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 print 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 delight in using, and the requirement to produce at scale without compromising the environment or the bottom line. That stress has actually formed how I pick inks, pretreatments, and fabrics for custom-made apparel jobs. Throughout the years, I've found out that water based inks and discharge printing are not simply buzzwords, they are useful tools that produce gorgeous outcomes and real convenience, particularly for T t-shirt printing that needs to withstand everyday wear.

If you run a brand name, manage bulk t t-shirt orders, or merely desire your customized t-shirts to feel like a preferred from the first wash, it's worth understanding how these ink systems work, where they shine, and where they need care. The best choice can make the difference between a t-shirt that gets worn once and one that becomes the go-to.

What water based ink actually 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 absorb into the fibers. That single characteristic describes 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 integrated. On light garments, the hand is frequently equivalent from the t-shirt itself. For custom-made t shirts developed for comfort, this is the course to the "retail feel" customers ask for.

There are 2 main households: standard water based and discharge. Basic water based ink works best on white or very light t-shirts. It can cover mid-tones with the ideal base, but once you move into darker materials, you either need a heavier print or you switch to release. Discharge printing utilizes an activator that lifts the color from the material during curing, essentially whitening the shirt's color in the printed locations, then changes it with your pigment. Completion result is the softest possible print on dark cotton, typically with exceptional 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 typically contain fewer unstable organic compounds than solvent-heavy options and avoid PVC altogether. Many are certified with strict requirements like Oeko-Tex or meet retail screening programs that ban specific phthalates and heavy metals. If you offer customized garments into business health cares, schools, or health-conscious brand names, those certificates smooth procurement and keep you ahead of compliance.

That stated, "eco friendly" is a system idea. Ink is one part. You likewise require to take a look at shop practices: purification on your washout booth, reclaim chemistry, energy usage on your dryer, and even material sourcing. Discharge needs an activator, normally based on 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 caught. If you're utilizing print on demand with a partner, ask how they deal with discharge effluent and whether they have air exchange and treating controls dialed in. Real sustainability hides in the details.

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

Most individuals do not purchase a graphic tee because they like the ink. They buy it since the garment looks great, feels excellent, and keeps that character after duplicated washing. Water based inks, consisting of discharge, provide you that broken-in convenience from the first day. On an one hundred percent ring-spun cotton blank, custom youth t shirts a water based print is breathable and versatile. You will not hear the crackle you sometimes obtain from heavy plastisol when you extend across the chest.

I keep a shelf of comparison t-shirts in the studio. One from a browse brand, one from a brewery, both printed with discharge on midweight cotton. After 30 to 40 home washes, the prints softened even more, the colors mellowed somewhat, and the t-shirts kept moving. A plastisol sample with the same art looks glossier and still pops more under harsh light, which some streetwear customers prefer, but the user feedback corresponds: water based feels like a premium garment.

Color, protection, and how expectations shape results

Color precision with water based inks refers control, humidity, and the fabric's own color. On white or heather light 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 in a different way, even within the exact same brand and color. Black 3001 blanks from one batch might raise to a warm charcoal, while the next batch clears to a cooler grey. The pigment you add guides the final color, but you're still working with a background that is shifting as the dye is removed.

That's not a defect, it becomes part of the medium. Numerous designers accept the slightly vintage character of discharge, where reds land earthy and blues feel deep instead of neon. If your brand name demands 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 many people think

A water based print is a partnership between ink and fiber. Ringspun cotton takes ink wonderfully. Carded open end cotton is scratchier and drinks ink unevenly. Blends make complex things. A 50/50 poly-cotton or a triblend with rayon can work with water based, but discharge just raises the cotton wholesale t shirt printing portion. That suggests your color fills the cotton while the polyester and rayon remain as-is, typically yielding a heathered or speckled print that looks intentional if you design for it. If your goal is flat, vivid color on a poly mix, traditional 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 completed tees introduces joints, folds, and inconsistent pressure that show up as blank micro-gaps. If you must print on ended up garments, expect small voids along joints, which some clients 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 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 dedicated screen rewetting service at hand, and keep the print room humidity in a stable range, approximately 45 to 55 percent, to prevent premature drying. Manual press operators will observe how quickly a basic water based ink clears the screen compared to a heavy plastisol. Vehicle presses, with flood bars and consistent rate, 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 dryer tunnel with sufficient air flow makes the difference. You want even heat across the belt and adequate dwell to reach the maker's cure temperature level throughout the ink layer, not just at the surface area. Shirts leaving the tunnel should be dry to the touch with no cool spots. For discharge, the chain reaction occurs throughout this treatment, and you will smell the activator. Excellent ventilation is non-negotiable.

Durability and wash testing

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

Cost, throughput, and when to select which method

Costs vary regionally, however the economics fall under familiar patterns. Water based ink itself is often similar to plastisol at the gallon level, but you invest more in store environment and drying capability. On press, water based can be a little slower at setup since you pay closer attention to mesh, squeegee durometer, and off-contact. When tuned, cars perform at comparable speeds. Where it actually pays off 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 shirt orders above a couple of hundred pieces where the art suits 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 might be better operationally, though both have their own ecological and feel compromises. When you handle wholesale t shirts with multiple colorways and need to keep inventory versatile, a flexible water based scheme on light garments is efficient, given that you prevent the weight and tightness that build up with several underbases in plastisol.

