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 two things in constant tension: the push for softer, more breathable prints that individuals actually take pleasure in wearing, and the need to produce at scale without jeopardizing the environment or the bottom line. That tension has formed direct to garment how I choose inks, pretreatments, and materials for customized garments jobs. For many years, I have actually learned that water based inks and discharge printing are not just buzzwords, they are useful tools that produce stunning results and genuine comfort, specifically for T t-shirt printing that needs to withstand daily wear.

If you run a brand, manage bulk t shirt orders, or merely want your tailored shirts to seem like a favorite from the first wash, it deserves understanding how these ink systems work, where they shine, and where they need care. The right option can make the difference between a shirt that gets worn once 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 cures into a film, water based inks absorb into the fibers. That single characteristic explains most of the benefits and compromises. Prints feel soft since you're touching the cotton, not a layer of cured PVC. Colors tend to look more matte and integrated. On light garments, the hand is typically indistinguishable from the shirt itself. For customized t t-shirts developed for convenience, this is the course to the "retail feel" customers ask for.

There are 2 primary families: basic water based and discharge. Basic water based ink works best on white or very light t-shirts. It can cover mid-tones with the right base, but once you move into darker materials, you either require a much heavier print or you switch to release. Discharge printing utilizes an activator that raises the wholesale t shirts dye from the material during curing, basically bleaching the shirt's dye in the printed areas, then replaces it with your pigment. The end outcome is the softest possible print on dark cotton, often with exceptional detail.

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

Eco friendly inks are not promotional products a marketing slogan if you unpack the chemistry and the workflow. Water based inks generally consist of less volatile organic compounds than solvent-heavy alternatives and avoid PVC altogether. Lots of are compliant with rigorous standards like Oeko-Tex or meet retail testing regimes that prohibit specific phthalates and heavy metals. If you offer custom clothing into business health cares, schools, or health-conscious brand names, those certificates smooth procurement and keep you ahead of compliance.

That said, "eco friendly" is a system concept. Ink is one part. You also require to take a look at shop practices: purification on your washout cubicle, reclaim chemistry, energy usage on your clothes dryer, and even material sourcing. Discharge requires an activator, usually based upon zinc formaldehyde sulfoxylate or comparable compounds, which has its own handling and ventilation requirements. In a well-run store, exposure is managed and waste is captured. 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 hides in the details.

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

Most people do not purchase a graphic tee because they love the ink. They buy it due to the fact that the garment looks excellent, feels excellent, and keeps that character after repeated washing. Water based inks, consisting of discharge, give you that broken-in comfort 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 receive from heavy plastisol when you stretch across the chest.

I keep a shelf of contrast t-shirts in the studio. One from a surf 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 slightly, and the t-shirts kept moving. A plastisol sample with the very same art looks glossier and still pops more under severe light, which some streetwear customers choose, however the wearer feedback is consistent: water based seems like a premium garment.

Color, protection, and how expectations shape results

Color precision with water based inks refers control, humidity, and the fabric's own dye. On white or heather light t-shirts, standard water based ink can strike tight Pantones with a determined ink mix and a tidy mesh. On darker cotton, discharge adds variables. Different color 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 steers 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 becomes part of the medium. Numerous designers welcome the a little classic character of discharge, where reds land earthy and blues feel deep rather than neon. If your brand name demands laser-precise color reproduction for corporate 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 required. For wholesale t t-shirts that will be distributed nationally, put swatch approvals into your procedure so there are not a surprises at scale.

Fabric matters more than the majority of people think

A water based print is a collaboration between ink and fiber. Ringspun cotton takes ink beautifully. 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 just raises the cotton part. That means your color fills the cotton while the polyester and rayon remain as-is, often yielding a heathered or speckled print that looks intentional if you design for it. If your goal is flat, vibrant color on a poly blend, traditional plastisol or a specialized low-cure system might be smarter.

On all over print tasks, 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 joints, folds, and inconsistent pressure that show up as blank micro-gaps. If you should print on completed garments, Water-based ink expect little spaces along seams, which some customers like as part of the garment's character.

