November 3, 2025

Beyond Standard 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 tension: the push for softer, T shirt printing designs Jacksonville more breathable prints that individuals really delight in wearing, and the need to produce at scale without compromising the environment or the bottom line. That stress has formed how I select inks, pretreatments, and materials for custom apparel tasks. For many years, I've learned that water based inks and discharge printing are not just buzzwords, they are practical tools that produce gorgeous outcomes and real comfort, specifically for T shirt printing that needs to withstand everyday wear.

If you run a brand, manage bulk t shirt orders, or just desire your personalized shirts to feel like a preferred from the very first wash, it's worth understanding how these ink systems work, where they shine, and where they require care. The right option can make the distinction in between a 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 instead of in plasticizers and solvents. Unlike plastisol, which sits on top of the material and remedies into a movie, water based inks take in into the fibers. That single characteristic discusses the majority of the advantages and compromises. Prints feel soft due to the fact that 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 custom-made t t-shirts developed for comfort, this is the course to the "retail feel" customers ask for.

There are two main families: standard water based and discharge. Basic water based ink works best on white or very light t-shirts. It can cover mid-tones with the best base, but once you move into darker fabrics, you either require a much heavier print or you switch to release. Discharge printing utilizes an activator that lifts the color from the material during treating, basically bleaching the t-shirt's color in the printed areas, then replaces it with your pigment. Completion outcome is the softest possible print on dark cotton, frequently with impressive detail.

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

Eco friendly inks are not a marketing slogan if you unload the chemistry and the workflow. Water based inks usually consist of fewer unpredictable organic compounds than solvent-heavy options and prevent PVC altogether. Numerous are certified with rigorous requirements like Oeko-Tex or satisfy retail testing programs that ban certain phthalates and heavy metals. If you sell custom apparel into business wellness programs, schools, or health-conscious brands, those certificates smooth procurement and keep you ahead of compliance.

That stated, "eco friendly" is a system concept. Ink is one part. You likewise require to look at shop practices: filtration on your washout cubicle, recover chemistry, energy use on your clothes dryer, and even fabric sourcing. Discharge requires an activator, usually based upon zinc formaldehyde sulfoxylate or comparable compounds, which has its own handling and ventilation needs. In a well-run shop, direct exposure is controlled and waste is recorded. If you're using print on demand with a partner, ask how they handle discharge effluent and whether they have air exchange and treating controls called in. Real sustainability hides in the details.

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

Most people do not buy a graphic tee due to the fact that they love the ink. They purchase it due to the fact that the garment looks good, feels good, and keeps that character after repeated washing. Water based inks, including discharge, provide you that broken-in convenience from day one. On an one hundred percent ring-spun cotton blank, a water based print is breathable and versatile. You will not hear the crackle you often obtain from heavy plastisol when you stretch throughout the chest.

I keep a rack of comparison 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 even more, the colors mellowed somewhat, and the t-shirts kept moving. A plastisol sample with the exact same art looks glossier and still pops more under extreme light, which some streetwear clients choose, but the wearer feedback is consistent: water based seems like a premium garment.

Color, coverage, and how expectations shape results

Color precision with water based inks is a matter of control, humidity, and the material's own color. On white or heather light t-shirts, standard water based ink can hit tight Pantones with a measured ink mix and a tidy mesh. On darker cotton, discharge adds variables. Various dye lots discharge in a different way, even within the exact 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 add steers the last color, however you're still dealing with a background that is shifting as the color is removed.

That's not a defect, it belongs to the medium. Many designers welcome 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 reproduction for corporate logo designs, either order test prints on the exact batch you prepare to use or think about a water based underbase or hybrid technique where needed. For wholesale t shirts that will be distributed nationally, put swatch approvals into your process so there are no 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 wonderfully. Carded open end cotton is scratchier and drinks ink unevenly. Blends complicate things. A 50/50 poly-cotton or a triblend with rayon can deal with water based, but discharge only raises the cotton portion. That suggests your color saturates the cotton while the polyester and rayon remain as-is, typically yielding a heathered or speckled print that looks intentional if you design for it. If your objective is flat, vivid 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 completed tees introduces seams, folds, and irregular pressure that appear as blank micro-gaps. If you should print on finished garments, expect little spaces along joints, which some customers like as part of the garment's character.

