October 18, 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.

View on Google Maps
2826 Art Museum Dr, Jacksonville, 32207, US
Business Hours:
  • Monday–Friday: 09:00–17:00
  • Saturday: Closed
  • Sunday: Closed
Follow Us:

People Also Ask about Prints R Us

What does Prints R Us do?

Prints R Us is a custom apparel studio in Jacksonville, Florida, specializing in premium screen printing, DTG printing, and embroidery services. They create high-quality custom t-shirts, polos, hats, hoodies, and promotional items with vibrant prints and lasting craftsmanship. Their focus on quality materials and fast turnaround makes them a trusted choice for businesses, events, and individuals seeking personalized apparel.

Where is Prints R Us located?

Prints R Us is conveniently located at 2826 Art Museum Dr, Jacksonville, FL 32207, United States. The studio serves customers throughout Jacksonville and the wider Florida area, offering both local service and nationwide delivery for custom clothing and branded merchandise.

What services does Prints R Us provide?

The company offers a wide range of custom apparel printing and design services, including screen printing, direct-to-garment (DTG) printing, embroidery, and promotional product creation. Whether customers need personalized t-shirts, branded uniforms, or embroidered polos, Prints R Us delivers professional results with attention to detail.

Which industries does Prints R Us serve?

Prints R Us works with diverse industries such as schools, small businesses, corporate offices, sports teams, and event organizers. Their services are ideal for branded apparel, team uniforms, promotional giveaways, and fashion-forward custom designs, making them a versatile partner for both personal and business needs.

Why choose Prints R Us for custom t-shirts and embroidery?

Customers choose Prints R Us for their reputation in craftsmanship, vibrant printing, and reliable turnaround times. With awards for apparel design innovation and excellence in small business, the studio has proven expertise in delivering high-quality custom apparel that meets both creative and professional standards.

Does Prints R Us use high-quality materials?

Yes, Prints R Us emphasizes using premium fabrics and durable materials to ensure long-lasting results. Their prints are designed to remain vibrant even after multiple washes, while embroidery work is completed with precision for a polished, professional look.

What awards has Prints R Us won?

Prints R Us has earned multiple recognitions, including Best Custom Printing Studio Jacksonville 2024, the Jacksonville Small Business Excellence Award 2023, and an award for Outstanding Apparel Design Innovation 2022. These accolades highlight their commitment to creativity, quality, and customer satisfaction.

How can I contact Prints R Us?

You can reach Prints R Us by phone at (904)-752-1515 or visit their website at printsrus.com. They are open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm, and you can also follow them on Facebook and Instagram for updates, new designs, and customer showcases.

Walk into any printing shop that takes its craft seriously, and you will see 2 things in continuous stress: the push for softer, more breathable prints that people actually enjoy wearing, and the requirement to produce at scale without compromising the environment or the bottom line. That tension has shaped how I pick inks, pretreatments, and materials for custom-made apparel jobs. For many years, I have actually learned that water based inks and discharge printing are not simply buzzwords, they are useful tools that produce beautiful results and genuine convenience, particularly for T shirt printing that requires to withstand daily wear.

If you run a brand name, handle bulk t t-shirt orders, or simply desire your individualized shirts to seem like a preferred from the very first wash, it deserves understanding how these ink systems work, where they shine, and where they require care. The best choice can make the difference between a shirt that gets used as soon as and one that becomes 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 soak up into the fibers. That single characteristic explains the majority of the benefits and trade-offs. Prints feel soft because 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 frequently identical from the shirt itself. For custom t t-shirts developed for convenience, this is the path to the "retail feel" clients ask for.

There are two main households: basic water based and discharge. Basic water based ink works best on white or very light shirts. It can cover mid-tones with the right base, but once you move into darker fabrics, you either need a heavier print or you switch to release. Release printing uses an activator that raises the color from the material throughout treating, basically bleaching the t-shirt's dye in the printed areas, then replaces it with your pigment. Completion result is the softest possible print on dark cotton, often with outstanding detail.

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

Eco friendly inks are not a marketing motto if you unpack the chemistry and the workflow. Water based inks typically include less unpredictable natural compounds than solvent-heavy options and prevent PVC altogether. Many are compliant with stringent standards like Oeko-Tex or satisfy retail testing regimes that prohibit certain phthalates and heavy metals. If you offer customized clothing into business wellness programs, 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 need to look at shop practices: filtering on your washout booth, recover chemistry, energy use on your clothes dryer, and even material sourcing. Discharge needs an activator, normally based upon zinc formaldehyde sulfoxylate or similar compounds, which has its own handling and ventilation requirements. In a well-run store, exposure is controlled and waste is recorded. If you're using print on demand with a partner, ask how they deal with discharge effluent and whether they have air exchange and curing controls dialed in. Real sustainability conceals in the details.

