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 printing shop that takes its craft seriously, and you will see 2 things in consistent stress: the push for softer, more breathable prints that individuals in fact enjoy using, and the need to produce at scale without jeopardizing the environment or the bottom line. That stress has actually shaped how I select inks, pretreatments, and materials for custom-made garments projects. Over the years, I've found out that water based inks and discharge printing are not just buzzwords, they are practical tools that produce gorgeous results and real comfort, specifically for T shirt printing that requires to stand up to day-to-day wear.

If you run a brand name, manage bulk t shirt orders, or just desire your customized t-shirts to feel like a favorite from the very first wash, it deserves comprehending how these ink systems work, where they shine, and where they need care. The ideal choice can make the distinction in between a t-shirt that gets worn when and one that becomes the go-to.

What water based ink really is

Water based inks suspend pigments in water instead of in plasticizers and solvents. Unlike plastisol, which sits on top of the fabric and treatments into a film, water based inks take in into the fibers. That single characteristic explains most 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 integrated. On light garments, the hand is frequently indistinguishable from the shirt itself. For custom t shirts developed for convenience, this is the path to the "retail feel" customers ask for.

There are 2 primary households: standard water based and discharge. Standard water based ink works best on white or very light shirts. It can cover mid-tones with the right base, but once you move into darker fabrics, you either need a heavier print or you switch to release. Discharge printing uses an activator that lifts the color from the material during treating, essentially whitening the t-shirt's color in the printed locations, then replaces it with your pigment. The end outcome 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 inks are not a marketing slogan if you unload the chemistry and the workflow. Water based inks generally include less unpredictable organic compounds than solvent-heavy alternatives and prevent PVC completely. Many are compliant with rigorous requirements like Oeko-Tex or fulfill retail testing routines that ban specific phthalates and heavy metals. If you sell custom-made apparel into corporate health cares, schools, or health-conscious brand names, those certificates smooth procurement and keep you ahead of compliance.

That stated, "eco friendly" is a system concept. Ink is one part. You likewise require to look at shop practices: filtration on your washout cubicle, recover chemistry, energy usage on your dryer, and even fabric sourcing. Discharge needs an activator, typically based upon zinc formaldehyde sulfoxylate or comparable substances, which has its own handling and ventilation requirements. In a well-run shop, exposure is controlled and waste is recorded. If you're utilizing print as needed with a partner, ask how they handle discharge effluent and whether they have air exchange and curing 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 love the ink. They purchase it because the garment looks good, feels excellent, and keeps that character after duplicated cleaning. Water based inks, including discharge, provide 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 sometimes receive from heavy plastisol when you stretch across the chest.

I keep a shelf of comparison 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 exact same art looks glossier and still pops more under harsh light, which some streetwear customers prefer, however the user feedback is consistent: 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 material's own dye. On white or heather light shirts, basic water based ink can hit tight Pantones with a measured ink mix and a clean mesh. On darker cotton, discharge adds variables. Various 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 include steers the final color, however you're still dealing with a background that is moving as the dye is removed.

That's not a defect, it belongs to the medium. Many designers welcome the slightly classic character of discharge, where reds land earthy and blues feel deep instead of neon. If your brand name needs laser-precise color reproduction for business logos, either order test prints on the specific batch you plan to utilize or consider a water based underbase or hybrid method where required. For wholesale t t-shirts that will be dispersed nationally, put example approvals into your procedure so there are no surprises at scale.

Fabric matters more than most people think

A water based print is a collaboration in between ink and fiber. Ringspun cotton takes ink wonderfully. Carded open end cotton is scratchier and drinks ink unevenly. Blends make complex things. A 50/50 poly-cotton or a triblend with rayon can deal with water based, but discharge only raises the cotton part. That means your color saturates the cotton while the polyester and rayon stay as-is, frequently yielding a heathered or speckled print that looks intentional if you design for it. If your objective is flat, vibrant color on a poly blend, traditional plastisol or a specialized low-cure system may be smarter.

