October 18, 2025

Beyond Fundamental 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 tension: the push for softer, more breathable prints that individuals in fact enjoy using, and the requirement to produce at scale without jeopardizing the environment or the bottom line. That tension has formed how I pick inks, pretreatments, and materials for custom garments projects. 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 convenience, particularly for T shirt printing that needs to stand up to everyday wear.

If you run a brand name, manage bulk t t-shirt orders, or simply want your personalized shirts to seem like a favorite from the very first wash, it's worth understanding how these ink systems work, where they shine, and where they require care. The ideal option can make the distinction in between a shirt that gets worn when and one that becomes the go-to.

What water based ink really is

Water based inks suspend pigments in water instead of in plasticizers and solvents. Unlike plastisol, which sits on top of the material and remedies into a movie, water based inks absorb into the fibers. That single characteristic discusses most of the benefits and compromises. Prints feel soft due to the fact that 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 identical from the shirt itself. For customized t t-shirts designed for comfort, 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 very light 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 switch to release. Discharge printing uses an activator that lifts the color from the fabric throughout Minimum order quantity treating, essentially bleaching the shirt's dye in the printed areas, then replaces it with your pigment. Completion result 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 slogan if you unload the chemistry and the workflow. Water based inks normally contain fewer unstable organic compounds than solvent-heavy alternatives and prevent PVC completely. Many are compliant with rigorous requirements like Oeko-Tex or satisfy retail screening programs that ban particular phthalates and heavy metals. If you sell custom 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 principle. Ink is one part. You likewise need to look at store practices: filtration on your washout booth, reclaim chemistry, energy usage on your clothes dryer, and even material sourcing. Discharge requires an activator, typically based upon zinc formaldehyde sulfoxylate or comparable substances, which has its own handling and ventilation needs. In a well-run store, direct exposure is controlled and waste is caught. If you're utilizing print as needed with a partner, ask how they deal with discharge effluent and whether they have air exchange and curing controls called 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 love the ink. They purchase it due to the fact that the garment looks good, feels good, and keeps that character after repeated washing. Water based inks, including discharge, provide you that broken-in comfort from day one. On a 100 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 shelf of comparison t-shirts in the studio. One from a browse 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 slightly, and the shirts kept moving. A plastisol sample with the exact same art looks glossier and still pops more under extreme light, which some streetwear customers choose, but the user feedback corresponds: water based seems like a premium garment.

Color, protection, and how expectations form results

Color precision with water based inks refers control, humidity, and the fabric's own color. On white or heather light t-shirts, standard water based ink can hit tight Pantones with a measured ink mix and a tidy mesh. On darker cotton, discharge includes variables. Various color lots discharge in a different way, even within the exact same brand and color. Black 3001 blanks from one batch may raise to a warm charcoal, while the next batch clears to a cooler grey. The pigment you add steers the final color, but you're still dealing with a background that is shifting as the dye is removed.

That's not a flaw, it belongs to the medium. Lots of 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 recreation for corporate logo designs, either order test prints on the exact batch you prepare to use or consider a water based underbase or hybrid technique where needed. For wholesale t t-shirts that will be dispersed nationally, put swatch approvals into your procedure so there are not a surprises at scale.

Fabric matters more than most people think

A water based print is a partnership in between ink and fiber. Ringspun cotton takes ink perfectly. Carded open end cotton is scratchier and beverages ink unevenly. Blends complicate things. A 50/50 poly-cotton or a triblend with rayon can work with water based, but discharge only lifts the cotton part. That indicates your color fills the cotton while the polyester and rayon remain as-is, frequently yielding a heathered or speckled print that looks intentional if you design for it. If your objective is flat, brilliant color on a poly mix, traditional plastisol or a specialized low-cure system might be smarter.