Design options that highlight the best in water based and discharge

Design planning starts with the material color and ends with curing. On light shirts, lean into information: thin lines, halftones, hand-drawn textures. Basic water based ink prints those with a delicacy 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 looks like it grew there.

Type weight matters. Very thin knockouts inside heavy flood areas can complete with discharge, specifically on high-absorbency cotton. If you need razor negative space, different the art to print unfavorable shapes as positive strokes with a clear schedule for squeegee pressure and flashes. Ask your printer for an evidence on the actual garment instead of relying on a digital mockup. A mockup can not catch fiber interplay and dye lift.

When you need to state no to discharge

There are times I recommend versus discharge. Polyester-rich garments are top of the list. The activator can trigger color migration, specifically with sublimated or cationic-dyed performance shirts, leading to ghosting or brownish casts. Some garment dyes, specifically reactive black blends, resist lifting, leaving a shadowed print that looks undercured even when it isn't. If a client is sensitive to minor odor throughout curing, discharge days in the shop are noticeable. Well-managed airflow mitigates this, but it belongs to the process.

If a customer requires metallics, puff, or specialty textures, plastisol or hybrid systems still own that space. Water based metallics exist, however the particles typically 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 might 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 depend on a partner, set up a workflow that removes uncertainty. A simple approach keeps surprises at bay and assists you hit deadlines for launches moisture wicking shirts and events.

  • Decide on fabric first, then ink: choose 100 percent ringspun cotton for discharge, or light, top quality cotton for standard water based. Prevent high poly unless the heathered impact is desired.
  • Request test prints on the exact blanks: one shirt per colorway is usually sufficient 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 explain acceptable ranges for dark discharge prints, with pictures 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 wash resilience matches the tag guidance.
  • Confirm environmental requirements: ask your printer about ink certifications, ventilation, and waste capture, particularly if your brand messaging leans into eco friendly inks.

How water based fits with print on demand

Print on demand has its own restraints: quick art changes, little 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 technique. For styles that are high volume even at small everyday amounts, pre-burning screens and keeping a small stock of popular sizes lets you deliver same day with water based prints that feel much better than many DTG outputs. It works finest when you keep art to one or two colors and select 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 basic plastisol task, I explain what they are buying. They get the soft hand that retail customers 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, often a small uplift that can be neutralized by picking a slightly more cost-effective blank. If the program is for wholesale t shirts going into stores or e-commerce at premium price points, the enhancement in viewed value more than covers the change.

For personalized t-shirts, such as charity runs or college clubs, choices matter. Deal a base rate with plastisol on midweight cotton, then a "comfort upgrade" that consists of a ringspun blank with water based ink. You will see a clear split: some customers enhance for expense, others for feel. Fulfilling both lets you serve a broader market without diluting your craft.

Care directions that consumers in fact follow

Care labels frequently 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 clothes dryer heat, but they will withstand normal laundering if appropriately cured. I suggest phrasing care pointers in human terms on product pages: wash cold with similar colors, topple dry low, avoid fabric conditioners if you desire colors to stay crisp. The last note matters since some softeners can transfer movies on fibers, dulling the visual contrast of fine lines.

I've evaluated these directions in-house: two similar shirts, one washed cold and dried low, the other washed warm and dried high. After 15 cycles, the warm/high tee showed a little faster fading of mid-tones, yet still looked excellent. That tolerance originates from proper treatment, not from babying the garment.

All over print concepts that do not battle the limitations

All over print catches attention, however printing flood coats on assembled garments with water based inks can be unforgiving. Instead of combating joints, style for them. Usage tone-on-tone patterns that fade naturally at joints, or apply a ghosted grid that looks intentional when it breaks at hems. Alternatively, run panel printing and sew. Brands that sell minimal runs can justify cut-and-sew for 100 to 300 pieces if the style warrants it. The ended up garments read as custom-made from a range, which is the goal.

A quick anecdote from a busy season

One spring we ran a series for a local music festival. The customer desired soft black tees with a sunburst print that seemed like it resided in the fabric. We tested on three blacks from two mills. Batch one lifted cleanly with discharge, batch 2 stayed stubbornly dark in the mid-rays of the artwork. We logged dye lot numbers, pivoted 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 throughout 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 risks and how to avoid them

Most issues I see trace back to process, not the ink household. Under-curing is the first offender. Water based ink that feels dry can still be under-cured if the core of the print never hit the required temperature for the right duration. Utilize a donut probe or an embedded thermochromic strip to measure true ink movie temperature level, not just dryer setpoints. Screen lockup is the second. Keep a consistent speed on press, flood between prints, and control store humidity.

A 3rd mistake is overlooking fabric variability. If you switch blanks mid-run due to the fact that a size is out of stock, you might see shifts in color. Build contingency into your buying. For brand names preparing ahead, picking a standard blank and locking it with your supplier decreases surprises.

Final assistance for picking your path

If your concern is soft, breathable customized garments that customers keep using, water based inks deserve the knowing curve. Use basic water based on light garments for tidy information and matte color. Relocate to release on one hundred percent cotton when you want the softest prints on dark t-shirts. Accept and prepare for small color variance with discharge, particularly throughout dye lots. For bulk t shirt orders, integrate in a single round of physical sampling on the actual blanks you will use, then record your settings and hold back a referral shirt for quality control.

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

Custom t shirts are judged in the hands, not simply on screens. When a client rubs their thumb throughout a print and feels nothing but fiber, you have actually won. That's the moment water based and discharge provide, and why they deserve a location in any serious store 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.