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.

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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 2 things in continuous tension: the push for softer, more breathable prints that individuals really enjoy wearing, and the need to produce at scale without jeopardizing the environment or the bottom line. That tension has actually shaped how I select inks, pretreatments, and materials for custom-made apparel projects. Over the years, I have actually found out that water based inks and discharge printing are not just buzzwords, they are practical tools that produce stunning results and real comfort, particularly for T t-shirt printing that needs to stand up to everyday wear.

If you run a brand name, manage bulk t shirt orders, or simply want your customized t-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 ideal option can make the difference in between a shirt that gets used once 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 cures into a film, water based inks take in into the fibers. That single characteristic discusses the majority of the advantages and compromises. 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 t-shirt itself. For custom-made t t-shirts created for comfort, this is the course to the "retail feel" customers ask for.

There are 2 primary households: basic water based and discharge. Basic water based ink works best on white or extremely light 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 change to release. Discharge printing utilizes an activator that raises the dye from the material during curing, essentially whitening the t-shirt's dye in the printed locations, then replaces it with your pigment. Completion outcome is the softest possible print on dark cotton, typically with impressive 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 substances than solvent-heavy options and prevent PVC entirely. Numerous are certified with strict requirements like Oeko-Tex or fulfill retail screening regimes that prohibit specific phthalates and heavy metals. If you offer customized garments 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 also need to look at store practices: purification on your washout booth, recover chemistry, energy usage on your clothes dryer, and even material sourcing. Discharge requires an activator, typically based on zinc formaldehyde sulfoxylate or comparable compounds, which has its own handling and ventilation needs. In a well-run store, exposure is controlled and waste is recorded. If you're utilizing print as needed with a merchandise printing partner, ask how they handle discharge effluent and whether they have air exchange and curing controls called in. Real sustainability hides in the details.

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

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

Color, protection, and how expectations shape results

Color accuracy with water based inks refers control, humidity, and the material'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 includes variables. Various dye lots discharge in a different way, even within the very 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 color, however you're still working with a background that is moving as the color is removed.

That's not a flaw, it belongs to the medium. Lots of designers accept the slightly classic character of discharge, where reds land earthy and blues feel deep rather than neon. If your brand name needs laser-precise color recreation for corporate logo designs, either order test prints on the specific batch you plan to utilize or consider a water based underbase or hybrid method where needed. For wholesale t shirts that will be distributed nationally, put swatch approvals into your procedure so there are no surprises at scale.

Fabric matters more than the majority of people think

A water based print is a partnership between ink and fiber. Ringspun cotton takes ink perfectly. Carded open end cotton is scratchier and beverages ink unevenly. Blends complicate things. A 50/50 poly-cotton or a triblend with rayon can work with water based, however discharge only raises the cotton portion. That suggests 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 style 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 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 presents joints, folds, and inconsistent pressure that appear as blank micro-gaps. If you should print on finished garments, anticipate small voids along seams, 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 quicker in the screen, which is useful on fabric but can lock a mesh if you pause too long. Running a greater mesh for detail, state 230 to 305, keeps the deposit thin and crisp. Establish with a misting bottle or a devoted screen rewetting service at hand, and keep the print space humidity in a consistent variety, approximately 45 to 55 percent, to avoid premature drying. Manual press operators will see how quickly a basic water based ink clears the screen compared to a heavy plastisol. Automobile presses, with flood bars and constant rate, decrease clogging.

Curing is where numerous beginners fizzle. Water based inks need both heat and time for the water to evaporate, then for the binders to cross-link. A clothes dryer tunnel with sufficient air flow makes the distinction. You want even heat across the belt and enough dwell to reach the producer's treatment temperature level throughout the ink layer, not just at the surface. T-shirts exiting the tunnel must be dry to the touch with no cool spots. For discharge, the chemical reaction happens during this cure, and you will smell the activator. Good ventilation is non-negotiable.

Durability and wash testing

Durability depends upon appropriate treatment and fiber engagement. A well-cured water based print on cotton can last longer than the t-shirt. I determine toughness by standardized wash tests, 10 to 20 cycles at warm, tumble dry medium, then visual assessment for fading and breaking. Water based prints show progressive softening and a gentle fade in the same way denim relaxes. Plastisol's failure mode is various, normally breaking if the ink layer is too thick or under-cured. For customized t-shirts that need to look proficient at a household reunion and still remain in rotation next summer, water based holds up when produced correctly.

Cost, throughput, and when to choose which method

Costs differ regionally, but the economics fall into familiar patterns. Water based ink itself is typically similar to plastisol at the gallon level, but you invest more in shop environment and drying capability. On press, water based can be a little slower at setup because you pay closer attention to fit together, squeegee durometer, and off-contact. As soon as tuned, automobiles run at similar speeds. Where it actually pays off is in viewed worth. A soft print on a mid-tier blank often feels premium without leaping to the highest-cost t-shirt. Brands can price accordingly.

