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 two things in consistent stress: the push for softer, more breathable prints that people in fact take pleasure in using, and the need to produce at scale without jeopardizing the environment or the bottom line. That stress has actually shaped how I pick inks, pretreatments, and materials for custom-made apparel tasks. Over the years, I've found out that water based inks and discharge printing are not simply buzzwords, they are practical tools that produce beautiful outcomes and genuine convenience, especially for T shirt printing that needs to stand up to day-to-day wear.

If you run a brand, manage bulk t shirt orders, or simply want your individualized shirts to feel like a favorite from the first wash, it deserves understanding how these ink systems work, where they shine, and where they require care. The ideal option can make the distinction in between a t-shirt that gets worn once and one that ends up being the go-to.

What water based ink in fact is

Water based inks suspend pigments in water rather than 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 describes most of the advantages and compromises. Prints feel soft because 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 identical from the shirt itself. For custom-made t t-shirts designed for comfort, this is the course to the "retail feel" clients ask for.

There are 2 main households: basic water based and discharge. Standard water based ink works best on white or very light shirts. It can cover mid-tones with the ideal base, but once you move into darker fabrics, you either require a heavier print or you switch to discharge. Discharge printing utilizes an activator that lifts the dye from the fabric throughout treating, essentially bleaching the t-shirt's color in the printed areas, then replaces it with your pigment. Completion result is the softest possible print on dark cotton, typically with outstanding detail.

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

Eco friendly inks are not a marketing slogan if you unload the chemistry and the workflow. Water based inks typically include fewer unpredictable natural compounds than solvent-heavy options and prevent PVC completely. Many are compliant with stringent standards like Oeko-Tex or satisfy retail testing routines that prohibit particular phthalates and heavy metals. If you offer custom-made apparel into business health cares, schools, or health-conscious brand names, those certificates smooth procurement and keep you ahead of compliance.

That said, "eco friendly" is a system principle. Ink is one part. You likewise need to look at shop practices: filtration on your washout booth, recover chemistry, energy usage on your clothes dryer, and even material sourcing. Discharge needs an activator, generally based on zinc formaldehyde sulfoxylate or comparable compounds, which has its own handling and ventilation requirements. In a well-run shop, direct exposure is controlled and waste is captured. If you're using print as needed with a partner, ask how they manage discharge effluent and whether they have air exchange and curing controls called in. Real sustainability conceals in the details.

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

Most people do not buy a graphic tee because they love the ink. They buy it due to the fact that the garment looks excellent, feels good, and keeps that character after repeated cleaning. Water based inks, consisting of discharge, provide you that broken-in comfort 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 receive from heavy plastisol when you extend throughout 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 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 harsh light, which some streetwear clients choose, however the wearer feedback corresponds: water based seems like a premium garment.

Color, protection, and how expectations form results

Color accuracy with water based inks refers control, humidity, and the material's own color. On white or heather light t-shirts, basic water based ink can hit tight Pantones with a measured ink mix and a tidy mesh. custom t shirt printing On darker cotton, discharge includes 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, Gildan blanks while the next batch clears to a cooler grey. The pigment you add guides the final color, but you're still working with a background that is moving as the color is removed.

That's not a defect, it belongs to the medium. Lots of designers welcome the a little classic character of discharge, where reds land earthy and blues feel deep instead of neon. If your brand CMYK screen printing name needs laser-precise color reproduction for business logo designs, 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 t-shirts that will be distributed nationally, put example approvals into your process so there are no surprises at scale.

Fabric matters more than many people think

A water based print is a partnership 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 work with water based, however discharge only lifts the cotton portion. That indicates your color fills the cotton while the polyester and rayon remain as-is, often yielding a heathered or speckled print that looks deliberate if you design for it. If your objective is flat, brilliant color on a poly blend, traditional plastisol or a specialized low-cure system might be smarter.

On all over print tasks, 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 finished tees presents joints, folds, and irregular pressure that show up as blank micro-gaps. If you need to print on completed garments, expect small voids along joints, which some customers like as part of the garment's character.