On all over print projects, such as a seam-to-seam tonal pattern behind a chest graphic, think about cut-and-sew embroidery turnaround time with water based prints on panels before assembly. Garment printing all over on ended up tees presents seams, folds, and irregular pressure that appear as blank micro-gaps. If you must print on ended up garments, expect small spaces along joints, 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 much faster in the screen, which works on fabric but can lock a mesh if you stop briefly too long. Running a greater mesh for detail, say 230 to 305, keeps the deposit thin and crisp. Set up with a misting bottle or a devoted screen rewetting option 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 rapidly a basic water based ink clears the screen compared to a heavy plastisol. Auto presses, with flood bars and consistent pace, decrease clogging.

Curing is where numerous newbies miss the mark. Water based inks require both heat and time for the water to evaporate, 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 producer's treatment temperature level throughout the ink layer, not simply at the surface. T-shirts leaving embroidery shop near me the tunnel should be dry to the touch with no cool spots. For discharge, the chemical reaction takes place throughout this remedy, and you will smell the activator. Excellent ventilation is non-negotiable.

Durability and wash testing

Durability depends on appropriate remedy and fiber engagement. A well-cured water based print on cotton can outlive the t-shirt. I measure toughness by standardized wash tests, 10 to 20 cycles at warm, topple dry medium, then visual examination for fading and cracking. Water based prints reveal steady softening and a mild fade in the same way jeans relaxes. Plastisol's failure mode is various, generally breaking if the ink layer is too thick or under-cured. For personalized t-shirts that need to look good at a household reunion and still be in rotation next summer season, water based holds up when produced correctly.

Cost, throughput, and when to pick which method

Costs vary regionally, however the economics fall into familiar patterns. Water based ink itself is typically equivalent to plastisol at the gallon level, however you invest more in store environment and drying capability. On press, water based can be a little slower at setup because you pay closer attention to fit together, squeegee durometer, and off-contact. When tuned, autos run at similar speeds. Where it really pays off is in viewed value. A soft print on a mid-tier blank typically feels premium without jumping to the highest-cost shirt. Brands can price accordingly.

For bulk 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 turn-around and art changes continuously, direct-to-garment or DTF might be much better operationally, though both have their own environmental and feel trade-offs. When you take on wholesale t shirts with numerous colorways and need to keep inventory versatile, a flexible water based scheme on light garments is efficient, considering that you prevent the weight and stiffness that accumulate with numerous underbases in plastisol.

Design options that highlight the 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 overpower. On dark cotton, discharge shines with mid-tone richness and soft edges. Consider how the shirt color looks through. A charcoal heather with a discharge cream graphic appear like it grew there.

Type weight matters. Extremely thin knockouts inside heavy flood areas can fill in with discharge, particularly on high-absorbency cotton. If you require razor negative space, separate the art to print negative shapes as positive strokes with a clear schedule for squeegee pressure and flashes. Ask your printer for a proof on the actual garment instead of trusting a digital mockup. A mockup can not catch fiber interaction and dye lift.

When you need to say no to discharge

There are times I advise against discharge. Polyester-rich garments are leading of the list. The activator can cause color migration, specifically with sublimated or cationic-dyed efficiency t-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 delicate to minor odor during treating, discharge days in the store are visible. Well-managed airflow alleviates this, however it is part of the process.

If a client requires metallics, puff, or specialty textures, plastisol or hybrid systems still own that space. Water based metallics exist, but the particles frequently sink, and the impact is more satin than true metal. For high-opacity neons on dark shirts that should 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 gets rid of uncertainty. A simple technique keeps surprises at bay and assists you struck due dates for launches and events.

  • Decide on material first, then ink: pick 100 percent ringspun cotton for discharge, or light, top quality cotton for basic water based. Prevent high poly unless the heathered effect is desired.
  • Request test prints on the exact blanks: one t-shirt per colorway is normally 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 ranges for dark discharge prints, with pictures of prior work you like.
  • Align on care labels and handling: suggest cold wash and low heat dry for clients, then confirm your cure times so clean sturdiness matches the tag guidance.
  • Confirm environmental requirements: ask your printer about ink accreditations, ventilation, and waste capture, particularly if your brand 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 need for a broad color range. Direct-to-garment has actually become the default, however water based screen printing can fit POD if you arrange catalog method. For styles that are high volume even at small everyday quantities, pre-burning screens and keeping a small stock of popular sizes lets you ship very same day with water based prints that feel better than many DTG outputs. It works best when you keep art to one or two colors and choose light garments.

