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.

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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 constant 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 stress has actually formed how I select inks, pretreatments, and materials for customized clothing projects. Throughout the years, I have actually learned that water based inks and discharge printing are not just buzzwords, they are useful tools that produce gorgeous results and real comfort, especially for T t-shirt printing that requires to withstand everyday wear.

If you run a brand, handle bulk t shirt orders, or just want your tailored t-shirts to seem like a favorite from the first wash, it's worth comprehending how these ink systems work, where they shine, and where they need care. The right option 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 in fact is

Water based inks suspend pigments in water rather than in plasticizers and solvents. Unlike plastisol, which sits on top of the fabric and remedies into a movie, water based inks soak up into the fibers. That single particular explains the majority of the benefits and compromises. 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 often identical from the shirt itself. For custom-made t t-shirts developed for convenience, this is the path to the "retail feel" customers ask for.

There are two primary families: standard water based and discharge. Standard water based ink works best on white or extremely light shirts. It can cover mid-tones with the best base, but once you move into darker materials, you either need a much heavier print or you change to discharge. Release printing uses an activator that lifts the dye from the fabric throughout curing, basically bleaching the t-shirt's color in the printed locations, then replaces it with your pigment. Completion outcome is the softest possible print on dark cotton, frequently with outstanding detail.

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

Eco friendly inks are not a marketing motto if you unload the chemistry and the workflow. Water based inks normally contain less volatile natural compounds than solvent-heavy options and prevent PVC entirely. Lots of are certified with rigorous requirements like Oeko-Tex or fulfill retail testing regimes that ban certain phthalates and heavy metals. If you sell customized garments into business wellness programs, schools, or health-conscious brand names, those certificates smooth procurement and keep you ahead of compliance.

That said, "eco friendly" is a system concept. Ink is one part. You also require to look at shop practices: purification on your washout booth, recover chemistry, energy use on your dryer, and even fabric sourcing. Discharge requires an activator, generally based on zinc formaldehyde sulfoxylate or similar 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 deal with discharge effluent and whether they have air exchange and treating controls called in. Real sustainability conceals in the details.

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

Most people do not purchase a graphic tee due to the fact that they like the ink. They purchase it due to the fact that the garment looks excellent, feels excellent, and keeps that character after repeated washing. Water based inks, including discharge, provide 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 in some cases obtain from heavy plastisol when you extend across the chest.

I keep a rack 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 a lot more, the colors mellowed a little, and the shirts kept moving. A plastisol sample with the same art looks glossier and still pops more under severe light, which some streetwear customers prefer, however the wearer feedback corresponds: 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 fabric's own dye. On white or heather light shirts, standard water based ink can strike 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 very 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 include steers the final color, but you're still working with a background that is shifting as the dye is removed.

That's not a flaw, it becomes part of the medium. Many designers welcome the slightly classic character of discharge, where reds land earthy and blues feel deep rather than neon. If your brand demands laser-precise color reproduction for corporate logo designs, either order test prints on the exact batch you prepare to use or consider a water based underbase or hybrid method 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 the majority of people think

A water based print is a partnership 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, however discharge just raises the cotton part. That means your color saturates the cotton while the polyester and rayon remain as-is, often yielding a heathered or speckled print that looks deliberate if you design for it. If your objective is flat, vibrant color on a poly blend, standard 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 ended up tees presents joints, folds, and inconsistent pressure that show up as blank micro-gaps. If you should print on ended up garments, expect little voids along seams, which some customers like as part of the garment's character.

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

Water based inks behave differently 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 greater mesh for information, say 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 consistent variety, approximately 45 to 55 percent, to prevent premature drying. Manual press operators will discover how quickly a basic water based garment pre-treatment process ink clears the screen compared to a heavy plastisol. Auto presses, with flood bars and constant pace, minimize clogging.

Curing is where lots of novices miss the mark. Water based inks require 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 difference. You want even heat throughout the belt and enough dwell to reach the producer's cure temperature level throughout the ink layer, not simply at the surface. Shirts exiting the tunnel needs to be dry to the touch with no cool spots. For discharge, the chain reaction takes place during this remedy, and you will smell the activator. Good 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 outlast the shirt. I determine durability by standardized wash tests, 10 to 20 cycles at warm, topple dry medium, then visual evaluation for fading and splitting. Water based prints reveal steady softening and a gentle fade in the exact same method denim relaxes. Plastisol's failure mode is different, normally cracking if the ink layer is too thick or under-cured. For tailored shirts that require to look proficient at a family 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, but the economics fall under familiar patterns. Water based ink itself is frequently equivalent to plastisol at the gallon level, however you invest more in store environment and drying capacity. On press, water based can be a little slower at setup since you pay closer attention to mesh, squeegee durometer, and off-contact. Once tuned, automobiles perform at comparable speeds. Where it truly pays off remains in viewed value. A soft print on a mid-tier blank typically feels premium without leaping to the highest-cost shirt. Brands can price accordingly.

