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 stress: the push for softer, more breathable prints that individuals in fact take pleasure in wearing, and the need to produce Water-based ink at scale without compromising the environment or the bottom line. That stress has shaped how I choose inks, pretreatments, and materials for custom garments jobs. For many years, I've found out that water based inks and discharge printing are not simply buzzwords, they are practical tools that produce gorgeous outcomes and real comfort, specifically for T shirt printing that needs to withstand everyday wear.

If you run a brand name, handle bulk t t-shirt orders, or simply want your individualized t-shirts to seem like a preferred from the first wash, it deserves comprehending how these ink systems work, where they shine, and where they need care. The right choice can make the distinction in between a shirt that gets used when and one that ends up being the go-to.

What water based ink in fact 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 film, water based inks absorb into the fibers. That single characteristic 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 often indistinguishable from the shirt itself. For custom-made t shirts developed for convenience, this is the course to the "retail feel" customers ask for.

There are 2 primary families: basic water based and discharge. Standard water based ink works best on white or extremely light shirts. It can cover mid-tones with the best base, once you move into darker materials, you either need a heavier print or you switch to release. Release printing utilizes an activator that raises the color from the material during curing, essentially 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, often with impressive detail.

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

Eco friendly inks are not a marketing motto if you unload the chemistry and the workflow. Water based inks generally contain less unpredictable organic compounds than solvent-heavy alternatives and avoid PVC entirely. Numerous are compliant with stringent standards like Oeko-Tex or satisfy retail screening programs that prohibit particular phthalates and heavy metals. If you sell custom-made garments into corporate health cares, schools, or health-conscious brands, those certificates smooth procurement and keep you ahead of compliance.

That stated, "eco friendly" is a system concept. Ink is one part. You also require to take a look at store practices: filtration on your washout cubicle, reclaim chemistry, energy use on your clothes dryer, and even fabric sourcing. Discharge requires an activator, typically based on zinc formaldehyde sulfoxylate or similar substances, which has its own handling and ventilation needs. In a well-run shop, exposure is controlled and waste is captured. If you're using print as needed with a partner, ask how they manage discharge effluent and whether they have air exchange and curing controls dialed in. Genuine sustainability hides in the details.

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

Most individuals do not buy a graphic tee since they enjoy the ink. They purchase it since the garment looks excellent, feels great, 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 sometimes obtain from heavy plastisol when you stretch throughout the chest.

I keep a rack 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 a little, and the t-shirts kept moving. A plastisol sample with the same art looks glossier and still pops more under severe light, which some streetwear clients choose, however the user feedback corresponds: water based seems like a premium garment.

Color, protection, and how expectations shape results

Color accuracy with water based inks is a matter of control, humidity, and the fabric's own color. On white or heather light shirts, standard water based ink can hit tight Pantones with a measured ink mix and a clean mesh. On darker cotton, discharge adds variables. Various color lots discharge in a different way, even within the 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 steers the final color, but you're still dealing with a background that is moving as the dye is removed.

That's not a flaw, it becomes part of the medium. Many designers embrace the somewhat vintage character of discharge, where reds land earthy and blues feel deep rather than neon. If your brand needs laser-precise color recreation for corporate logo designs, either order test prints on the specific batch you prepare to use or consider a water based underbase or hybrid technique where required. For wholesale t t-shirts that will be distributed nationally, put example 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 collaboration in 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 only raises the cotton part. That implies your color saturates the cotton while the polyester and rayon stay as-is, typically yielding a heathered or speckled print that looks intentional if you design for it. If your objective is flat, vibrant color on a poly mix, conventional 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 finished tees presents joints, folds, and inconsistent pressure that appear as blank micro-gaps. If you must print on finished garments, anticipate little 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 quicker in the screen, which works on material but can lock a mesh if you stop briefly too long. Running a higher mesh for information, say 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 space humidity in a consistent range, approximately 45 to 55 percent, to prevent premature drying. Manual press operators will notice how quickly a standard water based ink clears the screen compared to a heavy plastisol. Auto presses, with flood bars and constant speed, minimize clogging.

Curing is where lots of newbies fizzle. Water based inks require both heat and time for the water to vaporize, then for the binders to cross-link. A clothes dryer tunnel with adequate air flow makes the distinction. You want even heat across the belt and sufficient dwell to reach the manufacturer's treatment temperature level throughout the ink layer, not simply at the surface area. Shirts leaving the tunnel needs to be dry to the touch without any cool spots. For discharge, the chemical reaction happens during this treatment, and you will smell the activator. Good ventilation is non-negotiable.

Durability and wash testing

Durability depends on appropriate treatment and fiber engagement. A well-cured water based print on cotton can outlive the shirt. I measure toughness by standardized wash tests, 10 to 20 cycles at warm, tumble dry medium, then visual inspection for fading and splitting. Water based prints show steady softening and a gentle fade in the same way jeans unwinds. Plastisol's failure mode is various, typically cracking if the ink layer is too thick or under-cured. For customized t-shirts that need to look good at a family reunion and still remain in rotation next summer season, water based holds up when produced correctly.