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

Water based inks behave differently on press. They dry much faster in the screen, which works on material however can lock a mesh if you stop briefly too long. Running a greater mesh for information, say 230 to 305, keeps the deposit thin and crisp. Set up with a misting bottle or a devoted screen rewetting solution at hand, and keep the print room humidity in a consistent range, roughly 45 to 55 percent, to prevent premature drying. Manual press operators will notice how quickly a standard water based ink clears the screen compared to a heavy plastisol. Vehicle presses, with flood bars and constant speed, decrease clogging.

Curing is where many newbies fizzle. 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 airflow makes the distinction. You desire even heat throughout the belt and sufficient dwell to reach the producer's remedy temperature level throughout the ink layer, not simply at the surface area. Shirts exiting the tunnel should be dry to the touch with no cool spots. For discharge, the chemical reaction occurs throughout this treatment, and you will smell the activator. Great ventilation is non-negotiable.

Durability and wash testing

Durability depends on appropriate cure and fiber engagement. A well-cured water based print on cotton can outlast the t-shirt. I measure durability by standardized wash tests, 10 to 20 cycles at warm, tumble dry medium, then visual examination for fading and breaking. Water based prints reveal steady softening and a mild fade in the very same way jeans relaxes. Plastisol's failure mode is different, generally breaking if the ink layer is too thick or under-cured. For tailored t-shirts that require 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 choose which method

Costs vary regionally, but the economics fall into familiar patterns. Water based ink itself is typically comparable to plastisol at the gallon level, but 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. Once tuned, automobiles run at similar speeds. Where it actually settles remains in perceived value. A soft print on a mid-tier blank typically feels premium without jumping to the highest-cost shirt. Brand names can price accordingly.

For bulk t t-shirt orders above a couple of hundred pieces where the art matches the medium, discharge on 100 percent cotton is a workhorse. For print on demand that needs over night turnaround and art modifications constantly, direct-to-garment or DTF may be better operationally, though both have their own ecological and feel compromises. When you take on wholesale t t-shirts with numerous colorways and must keep inventory versatile, a versatile water based scheme on light garments is efficient, considering that you prevent the weight and stiffness that build up with multiple underbases in plastisol.

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

Design planning starts with the material color and ends with treating. On light shirts, lean into information: thin lines, halftones, hand-drawn textures. Basic water based ink prints those with a special that plastisol tends to overpower. On dark cotton, discharge shines with mid-tone richness and soft edges. Think about how the shirt color glances through. A charcoal heather with a discharge cream graphic looks like it grew there.

Type weight matters. Really thin knockouts inside heavy flood areas can fill in with discharge, especially on high-absorbency cotton. If you require razor negative space, different the art to print negative shapes as positive strokes with a clear schedule for squeegee pressure and flashes. Ask your printer for a proof on the real garment rather than trusting a digital mockup. A soft hand feel prints mockup can not catch fiber interaction and dye lift.

When you ought to state no to discharge

There are times I recommend against discharge. Polyester-rich garments are leading of the list. The activator can cause color migration, particularly with sublimated or cationic-dyed performance t-shirts, causing ghosting or brownish casts. Some garment dyes, especially reactive black blends, resist lifting, leaving a shadowed print that looks undercured even when it isn't. If a customer is sensitive to small odor throughout treating, discharge days in the store are visible. Well-managed air flow mitigates this, but it is part of the process.

If a client requires metallics, puff, or specialty textures, plastisol or hybrid systems still own that area. Water based metallics exist, but the particles frequently sink, and the result is more satin than true metal. For high-opacity neons on dark t-shirts that must be billboard-bright, you may require 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 gets rid of guesswork. A basic method keeps surprises at bay and assists you struck due dates for launches and events.

