October 18, 2025

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

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


Prints R Us

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

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

People Also Ask about Prints R Us

What does Prints R Us do?

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

Where is Prints R Us located?

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

What services does Prints R Us provide?

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

Which industries does Prints R Us serve?

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

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

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

Does Prints R Us use high-quality materials?

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

What awards has Prints R Us won?

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

How can I contact Prints R Us?

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

Walk into any print shop that takes its craft seriously, and you will see 2 things in consistent stress: the push for softer, more breathable prints that people really delight in wearing, and the need to produce at scale without jeopardizing the environment or the bottom line. That tension has shaped how I select inks, pretreatments, and materials for custom-made clothing projects. Throughout the years, I have actually found out that water based inks and discharge printing are not simply buzzwords, they are useful tools that produce lovely results and real comfort, especially for T shirt printing that needs to withstand everyday wear.

If you run a brand, manage bulk t shirt orders, or just desire your individualized shirts to seem 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 choice can make the distinction in between a t-shirt that gets used as soon as and one that ends up being the go-to.

What water based ink actually is

Water based inks suspend pigments in water instead of in plasticizers and solvents. Unlike plastisol, which sits on top of the material and remedies into a film, water based inks absorb into the fibers. That single characteristic explains the majority 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 typically identical from the shirt itself. For custom t shirts created for convenience, this is the course to the "retail feel" customers ask for.

There are two main families: standard water based and discharge. Basic water based ink works best on white or very 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 discharge. Discharge printing uses an activator that lifts the color from the material during curing, basically whitening the shirt's dye in the printed locations, then replaces it with your pigment. Completion result is the softest possible print on dark cotton, frequently with impressive detail.

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

Eco friendly custom hoodies and tees inks are not a marketing slogan if you unpack the chemistry and the workflow. Water based inks generally consist of fewer unstable natural compounds than solvent-heavy alternatives and avoid PVC entirely. Lots of are compliant with stringent standards like Oeko-Tex or satisfy retail testing programs that ban specific phthalates and heavy metals. If you offer custom-made clothing into corporate wellness programs, schools, or health-conscious brands, those certificates smooth procurement and keep you ahead of compliance.

That said, "eco friendly" is a system principle. Ink is one part. You likewise require to take a look at shop practices: filtering on your washout cubicle, reclaim chemistry, energy usage on your dryer, and even material sourcing. Discharge requires an activator, generally based on zinc formaldehyde sulfoxylate or comparable substances, which has its own handling and ventilation needs. In a well-run shop, direct exposure is managed and waste is recorded. If you're using print on demand with a partner, ask how they handle discharge effluent and whether they have air exchange and curing controls called in. Genuine sustainability conceals in the details.

Hand feel, breathability, and the "preferred 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 great, feels good, and keeps that character after duplicated washing. Water based inks, consisting of discharge, give 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 flexible. You will not hear the crackle you in some cases receive from heavy plastisol when you stretch throughout the chest.

I keep a rack of comparison 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 slightly, and the shirts kept moving. A plastisol sample with the same art looks glossier and still pops more under harsh light, which some streetwear customers choose, but the eco-friendly garment printing wearer feedback is consistent: water based seems like a premium garment.

Color, coverage, and how expectations shape results

Color precision with water based inks refers control, humidity, and the material's own dye. On white or heather light t-shirts, standard water based ink can hit tight Pantones with a determined ink mix and a tidy mesh. On darker cotton, discharge includes variables. Different dye lots discharge differently, even within the same brand and color. Black 3001 blanks from one batch may lift to a warm charcoal, while the next batch clears to a cooler grey. The pigment you add guides the last color, however you're still dealing with a background that is shifting as the dye is removed.

That's not a defect, it becomes part of the medium. Many designers embrace the a little vintage character of discharge, where reds land earthy and blues feel deep rather than neon. If your brand needs laser-precise color recreation for business logo designs, either order test prints on the specific batch you prepare to use or consider a water based underbase or hybrid method where needed. For wholesale t t-shirts that will be dispersed nationally, put swatch approvals into your procedure so there are not a surprises at scale.