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

Most individuals do tri-blend t shirts not buy a graphic tee due to the fact that they enjoy the ink. They purchase it because the garment looks great, feels excellent, and keeps that character after repeated cleaning. Water based inks, including discharge, offer you that broken-in comfort from day one. On an one hundred percent ring-spun cotton blank, a water based print is breathable and flexible. You will not hear the crackle you in some cases receive from heavy plastisol when you stretch across the chest.

I keep a shelf of comparison 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 a lot more, the colors mellowed a little, 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, however the user 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 fabric's own dye. On white or heather light shirts, basic water based ink can strike tight Pantones with a measured ink mix and a clean mesh. On darker cotton, discharge adds variables. Various color lots discharge in a different way, 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 shifting as the dye is removed.

That's not a defect, it becomes part of the medium. Numerous designers accept the a little vintage character of discharge, where reds land earthy and blues feel deep instead of neon. If your brand name demands laser-precise color recreation for business logo designs, either order test prints on the specific batch you plan to utilize or consider a water based underbase or hybrid method where required. For wholesale t t-shirts that will be distributed nationally, put example approvals into your process so there are not a surprises at scale.

Fabric matters more than most 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 beverages ink unevenly. Blends make complex things. A 50/50 poly-cotton or a triblend with rayon can deal with water based, however discharge just lifts the cotton portion. That means 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 style for it. If your goal is flat, brilliant color on a poly blend, standard plastisol or a specialized low-cure system might be smarter.

On all over print 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 finished tees presents joints, folds, and inconsistent pressure that show up as blank micro-gaps. If you need to print on completed garments, expect little spaces along seams, which some clients 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 is useful on material but can lock a mesh if you pause too long. Running a higher mesh for detail, say 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 room humidity in a constant range, approximately 45 to 55 percent, to prevent premature drying. Manual press operators will observe how rapidly a standard water based ink clears the screen compared to a heavy plastisol. Automobile presses, with flood bars and consistent speed, lower clogging.

Curing is where many newbies fizzle. 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 throughout the belt and sufficient dwell to reach the producer's treatment temperature throughout the ink layer, not just at the surface area. T-shirts leaving the tunnel needs to be dry to the touch without any cool spots. For discharge, the chemical reaction occurs during this remedy, and you will smell the activator. Good ventilation is non-negotiable.

Durability and wash testing

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

Cost, throughput, and when to pick 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, but you invest more in store 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. When tuned, automobiles perform at comparable speeds. Where it truly pays off is in perceived value. A soft print on a mid-tier blank often feels premium without leaping to the highest-cost t-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 turnaround and art changes continuously, direct-to-garment or DTF may be better operationally, though both have their own ecological and feel trade-offs. When you handle wholesale t t-shirts with numerous colorways and must keep stock versatile, a versatile water based palette on light garments is effective, since you prevent the weight and tightness that accumulate with several underbases in plastisol.

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

Design preparation starts with the material color and ends with treating. On light t-shirts, lean into detail: thin lines, halftones, hand-drawn textures. Standard water based ink prints those with a special that plastisol tends to subdue. On dark cotton, discharge shines with mid-tone richness and soft edges. Think about how the shirt color glimpses 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 fill in with discharge, especially on high-absorbency cotton. If you need razor negative space, separate the art to print unfavorable shapes as positive strokes with a clear schedule for squeegee pressure and flashes. Ask your printer for a proof on the actual garment instead of trusting a digital mockup. A mockup can not capture fiber interplay and dye lift.

When you should say no to discharge

There are times I encourage versus discharge. Polyester-rich garments are leading of the list. The activator can cause color migration, specifically with sublimated or cationic-dyed performance t-shirts, causing ghosting or brownish casts. Some garment dyes, especially 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 curing, discharge days in the shop are noticeable. Well-managed airflow reduces this, but it belongs to the process.

If a customer needs metallics, puff, or specialized textures, plastisol or hybrid systems still own that area. Water based metallics exist, however the particles typically sink, and the effect is more satin than true metal. For high-opacity neons on dark t-shirts that must be billboard-bright, you might 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, set up a workflow that removes uncertainty. A simple technique keeps surprises at bay and helps you hit deadlines for launches and events.