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

Water based inks act differently on press. They dry much faster in the screen, which is useful on fabric but can lock a mesh if you pause 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 option at hand, and keep the print room humidity in a consistent variety, roughly 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. Auto presses, with flood bars and constant rate, minimize clogging.

Curing is where lots of newbies fizzle. Water based inks require 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 difference. You desire even heat throughout the belt and adequate dwell to reach the producer's treatment temperature level throughout the ink layer, not just at the surface. T-shirts leaving the tunnel should be dry to the touch without any cool spots. For discharge, the chain reaction occurs during this remedy, and you will smell the activator. Great ventilation is non-negotiable.

Durability and wash testing

Durability depends upon correct 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, tumble dry medium, then visual assessment for fading and breaking. Water based prints reveal progressive softening and a mild fade in the exact same way jeans relaxes. Plastisol's failure mode is different, generally cracking if the ink layer is too thick or under-cured. For personalized t-shirts that need to look good at a family reunion and still be in rotation next summer, water based holds up when produced correctly.

Cost, throughput, and when to select which method

Costs vary regionally, however the economics fall into familiar patterns. Water based ink itself is often equivalent to plastisol at the gallon level, but you invest more in store environment and drying capacity. On press, water based can be somewhat slower at setup because you pay closer attention to fit together, squeegee durometer, and off-contact. Once tuned, autos run at similar speeds. Where it actually settles remains in viewed worth. A soft print on a mid-tier blank frequently feels premium without leaping to the highest-cost shirt. Brand names can price accordingly.

For bulk t shirt orders above a few hundred pieces where the art matches the medium, discharge on 100 percent cotton is a workhorse. For print on demand that requires overnight turnaround and art modifications constantly, direct-to-garment or DTF might be better operationally, though both have their own ecological and feel trade-offs. When you handle wholesale t shirts with several colorways and must keep inventory versatile, a versatile water based scheme on light garments is efficient, given that you avoid the weight and tightness that accumulate with numerous underbases in plastisol.

Design options that highlight the very best in water based and discharge

Design preparation starts with the material color and ends with treating. On light t-shirts, lean into information: thin lines, halftones, hand-drawn textures. Basic water based ink prints those with a special that plastisol tends to overpower. On dark cotton, discharge shines with mid-tone richness and soft edges. Consider how the shirt color peeks 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, specifically on high-absorbency cotton. If you require razor negative space, different the art to print negative shapes as favorable strokes with a clear schedule for squeegee pressure and flashes. Ask your printer for an evidence on the actual garment rather than trusting a digital mockup. A mockup can not record fiber interplay and color lift.

When you must state no to discharge

There are times I recommend versus discharge. Polyester-rich garments are leading of the list. The activator can trigger color migration, specifically with sublimated or cationic-dyed performance shirts, resulting in 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 customer is sensitive to small smell during curing, discharge days in the shop are visible. Well-managed no minimum order air flow reduces this, but it becomes part of the process.

If a client requires metallics, puff, or specialized textures, plastisol or hybrid systems still own that area. Water based metallics exist, however the particles frequently sink, and the effect is more satin than true metal. For high-opacity neons on dark t-shirts that need to be billboard-bright, you might require a water based underbase tuned for opacity or a switch to plastisol.

Practical workflow for brands and creators

Whether you run your own presses or rely on a partner, established a workflow that removes guesswork. A simple method keeps surprises at bay and assists you struck due dates for launches and events.

  • Decide on material first, then ink: pick 100 percent ringspun cotton for discharge, or light, top quality cotton for basic water based. Avoid high poly unless the heathered result is desired.
  • Request test prints on the precise blanks: one t-shirt per colorway is generally adequate to lock approvals, specifically for bulk t t-shirt orders where consistency matters.
  • Clarify color expectations in context: offer Pantone targets for light garments and explain acceptable varieties for dark discharge prints, with photos of previous work you like.
  • Align on care labels and handling: advise cold wash and low heat dry for customers, then validate your treatment times so wash durability matches the tag guidance.
  • Confirm ecological standards: ask your printer about ink certifications, ventilation, and waste capture, particularly if your brand messaging leans into eco friendly inks.

