October 18, 2025

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

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


Prints R Us

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

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

What does Prints R Us do?

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

Where is Prints R Us located?

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

What services does Prints R Us provide?

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

Which industries does Prints R Us serve?

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

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

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

Does Prints R Us use high-quality materials?

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

What awards has Prints R Us won?

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

How can I contact Prints R Us?

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

Walk into any print shop that takes its craft seriously, and you will see 2 things in constant tension: the push for softer, more breathable prints that individuals in fact delight in using, and the need to produce at scale without jeopardizing the environment or the bottom line. That stress has shaped how I pick inks, pretreatments, and fabrics for customized apparel tasks. For many years, I have actually learned that water based inks and discharge printing are not just buzzwords, they are useful tools that produce gorgeous outcomes and genuine comfort, particularly for T t-shirt printing that requires to withstand everyday wear.

If you run a brand name, handle bulk t shirt orders, or simply desire your individualized 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 right choice can make the difference between a t-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 rather than in plasticizers and solvents. Unlike plastisol, which sits on top of the material and cures into a movie, water based inks soak up into the fibers. That single particular discusses most of the advantages and compromises. Prints feel soft since you're touching the cotton, not a layer of treated PVC. Colors tend to look more matte and incorporated. On light garments, the hand is typically identical from the shirt itself. For custom-made t shirts created for convenience, this is the path to the "retail feel" clients ask for.

There are two main households: standard water based and discharge. Standard water based ink works best on white or extremely light t-shirts. It can cover mid-tones with the ideal base, but once you move into darker fabrics, you either need a heavier print or you change to discharge. Discharge printing utilizes an activator that lifts the dye from the material during curing, essentially bleaching the t-shirt's color in the printed locations, then changes it with your pigment. The end 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 inks are not a marketing slogan if you unpack the chemistry and the workflow. Water based inks normally include less unpredictable organic compounds than solvent-heavy options and prevent PVC entirely. Many are compliant with rigorous standards like Oeko-Tex or fulfill retail screening regimes that ban specific phthalates and heavy metals. If you sell custom-made garments into business wellness programs, schools, or health-conscious brands, those certificates smooth procurement and keep you ahead of compliance.

That stated, "eco friendly" is a system principle. Ink is one part. You likewise need to look at store practices: filtering on your washout cubicle, reclaim chemistry, energy use on your clothes dryer, and even material sourcing. Discharge needs an activator, usually based upon zinc formaldehyde sulfoxylate or comparable substances, which has its own handling and ventilation requirements. In a well-run store, direct exposure is managed and waste is recorded. If you're using print as needed with a partner, ask how they manage discharge effluent and whether they have air exchange and treating controls called 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 enjoy the ink. They buy it due to the fact that the garment looks excellent, feels good, and keeps that character after repeated washing. Water based inks, consisting of discharge, offer you that broken-in convenience from day one. On an one hundred percent ring-spun cotton blank, a water based print is breathable and flexible. You will not hear the crackle you often receive from heavy plastisol when you extend throughout the chest.

I keep a shelf of contrast 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 t-shirts kept moving. A plastisol sample with the exact same art looks glossier and still pops more under extreme light, which some streetwear customers prefer, but the 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 fabric's own dye. On white or heather light shirts, standard water based ink can strike tight Pantones with a measured ink mix and a clean 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 might lift to a warm charcoal, while the next batch clears to a cooler grey. The pigment you include guides the final color, but you're still dealing with a background that is moving as the color is removed.

That's not a defect, it belongs to the medium. Lots of designers welcome the slightly vintage character of discharge, where reds land earthy and blues feel deep rather than neon. If your brand name needs laser-precise color reproduction for corporate logos, either order test prints on the precise batch you plan to use 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 process so there are no surprises at scale.

