October 18, 2025

Beyond Standard Tees: A Guide to Eco-Friendly Water-Based Inks and Discharge Printing for Custom-made 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 continuous tension: the push for softer, more breathable prints that people really take pleasure in using, and the requirement to produce at scale without jeopardizing the environment or the bottom line. That tension has formed how I pick inks, pretreatments, and materials for custom-made garments projects. Over the years, I have actually learned that water based inks and discharge printing are not just buzzwords, they are practical tools that produce beautiful results and real comfort, specifically for T shirt printing that needs to stand up to daily wear.

If you run a brand name, manage bulk t t-shirt orders, or simply want your tailored shirts to seem like a favorite from the very first wash, it's worth understanding how these ink systems work, where they shine, and where they need care. The ideal choice can make the difference between a t-shirt that gets used when and one that ends up being the go-to.

What water based ink actually is

Water based inks suspend pigments in water instead of in plasticizers and solvents. Unlike plastisol, which sits on top of the fabric and treatments into a movie, water based inks absorb into the fibers. That single characteristic discusses most of the benefits and trade-offs. Prints feel soft due to the fact that 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 often indistinguishable from the shirt itself. For custom t t-shirts created for comfort, this is the course to the "retail feel" customers ask for.

There are two primary families: standard water based and pretreatment solution discharge. Standard water based ink works best on white or extremely light shirts. It can cover mid-tones with the best base, once you move into darker materials, you either require a heavier print or you change to release. Discharge printing uses an activator that lifts the color from the fabric throughout treating, basically bleaching the shirt's color in the printed locations, then replaces it with your pigment. The end result is the softest possible print on dark cotton, typically with impressive detail.

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

Eco friendly inks are not a marketing motto if you unload the chemistry and the workflow. Water based inks usually contain fewer volatile natural compounds than solvent-heavy alternatives and prevent PVC entirely. Lots of are compliant with rigorous standards like Oeko-Tex or meet retail testing programs that prohibit specific phthalates and heavy metals. If you offer custom clothing 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 principle. Ink is one part. You likewise require to take a look at shop practices: filtration on your washout booth, recover chemistry, energy use on your 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 caught. If you're utilizing print as needed with a partner, ask how they deal with discharge effluent and whether they have air exchange and curing controls dialed in. Genuine sustainability hides in the details.

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

Most individuals do not buy a graphic tee due to the fact that they like the ink. heat transfer vinyl They buy it because the garment looks great, feels excellent, and keeps that character after Stencil durability repeated cleaning. Water based inks, including discharge, offer you that broken-in convenience 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 sometimes obtain from heavy plastisol when you stretch across the chest.

I keep a shelf of contrast t-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 a lot more, the colors mellowed slightly, and the t-shirts bulk t shirt orders kept moving. A plastisol sample with the same art looks glossier and still pops more under harsh light, which some streetwear customers prefer, but the wearer feedback corresponds: water based seems like a premium garment.

Color, protection, and how expectations shape results

Color accuracy with water based inks refers control, humidity, and the material's own color. On white or heather light t-shirts, standard water based ink can strike tight Pantones with a measured ink mix and a tidy mesh. On darker cotton, discharge adds variables. Different dye lots discharge in a different way, even within the exact same brand name and color. Black 3001 blanks from one batch might raise to a warm charcoal, while the next batch clears to a cooler grey. The pigment you add guides the final custom apparel color, however you're still working with a background that is moving as the dye is removed.

That's not a flaw, it's part of the medium. Many designers welcome the slightly vintage character of discharge, where reds land earthy and blues feel deep rather than neon. If your brand needs laser-precise color reproduction for corporate logos, either order test prints on the exact 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 in 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 work with water based, but discharge just raises the cotton portion. That indicates your color saturates the cotton while the polyester and rayon stay as-is, often yielding a heathered or speckled print that looks deliberate if you design for it. If your objective is flat, vibrant color on a poly mix, standard plastisol or a specialized low-cure system may be smarter.

