes its craft seriously, and you will see two things in consistent stress: the push for softer, more breathable prints that people in fact take pleasure in using, and the need to produce at scale without compromising the environment or the bottom line. That stress has actually formed how I choose inks, pretreatments, and materials for customized garments jobs. Over the years, I've found out that water based inks and discharge printing are not just buzzwords, they are practical tools that produce beautiful outcomes and real comfort, particularly for T t-shirt printing that needs to withstand everyday wear.

If you run a brand, manage bulk t shirt orders, or simply desire your tailored shirts to seem like a preferred from the first wash, it deserves understanding how these ink systems work, where they shine, and where they need care. The ideal choice can make the difference in between a t-shirt that gets worn as soon as and one that ends up being the go-to.

What water based ink in fact 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, water based inks take in into the fibers. That single particular explains most of the benefits and trade-offs. Prints feel soft because you're touching the cotton, not a layer of treated PVC. Colors tend to look more matte and integrated. On light garments, the hand is typically indistinguishable from the t-shirt itself. For custom t t-shirts developed for comfort, this is the path to the "retail feel" customers ask for.

There are 2 main households: standard water based and discharge. Basic water based ink works best on white or very light shirts. It can cover mid-tones with the ideal base, once you move into darker fabrics, you either require a much heavier print or you switch to release. Discharge printing uses an activator that lifts the dye from the material during curing, basically whitening the t-shirt's dye in the printed areas, then changes it with your pigment. Completion result 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 unload the chemistry and the workflow. Water based inks typically consist of less unpredictable organic substances than solvent-heavy alternatives and avoid PVC completely. Many are certified with strict standards like Oeko-Tex or meet retail screening regimes that ban particular phthalates and heavy metals. If you sell custom garments 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 idea. Ink is one part. You also need to take a look at store practices: filtering on your washout booth, recover chemistry, energy use on your dryer, and even material sourcing. Discharge requires an activator, usually based on zinc formaldehyde sulfoxylate or comparable compounds, which has its own handling and ventilation needs. In a well-run shop, exposure is controlled and waste is caught. If you're Silk screen utilizing print on demand with a partner, ask how they deal with discharge effluent and whether they have air exchange and curing controls called in. Genuine sustainability conceals in the details.

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

Most individuals do not buy a graphic tee because they enjoy the ink. They purchase it due to the fact that the garment looks great, feels good, and keeps that character after duplicated washing. Water based inks, including discharge, offer you that broken-in comfort from the first day. On a 100 percent ring-spun cotton blank, a water based print is breathable and versatile. You will not hear the crackle you often get from heavy plastisol when you extend throughout 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 even more, the colors mellowed a little, and the shirts kept moving. A plastisol sample with the very same art looks glossier and still pops more under extreme light, which some streetwear customers choose, however the wearer feedback corresponds: water based feels like a premium garment.

Color, protection, and how expectations shape results

Color precision 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 hit tight Pantones with a measured ink mix and a clean mesh. On darker cotton, discharge includes variables. Different dye lots discharge differently, even within the 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 include guides the last color, however you're still working with a background that is moving as the dye is removed.

That's not a defect, it belongs to the medium. Many designers welcome the a little vintage character of discharge, where reds land earthy and blues feel deep instead of neon. If your brand name needs laser-precise color reproduction for business logo designs, either order test prints on the precise batch you prepare to use or think about a water based underbase or hybrid technique where needed. For wholesale t t-shirts that will be distributed nationally, put swatch approvals into your procedure so there are no 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 beautifully. 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 only raises the cotton part. That implies your color saturates the cotton while the polyester and rayon remain as-is, frequently yielding a heathered or speckled print that looks deliberate if you design for it. If your goal is flat, vibrant color on a poly mix, conventional plastisol or a specialized low-cure system might be smarter.

On all over print projects, such as a seam-to-seam tonal pattern behind a chest graphic, consider cut-and-sew with water based prints on panels before assembly. Garment printing all over on completed 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 clients like as Eco-friendly inks 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 is useful on material but can lock a mesh if you stop briefly 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 option at hand, and keep the print space humidity in a steady range, roughly 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. Auto presses, with flood bars and constant rate, reduce clogging.