Fabric matters more than many people think

A water based print is a collaboration 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 work with water based, however discharge just raises the cotton part. That implies 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 design for it. If your objective is flat, vivid color on a poly event t shirts mix, conventional 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 ended up tees introduces seams, folds, and inconsistent pressure that show up as blank micro-gaps. If you must print on completed 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 differently on press. They dry faster in the screen, which works on fabric however can lock a mesh if you stop briefly too long. Running a higher mesh for information, state 230 to 305, keeps the deposit thin and crisp. Set up with a misting bottle or a dedicated screen rewetting solution at hand, and keep the print room humidity in a steady range, roughly 45 to 55 percent, to prevent premature drying. Manual press operators will observe how quickly a standard water based ink clears the screen compared to a heavy plastisol. Auto presses, with flood bars and constant rate, lower clogging.

Curing is where numerous beginners 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 sufficient airflow makes the distinction. You desire even heat across the belt and sufficient dwell to reach the maker's cure temperature level throughout the ink layer, not simply at the print on demand shirts surface. T-shirts exiting the tunnel should be dry to the touch without any cool areas. For discharge, the chemical reaction happens throughout this treatment, and you will smell the activator. Good ventilation is non-negotiable.

Durability and wash testing

Durability depends upon correct treatment and fiber engagement. A well-cured water based print on cotton can outlast the t-shirt. I determine toughness by standardized wash tests, 10 to 20 cycles at warm, tumble dry medium, then visual evaluation for fading and breaking. Water based prints reveal progressive softening and a gentle fade in the exact same way jeans unwinds. Plastisol's failure mode is different, normally splitting if the ink layer is too thick or under-cured. For individualized shirts that require 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 pick which method

Costs differ regionally, but the economics fall under familiar patterns. Water based ink itself is typically similar to plastisol at the gallon level, however you invest more in store environment and drying capability. On press, water based can be somewhat slower at setup because you pay closer attention to fit together, squeegee durometer, and off-contact. Once tuned, cars perform at comparable speeds. Where it truly settles remains in perceived value. A soft print on a mid-tier blank frequently 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 one hundred percent cotton is a workhorse. For print as needed that needs over night turnaround and art changes 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 t-shirts with multiple colorways and need to keep stock flexible, a flexible water based scheme on light garments is effective, given that you prevent the weight and embroidery pricing tightness that build up with multiple underbases in plastisol.

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

Design planning begins with the fabric color and ends with treating. 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. Think about how the shirt color looks through. A charcoal heather with a discharge cream graphic appear like it grew there.

Type weight matters. Very thin knockouts inside heavy flood areas can complete with discharge, especially on high-absorbency cotton. If you require razor negative space, different 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 actual garment instead of trusting a digital mockup. A mockup can not capture fiber interplay and dye lift.

When you ought to say no to discharge

There are times I recommend against discharge. Polyester-rich garments are top of the list. The activator can cause dye migration, especially with sublimated or cationic-dyed efficiency 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 small odor during curing, discharge days in the shop are visible. Well-managed airflow alleviates this, however it belongs to the process.

If a customer needs metallics, puff, or specialty textures, plastisol or hybrid systems still own that space. Water based metallics exist, however the particles frequently sink, and the result is more satin than real metal. For high-opacity neons on dark shirts that should be billboard-bright, you may 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, established a workflow that removes guesswork. An easy method keeps surprises at bay and helps you struck due dates for launches and events.

  • Decide on fabric first, then ink: pick one hundred percent ringspun cotton for discharge, or light, premium cotton for standard water based. Avoid high poly unless the heathered result is desired.
  • Request test prints on the exact blanks: one shirt per colorway is typically sufficient to lock approvals, particularly for bulk t shirt orders where consistency matters.
  • Clarify color expectations in context: supply Pantone targets for light garments and describe acceptable ranges for dark discharge prints, with photos of prior work you like.
  • Align on care labels and handling: suggest cold wash and low heat dry for customers, then validate your cure times so clean sturdiness matches the tag guidance.
  • Confirm environmental standards: 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 constraints: fast art changes, small batch sizes, and the need for a broad color range. Direct-to-garment has become the default, but water based screen printing can fit POD if you arrange brochure strategy. For designs that are high volume even at small day-to-day quantities, pre-burning screens and keeping Emulsion coating Bella+Canvas t shirts a small stock of popular sizes lets you deliver same day with water based prints that feel better than numerous DTG outputs. It works best when you keep art to one or two 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. 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 basic plastisol job, I describe what they are purchasing. They get the soft hand that retail clients relate with quality, improved breathability, and compliance for sensitive buyers. On a per-shirt basis, the difference for a standard three-color front hit may be modest, typically a small uplift that can be neutralized by selecting a somewhat more affordable blank. If the program is for wholesale t t-shirts going into boutiques or e-commerce at superior price points, the enhancement in viewed value more than covers the change.

