October 18, 2025

Beyond Standard Tees: A Guide to Eco-Friendly Water-Based Inks and Discharge Printing for Custom T‑Shirts

Prints R Us is a custom apparel studio
Prints R Us is based in Jacksonville Florida
Prints R Us is located at 2826 Art Museum Dr Jacksonville FL 32207 United States
Prints R Us is in the country United States
Prints R Us provides premium screen printing
Prints R Us provides DTG printing
Prints R Us provides embroidery services
Prints R Us offers custom t shirts
Prints R Us produces promotional items
Prints R Us creates polos hats and hoodies
Prints R Us emphasizes craftsmanship
Prints R Us emphasizes fast turnaround
Prints R Us uses high quality materials
Prints R Us produces vibrant prints
Prints R Us has phone number 9047521515
Prints R Us has website https://printsrus.com/
Prints R Us has opening hours Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm
Prints R Us has Google Maps listing https://maps.app.goo.gl/hVuq8aVZERVs9NMg8
Prints R Us has Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/theprintsrus
Prints R Us has Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/theprintsrus
Prints R Us has logo https://printsrus.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Print-R-Us-Logo.png
Prints R Us specializes in t shirt printing
Prints R Us specializes in custom t shirts
Prints R Us specializes in embroidery near me
Prints R Us was awarded Best Custom Printing Studio Jacksonville 2024
Prints R Us won Jacksonville Small Business Excellence Award 2023
Prints R Us was recognized for Outstanding Apparel Design Innovation 2022


Prints R Us

Prints R Us is a Jacksonville, FL–based custom apparel studio offering premium screen printing, DTG printing, and embroidery services. Whether you need one custom tee or a large bulk order for a business, event, or sports team, they bring designs to life with high-quality materials, vibrant prints, and attention to detail. From polos and hats to hoodies and promotional items, Prints R Us combines craftsmanship and fast turnaround to make your ideas wearable.

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2826 Art Museum Dr, Jacksonville, 32207, US
Business Hours:
  • Monday–Friday: 09:00–17:00
  • Saturday: Closed
  • Sunday: Closed
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People Also Ask about Prints R Us

What does Prints R Us do?

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

Where is Prints R Us located?

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

What services does Prints R Us provide?

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

Which industries does Prints R Us serve?

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

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

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

Does Prints R Us use high-quality materials?

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

What awards has Prints R Us won?

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

How can I contact Prints R Us?

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

Walk into any print shop that takes its craft seriously, and you will see 2 things in continuous stress: the push for softer, more breathable prints that people in fact enjoy using, and the need to produce at scale without jeopardizing the environment or the bottom line. That tension has actually formed how I choose inks, pretreatments, and fabrics for custom-made garments jobs. Over the years, I've found out that water based inks and discharge printing are not simply buzzwords, they are useful tools that produce lovely results and real convenience, especially for T t-shirt printing that needs to stand up to day-to-day wear.

If you run a brand name, manage bulk t shirt orders, or just want your customized t-shirts to seem like a favorite from the first wash, it's worth understanding how these ink systems work, where they shine, and where they require care. The ideal option can make the distinction between a shirt that gets used as soon as and one that ends up being the go-to.

What water based ink really is

Water based inks suspend pigments in water rather than in plasticizers and solvents. Unlike plastisol, which sits on top of the fabric and remedies into a film, water based inks soak up into the fibers. That single particular describes most of the benefits and compromises. Prints feel soft since you're touching the cotton, not a layer of cured PVC. Colors tend to look more matte and integrated. On light garments, the hand is typically indistinguishable from the shirt itself. For customized t t-shirts developed for comfort, this is the path to the "retail feel" clients ask for.

There are two primary families: basic water based and discharge. Basic water based ink works best on white or extremely light t-shirts. It can cover mid-tones with the right base, once you move into darker materials, you either require a much heavier print or you switch to release. Discharge printing uses an activator that raises the color from the material during treating, basically whitening the t-shirt's color in the printed areas, then changes it with your pigment. Completion result is the softest possible print on dark cotton, often 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 unpack the chemistry and the workflow. Water based inks usually include fewer unpredictable natural substances than solvent-heavy alternatives and prevent PVC altogether. Numerous are certified with stringent standards like Oeko-Tex or satisfy retail screening programs that ban certain phthalates and heavy metals. If you offer custom-made garments into business eco-friendly t shirts wellness programs, 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 also need to look at store practices: purification on your washout cubicle, reclaim chemistry, energy usage on your dryer, and even fabric sourcing. Discharge needs an activator, usually based on zinc formaldehyde sulfoxylate or comparable compounds, which has its own handling and ventilation needs. In a well-run shop, exposure is controlled and waste is captured. If you're utilizing print on demand with a partner, ask how they manage discharge effluent and whether they have air exchange and treating controls dialed in. Real sustainability hides in the details.

