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.

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 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 take pleasure in wearing, and the need to produce at scale without compromising the environment or the bottom line. That stress has actually formed how I pick inks, pretreatments, and materials for custom apparel projects. For many years, I have actually discovered that water based inks and discharge printing are not just buzzwords, they are useful tools that produce stunning results and real comfort, specifically for T t-shirt printing that requires to stand up to everyday wear.

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

What water based ink in fact is

Water based inks suspend pigments in water instead of in plasticizers and solvents. Unlike plastisol, which sits on top of the fabric and remedies into a film, water based inks take in into the fibers. That single characteristic discusses the majority of the advantages and compromises. Prints feel soft since 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 typically equivalent from the t-shirt itself. For custom t t-shirts designed for comfort, this is the course to the "retail feel" clients ask for.

There are two primary households: standard water based and discharge. Standard water based ink works best on white or extremely light shirts. It can cover mid-tones with the right base, but once you move into darker materials, you either need a much heavier print or you change to release. Release printing uses an activator that lifts the color from the fabric throughout treating, basically bleaching the shirt's dye in the printed areas, then changes it with your pigment. Completion outcome is the softest possible print on dark cotton, typically with impressive detail.

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

Eco friendly inks are not a marketing motto if you unpack the chemistry and the workflow. Water based inks usually contain less unstable organic compounds than solvent-heavy options and prevent PVC completely. Many are certified with stringent standards like Oeko-Tex or satisfy retail screening routines that prohibit specific phthalates and heavy metals. If you offer customized apparel into corporate 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 idea. Ink is one part. You also require to look at store practices: filtration on your washout booth, reclaim chemistry, energy use on your clothes dryer, and even material sourcing. Discharge needs an activator, usually based upon zinc formaldehyde sulfoxylate or similar substances, which has its own handling and ventilation needs. In a well-run store, direct exposure is controlled and waste is caught. If you're using 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 conceals in the details.

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

Most individuals do not purchase a graphic tee because they love the ink. They purchase it since the garment looks good, feels good, and keeps that character after repeated cleaning. Water based inks, including discharge, offer you that broken-in comfort 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 often receive from heavy plastisol when you stretch throughout the chest.

I keep a rack of comparison t-shirts in the studio. One from a surf 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 Screen printing kept moving. A plastisol sample with the same art looks glossier and still pops more under harsh light, which some streetwear clients prefer, but the user feedback corresponds: water based feels like a premium garment.

Color, coverage, and how expectations form results

Color precision with water based inks is a matter of control, humidity, and the fabric's own color. On white or heather light t-shirts, standard water based ink can hit tight Pantones with a determined ink mix and a clean mesh. On darker cotton, discharge adds variables. Different color lots discharge differently, even within the same brand name and color. Black 3001 blanks from one batch may raise to a warm charcoal, while the next batch clears to a cooler grey. The pigment you add guides 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's part of the medium. Numerous designers accept the somewhat classic character text printing on shirts of discharge, where reds land earthy and blues feel deep rather than neon. If your brand name demands laser-precise color reproduction for business logos, either order test prints on the specific batch you prepare to use or think about a water based underbase or hybrid technique where needed. For wholesale t t-shirts that will be distributed nationally, put swatch approvals into your procedure so there are not a surprises at scale.

Fabric matters more than many people think

A water based print is a partnership in between ink and fiber. Ringspun cotton takes ink magnificently. Carded open end cotton is scratchier and drinks ink unevenly. Blends complicate things. A 50/50 poly-cotton or a triblend with rayon can deal with water based, but discharge just raises the cotton portion. That means your color saturates the cotton while the polyester and rayon remain as-is, frequently yielding a heathered or speckled print that looks intentional if you style for it. If your objective is flat, vibrant color on a poly mix, traditional 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, think about cut-and-sew with water based prints on panels before assembly. Garment printing all over on ended up tees introduces joints, folds, and inconsistent pressure that show up as blank micro-gaps. If you must print on ended up garments, anticipate little voids along seams, which some clients like as part of the garment's character.