Fabric matters more than most people think

A water based print is a partnership between ink and fiber. Ringspun cotton takes ink wonderfully. Carded open end cotton is scratchier and beverages ink unevenly. Blends complicate things. A 50/50 poly-cotton or a triblend with rayon can deal with water based, but discharge only lifts the cotton part. That suggests 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 mix, conventional plastisol or a specialized low-cure system may be smarter.

On all over print tasks, such as a seam-to-seam tonal pattern behind a chest graphic, consider cut-and-sew with water based prints on panels before assembly. Garment printing all over on finished tees presents seams, folds, and inconsistent pressure that show up as blank micro-gaps. If you should print on ended up garments, anticipate little 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 in a different way on press. They dry much faster in the screen, which works on material but can lock a mesh if you pause too long. Running a higher mesh for detail, say 230 to 305, keeps the deposit thin and crisp. Set up with a misting bottle or a devoted screen rewetting solution at hand, and keep the print space humidity in a consistent 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. Vehicle presses, with flood bars and constant pace, decrease clogging.

Curing is where lots of beginners miss the mark. 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 want even heat across the belt and sufficient dwell to reach the maker's remedy temperature throughout the ink layer, not simply at the surface area. Shirts exiting the tunnel ought to be dry to the touch with no cool areas. For discharge, the chain reaction takes place throughout this remedy, and you will smell the activator. Excellent ventilation is non-negotiable.

Durability and wash testing

Durability depends on correct cure and fiber engagement. A well-cured water based print on cotton can outlive the t-shirt. I determine sturdiness by standardized wash tests, 10 to 20 cycles at warm, tumble dry medium, then visual examination for fading and cracking. Water based prints reveal steady softening and a gentle fade in the same method jeans relaxes. Plastisol's failure mode is different, normally splitting if the ink layer is too thick or under-cured. For personalized 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 vary regionally, however the economics fall into familiar patterns. Water based ink itself is typically equivalent to plastisol at the gallon level, however you invest more in store environment and drying capacity. On press, water based can be somewhat slower at setup since you pay closer attention to mesh, squeegee durometer, and off-contact. As soon as tuned, vehicles run at similar speeds. Where it really pays off is in perceived 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 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 overnight turn-around and art changes continuously, direct-to-garment or DTF may be better operationally, though both have their own ecological and feel trade-offs. When you handle wholesale t t-shirts with multiple colorways and should keep stock versatile, a flexible water based scheme on light garments is effective, considering that you avoid the weight and tightness that accumulate with numerous underbases in plastisol.

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

Design planning begins with the fabric color and ends with curing. On light t-shirts, lean into detail: thin lines, halftones, hand-drawn textures. Basic water based ink prints those with a special that plastisol tends to subdue. On dark cotton, discharge shines with mid-tone richness and soft edges. Consider how the shirt color glances through. A charcoal heather with a discharge cream graphic appear like it grew there.

Type weight matters. Extremely thin knockouts inside heavy flood areas can fill in with discharge, particularly on high-absorbency cotton. If you require razor negative space, different 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 real garment instead of relying on a digital mockup. A mockup can not capture fiber interplay and color lift.

When you should state no to discharge

There are times I encourage against discharge. Polyester-rich garments are leading of the list. The activator can trigger color migration, specifically with sublimated or cationic-dyed performance t-shirts, leading to ghosting or brownish casts. Some garment dyes, specifically reactive black blends, withstand lifting, leaving a shadowed print that looks undercured even when it isn't. If a customer is sensitive to small odor throughout curing, discharge days in the store are noticeable. Well-managed airflow alleviates this, however it belongs to the process.

If a client requires metallics, puff, or specialty textures, plastisol or hybrid systems still own that area. Water based metallics exist, but the particles typically 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 count on a partner, established a workflow that removes uncertainty. A simple approach keeps surprises at bay and assists you struck deadlines for launches and events.