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

Most individuals do not buy a graphic tee because they enjoy the ink. They purchase it since the garment looks great, feels excellent, and keeps that character after repeated washing. Water based inks, including discharge, offer you that broken-in convenience from the first day. 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 get from heavy plastisol when you extend across the chest.

I keep a shelf of comparison t-shirts in the studio. One from a browse brand name, one from a brewery, both printed with discharge on midweight cotton. After 30 to 40 home washes, the prints softened much more, bulk custom t shirts the colors mellowed a little, and the t-shirts kept moving. A plastisol sample with the very same art looks glossier and still pops more under extreme light, which some streetwear clients prefer, but the wearer feedback corresponds: water based feels like a premium garment.

Color, protection, and how expectations form results

Color accuracy with water based inks refers control, humidity, and the fabric's own color. On white or heather light shirts, standard water based ink can hit tight Pantones with a measured ink mix and a clean mesh. On darker cotton, discharge adds variables. Different color lots discharge in a different way, even within the same brand name and color. Black 3001 blanks from one batch may raise to a warm charcoal, while the next batch clears to a cooler grey. The pigment you include steers the final color, but you're still working with a background that is shifting as the dye is removed.

That's not a flaw, it becomes part of the medium. Numerous designers welcome the slightly classic character of discharge, where reds land earthy and blues feel deep instead of neon. If your brand needs laser-precise color recreation for corporate logos, either order test prints on the specific batch you prepare to use or consider a water based underbase or hybrid approach 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 collaboration between ink and fiber. Ringspun cotton takes ink perfectly. 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 style for it. If your objective is flat, vivid color on a poly mix, traditional plastisol or a specialized low-cure system may be smarter.

On all over print projects, such as a seam-to-seam tonal pattern behind a chest graphic, think about cut-and-sew with water based prints on panels before assembly. Garment printing all over on completed tees introduces joints, folds, and inconsistent pressure that appear as blank micro-gaps. If you need to print on finished garments, anticipate little spaces along joints, which some clients like as part of the garment's character.

The production reality: 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 stop briefly too long. Running a higher mesh for information, state 230 to 305, keeps the deposit thin and crisp. Set up with a misting bottle or a dedicated screen rewetting service at hand, and keep the print space humidity in a stable range, roughly 45 to 55 percent, to avoid premature drying. Manual press operators will observe how quickly a standard water based ink clears the screen compared to a heavy plastisol. Auto presses, with flood bars and consistent pace, lower clogging.

Curing is where numerous beginners fizzle. Water based inks require both heat and time for the water to vaporize, then for the binders to cross-link. A dryer tunnel with sufficient airflow makes the difference. You desire even heat throughout the belt and sufficient dwell to reach the producer's cure Custom t-shirts temperature throughout the ink layer, not simply at the surface area. Shirts leaving the tunnel should be dry to the touch with no cool spots. For discharge, the chemical reaction takes place throughout this treatment, and you will smell the activator. Great ventilation is non-negotiable.

Durability and wash testing

Durability depends on correct remedy and fiber engagement. A well-cured water based print on cotton can last longer than the t-shirt. I measure toughness by standardized wash tests, 10 to 20 cycles at warm, topple dry medium, then visual examination for fading and splitting. Water based prints reveal progressive softening and a mild fade in the very same way jeans relaxes. Plastisol's failure mode is different, 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 be in rotation next summertime, water based holds up when produced correctly.

Cost, throughput, and when to select which method

Costs vary regionally, but the economics fall under familiar patterns. Water based ink itself is frequently equivalent to plastisol at the gallon level, but you invest more in shop environment and drying capacity. On press, water based can be slightly slower at setup due to the fact that you pay closer attention to fit together, squeegee durometer, and off-contact. Once tuned, automobiles perform at similar speeds. Where it actually pays off is in perceived worth. A soft print on a mid-tier blank typically feels premium without leaping to the highest-cost t-shirt. Brand names can price accordingly.

For bulk t shirt orders above a few hundred pieces where the art fits the medium, discharge on one hundred percent cotton is a workhorse. For print on demand that needs overnight turnaround 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 multiple colorways and need to keep inventory flexible, a versatile water based palette on light garments is efficient, considering that you prevent the weight and tightness that build up with multiple underbases in plastisol.

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

Design preparation begins with the fabric color and ends with treating. On light shirts, lean into information: 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 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, particularly on high-absorbency cotton. If you require razor unfavorable space, different the art to print negative 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 capture fiber interplay and color lift.

When you should say no to discharge

There are times I recommend against discharge. Polyester-rich garments are leading of the list. The activator can trigger dye migration, specifically with sublimated or cationic-dyed efficiency t-shirts, leading to ghosting or brownish casts. Some garment dyes, especially reactive black blends, resist lifting, leaving a shadowed print that looks undercured even when it isn't. If a client is delicate to small odor throughout curing, discharge days in the store are noticeable. Well-managed airflow mitigates this, but it is part of the process.