  • Decide on fabric initially, then ink: select one hundred percent ringspun cotton for discharge, or light, high-quality cotton for standard water based. Avoid high poly unless the heathered impact is desired.
  • Request test prints on the precise blanks: one shirt per colorway is generally adequate to lock approvals, particularly for bulk t shirt orders where consistency matters.
  • Clarify color expectations in context: supply Pantone targets for light garments and explain acceptable varieties for dark discharge prints, with photos of previous work you like.
  • Align on care labels and handling: suggest cold wash and low heat dry for customers, then verify your cure times so clean resilience matches the tag guidance.
  • Confirm environmental standards: ask your printer about ink certifications, ventilation, and waste capture, particularly if your brand name messaging leans into eco friendly inks.

How water based fits with print on demand

Print on demand has its own restraints: fast art changes, small batch sizes, and the need for a broad color range. Direct-to-garment has actually become the default, however water based screen printing can fit POD if you organize brochure strategy. For designs that are high volume even at small everyday 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 lots of DTG outputs. It works best when you keep art to a couple of colors and select light garments.

If your POD design counts 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 care about touch will notice.

Pricing, margins, and interacting value

When clients ask why a water based or discharge print costs more than a basic plastisol job, I explain what they are purchasing. They get the soft hand that retail clients equate with quality, enhanced breathability, and compliance for sensitive buyers. On a per-shirt basis, the difference for a standard three-color front hit might be modest, often a little uplift that can be reduced the effects of by choosing a somewhat more affordable blank. If the program is for wholesale t t-shirts going into shops or e-commerce at superior cost points, the enhancement in viewed worth more than covers the change.

For personalized shirts, such as charity runs or college clubs, alternatives matter. Offer a base price with plastisol on midweight cotton, then a "comfort upgrade" that consists of a ringspun blank with water based ink. You will see a clear split: some customers enhance for cost, others for feel. Satisfying both lets you serve a larger market without diluting your craft.

Care guidelines that customers actually follow

Care labels typically read like legal disclaimers. Keep it simple and practical so the t-shirt endures real life. Water based and discharge prints prefer cooler washes and lower dryer heat, however they will withstand typical laundering if correctly cured. I suggest phrasing care tips in human terms on product pages: wash cold with similar colors, tumble dry low, avoid material softeners if you desire colors to remain crisp. The last note matters because some softeners can deposit movies on fibers, dulling the visual contrast of fine lines.

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

All over print ideas that do not fight the limitations

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

A brief anecdote from a hectic season

One spring we ran a series for a regional music celebration. The client desired soft black tees with a sunburst print that seemed like it resided in the fabric. We tested on 3 blacks from two mills. Batch one raised cleanly with discharge, batch two stayed stubbornly dark in the mid-rays of the artwork. We logged color lot numbers, pivoted the ink mix by adding a touch more white pigment to compensate, and changed dwell time by 10 to 15 seconds to finish the response. The outcome: consistent tees throughout 2,400 systems, each with a soft, breathable print that offered out by day two.

That job taught the team to treat discharge like cooking, not chemistry on a blackboard. The dish matters, however so does tasting and adjusting.

Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

Most problems I see trace back to process, 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 hit the needed temp for the ideal period. Use a donut probe or an embedded 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 shop humidity.

A third pitfall is neglecting fabric variability. If you switch blanks mid-run since a size runs out stock, you may see shifts in color. Construct contingency into your purchasing. For brands planning ahead, selecting a basic blank and locking it with your supplier minimizes surprises.

Final assistance for choosing your path

If your priority is soft, breathable customized apparel that customers keep wearing, water based inks deserve the knowing curve. Use basic water based upon light garments for tidy detail and matte color. Relocate to release on 100 percent cotton when you desire the softest prints on dark shirts. Accept and prepare for slight color variance with discharge, especially across color lots. For bulk t t-shirt orders, build in a single round of physical sampling on the actual blanks you will use, then document your settings and keep back a reference t-shirt for quality control.

If you operate a print as needed brochure, take a water based pill of finest sellers on light shirts. Market the difference: 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 evaluated in the hands, not just on screens. When a client rubs their thumb throughout a print and feels absolutely nothing however fiber, you've won. That's the minute water based and discharge provide, and why they should have a location in any severe 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.