  • Decide on material initially, then ink: select one hundred percent ringspun cotton for discharge, or light, premium cotton for basic water based. Avoid high poly unless the heathered result is desired.
  • Request test prints on the specific blanks: one shirt per colorway is normally enough to lock approvals, specifically for bulk t t-shirt orders where consistency matters.
  • Clarify color expectations in context: supply Pantone targets for light garments and explain appropriate 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 resilience matches the tag guidance.
  • Confirm environmental requirements: ask your printer about ink accreditations, ventilation, and waste capture, particularly if your brand messaging leans into eco friendly inks.

How water based fits with print on demand

Print as needed has its own restrictions: quick art changes, little batch sizes, and the need for a broad color gamut. Direct-to-garment has actually become the default, however water based screen printing can fit POD if you arrange catalog method. For styles that are high volume even at small day-to-day quantities, pre-burning screens and keeping a little stock of popular sizes lets you deliver exact same day with water based prints that feel better than lots of DTG outputs. It works best when you keep art to one or two 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 convenience and breathability are the selling points. Clients who appreciate touch will notice.

Pricing, margins, and interacting value

When customers ask why a water based or discharge print costs more than a standard plastisol job, I explain what they are purchasing. They get the soft hand that retail customers equate with quality, enhanced breathability, and compliance for delicate purchasers. On a per-shirt basis, the difference for a standard three-color front hit may be modest, frequently a small uplift that can be reduced the effects of by selecting a somewhat more affordable blank. If the program is for wholesale t t-shirts entering into stores or e-commerce at superior price points, the enhancement 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 includes a ringspun blank with water based ink. You will see a clear split: some clients optimize for cost, others for feel. Meeting both lets you serve a broader market without diluting your craft.

Care directions that customers in fact follow

Care labels often check out like legal disclaimers. Keep it simple and sensible so the t-shirt endures reality. Water based and discharge prints choose cooler washes and lower clothes dryer heat, however they will endure normal laundering if correctly treated. I suggest phrasing care ideas in human terms on item pages: wash cold with similar colors, topple dry low, avoid material softeners if you want colors to remain crisp. The last note matters since some softeners can transfer movies on fibers, dulling the visual contrast of great lines.

I have actually checked these instructions in-house: 2 identical shirts, one cleaned 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 originates from right remedy, 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 assembled garments with water based inks can be unforgiving. Rather of combating seams, 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 stitch. Brand names that sell minimal runs can justify cut-and-sew for 100 to 300 pieces if the style necessitates it. The finished garments read as custom from a distance, which is the goal.

A brief anecdote from a busy season

One spring we ran a series for a local music celebration. The customer wanted soft black tees with a sunburst print that seemed like it lived in the material. We tested on three blacks from 2 mills. Batch one lifted easily with discharge, batch 2 remained stubbornly dark in the mid-rays of the art work. We logged dye lot numbers, rotated 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 systems, each with a soft, breathable print that sold out by day two.

That job taught the crew to treat discharge like cooking, not chemistry on a chalkboard. 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 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 hit the required temperature for the ideal duration. Utilize a donut probe or an ingrained thermochromic strip to measure real ink film temperature, not simply clothes dryer setpoints. Screen lockup is the second. Keep a constant rate on press, flood between prints, and control store humidity.

A 3rd pitfall is overlooking fabric irregularity. If you switch blanks mid-run due to the fact that a size is out of stock, you may see shifts in color. Develop contingency into your acquiring. For brand names preparing ahead, choosing a basic blank and locking it with your provider decreases surprises.

Final guidance for selecting your path

If your top priority is soft, breathable custom-made clothing that customers keep using, water based inks deserve the learning curve. Use standard water based on light garments for clean information and matte color. Transfer to release on one hundred percent cotton when you desire the softest prints on dark t-shirts. Accept and prepare for small color difference with discharge, particularly throughout color lots. For bulk t t-shirt orders, build in a single round of physical sampling on the real blanks you will utilize, then record your settings and keep back a referral shirt for quality control.

If you towel and robe embroidery operate a print on demand catalog, carve out a water based capsule 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 direct to garment printing t-shirts are judged in the hands, not just on screens. When a consumer rubs their thumb across a print and feels nothing however fiber, you've won. That's the moment water based and discharge deliver, and why they are worthy of a place in any serious shop 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.