On all over print tasks, 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 presents joints, folds, and inconsistent pressure that show up as blank micro-gaps. If you should print on finished garments, anticipate little spaces along joints, which some clients like as part of the garment's character.

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

Water based inks behave in a different way on press. They dry much faster in the screen, which works on fabric but 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 option at hand, and keep the print space humidity in a constant range, approximately 45 to 55 percent, to prevent early drying. Manual press operators will discover how rapidly a standard water based ink clears the screen compared to a heavy plastisol. Vehicle presses, with flood bars and consistent pace, minimize clogging.

Curing is where many novices 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 enough air flow makes the distinction. You desire even heat across the belt and sufficient dwell to reach the manufacturer's remedy temperature throughout the ink layer, not simply at the surface area. Shirts leaving the tunnel should be dry to the touch with no cool areas. 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 upon proper cure and fiber engagement. A well-cured water based print on cotton can outlive the shirt. I determine resilience by standardized wash tests, 10 to 20 cycles at warm, topple dry medium, then visual assessment for fading and splitting. Water based prints show steady softening and a mild fade in the exact same way jeans unwinds. Plastisol's failure mode is different, typically splitting if the ink layer is too thick or under-cured. For tailored t-shirts that need to look good at a family reunion and still be in rotation next summer season, water based holds up when produced correctly.

Cost, throughput, and when to select which method

Costs vary regionally, however the economics fall under familiar patterns. Water based ink itself is often equivalent to plastisol at the gallon level, however you invest more in shop environment and drying capacity. On press, water based can be slightly slower at setup because you pay closer attention to fit together, squeegee durometer, and off-contact. When tuned, cars perform at similar speeds. Where it truly pays off is in perceived value. A soft print on a mid-tier blank often feels premium without jumping to the highest-cost shirt. Brand names can price accordingly.

For bulk t shirt orders above a few hundred pieces where the art suits the medium, discharge on 100 percent cotton is a workhorse. For print as needed that needs over night turn-around and art modifications continuously, direct-to-garment or DTF may be much better operationally, though both have their own environmental and feel trade-offs. When you take on wholesale t t-shirts with several colorways and need to keep stock versatile, a flexible water based palette on light garments is effective, because you avoid the weight and stiffness that build up with multiple underbases in plastisol.

Design options that highlight the best in water based and discharge

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

Type weight matters. Very thin knockouts inside heavy flood areas can complete with discharge, particularly on high-absorbency cotton. If you require razor unfavorable area, 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 record fiber interplay and color lift.

When you ought to state no to discharge

There are times I encourage against discharge. Polyester-rich garments are leading of the list. The activator can cause dye migration, particularly with sublimated or cationic-dyed efficiency t-shirts, leading to 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 small odor throughout treating, discharge days in the store are obvious. Well-managed air flow mitigates this, but it is part of the process.

If a customer requires metallics, puff, or specialized textures, plastisol or hybrid systems still own that space. Water based metallics exist, but the particles often sink, and the result is more satin than real metal. For high-opacity neons on dark shirts that need to 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 rely on a partner, established a workflow that removes guesswork. A basic method keeps surprises at bay and helps you struck deadlines for launches and events.

  • Decide on fabric first, then ink: choose one hundred percent ringspun cotton for discharge, or light, premium cotton for basic water based. Prevent high poly unless the heathered effect is desired.
  • Request test prints on the precise blanks: one t-shirt per colorway is normally sufficient to lock approvals, specifically for bulk t shirt orders where consistency matters.
  • Clarify color expectations in context: offer Pantone targets for light garments and describe appropriate varieties for dark discharge prints, with pictures of previous work you like.
  • Align on care labels and handling: recommend cold wash and low heat dry for consumers, then confirm your cure times so wash durability matches the tag guidance.
  • Confirm ecological standards: ask your printer about ink accreditations, 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 restrictions: fast art changes, small batch sizes, and the requirement for a broad color range. Direct-to-garment has actually become the default, but water based screen printing can fit POD if you organize catalog technique. For styles that are high volume even at small everyday quantities, pre-burning screens and keeping a little stock of popular sizes lets you ship exact same day with water based prints that feel better than many DTG outputs. It works best when you keep art to one or two colors and choose light garments.

