October 18, 2025

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

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


Prints R Us

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

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

What does Prints R Us do?

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

Where is Prints R Us located?

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

What services does Prints R Us provide?

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

Which industries does Prints R Us serve?

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

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

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

Does Prints R Us use high-quality materials?

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

What awards has Prints R Us won?

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

How can I contact Prints R Us?

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

Walk into any print shop no minimum order shirts that takes its craft seriously, and you will see 2 things in continuous tension: the push for softer, more breathable prints that people actually delight in wearing, and the requirement to produce at scale without jeopardizing the environment or the bottom line. That tension has shaped how I pick inks, pretreatments, and materials for customized apparel projects. Over the years, I've learned that water based inks and discharge printing are not just buzzwords, they are practical tools that produce stunning outcomes and genuine comfort, specifically for T t-shirt printing that requires to stand up to daily wear.

If you run a brand, handle bulk t t-shirt orders, or just desire your tailored shirts to feel like a preferred from the first wash, it's worth comprehending how these ink systems work, where they shine, and where they need care. The best option can make the distinction between a shirt that gets used when 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 material and treatments into a film, water based inks take in into the fibers. That single characteristic describes the majority of the advantages 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 incorporated. On light garments, the hand is frequently equivalent from cheap custom t shirts the t-shirt itself. For custom t shirts created for convenience, this is the course to the "retail feel" clients ask for.

There are 2 main households: basic water based and discharge. Basic water based ink works best on white or really light t-shirts. It can cover mid-tones with the best base, once you move into darker materials, you either need a much heavier print or you switch to release. Discharge printing uses an activator that lifts the dye from the material throughout treating, basically whitening the t-shirt's color in the printed locations, then changes 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 actually limits

Eco friendly inks are not a marketing motto if you unpack the chemistry and the workflow. Water based inks generally consist of less volatile natural compounds than solvent-heavy options and prevent PVC entirely. Lots of are certified with strict requirements like Oeko-Tex or meet retail testing regimes that prohibit specific phthalates and heavy metals. If you sell customized apparel into corporate wellness programs, schools, or health-conscious brands, 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: filtering on your washout booth, reclaim chemistry, energy use on your clothes dryer, and even material sourcing. Discharge needs an activator, usually based on zinc formaldehyde sulfoxylate or similar substances, which has its own handling and ventilation needs. In a well-run store, exposure is managed and waste is caught. If you're using print on demand with a partner, ask how they manage discharge effluent and whether they have air exchange and treating controls dialed in. Genuine sustainability hides in the details.

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

Most individuals do not buy a graphic tee because they enjoy the ink. They buy it due to the fact that the garment looks good, feels good, and keeps that character after repeated washing. Water based DTG print resolution inks, including discharge, give you that broken-in convenience 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 obtain from heavy plastisol when you extend across the chest.

I keep a rack of comparison t-shirts in the studio. One from a browse brand, one from a brewery, both printed with discharge on midweight cotton. After 30 to 40 home washes, the prints softened even more, 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 severe light, which some streetwear customers choose, but the wearer feedback corresponds: water based seems like a premium garment.

Color, protection, and how expectations shape results

Color accuracy with water based inks is a matter of control, humidity, and the material's own dye. On white or heather light t-shirts, standard water based ink can strike tight Pantones with a measured ink mix and a tidy mesh. On darker cotton, discharge adds variables. Different dye lots discharge in a different way, even within the very same brand 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 add guides the last color, but you're still working with a background that is shifting as the color is removed.

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

Fabric matters more than most people think

A water based print is a partnership in between ink and fiber. Ringspun cotton takes ink beautifully. 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 only lifts the cotton part. That means your color fills 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 goal is flat, vivid 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 completed tees introduces joints, folds, and inconsistent pressure that appear as blank micro-gaps. If you need to print on ended up garments, expect little spaces along joints, which some customers 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 material however can lock a mesh if you pause too long. Running a higher mesh for information, say 230 to 305, keeps the deposit thin and crisp. Establish with a misting bottle or a devoted screen rewetting solution at hand, and keep the print space humidity in a steady range, approximately 45 to 55 percent, to prevent early drying. Manual press operators will notice how quickly a standard water based ink clears the screen compared to a heavy plastisol. Automobile presses, with flood bars and consistent speed, minimize clogging.