The production reality: 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 but can lock a mesh if you stop briefly too long. Running a greater mesh for detail, say 230 to 305, keeps the deposit thin and crisp. Set up with a misting bottle or a dedicated screen rewetting solution at hand, and keep the print room humidity in a constant range, approximately 45 to 55 percent, to avoid early drying. Manual press operators will observe how rapidly a standard water based ink clears the screen compared to a heavy plastisol. Auto presses, with flood bars and consistent speed, minimize clogging.

Curing is where lots of novices miss the mark. Water based inks require 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 desire even heat across the belt and enough dwell to reach the maker's cure temperature level throughout the ink layer, not just at the surface area. Shirts exiting the tunnel must be dry to the touch with no cool areas. For discharge, the chain reaction occurs during this cure, and you will smell the activator. Excellent ventilation is non-negotiable.

Durability and wash testing

Durability depends upon correct remedy and fiber engagement. A well-cured water based print on cotton can outlast the shirt. I measure durability by standardized wash tests, 10 to 20 cycles at warm, tumble dry medium, then visual evaluation for fading and breaking. Water based prints reveal progressive softening and a gentle fade in the same way denim unwinds. Plastisol's failure mode is various, normally cracking if the ink layer is too thick or under-cured. For customized shirts that need to look good 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 vary regionally, but 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 since you pay closer attention to fit together, squeegee durometer, and off-contact. As soon as tuned, cars perform at comparable speeds. Where it really pays off is in perceived worth. A soft print on a mid-tier blank frequently feels premium without leaping to the highest-cost shirt. Brand names can price accordingly.

For bulk t shirt orders above a couple of hundred pieces where the art suits the medium, discharge on one hundred percent cotton is a workhorse. For print as needed that requires over night 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 must keep inventory versatile, a flexible water based combination on light garments is effective, since you prevent the weight and stiffness that build up with multiple underbases in plastisol.

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

Design preparation starts with the fabric color and ends with curing. On light shirts, lean into detail: thin lines, halftones, hand-drawn textures. Standard 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 appear like it grew there.

Type weight matters. Extremely thin knockouts inside heavy flood locations can fill out with discharge, especially on high-absorbency cotton. If you require razor unfavorable space, different 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 actual garment instead of relying on a digital mockup. A mockup can not catch fiber interaction and dye lift.

When you ought to state no to discharge

There are times I recommend versus discharge. Polyester-rich garments are top of the list. The activator can cause dye migration, specifically with sublimated or cationic-dyed performance t-shirts, resulting in ghosting or brownish casts. Some garment dyes, especially reactive affordable custom t shirts black blends, withstand lifting, leaving a shadowed print that looks undercured even when it isn't. If a customer is delicate to minor odor during curing, discharge days in the shop are obvious. Well-managed airflow mitigates this, however it belongs to the process.

If a client requires metallics, puff, or specialty textures, plastisol or hybrid systems still own that space. Water based metallics exist, however the particles typically sink, and the effect is more satin than real metal. For high-opacity neons on dark shirts that need to 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 count on a partner, set up a workflow that eliminates guesswork. A simple method keeps surprises at bay and helps you hit due dates for launches and events.