If your POD design relies on all over print sublimation for polyester garments, water based screen printing is not a replacement, it is a parallel offering. Utilize it where cotton comfort and breathability are the selling points. Customers who care about touch will notice.

Pricing, margins, and communicating 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 correspond with quality, improved breathability, and compliance for sensitive buyers. On a per-shirt basis, the distinction for a basic three-color front hit may be modest, frequently a little uplift that can be neutralized by picking a slightly more cost-effective blank. If the program is for wholesale t t-shirts going into boutiques or e-commerce at premium rate points, the enhancement in perceived worth more than covers the change.

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

Care directions that clients really follow

Care labels typically check out like legal disclaimers. Keep it basic and practical so the shirt survives reality. Water based and discharge prints choose cooler washes and lower clothes dryer heat, but they will endure regular laundering if properly cured. I suggest phrasing care pointers in human terms on item pages: wash cold with comparable colors, tumble dry low, prevent material conditioners if you desire colors to remain crisp. The last note matters because some conditioners can transfer movies on fibers, dulling the visual contrast of great lines.

I've evaluated these instructions in-house: 2 similar shirts, one washed cold and dried low, the other washed warm and dried high. After 15 cycles, the warm/high tee revealed somewhat quicker fading of mid-tones, yet still looked excellent. That tolerance comes from correct cure, not from babying the garment.

All over print concepts that do not combat the limitations

All over print catches attention, but printing flood coats on put together garments with water based inks can be unforgiving. Instead of combating seams, style for them. Usage tone-on-tone patterns that fade naturally at joints, or apply a ghosted grid that looks deliberate when it breaks at hems. Alternatively, run panel printing and stitch. Brands that offer restricted runs can validate cut-and-sew for 100 to 300 pieces if the style warrants it. The finished garments check out as customized from a range, 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 felt like it resided in the fabric. We sampled on 3 blacks from 2 mills. Batch one lifted cleanly with discharge, batch two remained stubbornly dark in the mid-rays of the artwork. We logged color 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 reaction. The result: consistent tees across 2,400 systems, each with a soft, breathable print that sold out by day two.

That task taught the crew to treat discharge like cooking, not chemistry on a blackboard. The recipe 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 family. Under-curing is the first perpetrator. Water based ink that feels dry can still be under-cured if the core of the print never ever struck the required temp for the right period. Utilize a donut probe or an embedded thermochromic strip to measure real ink movie temperature, not simply clothes dryer setpoints. Screen lockup is the 2nd. Keep a constant speed on press, flood in between prints, and control shop humidity.

A third mistake is neglecting fabric irregularity. If you switch blanks mid-run because a size is out of stock, you might see shifts in color. Develop contingency into your getting. For brand names preparing ahead, choosing a basic blank and locking it with your provider lowers surprises.

Final assistance for picking your path

If your concern is soft, breathable customized clothing that clients keep wearing, water based inks are worth the knowing curve. Use standard water based on light garments for clean information and matte color. Move to release on one hundred percent cotton when you want the softest prints on dark shirts. Accept and plan for small color variation with discharge, especially 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 document your settings and hold back a referral shirt for quality control.

If you operate a print on demand 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 specialized impacts and neon stunners in plastisol or hybrid systems where they belong.

Custom t t-shirts are evaluated in the hands, not simply on screens. When a client rubs their thumb throughout a print and feels nothing but fiber, you've won. That's the moment water based and discharge provide, and why they are worthy of a location 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.