  • Decide on material first, then ink: choose 100 percent ringspun cotton for discharge, or light, top quality cotton for standard water based. Avoid high poly unless the heathered effect is desired.
  • Request test prints on the precise blanks: one t-shirt per colorway is generally sufficient to lock approvals, especially for bulk t 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 prior work you like.
  • Align on care labels and handling: advise cold wash and low heat dry for clients, then validate your treatment times so clean durability matches the tag guidance.
  • Confirm environmental 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 on demand has its own restraints: fast art changes, little batch sizes, and the need for a broad color range. Direct-to-garment has actually ended up being the default, but water based screen printing can fit POD if you arrange catalog strategy. For styles that are high volume even at little day-to-day amounts, pre-burning screens and keeping a little stock of popular sizes lets you deliver very same day with water based prints that feel much better than many DTG outputs. It works finest when you keep art to one or two colors and choose light garments.

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

Pricing, margins, and interacting value

When customers ask why a water based or discharge print costs more than a standard plastisol job, I discuss what they are buying. They get the soft hand that retail clients relate 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 neutralized by selecting a somewhat more economical blank. If the program is for wholesale t t-shirts entering into shops or e-commerce at superior cost points, the enhancement in viewed worth more than covers the change.

For individualized t-shirts, such as charity runs or college clubs, options matter. Offer a base price with plastisol on midweight cotton, then a "convenience upgrade" that consists of a ringspun blank with water based ink. You will see a clear split: some clients enhance for cost, others for feel. Satisfying both lets you serve a broader market without diluting your craft.

Care directions that clients in fact follow

Care labels typically read like legal disclaimers. Keep it easy and reasonable so the shirt makes it through real life. Water based and discharge prints choose cooler washes and lower clothes dryer heat, however they will sustain normal laundering if appropriately cured. I recommend phrasing care suggestions in human terms on item pages: wash cold with comparable colors, tumble dry low, prevent fabric softeners if you desire colors to stay crisp. The last note matters because some softeners can deposit films on fibers, dulling the visual contrast of fine lines.

I have actually checked these instructions in-house: two 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 quicker fading of mid-tones, yet still looked excellent. That tolerance comes from right treatment, not from babying the garment.

All over print concepts that do not combat the limitations

All over print captures attention, but printing flood coats on put together garments with water based inks can be unforgiving. Instead of fighting joints, style for them. Use tone-on-tone patterns that fade naturally at joints, or apply a ghosted grid that looks deliberate when it breaks at hems. Alternatively, run panel printing and sew. Brand names that sell limited runs can validate cut-and-sew for 100 to print on demand 300 pieces if the style necessitates it. The ended up garments read as custom from a range, which is the goal.

A brief anecdote from a hectic season

One spring we ran a series for a local music celebration. The customer desired soft black tees with a sunburst print that seemed like it resided in the material. We tested on 3 blacks from 2 mills. Batch one 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 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 dish matters, but so does tasting and adjusting.

Common risks and how to avoid them

Most problems I see trace back to process, not the ink family. Under-curing is the very first offender. Water based ink that feels dry can still be under-cured if the core of the print never hit the needed temp for the right period. Utilize a donut probe or an ingrained thermochromic strip to determine real ink movie temperature level, not just clothes dryer setpoints. Screen lockup is the 2nd. Keep a consistent rate on press, flood in between prints, and control shop humidity.

A third mistake is ignoring fabric irregularity. If you change blanks mid-run since a size is out of stock, you may see shifts in color. Construct contingency into your buying. For brand names preparing ahead, choosing a standard blank and locking it with your provider lowers surprises.

Final assistance for choosing your path

If your top priority is soft, breathable custom-made garments that customers keep wearing, water based inks are worth the knowing curve. Use basic water based upon light garments for tidy information and matte color. Move to discharge on one hundred percent cotton when you desire the softest prints on dark shirts. Accept and plan for minor color variation with discharge, especially across color lots. For bulk t shirt orders, build in a single round of physical sampling 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 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 shirts are judged in the hands, not simply on screens. When a consumer rubs their thumb throughout a print and feels absolutely nothing however fiber, you've won. That's the minute water based and discharge provide, and why they are worthy of a location in any major 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.