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 actually enjoy using, and the requirement to produce at scale without jeopardizing the environment or the bottom line. That tension has actually shaped how I choose inks, pretreatments, and fabrics for customized apparel tasks. For many years, I have actually found out that water based inks and discharge printing are not just buzzwords, they are useful tools that produce stunning outcomes and genuine comfort, specifically for T shirt printing that needs to stand up to day-to-day wear.

If you run a brand, handle bulk t shirt orders, or simply want your individualized shirts to feel like a favorite from the first wash, it deserves understanding how these ink systems work, where they shine, and where they require care. The right option can make the distinction between a t-shirt that gets used 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 best custom t shirt company the material and remedies into a film, water based inks absorb into the fibers. That single particular discusses the majority 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 incorporated. On light garments, the hand is typically indistinguishable from the shirt itself. For custom-made t t-shirts created for convenience, this is the course to the "retail feel" clients ask for.

There are two main households: basic water based and discharge. Standard water based ink works best on white or very light shirts. It can cover mid-tones with the best base, but once you move into darker fabrics, you either require a much heavier print or you switch to discharge. Release printing utilizes an activator that raises the color from the fabric during curing, basically bleaching the shirt's dye in the printed areas, then changes it with your pigment. The end outcome is the softest possible print on dark cotton, typically with outstanding detail.

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

Eco friendly inks are not a marketing slogan if you unpack the chemistry and the workflow. Water based inks typically consist of fewer unstable natural compounds than solvent-heavy alternatives and prevent PVC altogether. Numerous are compliant with rigorous requirements like Oeko-Tex or meet retail testing programs that prohibit particular phthalates and heavy metals. If you offer custom garments into business health cares, 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 shop practices: filtration on your washout cubicle, reclaim chemistry, energy usage on your clothes dryer, and even material sourcing. Discharge requires an activator, generally based upon zinc formaldehyde sulfoxylate or similar compounds, which has its own handling and ventilation requirements. In a well-run store, exposure is controlled and waste is recorded. If you're utilizing print on demand 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 people do not buy a graphic tee since they enjoy the ink. They buy it due to the fact that the garment looks great, feels good, and keeps that character after repeated washing. Water based inks, consisting of discharge, provide you that broken-in convenience from the first day. On a 100 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 surf brand name, 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 somewhat, and the shirts kept moving. A plastisol sample with the exact same art looks glossier and still pops more under severe light, which some streetwear clients prefer, but the user feedback corresponds: water based seems like a premium garment.

Color, coverage, and how expectations form results

Color accuracy with water based inks is a matter of control, humidity, and the fabric's own color. On white or heather light t-shirts, basic water based ink can strike tight Pantones with a determined ink mix and a clean mesh. On darker cotton, discharge adds variables. Various dye lots discharge differently, even within the exact same brand and color. Black 3001 blanks from one batch may lift to a warm charcoal, while the next batch clears to a cooler grey. The pigment you add guides the last color, but you're still dealing with a background that is moving as the dye is removed.

That's not a flaw, it's part of the medium. Many designers accept the a little 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 corporate logo designs, either order test prints on the precise batch you plan to utilize or consider a water based underbase or hybrid approach where needed. For wholesale t shirts that will be dispersed nationally, put swatch 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 beautifully. 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 only raises the cotton part. That suggests your color fills 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 goal is flat, vibrant color on a poly mix, standard plastisol or a specialized low-cure system might 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 presents seams, folds, and inconsistent pressure that appear as blank micro-gaps. If you should print on ended up garments, anticipate small voids along joints, which some clients like as part of the garment's character.

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

Water based inks act differently on press. They dry faster in the screen, which is useful on fabric however can lock a mesh if you stop briefly too long. Running a higher mesh for detail, state 230 to 305, keeps the deposit thin and crisp. Establish with a misting bottle or a devoted screen rewetting service at hand, and keep the print space humidity in a steady range, approximately 45 to 55 percent, to prevent premature drying. Manual press operators will discover how quickly a basic water based ink clears the screen compared to a heavy plastisol. Vehicle presses, with flood bars and constant pace, minimize clogging.

Curing is where lots of newbies miss the mark. Water based inks need both heat and time for the water to vaporize, then for the binders to cross-link. A clothes dryer tunnel with enough airflow makes the difference. You want even heat throughout the belt and adequate dwell to reach the maker's remedy temperature level throughout the ink layer, not simply at the surface area. Shirts exiting the tunnel ought to be dry to the touch with no cool areas. For discharge, the chemical reaction happens during this remedy, and you will smell the activator. Excellent 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 last longer than the shirt. I measure sturdiness by standardized wash tests, 10 to 20 cycles at warm, tumble dry medium, then visual assessment for fading and splitting. Water based prints show gradual softening and a mild fade in the exact same method jeans relaxes. Plastisol's failure mode is various, usually splitting if the ink layer is too thick or under-cured. For individualized shirts that need to look good at a family reunion and still be 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 under familiar patterns. Water based ink itself is typically equivalent to plastisol at the gallon level, however you invest more in shop environment and drying capacity. On press, water based can be somewhat slower at setup because you pay closer attention to mesh, squeegee durometer, and off-contact. Once tuned, automobiles run at similar speeds. Where it actually settles is in viewed worth. A soft print on a mid-tier blank typically feels premium without jumping to the highest-cost t-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 on demand that needs overnight turnaround and art modifications continuously, direct-to-garment or DTF might be much better operationally, though both have their own ecological and feel trade-offs. When you take on wholesale t t-shirts with Gildan blanks multiple colorways and should keep inventory flexible, a versatile water based combination on light garments is efficient, given that you prevent the weight and stiffness that accumulate with multiple underbases in plastisol.