  • Decide on material initially, then ink: pick 100 percent ringspun cotton for discharge, or light, high-quality cotton for standard water based. Avoid high poly unless the heathered result is desired.
  • Request test prints on the precise blanks: one t-shirt per colorway is generally 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 prior work you like.
  • Align on care labels and handling: advise cold wash and low heat dry for consumers, then confirm your treatment times so wash sturdiness matches the tag guidance.
  • Confirm environmental standards: ask your printer about ink accreditations, 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 constraints: quick art modifications, little batch sizes, and the requirement for a broad color range. Direct-to-garment has become the default, but water based screen printing can fit POD if you organize catalog method. For styles that are high volume even at little day-to-day quantities, pre-burning screens and keeping a little stock of popular sizes lets you deliver very same day with water based prints that feel better than lots of DTG outputs. It works finest 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. Use it where cotton convenience and breathability are the selling points. Consumers who appreciate touch will notice.

Pricing, margins, and interacting value

When clients ask why a water based or discharge print costs more than a standard plastisol task, I discuss what they are purchasing. They get the soft hand that retail customers equate with quality, improved Jacksonville custom t shirts services breathability, and compliance for delicate buyers. On a per-shirt basis, the difference for a standard three-color front hit might be modest, frequently a small uplift that can be reduced the effects of by selecting a somewhat more cost-effective blank. If the program is for wholesale t t-shirts entering into stores or e-commerce at exceptional cost points, the enhancement in perceived worth more than covers the change.

For customized shirts, such as charity runs or college clubs, options 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 expense, others for feel. Meeting both lets you serve a wider market without diluting your craft.

Care directions that consumers really follow

Care labels often check out like legal disclaimers. Keep it simple and practical so the shirt survives reality. Water based and discharge prints choose cooler washes and lower dryer heat, however they will sustain regular laundering if effectively treated. I suggest phrasing care suggestions in human terms on product pages: wash cold with comparable colors, tumble dry low, prevent fabric conditioners if you desire colors to stay crisp. The last note matters since some softeners can transfer movies on fibers, dulling the visual contrast of fine lines.

I've checked these directions in-house: two similar t-shirts, one washed cold and dried low, the other washed warm and dried high. After 15 cycles, the warm/high tee revealed a little much faster fading of mid-tones, yet still looked excellent. That tolerance originates from right treatment, not from babying the garment.

All over print concepts that do not battle the limitations

All over print catches attention, but 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 intentional when it breaks at hems. Alternatively, run panel printing and stitch. Brands that offer minimal runs can validate cut-and-sew for 100 to 300 pieces if the design necessitates it. The finished garments read as customized from a range, which is the goal.

A brief anecdote from a busy season

One spring we ran a series for a local music festival. The customer wanted soft black tees with a sunburst print that seemed like it resided in the material. We sampled on 3 blacks from two mills. Batch one raised cleanly with discharge, batch 2 stayed stubbornly dark in the mid-rays of the art work. We logged dye lot numbers, pivoted the ink mix by including a touch more white pigment to compensate, and changed 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 sold out by day two.

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

Common risks and how to avoid them

Most problems I see trace back to process, not the ink household. Under-curing is the first perpetrator. Water based ink that feels dry can still be under-cured if the core of the print never hit the required temp for the ideal period. Use a donut probe or an embedded thermochromic strip to measure true ink movie temperature level, not simply dryer setpoints. Screen lockup is the 2nd. Keep a consistent pace on press, flood in between prints, and control shop humidity.

A 3rd mistake is overlooking fabric irregularity. If you change blanks mid-run since a size runs out stock, you might see shifts in color. Construct contingency into your buying. For brand names planning ahead, choosing a basic blank and locking it with your supplier minimizes surprises.

Final assistance for choosing your path

If your priority is soft, breathable custom apparel that consumers keep wearing, water based inks deserve the knowing curve. Use standard water based on light garments for clean detail and matte color. Relocate to release on one hundred percent cotton when you want the softest prints on dark t-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 real blanks you will use, then record your settings and hold back a recommendation t-shirt for quality control.

If you operate a print on demand brochure, carve out a water based capsule of best sellers on light 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 shirts are judged in the hands, not just on screens. When a customer rubs their thumb across a print and feels absolutely nothing but fiber, you've won. That's the minute water based and discharge provide, and why they are worthy of a place in any major 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.