For bulk t t-shirt orders above a few hundred pieces where the art matches the medium, discharge on one hundred percent cotton is a workhorse. For print on demand that needs overnight turn-around and art modifications 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 numerous colorways and need to keep inventory flexible, a flexible water based palette on light garments is effective, considering that you prevent the weight and tightness that collect with numerous underbases in plastisol.

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

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

Type weight matters. Extremely thin knockouts inside heavy flood locations can fill out with discharge, specifically on high-absorbency cotton. If you need razor negative area, separate the art to print negative shapes as favorable strokes with a clear schedule for squeegee pressure and flashes. Ask your printer for a proof on the actual garment rather than relying on a digital mockup. A mockup can not catch fiber interplay and dye lift.

When you should state no to discharge

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

If a client 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 result is more satin than true metal. For high-opacity neons on dark shirts that must be billboard-bright, you might need 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 rely on a partner, set up a workflow that removes uncertainty. A basic method keeps surprises at bay and assists you hit due dates for launches and events.

  • Decide on fabric initially, then ink: select one hundred percent ringspun cotton for discharge, or light, premium cotton for standard water based. Prevent high poly unless the heathered result is desired.
  • Request test prints on the precise blanks: one t-shirt per colorway is typically 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 describe appropriate ranges for dark discharge prints, with pictures of prior work you like.
  • Align on care labels and handling: advise cold wash and low heat dry for consumers, then confirm your cure times so clean toughness matches the tag guidance.
  • Confirm environmental requirements: ask your printer about ink certifications, ventilation, and waste capture, especially 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 need for a broad color range. Direct-to-garment has become the default, but water based screen printing can fit POD if you arrange catalog technique. For styles that are high volume even at little 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 better than many DTG outputs. It works best when you keep art to one or two colors and choose light garments.

If your POD model 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. Customers who appreciate touch will notice.

Pricing, margins, and interacting value

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

For individualized shirts, such as charity runs or college clubs, choices 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 customers enhance for cost, others for feel. Fulfilling both lets you serve a wider market without diluting your craft.

Care directions that consumers really follow

Care labels frequently read like legal disclaimers. Keep it basic and sensible so the t-shirt survives real life. Water based and discharge prints choose cooler washes and lower clothes dryer heat, however they will withstand regular laundering if effectively treated. I suggest phrasing care suggestions in human terms on product pages: wash cold with similar colors, tumble dry low, prevent fabric softeners if you desire colors to remain crisp. The last note matters since some softeners can deposit films on fibers, dulling the visual contrast of great lines.

I've tested these instructions in-house: 2 similar t-shirts, one cleaned cold and dried low, the other washed warm and dried high. After 15 cycles, the warm/high tee showed somewhat faster fading of mid-tones, yet still looked great. That tolerance originates from right remedy, not from babying the garment.

All over print ideas that do not fight the limitations

All over print captures attention, but printing flood coats on assembled garments with water based inks can be unforgiving. Rather of battling joints, design for them. Use tone-on-tone patterns that fade naturally at seams, or use a ghosted grid that looks deliberate when it breaks at hems. Alternatively, run panel printing and stitch. Brand names that offer limited runs can justify cut-and-sew for 100 to 300 pieces if the design requires it. The finished garments check out as custom from a distance, which is the goal.

A quick 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 lived in the fabric. We tested on three blacks from 2 mills. Batch one lifted easily with discharge, batch two remained stubbornly dark in the mid-rays of the artwork. We logged dye lot numbers, rotated the ink mix by adding a touch more white pigment to compensate, and changed dwell time by 10 to 15 seconds to complete the reaction. The result: constant tees throughout 2,400 systems, each with a soft, breathable print that sold out by day two.

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

Common mistakes and how to prevent them

Most issues I see trace back to procedure, not the ink family. Under-curing is the first offender. 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. Use a donut probe or an embedded thermochromic strip to measure real ink film temperature, not simply clothes dryer setpoints. Screen lockup is the second. Keep a constant speed on press, flood in between prints, and control store humidity.

A third risk is neglecting fabric variability. If you switch blanks mid-run since a size is out of stock, you might see shifts in color. Develop contingency into your acquiring. For brands planning ahead, choosing a basic blank and locking it with your supplier decreases surprises.

Final assistance for selecting your path

If your priority is soft, breathable custom apparel that customers keep wearing, water based inks are worth the knowing curve. Usage basic water based on light garments for clean detail and matte color. Move to release on 100 percent cotton when you desire the softest prints on dark t-shirts. Accept and prepare for small color difference with discharge, specifically throughout color lots. For bulk t t-shirt orders, build in a single round of physical sampling on the actual blanks you will utilize, then record your settings and hold back a recommendation shirt for quality control.

If you operate a print on demand brochure, take a water based capsule of best sellers on light t-shirts. Market the distinction: 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 simply on screens. When a consumer rubs their thumb throughout a print and feels nothing however fiber, you have actually won. That's the moment 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.