Curing is where numerous novices fizzle. Water based inks need both heat and time for the water to vaporize, then for the binders to cross-link. A clothes dryer tunnel with sufficient air flow makes the distinction. You desire even heat across the belt and adequate dwell to reach the producer's remedy temperature level throughout the ink layer, not just at the surface. Shirts exiting the tunnel should be dry to the touch with no cool spots. For discharge, the chain reaction takes place throughout this remedy, and you will smell the activator. Good ventilation is non-negotiable.

Durability and wash testing

Durability depends upon correct treatment and fiber engagement. A well-cured water based print on cotton can outlive the shirt. I measure resilience by standardized wash tests, 10 to 20 cycles at warm, tumble dry medium, then visual evaluation for fading and breaking. Water based prints reveal progressive softening and a gentle fade in the very same way denim relaxes. Plastisol's failure mode is various, typically breaking if the ink layer is too thick or under-cured. For individualized shirts that require to look good at a household reunion and still remain in rotation next summer season, water based holds up when produced correctly.

Cost, throughput, and when to select which method

Costs vary regionally, however the economics fall into familiar patterns. Water based ink itself is often similar to plastisol at the gallon level, but you invest more in store environment and drying capacity. On press, water based can be a little slower at setup due to the fact that you pay closer attention to mesh, squeegee durometer, and off-contact. Once tuned, cars perform at comparable speeds. Where it actually settles is in viewed worth. A soft print on a mid-tier blank frequently feels premium without jumping to the highest-cost t-shirt. Brands can price accordingly.

For bulk t shirt orders above a couple of hundred pieces where the art fits the medium, discharge on 100 percent cotton is a workhorse. For print as needed that needs over night turn-around and art modifications constantly, direct-to-garment or DTF may be better operationally, though both have their own environmental and feel trade-offs. When you take on wholesale t t-shirts with multiple colorways and must keep inventory flexible, a versatile water based combination on light garments is efficient, given that you prevent the weight and stiffness that build up with numerous underbases in plastisol.

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

Design planning 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 t-shirt color glances 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 out with discharge, especially on high-absorbency cotton. If you require razor unfavorable area, separate the art to print negative shapes as positive 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 record fiber interplay and dye lift.

When you should state no to discharge

There are times I advise versus discharge. Polyester-rich garments are top of the list. The activator can cause color migration, especially with sublimated or cationic-dyed efficiency 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 sensitive to small smell during treating, discharge days in the shop are obvious. Well-managed air flow reduces this, however it is part of the process.

If a client requires metallics, puff, or specialty textures, plastisol or hybrid systems still own that space. Water based metallics exist, but the particles typically sink, and the result is more satin than true metal. For high-opacity neons on dark t-shirts that must be billboard-bright, you may need 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 count on a partner, set up a workflow that eliminates guesswork. A simple technique keeps surprises at bay and helps you hit due dates for launches and events.

  • Decide on fabric first, then ink: select 100 percent ringspun cotton for discharge, or light, high-quality cotton for basic water based. Avoid high poly unless the heathered impact is desired.
  • Request test prints on the precise blanks: one shirt per colorway is generally adequate to lock approvals, especially for bulk t shirt orders where consistency matters.
  • Clarify color expectations in context: provide 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: suggest cold wash and low heat dry for consumers, then confirm your cure times so clean durability matches the tag guidance.
  • Confirm ecological requirements: 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 as needed has its own constraints: quick art modifications, little batch sizes, and the need for a broad color range. Direct-to-garment has become the default, however water based screen printing can fit POD if you organize brochure strategy. For styles that are high volume even at small everyday amounts, pre-burning screens and keeping a small stock of popular sizes lets you ship exact same day with water based prints that feel better than lots of DTG outputs. It works best when you keep art to a couple of colors and choose light garments.