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

Design preparation starts with the material 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. Consider how the shirt color glances through. A charcoal heather with a discharge cream graphic looks like it grew there.

Type weight matters. Extremely thin knockouts inside heavy flood areas can complete with discharge, particularly on high-absorbency cotton. If you need razor unfavorable 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 real garment rather than trusting a digital mockup. A mockup can not capture fiber interaction and color lift.

When you need to state no to discharge

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

If a customer needs metallics, puff, or specialized textures, plastisol or hybrid systems still own that area. Water based metallics exist, but the particles typically sink, and the result is more satin than real metal. For high-opacity neons on dark 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, established a workflow that eliminates uncertainty. A simple approach keeps surprises at bay and assists you struck due dates for launches and events.

  • Decide on fabric initially, then ink: pick 100 percent ringspun cotton for discharge, or light, high-quality cotton for basic water based. Avoid high poly unless the heathered effect is desired.
  • Request test prints on the exact blanks: one t-shirt per colorway is typically adequate to lock approvals, especially for bulk t t-shirt orders where consistency matters.
  • Clarify color expectations in context: provide Pantone targets for light garments and describe acceptable varieties for dark discharge prints, with photos of previous work you like.
  • Align on care labels and handling: advise cold wash and low heat dry for clients, then confirm your cure times so clean sturdiness matches the tag guidance.
  • Confirm ecological requirements: 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 as needed has its own restrictions: fast art modifications, small batch sizes, and the requirement for a broad color gamut. Direct-to-garment has actually become the default, but water based screen printing can fit POD if you arrange brochure method. For styles that are high volume even at little daily quantities, pre-burning screens and keeping a small stock of popular sizes lets you ship 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 choose light garments.

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

Pricing, margins, and communicating value

When clients ask why a water based or discharge print costs more than a standard plastisol task, I describe what they are purchasing. They get the soft hand that retail consumers correspond with quality, improved breathability, and compliance for delicate buyers. On a per-shirt basis, the difference for a basic three-color front hit may be modest, typically a little uplift that can be neutralized by selecting a slightly more cost-effective blank. If the program is for wholesale t t-shirts going into stores or e-commerce at premium price points, the improvement in perceived value more than covers the change.

For customized t-shirts, such as charity runs or college clubs, options matter. Offer 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 clients enhance for cost, others for feel. Meeting both lets you serve a broader market without diluting your craft.

Care instructions that consumers actually follow

Care labels often read like legal disclaimers. Keep it simple and reasonable so the t-shirt survives reality. Water based and discharge prints prefer cooler washes and lower dryer heat, however they will endure regular laundering if correctly treated. I suggest phrasing care ideas in human terms on item pages: DTG print resolution wash cold with comparable colors, topple dry low, avoid material conditioners if you want colors to stay crisp. The last note matters since some conditioners can deposit films on fibers, dulling the visual contrast of fine lines.

I have actually checked these instructions in-house: two similar t-shirts, one washed cold and dried low, the other washed warm and dried high. After 15 cycles, the warm/high tee revealed a little quicker fading of mid-tones, yet still looked good. That tolerance comes from appropriate remedy, not from babying the garment.

All over print concepts that do not fight the limitations

All over print catches attention, however printing flood coats on assembled garments with water based inks can be unforgiving. Rather of battling joints, style 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. Alternatively, 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 completed garments read as customized from a range, which is the goal.

A brief anecdote from a hectic season

One spring we ran a series for a local music celebration. The customer wanted soft black tees with a sunburst print that seemed like it lived in the material. We sampled on 3 blacks from two mills. Batch one lifted cleanly with discharge, batch two 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 complete the response. The result: consistent tees throughout 2,400 systems, each with a soft, breathable print that sold out by day two.

That job taught the team to treat discharge like cooking, not chemistry on a blackboard. The dish matters, however 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 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 right duration. Use a donut probe or an embedded thermochromic strip to determine true ink film temperature level, not simply dryer setpoints. Screen lockup is the second. Keep a consistent rate on press, flood between prints, and control shop humidity.

A third risk is neglecting fabric variability. If you switch blanks mid-run since a size runs out stock, you may see shifts in color. Construct contingency into your purchasing. For brand names preparing ahead, picking a standard blank and locking it with your supplier minimizes surprises.

Final guidance for picking your path

If your priority is soft, breathable custom garments that clients keep wearing, water based inks deserve the knowing curve. Usage basic water based on light garments for tidy information and matte color. Transfer to release on one hundred percent cotton when you want the softest prints on dark shirts. Accept and plan for small color variance with discharge, particularly across dye lots. For bulk t shirt orders, build in a single round of physical tasting on the actual blanks you will utilize, then record 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 shirts. Market the distinction: 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 t-shirts are evaluated in the hands, not simply on screens. When a client rubs their thumb across a print and feels nothing however fiber, you have actually won. That's the minute water based and discharge provide, and why they should have a place 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.