On all over print jobs, such as a seam-to-seam tonal pattern behind a chest graphic, consider cut-and-sew with water based prints on panels before assembly. Garment printing all over on completed tees presents seams, folds, and irregular pressure that appear as blank micro-gaps. If you must print on ended up garments, anticipate small spaces along seams, 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 works on fabric but can lock a mesh if you pause too long. Running a greater mesh for information, state 230 to 305, keeps the deposit thin and crisp. Establish with a misting bottle or a dedicated screen rewetting service at hand, and keep the print room humidity in a steady variety, approximately 45 to 55 percent, to avoid premature drying. Manual press operators will see how rapidly a basic water based ink clears the screen compared to a heavy plastisol. Automobile presses, with flood bars and constant pace, lower clogging.

Curing is where lots of beginners miss the mark. Water based inks need both heat and time for the water to vaporize, then for the binders to cross-link. A dryer tunnel with enough air flow makes the distinction. You want even heat throughout the belt and adequate dwell to reach the manufacturer's remedy temperature level throughout the ink layer, not simply at the surface. Shirts leaving the tunnel needs to be dry to the touch with no cool areas. For discharge, the chemical reaction takes place during this cure, and you will smell the activator. Great ventilation is non-negotiable.

Durability and wash testing

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

Cost, throughput, and when to pick which method

Costs vary regionally, however the economics fall into familiar patterns. Water based ink itself is typically comparable 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. As soon as tuned, cars perform at comparable speeds. Where it truly settles remains in viewed 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 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 as needed that needs overnight turn-around and art modifications continuously, direct-to-garment or DTF might be better operationally, though both have their own environmental and feel trade-offs. When you take on wholesale t shirts with multiple colorways and must keep inventory versatile, a versatile water based scheme on light garments is effective, given that you prevent the weight and stiffness that collect with numerous underbases in plastisol.

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

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

Type weight matters. Really thin knockouts inside heavy flood areas can complete with discharge, specifically on high-absorbency cotton. If you need razor unfavorable area, separate the art to print unfavorable shapes as positive strokes with a clear schedule for squeegee pressure and flashes. Ask your printer for a proof on the real garment rather than relying on a digital mockup. A mockup can not record fiber interaction and dye lift.

When you must state no to discharge

There are times I encourage versus discharge. Polyester-rich garments are leading of the list. The activator can cause color migration, specifically with sublimated or cationic-dyed performance shirts, embroidery pricing resulting in ghosting or brownish casts. Some garment dyes, specifically reactive black blends, resist lifting, leaving a shadowed print that looks undercured even when it isn't. If a client is sensitive to minor smell throughout curing, discharge days in the store are noticeable. Well-managed airflow alleviates this, however it becomes part of the process.

If a customer requires metallics, puff, or specialized textures, plastisol or hybrid systems still own that area. Water based metallics exist, but the particles typically sink, and the effect is more Screen burning satin than true metal. For high-opacity neons on dark t-shirts that must be billboard-bright, you might require 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 count on a partner, set up a workflow that gets rid of guesswork. A basic method keeps surprises at bay and helps you hit due dates for launches and events.

  • Decide on material initially, then ink: choose one hundred percent ringspun cotton for discharge, or light, high-quality cotton for standard water based. Avoid high poly unless the heathered effect is desired.
  • Request test prints on the precise blanks: one shirt per colorway is normally enough to lock approvals, especially for bulk t t-shirt orders where consistency matters.
  • Clarify color expectations in context: offer Pantone targets for light garments and explain acceptable ranges for dark discharge prints, with images of prior work you like.
  • Align on care labels and handling: suggest cold wash and low heat dry for clients, then confirm your treatment times so clean resilience matches the tag guidance.
  • Confirm environmental standards: ask your printer about ink certifications, ventilation, and waste capture, especially if your brand name messaging leans into eco friendly inks.