For individualized t-shirts, such as charity runs or college clubs, alternatives matter. Offer 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 customers optimize for cost, others for feel. Fulfilling both lets you serve a broader market without diluting your craft.

Care directions that clients in fact follow

Care labels typically check out like legal disclaimers. Keep it easy and realistic so the shirt makes it through reality. Water based and discharge prints prefer cooler washes and lower clothes dryer heat, but they will endure regular laundering if correctly cured. I suggest phrasing care ideas in human terms on item pages: wash cold with comparable colors, tumble dry low, prevent material conditioners if you want colors to remain crisp. The last note matters due to the fact that some conditioners can deposit films on fibers, dulling the visual contrast of fine lines.

I have actually evaluated these directions in-house: 2 identical t-shirts, one washed cold and dried low, the other washed warm and dried high. After 15 cycles, the warm/high tee revealed slightly quicker fading of mid-tones, yet still looked excellent. That tolerance comes from appropriate remedy, 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 assembled garments with water based inks can be unforgiving. Rather of fighting joints, design for them. Usage tone-on-tone patterns that fade naturally at seams, or apply a ghosted grid that looks deliberate when it breaks at hems. Alternatively, run panel printing and stitch. Brand names that offer minimal runs can justify cut-and-sew for 100 to 300 pieces if the style necessitates it. The completed garments read as customized from a distance, which is the goal.

A brief anecdote from a hectic season

One spring we ran a series for a regional music festival. The customer wanted soft black tees with a sunburst print that seemed like it resided in the material. We sampled on 3 blacks from 2 mills. Batch one lifted cleanly with discharge, batch 2 stayed stubbornly dark in the mid-rays of the artwork. We logged dye lot numbers, rotated the ink mix by adding a touch more white pigment to compensate, and adjusted dwell time by 10 to 15 seconds to finish the reaction. The outcome: consistent tees across 2,400 systems, each with a soft, breathable print that sold out by day two.

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

Common pitfalls and how to prevent them

Most problems I see trace back to procedure, not the ink household. Under-curing is the very first perpetrator. Water based ink that feels dry can still be under-cured if the core of the print never struck the needed temp for the right period. Utilize a donut probe or an ingrained thermochromic strip to determine true ink movie temperature, not just dryer setpoints. Screen lockup is the 2nd. Keep a constant rate on press, flood between prints, and control store humidity.

A third risk is overlooking fabric irregularity. If you change blanks mid-run due to the fact that a size runs out stock, you might see shifts in color. Build contingency into your acquiring. For brand names preparing ahead, picking a basic blank and locking it with your provider lowers surprises.

Final assistance for picking your path

If your concern is soft, breathable custom clothing that customers keep using, water based inks are worth the learning curve. Usage standard 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 t-shirts. Accept and plan for slight color variance with discharge, especially throughout dye lots. For bulk t shirt orders, build in a single round of physical sampling on the actual blanks you will utilize, then record your settings and hold back a reference t-shirt for quality control.

If you run a print as needed catalog, carve out a water based capsule of finest 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 evaluated in the hands, not simply on screens. When a client rubs their thumb throughout a print and feels absolutely nothing but fiber, you've won. That's the moment water based and discharge provide, and why they deserve a location in any severe 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.