If your POD design relies 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 comfort and breathability are the selling points. Customers who appreciate touch will notice.

Pricing, margins, and interacting value

When customers ask why a water based or discharge print costs more than a fundamental plastisol job, I discuss what they are purchasing. They get the soft hand that retail clients equate with quality, enhanced breathability, and compliance for delicate purchasers. On a per-shirt basis, the difference for a standard three-color front hit might be modest, frequently a little uplift that can DTG color profiles ICC be reduced the effects of by selecting a slightly more economical blank. If the program is for wholesale t shirts going into boutiques or e-commerce at exceptional rate points, the improvement in perceived worth more than covers the change.

For personalized shirts, such as charity runs or college clubs, options matter. Offer a base cost with plastisol on midweight cotton, then a "comfort 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 wider market without diluting your craft.

Care instructions that customers in fact follow

Care labels often check out like legal disclaimers. Keep it simple 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 regular laundering if appropriately cured. I recommend phrasing care suggestions in human terms on product pages: wash cold with similar colors, topple dry low, prevent material conditioners if you want colors to stay crisp. The last note matters since some softeners can deposit films on fibers, dulling the visual contrast of fine lines.

I have actually evaluated these directions in-house: 2 identical shirts, one washed 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 comes from correct cure, not from babying the garment.

All over print concepts that do not fight the limitations

All over print catches attention, but printing flood coats on put together garments with water based inks can be unforgiving. Rather of battling seams, design for them. Use tone-on-tone patterns that fade naturally at seams, or apply a ghosted grid that looks intentional when it breaks at hems. Additionally, run panel printing and stitch. Brand names that sell limited runs can validate cut-and-sew for 100 to 300 pieces if the style warrants it. The completed garments read as custom from a range, which is the goal.

A brief anecdote from a hectic season

One spring we ran a series for a regional music festival. The client wanted soft black tees with a sunburst print that felt like it lived in the fabric. We tested on 3 blacks from two mills. Batch one raised cleanly with discharge, batch two remained 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 changed dwell time by 10 to 15 seconds to finish the response. The result: consistent tees across 2,400 units, each with a soft, breathable print that sold out by day two.

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

Common risks and how to prevent them

Most issues I see trace back to process, not the ink household. Under-curing is the very first offender. Water based ink that feels dry can still be under-cured if the core of the print never hit the needed temperature for the best period. Use a donut probe or an embedded thermochromic strip to measure true ink movie temperature, not just dryer setpoints. Screen lockup is the 2nd. Keep a consistent rate on press, flood in between prints, and control shop humidity.

A 3rd pitfall is overlooking material variability. If you switch blanks mid-run since a size is out of stock, you might see shifts in color. Build contingency into your buying. For brand names planning ahead, selecting a basic blank and locking it with your supplier minimizes surprises.

Final guidance for selecting your path

If your priority is soft, breathable customized apparel that clients keep wearing, water based inks are worth the knowing curve. Usage basic water based upon light garments for tidy information and matte color. Move to release on one hundred percent cotton when you desire the softest prints on dark shirts. Accept and prepare for minor color variance with discharge, particularly across color lots. For bulk t shirt orders, integrate in a single round of physical sampling on the real blanks you will utilize, then document your settings and keep back a reference t-shirt for quality control.

If you operate a print as needed brochure, carve out a water based pill of finest sellers on light shirts. Market the difference: eco friendly inks, breathable feel, and retail-quality hand. Keep your specialized impacts 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 customer rubs their thumb throughout a print and feels nothing but fiber, you have actually won. That's the moment water based and discharge deliver, and why they deserve a place 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.