How water based fits with print on demand

Print on demand has its own restrictions: fast art changes, little batch sizes, and the requirement 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 brochure technique. For styles that are high volume even at little daily amounts, pre-burning screens and keeping a small stock of popular sizes lets you deliver exact same day with water based prints that feel much better than numerous DTG outputs. It works finest when you keep art to one or two colors and select 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. Use it where cotton comfort and breathability are the selling points. Consumers who care about touch will notice.

Pricing, margins, and interacting value

When customers ask why a water based or discharge print costs more than a standard plastisol task, I discuss what they are buying. They get the soft hand that retail clients equate with quality, improved breathability, and compliance for sensitive purchasers. On a per-shirt basis, the difference for a standard three-color front hit might be modest, often a little uplift that can be reduced the effects of by selecting a slightly more affordable blank. If the program is for wholesale t shirts entering into stores or e-commerce at premium rate points, the improvement in perceived value more than covers the change.

For personalized t-shirts, such as charity runs or college clubs, choices matter. same-day embroidery 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. Satisfying both lets you serve a wider market without diluting your craft.

Care directions that consumers in fact follow

Care labels typically read like legal disclaimers. Keep it simple and sensible so the shirt survives real life. Water based and discharge prints choose cooler washes and lower clothes dryer heat, but they will withstand typical laundering if effectively cured. I recommend phrasing care pointers in human terms on product pages: wash cold with comparable colors, tumble dry low, avoid fabric softeners if you want colors to stay crisp. The last note matters because some conditioners can transfer films on fibers, dulling the visual contrast of great lines.

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

All over print ideas that do not fight the limitations

All over print catches attention, however printing flood coats on put together garments with water based inks can be unforgiving. Rather of fighting seams, style for them. Use tone-on-tone patterns that fade naturally at joints, or use a ghosted grid that looks deliberate when it breaks at hems. Alternatively, run panel printing and stitch. Brands that sell minimal runs can validate cut-and-sew for 100 to 300 pieces if the design requires it. The finished garments check out as custom-made from a range, which is the goal.

A brief anecdote from a hectic season

One spring we ran a series for a regional music celebration. The customer wanted soft black tees with a sunburst print that seemed like it resided in the fabric. We tested on 3 blacks from two mills. Batch one lifted easily with discharge, batch two stayed 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 adjusted dwell time by 10 to 15 seconds to complete the response. The result: constant tees across 2,400 systems, each with a soft, breathable print that offered out by day two.

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

Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

Most issues I see trace back to procedure, not the ink household. Under-curing is the first offender. Water based ink that feels dry can still be under-cured if the core of the print never struck the needed temp for the best period. Use a donut probe or an embedded thermochromic strip to measure real ink movie temperature level, not just dryer setpoints. Screen lockup is the second. Keep a constant rate on press, flood in between prints, and control shop humidity.

A 3rd risk is overlooking fabric variability. If you switch blanks mid-run because a size runs out stock, you might see shifts in color. Build contingency into your buying. For brands preparing ahead, selecting a standard blank and locking it with your provider decreases surprises.

Final guidance for picking your path

If your top priority is soft, breathable custom clothing that consumers keep wearing, water based inks are worth the learning curve. Use basic water based on light garments for tidy detail and matte color. Move to discharge on one hundred percent cotton when you desire the softest prints on dark t-shirts. Accept and prepare for slight color variance with discharge, specifically throughout dye lots. For bulk t t-shirt orders, integrate 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 run a print as needed catalog, take a water based pill of finest sellers on light t-shirts. Market the difference: 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 shirts are evaluated in the hands, not just on screens. When a customer rubs their thumb throughout a print and feels absolutely nothing but fiber, you have actually won. That's the moment water based and discharge provide, and why they deserve a location 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.