For bulk t t-shirt orders above a few hundred pieces where the art matches the medium, discharge on 100 percent cotton is a workhorse. For print as needed that needs overnight turnaround and art modifications constantly, direct-to-garment or DTF may be much better operationally, though both have their own ecological and feel trade-offs. When you take on wholesale t shirts with numerous colorways and should keep inventory versatile, a versatile water based combination on light garments is efficient, since you avoid the weight and stiffness that accumulate with several underbases in plastisol.

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

Design preparation begins with the material 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 overpower. On dark cotton, discharge shines with mid-tone richness and soft edges. Think about how the shirt color glances 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 complete with discharge, particularly on high-absorbency cotton. If you need razor unfavorable area, separate the art to print unfavorable shapes as favorable strokes with a clear schedule for squeegee pressure and flashes. Ask your printer for an evidence on the real garment instead of trusting a digital mockup. A mockup can not capture fiber interplay and color lift.

When you should state no to discharge

There are times I recommend against discharge. Polyester-rich garments are leading of the list. The activator can trigger dye migration, particularly with sublimated or cationic-dyed efficiency t-shirts, causing 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 during treating, discharge days in the shop are obvious. Well-managed airflow mitigates this, but it belongs to the process.

If a customer needs metallics, puff, or specialty textures, plastisol or hybrid systems still own that area. Water based metallics exist, however the particles frequently sink, and the result is more satin than true metal. For high-opacity neons on dark t-shirts that need to be billboard-bright, you may need 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 assists you struck due dates for launches and events.

  • Decide on material first, then ink: pick one hundred 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 exact blanks: one t-shirt per colorway is generally enough to lock approvals, particularly for bulk t shirt orders where consistency matters.
  • Clarify color expectations in context: provide Pantone targets for light garments and describe 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 validate your treatment times so clean toughness matches the tag guidance.
  • Confirm ecological standards: ask your printer about ink accreditations, ventilation, and waste capture, particularly if your brand name messaging leans into eco friendly inks.

How water based fits with print on demand

Print on demand has its own constraints: quick art modifications, small batch sizes, and the requirement for a broad color gamut. Direct-to-garment has become the default, but water based screen printing can fit POD if you organize catalog method. For designs that are high volume even at little day-to-day 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 finest when you keep art to a couple of colors and choose 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. Utilize it where cotton convenience and breathability are the selling points. Clients who appreciate touch will notice.

Pricing, margins, and communicating value

When clients ask why a water based or discharge print costs more than a basic plastisol job, I explain what they are purchasing. They get the soft hand that retail customers relate with quality, enhanced breathability, and compliance for sensitive purchasers. On a per-shirt basis, the distinction for a standard three-color front hit may be modest, frequently a small uplift that can be reduced the effects of by choosing a slightly more economical blank. If the program is for wholesale t shirts going into stores or e-commerce at superior cost points, the enhancement in viewed value more than covers the change.

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

Care guidelines that consumers in fact follow

Care labels typically check out like legal disclaimers. Keep it easy and practical so the shirt makes it through real life. Water based and discharge prints choose cooler washes and lower dryer heat, but they will endure typical laundering if appropriately treated. I suggest phrasing care pointers in human terms on item pages: wash cold with comparable colors, tumble dry low, prevent fabric softeners if you want colors to stay crisp. The last note matters because some conditioners can transfer films on fibers, dulling the visual contrast of great lines.

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

All over print ideas 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. Rather of fighting seams, style for them. Usage tone-on-tone patterns that fade naturally at seams, or apply a ghosted grid that looks intentional when it breaks at hems. Alternatively, run panel printing and stitch. Brands that sell limited runs can validate cut-and-sew for 100 to 300 pieces if the style necessitates it. The completed garments read as custom from a distance, which is the goal.

A short anecdote from a busy season

One spring we ran a series for a regional music celebration. The customer desired soft black tees with a sunburst print that seemed like it lived in the fabric. We tested on 3 blacks from 2 mills. Batch one raised easily with discharge, batch 2 stayed 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 outcome: constant tees across 2,400 systems, each with a soft, breathable print that sold out by day two.

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

Common mistakes and how to prevent them

Most issues I see trace back to process, not the ink family. 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 ever hit the required temp for the best period. Use a donut probe or an embedded thermochromic strip to determine true ink movie temperature level, not simply dryer setpoints. Screen lockup is the second. Keep a consistent rate on press, flood in between prints, and control shop humidity.

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

Final assistance for selecting your path

If your top priority is soft, breathable customized garments that customers keep using, water based inks are worth the knowing curve. Use basic water based upon light garments for tidy detail and matte color. Move to discharge on one hundred percent cotton when you desire the softest prints on dark shirts. Accept and plan for small color variation with discharge, specifically throughout dye lots. For bulk t shirt orders, integrate in a single round of physical tasting on the real blanks you will utilize, then document your settings and hold back a referral t-shirt for quality control.

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

Custom t shirts are evaluated in the hands, not simply on screens. When a client rubs their thumb across a print and feels absolutely nothing but fiber, you've won. That's the moment water based and discharge provide, and why they are worthy of a location in any serious shop or brand'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.