Curing is where lots of newbies miss the mark. Water based inks require both heat and time for the water to vaporize, then for the binders to cross-link. A clothes dryer tunnel with adequate air flow makes the distinction. You desire even heat across the belt and adequate dwell to reach the maker's remedy temperature level throughout the ink layer, not simply at the surface. T-shirts leaving the tunnel must be dry to the touch with no cool areas. For discharge, the chain reaction takes place throughout this remedy, and you will smell the activator. Good 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 outlast the t-shirt. I measure toughness by standardized wash tests, 10 to 20 cycles at warm, tumble dry medium, then visual assessment for fading and splitting. Water based prints reveal steady softening and a gentle fade in the same way denim relaxes. Plastisol's failure mode is different, generally cracking if the ink layer is too thick or under-cured. For customized t-shirts that need to look proficient at a family reunion and still remain in rotation next summer, 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 frequently equivalent to plastisol at the gallon level, but you invest more in shop environment and drying capability. On press, water based can be slightly slower at setup due to the fact that you pay closer attention to mesh, squeegee durometer, and off-contact. As soon as tuned, vehicles run at comparable speeds. Where it actually settles is in viewed worth. A soft print on a mid-tier blank often feels premium without leaping to the highest-cost t-shirt. Brands can price accordingly.

For bulk t shirt orders above a few hundred pieces where the art matches the medium, discharge on one hundred percent cotton is a workhorse. For print as needed that requires over night turnaround and art modifications constantly, direct-to-garment or DTF may be better operationally, though both have their own environmental and feel trade-offs. When you take on wholesale t shirts with numerous colorways and should keep stock versatile, a flexible water based combination on light garments is efficient, because you avoid the weight and stiffness that collect with multiple underbases in plastisol.

Design choices that highlight the very best in water based and discharge

Design preparation begins with the fabric 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 delicacy same day t-shirt printing that plastisol tends to subdue. On dark cotton, discharge shines with mid-tone richness and soft edges. Consider how the t-shirt color looks through. A charcoal heather with a discharge cream graphic looks like it grew there.

Type weight matters. Really thin knockouts inside heavy flood locations can complete with discharge, specifically on high-absorbency cotton. If you need razor unfavorable area, different the art to print unfavorable shapes as favorable strokes with a clear schedule for squeegee pressure and flashes. Ask your printer for a proof on the real garment rather than relying on a digital mockup. A mockup can not record fiber interplay and color lift.

When you need to state no to discharge

There are times I recommend against discharge. Polyester-rich garments are top of the list. The activator can trigger color migration, especially with sublimated or cationic-dyed efficiency shirts, resulting in ghosting or brownish casts. custom logo shirts Some garment dyes, particularly reactive black blends, withstand lifting, leaving a shadowed print that looks undercured even when it isn't. If a client is delicate to small odor during treating, discharge days in the shop are noticeable. Well-managed air flow alleviates this, but it becomes part of the process.

If a client needs metallics, puff, or specialty 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 real metal. For high-opacity neons on dark t-shirts that must be billboard-bright, you might need a water based underbase tuned for opacity or a switch to plastisol.

Practical workflow for brands and creators

Whether you run your own presses or depend on a partner, established a workflow that eliminates uncertainty. An easy approach keeps surprises at bay and helps you hit deadlines for launches and events.

  • Decide on fabric first, then ink: choose one hundred percent ringspun cotton for discharge, or light, premium cotton for basic water based. Avoid high poly unless the heathered effect is desired.
  • Request test prints on the specific blanks: one t-shirt per colorway is typically adequate to lock approvals, especially for bulk t shirt orders where consistency matters.
  • Clarify color expectations in context: offer Pantone targets for light garments and explain acceptable varieties for dark discharge prints, with pictures of prior work you like.
  • Align on care labels and handling: recommend cold wash and low heat dry for clients, then confirm your treatment times so wash toughness matches the tag guidance.
  • Confirm ecological standards: 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: quick art changes, small 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 brochure method. For designs that are high volume even at little daily amounts, pre-burning screens and keeping a little stock of popular sizes lets you deliver exact same day with water based prints that feel much better than numerous DTG outputs. It works best when you keep art to a couple of colors and choose light garments.