How water based fits with print on demand

Print as needed has its own restrictions: fast art modifications, little batch sizes, and the requirement for a broad color range. Direct-to-garment has ended up being the default, however water based screen printing can fit POD if you arrange brochure method. For designs that are high volume even at little day-to-day quantities, pre-burning screens and keeping a little stock of popular sizes lets you ship very same day with water based prints that feel better than numerous DTG outputs. It works finest when you keep art to a couple of colors and select 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. Use it where cotton convenience and breathability are the selling points. Clients who appreciate touch will notice.

Pricing, margins, and interacting value

When clients ask why a water based or discharge print costs more than a standard plastisol task, I discuss what they are purchasing. They get the soft hand that retail clients correspond with quality, improved breathability, and compliance for delicate buyers. On a per-shirt basis, the distinction for a basic three-color front hit may be modest, frequently a little uplift that can be reduced the effects of by choosing a slightly more cost-effective blank. If the program is for wholesale t shirts going into boutiques or e-commerce at superior rate points, the improvement in viewed worth more than covers the change.

For customized shirts, such as charity runs or college clubs, choices matter. Deal a base price with plastisol on midweight cotton, then a "convenience upgrade" that includes a ringspun blank with water based ink. You will see a clear split: some clients optimize for expense, others for feel. Satisfying both lets you serve a larger market without diluting your craft.

Care instructions that customers actually follow

Care labels frequently check out like legal disclaimers. Keep it simple and practical so the t-shirt survives real life. Water based and discharge prints choose cooler washes and lower clothes dryer heat, but they will withstand normal laundering if appropriately cured. I suggest phrasing care pointers in human terms on product pages: wash cold with comparable colors, topple dry low, avoid fabric softeners if you want colors to remain crisp. The last note matters because some conditioners can deposit films on fibers, dulling the visual contrast of great lines.

I have actually evaluated these directions in-house: 2 similar t-shirts, one washed cold and dried low, the other washed warm and dried high. After 15 cycles, the warm/high tee showed somewhat much faster fading of mid-tones, yet still looked good. That tolerance originates from proper cure, not from babying the garment.

All over print concepts that do not battle the limitations

All over print captures attention, however printing flood coats on assembled garments with water based inks can be unforgiving. Instead of fighting seams, design for them. Use tone-on-tone patterns that fade naturally at seams, or use a ghosted grid that looks intentional when it breaks at hems. Additionally, run panel printing and stitch. Brand names that sell restricted runs can validate cut-and-sew for 100 to 300 pieces if the design warrants it. The ended up garments read as customized from a distance, which is the goal.

A short anecdote from a busy season

One spring we ran a series for a local music festival. The customer wanted soft black tees with a sunburst print that seemed like it resided in the fabric. We tested on 3 blacks from 2 mills. Batch one raised easily with discharge, batch two remained stubbornly dark in the mid-rays of the art work. We logged color lot numbers, pivoted 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 that offered out by day two.

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

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Most problems I see trace back to process, 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 hit the needed temperature for the ideal duration. Use a donut probe or an ingrained thermochromic strip to determine real ink film temperature, not simply dryer setpoints. Screen lockup is the second. Keep a consistent rate on press, flood in between prints, and control store humidity.

A third risk is neglecting fabric variability. If you switch blanks mid-run due to the fact that a size runs out stock, you may see shifts in color. Develop contingency into your getting. For brand names planning ahead, choosing a standard blank and locking it with your supplier reduces surprises.

Final guidance for selecting your path

If your concern is soft, breathable custom-made apparel that consumers keep using, water based inks deserve the learning curve. Use standard water based on light garments for clean information and matte color. Move to discharge on 100 percent cotton when you want the softest prints on dark t-shirts. Accept and prepare for small color difference with discharge, specifically across dye lots. For bulk t t-shirt orders, integrate in a single round of physical tasting on the actual blanks you will use, then document your settings and hold back a referral shirt for quality control.

If you run a print as needed catalog, take 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 specialty results and neon stunners in plastisol or hybrid systems where they belong.

Custom t shirts are judged in the hands, not just on screens. When a client rubs their thumb across 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 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.