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

Water based inks behave in a different way on press. They dry quicker in the screen, which is useful on material however 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. Establish with a misting bottle or a devoted screen rewetting solution at hand, and keep the print space humidity in a stable range, approximately 45 to 55 percent, to avoid early drying. Manual press operators will observe how rapidly a basic water based ink clears the screen compared to a heavy plastisol. Auto presses, with flood bars and constant rate, reduce clogging.

Curing is where many beginners fizzle. Water based inks require both heat and time for the water to evaporate, then for the binders to cross-link. A dryer tunnel with adequate air flow makes the difference. You want even heat across the belt and enough dwell to reach the maker's treatment temperature throughout the ink layer, not simply at the surface area. Shirts exiting the tunnel should be dry to the touch without any cool areas. For discharge, the chemical reaction happens throughout this cure, and you will smell the activator. Good ventilation is non-negotiable.

Durability and wash testing

Durability depends upon appropriate treatment and fiber engagement. A well-cured water based print on cotton can outlast the t-shirt. I measure toughness by standardized wash tests, 10 to 20 cycles at warm, topple dry medium, then visual evaluation for fading and cracking. Water based prints show progressive softening and a gentle fade in the same method denim unwinds. Plastisol's failure mode is different, usually cracking if the ink layer is too thick or under-cured. For customized shirts that need to look good at a family reunion and still remain in rotation next summer, water based holds up when produced correctly.

Cost, throughput, and when to pick which method

Costs differ regionally, but the economics fall into familiar patterns. Water based ink itself is often similar to plastisol at the gallon level, however you invest more in shop environment and drying capability. On press, water based can be somewhat slower at setup due to the fact that you pay closer attention to mesh, squeegee durometer, and off-contact. As soon as tuned, automobiles perform at comparable speeds. Where it truly settles is in perceived worth. A soft print on a mid-tier blank frequently feels premium without jumping to the highest-cost t-shirt. Brand names can price accordingly.

For bulk t shirt orders above a few hundred pieces where the art suits the medium, discharge on one hundred percent cotton is a workhorse. For print as needed that requires over night turn-around and art modifications constantly, direct-to-garment or DTF may be much better operationally, though both have their own environmental and feel trade-offs. When you take on wholesale t t-shirts with multiple colorways and should keep stock flexible, a versatile water based palette on light garments is effective, because you prevent the weight and stiffness that build up with numerous underbases in plastisol.

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

Design planning starts with the fabric color and ends with curing. On light 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. Think about 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 locations can fill out bulk custom t shirts with discharge, specifically on high-absorbency cotton. If you need 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 trusting a digital mockup. A mockup can not record fiber interaction and color lift.

When you ought to state no to discharge

There are times I encourage against discharge. Polyester-rich garments are leading of the list. The activator can cause dye migration, specifically with sublimated or cationic-dyed performance t-shirts, resulting in ghosting or brownish casts. Some garment dyes, particularly reactive black blends, withstand lifting, leaving a shadowed print that looks undercured even when it isn't. If a customer is delicate to minor smell during curing, discharge days in the shop are visible. Well-managed airflow reduces this, however it is part of the process.

If a wholesale t shirts customer requires metallics, puff, or specialty textures, plastisol or hybrid systems still own that area. Water based metallics exist, but the particles often sink, and the impact is more satin than true metal. For high-opacity neons on dark shirts that should be billboard-bright, you may need a water pretreatment solution based underbase tuned for opacity or a switch to plastisol.

Practical workflow for brand names and creators

Whether you run your own presses or depend on a partner, set up a workflow that eliminates uncertainty. A simple approach keeps surprises at bay and helps you struck due dates for launches and events.