If your POD model 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 comfort and breathability are the selling points. Clients 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 basic plastisol job, I describe what they are buying. They get the soft hand that retail consumers relate with quality, enhanced breathability, and compliance for sensitive purchasers. On a per-shirt basis, the distinction for a basic three-color front hit might be modest, typically a little uplift that can be neutralized by selecting a somewhat more cost-effective blank. If the program is for wholesale t shirts entering into stores or e-commerce at superior cost points, the improvement in viewed value more than covers the change.

For individualized t-shirts, such as charity runs or college clubs, choices matter. Deal a base price with plastisol on midweight cotton, then a "convenience upgrade" that consists of a ringspun blank with water based ink. You will see a clear split: some customers optimize for cost, others for feel. Satisfying both lets you serve a wider market without diluting your craft.

Care directions that customers in fact follow

Care labels typically read like legal disclaimers. Keep it basic and reasonable so the shirt makes it through real life. Water based and discharge prints choose cooler washes and lower dryer heat, however they will sustain normal laundering if correctly cured. I recommend phrasing care ideas in human terms on item pages: wash cold with similar colors, topple dry low, prevent material conditioners if you desire colors to remain crisp. The last note matters since some conditioners can transfer movies on fibers, dulling the visual contrast of fine lines.

I have actually evaluated these directions in-house: 2 identical t-shirts, one washed cold and dried low, the other washed warm and dried high. After 15 cycles, the warm/high tee showed slightly quicker fading of mid-tones, yet still looked excellent. That tolerance originates from right treatment, not from babying the garment.

All over print ideas that do not battle the limitations

All over print catches attention, however printing flood coats on assembled garments with water based inks can be unforgiving. Rather of battling joints, design for them. Usage tone-on-tone patterns that fade naturally at joints, or use a ghosted grid that looks intentional when it breaks at hems. Additionally, run panel printing and sew. Brands that offer minimal runs can justify cut-and-sew for 100 to 300 pieces if the design requires it. The completed garments read as customized from a range, which is the goal.

A short anecdote from a busy season

One spring we ran a series for a local music festival. The client 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 cleanly with discharge, batch 2 remained stubbornly dark in the mid-rays of the artwork. We logged dye lot numbers, pivoted the ink mix by including a touch more white pigment to personalized tees compensate, and adjusted dwell time by 10 to 15 seconds to finish the response. The outcome: constant tees across 2,400 units, each with a soft, breathable print that offered out by day two.

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

Common mistakes and how to prevent them

Most problems 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 temperature for the ideal duration. Utilize a donut probe or an ingrained thermochromic strip to determine true ink movie temperature level, not just dryer setpoints. Screen lockup is the second. Keep a consistent speed on press, flood between prints, and control shop humidity.

A third pitfall is ignoring material variability. If you switch blanks mid-run since a size is out of stock, you may see shifts in color. Construct contingency into your acquiring. For brand names planning ahead, selecting a basic blank and locking it with your provider decreases surprises.

Final guidance for choosing your path

If your top priority is soft, breathable customized garments that consumers keep using, water based inks deserve the knowing curve. Usage basic water based upon light garments for tidy detail and matte color. Transfer to release on one hundred percent cotton when you desire the softest prints on dark shirts. Accept and plan for slight color difference with discharge, particularly throughout color lots. For bulk t shirt orders, build in a single round of physical tasting on the actual blanks you will use, then document your settings and hold back a reference shirt for quality control.

If you run a print as needed catalog, carve out a water based capsule of best sellers on light shirts. Market the difference: eco friendly inks, breathable feel, and retail-quality hand. Keep your specialty effects and neon stunners in plastisol or hybrid systems where they belong.

Custom t shirts are evaluated in the hands, not just 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 provide, and why they deserve a place in any serious 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.