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

Pricing, margins, and communicating value

When customers ask why a water based or discharge print costs more than a fundamental plastisol task, I discuss what they are purchasing. They get the soft hand that retail consumers equate with quality, enhanced breathability, and compliance for delicate buyers. On a per-shirt basis, the distinction for a standard three-color front hit may be modest, typically a small uplift that can be reduced the effects of by choosing a slightly more affordable blank. If the program is for wholesale t t-shirts entering into stores or e-commerce at premium rate points, the enhancement in perceived value more than covers the change.

For personalized t-shirts, such as charity runs or college clubs, alternatives matter. Offer a base price 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 optimize for expense, others for feel. Meeting both lets you serve a broader market without diluting your craft.

Care directions that customers in fact follow

Care labels frequently read like legal disclaimers. Keep it easy and realistic so the shirt makes it through real life. Water based and discharge prints choose cooler washes and lower clothes dryer heat, however they will endure normal laundering if effectively treated. I recommend phrasing care tips in human terms on product pages: wash cold with comparable colors, topple dry low, prevent fabric conditioners if you want colors to stay crisp. The last note matters because some softeners can deposit movies on fibers, dulling the visual contrast of great lines.

I've checked these instructions in-house: 2 identical t-shirts, one cleaned cold and dried low, the other washed warm and dried high. After 15 cycles, the warm/high tee revealed slightly much faster fading of mid-tones, yet still looked excellent. That tolerance originates from appropriate treatment, not from babying the garment.

All over print concepts 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 combating seams, style 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. Additionally, run panel printing and sew. Brand names that sell limited runs can validate cut-and-sew for 100 to 300 pieces if the style necessitates it. The finished garments check out as customized 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 wanted soft black tees with a sunburst print that felt like it lived in the fabric. We sampled on three blacks from 2 mills. Batch one cotton t shirts lifted cleanly with discharge, batch two 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 changed dwell time by 10 to 15 seconds to finish the reaction. The result: consistent tees throughout 2,400 units, each with a soft, breathable print logo embroidery that offered out by day two.

That job taught the crew to treat 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 problems I see trace back to process, not the ink household. Under-curing is the very first culprit. Water based ink that feels dry can still be under-cured if the core of the print never hit the required temp for the best duration. Use a donut probe or an ingrained thermochromic strip to measure real ink movie temperature, not simply clothes dryer setpoints. Screen lockup is the 2nd. Keep a constant pace on press, flood between prints, and control store humidity.

A 3rd risk is neglecting material irregularity. If you switch blanks mid-run since a size runs out stock, you might see shifts in color. Construct contingency into your purchasing. For brand names preparing ahead, choosing a basic blank and locking it with your provider minimizes surprises.

Final guidance for choosing your path

If your priority is soft, breathable custom apparel that customers keep wearing, water based inks are worth the learning curve. Use basic water based on light garments for clean information and matte color. Move to release on 100 percent cotton when you want the softest prints on dark shirts. Accept and prepare for small color variation with discharge, particularly across dye lots. For bulk t shirt orders, integrate in a single round of physical sampling on the real blanks you will utilize, then record your settings and keep back a recommendation t-shirt for quality control.

If you run a print on demand catalog, carve out a water based pill of best 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 however fiber, you have actually won. That's the moment water based and discharge provide, and why they should have a location in any serious store or brand name's toolkit.

Business Name: Prints R Us
Address: 2826 Art Museum Dr, Jacksonville, FL 32207, United States
Phone: (904)-752-1515

I am a dynamic innovator with a broad knowledge base in entrepreneurship. My conviction in entrepreneurship spurs my desire to innovate disruptive organizations. In my business career, I have cultivated a profile as being a daring thinker. Aside from creating my own businesses, I also enjoy counseling young startup founders. I believe in empowering the next generation of startup founders to pursue their own aspirations. I am easily seeking out disruptive opportunities and working together with similarly-driven creators. Redefining what's possible is my purpose. Aside from engaged in my enterprise, I enjoy immersing myself in dynamic environments. I am also focused on health and wellness.