  • Decide on fabric first, then ink: choose one hundred percent ringspun cotton for discharge, or light, top quality cotton for basic water based. Prevent high poly unless the heathered impact is desired.
  • Request test prints on the exact blanks: one t-shirt per colorway is usually adequate to lock approvals, particularly for bulk 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 previous work you like.
  • Align on care labels and handling: recommend cold wash and low heat dry for consumers, then validate your remedy times so wash durability matches the tag guidance.
  • Confirm ecological requirements: ask your printer about ink accreditations, 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 constraints: fast art modifications, small batch sizes, and the requirement for a broad color range. Direct-to-garment has actually ended up being the default, however water based screen printing can fit POD if you organize brochure strategy. For designs that are high volume even at small day-to-day quantities, pre-burning screens and keeping a small stock of popular sizes lets you deliver same day with water based prints that feel better than lots of 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 convenience and breathability are the selling points. Customers 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 describe what they are purchasing. They get the soft hand that retail customers relate with quality, enhanced breathability, and compliance for delicate buyers. On a per-shirt basis, the difference for a standard three-color front hit may be modest, frequently a small uplift that can be neutralized by choosing a slightly more affordable blank. If the program is for wholesale t t-shirts going into boutiques or e-commerce at superior cost points, the enhancement in viewed worth more than covers the change.

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

Care guidelines that consumers in fact follow

Care labels often read like legal disclaimers. Keep it easy and practical so the shirt makes it through reality. Water based and discharge prints prefer cooler washes and lower dryer heat, however they will endure typical laundering if correctly treated. I suggest phrasing care ideas in human terms on product pages: wash cold with comparable colors, tumble dry low, prevent material softeners if you want colors to stay 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 shirts, one washed cold and dried low, the other washed warm and dried high. After 15 cycles, the warm/high tee revealed somewhat much faster fading of mid-tones, yet still looked good. That tolerance originates from proper remedy, not from babying the garment.

All over print ideas that do not fight the limitations

All over print captures attention, but printing flood coats on put together garments with water based inks can be unforgiving. Rather of fighting joints, style for them. Usage 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 sew. Brand names that offer minimal runs can justify cut-and-sew for 100 to 300 pieces if the design requires it. The finished 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 festival. The client desired soft black tees with a sunburst print that felt like it resided in the fabric. We sampled on three blacks from two mills. Batch one lifted easily with discharge, batch 2 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 complete the response. The result: consistent tees throughout 2,400 systems, each with a soft, breathable print that sold out by day two.

That task taught the team to deal with discharge like cooking, not chemistry on a blackboard. 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 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 ideal duration. Use a donut probe or an embedded thermochromic strip to measure true ink film temperature, not simply dryer setpoints. Screen lockup is the 2nd. Keep a consistent rate on press, flood in between prints, and control store humidity.

A third risk is overlooking fabric variability. If you switch blanks mid-run since a size runs out stock, you may see shifts in color. Build contingency into your acquiring. For brands planning ahead, choosing a basic blank and locking it with your provider decreases surprises.

Final assistance for selecting your path

If your priority is soft, breathable custom apparel that consumers keep using, water based inks deserve the learning curve. Usage basic water based on light garments for tidy information and matte color. Transfer to discharge on 100 percent cotton when you want the softest prints on dark t-shirts. Accept and prepare for minor color variance with discharge, specifically across dye lots. For bulk t t-shirt orders, integrate in a single round of physical sampling on the real blanks you will utilize, then document your settings and keep back a referral shirt for quality control.

If you operate a print on demand brochure, take a water based pill of finest sellers on light t-shirts. Market the distinction: eco friendly inks, breathable feel, and retail-quality hand. Keep your specialty impacts and neon stunners in plastisol or hybrid systems where they belong.

Custom t t-shirts are judged in the hands, not just on screens. When a customer rubs their thumb across a print and feels absolutely nothing however fiber, you've won. That's the moment water based and discharge deliver, and why they should have a place 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.