If a client requires metallics, puff, or specialized textures, plastisol or hybrid systems still own that space. Water based metallics exist, but the particles frequently sink, and the effect is more satin than true metal. For high-opacity neons on dark shirts that need to 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, established a workflow that removes guesswork. A basic approach keeps surprises at bay and assists you hit deadlines for launches and events.

  • Decide on fabric first, then ink: select 100 percent ringspun cotton for discharge, or light, top quality cotton for standard water based. Prevent high poly unless the heathered effect is desired.
  • Request test prints on the precise blanks: one t-shirt per colorway is generally enough to lock approvals, specifically for bulk t shirt orders where consistency matters.
  • Clarify color expectations in context: provide Pantone targets for light garments and explain appropriate varieties for dark discharge prints, with pictures of previous work you like.
  • Align on care labels and handling: advise cold wash and low heat dry for clients, then confirm your cure times so wash sturdiness matches the tag guidance.
  • Confirm ecological requirements: ask your printer about ink certifications, ventilation, and waste capture, especially if your brand 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 need for a broad color gamut. Direct-to-garment has actually ended up being the default, however water based screen printing can fit POD if you organize catalog method. For styles that are high volume even at small everyday amounts, 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 finest when you keep art to one or two colors and choose light garments.

If your POD design 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 comfort and breathability are the selling points. Consumers 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 job, I explain what they are buying. They get the soft hand that retail customers correspond with quality, enhanced breathability, and compliance for delicate purchasers. On a per-shirt basis, the distinction for a standard three-color front hit may be modest, often a small uplift that can be neutralized by picking a somewhat more economical blank. If the program is for wholesale t shirts going into boutiques or e-commerce at superior price points, the enhancement in viewed value more than covers the change.

For personalized shirts, such as charity runs or college clubs, choices matter. Deal a base price 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 customers enhance for expense, others for feel. Fulfilling both lets you serve a larger market without diluting your craft.

Care guidelines that customers actually follow

Care labels often read like legal disclaimers. Keep it simple and reasonable so the t-shirt makes it through reality. Water based and discharge prints choose cooler washes and lower clothes dryer heat, however they will sustain typical laundering if appropriately cured. I recommend phrasing care tips in human terms on item pages: wash cold with similar colors, topple dry low, avoid material conditioners if you want colors to remain crisp. The last note matters since some softeners can transfer movies on fibers, dulling the visual contrast of fine lines.

I have actually evaluated these instructions in-house: two identical shirts, one washed cold and dried low, the other washed warm and dried high. After 15 cycles, the warm/high tee showed a little quicker fading of mid-tones, yet still looked good. That tolerance comes from appropriate treatment, 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. Rather of fighting joints, design for them. Usage 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 sew. Brands that sell limited runs can justify cut-and-sew for 100 to 300 pieces if the design 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 regional music festival. The customer desired soft black tees with a sunburst print that seemed like it lived in the material. We sampled on three blacks from two mills. Batch one raised easily with discharge, batch 2 remained stubbornly dark in the mid-rays of the art work. We logged color lot numbers, rotated the ink mix by including a touch more white pigment to compensate, and adjusted dwell time by 10 to 15 seconds to complete the response. The outcome: consistent tees across 2,400 units, 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 chalkboard. The dish matters, but so does tasting and adjusting.

Common risks and how to avoid them

Most issues I see trace back to procedure, not the ink family. 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 needed temp for the ideal period. Use a donut probe or an ingrained thermochromic strip to measure true ink film temperature, not just dryer setpoints. Screen lockup is the second. Keep a consistent speed on press, flood between prints, and control shop humidity.

A 3rd mistake is disregarding fabric irregularity. If you switch blanks mid-run because a size is out of stock, you may see shifts in color. Construct contingency into your purchasing. For brand names planning ahead, picking a basic blank and locking it with your provider minimizes surprises.

Final assistance for picking your path

If your concern is soft, breathable custom-made clothing that clients keep wearing, water based inks deserve the learning curve. Use basic water based upon light garments for merchandise printing clean detail and matte color. Relocate to discharge on 100 percent cotton when you desire the softest prints on dark t-shirts. Accept and plan for small color difference with discharge, particularly throughout dye lots. For bulk t shirt orders, build in a single round of physical tasting on the actual blanks you will use, then record your settings and hold back a recommendation shirt for quality control.

If you operate a print as needed brochure, carve out a water based pill of best sellers on light t-shirts. Market the distinction: eco friendly inks, breathable feel, and retail-quality hand. Keep your specialized results and neon stunners in plastisol or hybrid systems where they belong.

Custom t shirts are evaluated in the hands, not simply on screens. When a consumer rubs their thumb across a print and feels nothing but fiber, you have actually won. That's the moment water based and discharge deliver, and why they should have a place in any major shop 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.