Cost, throughput, and when to choose which method

Costs vary regionally, but the economics fall into familiar patterns. Water based ink itself is often similar to plastisol at the gallon level, but you invest more in shop environment and drying capacity. On press, water based can be slightly slower at setup since you pay closer attention to fit together, squeegee durometer, and off-contact. As soon as tuned, vehicles run at similar speeds. Where it actually settles remains in viewed value. A soft print on a mid-tier blank typically feels premium without jumping to the highest-cost t-shirt. Brand names can price accordingly.

For bulk t shirt orders above a couple of hundred pieces where the art fits the medium, discharge on one hundred percent cotton is a workhorse. For print on demand that requires overnight turnaround and art changes constantly, direct-to-garment or DTF might be better operationally, though both have their own ecological and feel trade-offs. When you take on wholesale t t-shirts with multiple colorways and must keep inventory flexible, a versatile water based combination on light garments is efficient, considering that you avoid the weight and tightness that accumulate with numerous underbases in plastisol.

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

Design planning starts with the fabric color and ends with treating. On light t-shirts, lean into information: thin lines, halftones, hand-drawn textures. Standard 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. Consider how the shirt color glances through. A charcoal heather with a discharge cream graphic looks like it grew there.

Type weight matters. Really thin knockouts inside heavy flood locations can fill out with discharge, specifically on high-absorbency cotton. If you require razor unfavorable area, separate the art to print unfavorable shapes as favorable strokes with a clear schedule for squeegee pressure and flashes. Ask your printer for a proof on the actual garment instead of trusting a digital mockup. A mockup can not record fiber interaction and dye lift.

When you ought to state no to discharge

There are times I advise against discharge. Polyester-rich garments are leading of the list. The activator can trigger color migration, particularly with sublimated or cationic-dyed performance t-shirts, leading to ghosting or brownish casts. Some garment dyes, specifically reactive black blends, withstand lifting, leaving a shadowed print that looks undercured even when it isn't. If a client is sensitive to small odor during treating, discharge days in the shop are obvious. Well-managed air flow reduces this, however it belongs to the process.

If a client requires metallics, puff, or specialized textures, plastisol or hybrid systems still own that space. Water based metallics exist, but the particles often sink, and the effect is more satin than true metal. For high-opacity neons on dark shirts that need to be billboard-bright, you may require a water based underbase tuned for opacity or a switch to plastisol.

Practical workflow for brands 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 assists you hit due dates for launches and events.

  • Decide on fabric first, then ink: pick 100 percent ringspun cotton for discharge, or light, premium cotton for basic water based. Prevent high poly unless the heathered impact is desired.
  • Request test prints on the exact blanks: one t-shirt per colorway is normally enough to lock approvals, particularly for bulk t t-shirt orders where consistency matters.
  • Clarify color expectations in context: provide Pantone targets for light garments and explain acceptable varieties for dark discharge prints, with photos of previous work you like.
  • Align on care labels and handling: recommend cold wash and low heat dry for clients, then validate your remedy times so wash resilience matches the tag guidance.
  • Confirm ecological requirements: ask your printer about ink accreditations, ventilation, and waste capture, especially if your brand name messaging leans into eco friendly inks.

How water based fits with print on demand

Print as needed has its own restraints: quick art modifications, little batch sizes, and the requirement for a broad color range. Direct-to-garment has actually ended up being the default, but water based screen printing can fit POD if you organize catalog method. For styles that are high volume even at small everyday quantities, pre-burning screens and keeping a little stock of popular sizes lets you ship exact same day with water based prints that feel much better than many DTG outputs. It works best when you keep art to a couple of colors and select light garments.

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

Pricing, margins, and interacting value

When clients ask why a water based or discharge print costs more than a basic plastisol job, I explain what they are buying. They get the soft hand that retail clients correspond with quality, enhanced breathability, and compliance for delicate buyers. On a per-shirt basis, the difference for a basic three-color front hit might be modest, typically a small uplift that can be reduced the effects of by picking a slightly more affordable blank. If the program is for wholesale t shirts entering into boutiques or e-commerce at exceptional cost points, the enhancement in viewed value more than covers the change.

For individualized t-shirts, such as charity runs or college clubs, alternatives matter. Deal a base cost with plastisol on midweight cotton, then a "convenience upgrade" that consists of a ringspun blank with water based ink. You will see a clear split: some clients enhance for expense, others for feel. Meeting both lets you serve a wider market without diluting your craft.

Care instructions that consumers actually follow

Care labels frequently check out like legal disclaimers. Keep it easy and realistic so the t-shirt makes it through reality. Water based and discharge prints choose cooler washes and lower dryer heat, but they will withstand regular laundering if correctly cured. I suggest phrasing care pointers in human terms on item pages: wash cold with similar colors, tumble dry low, avoid material conditioners if you desire colors to stay crisp. The last note matters because some conditioners can transfer films on fibers, dulling the visual contrast of fine lines.

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

All over print ideas that do not combat the limitations

All over print captures attention, however printing flood coats on put together garments with water based inks can be unforgiving. Instead of fighting seams, design for them. Usage tone-on-tone patterns that fade naturally at joints, or apply a ghosted grid that looks deliberate when it breaks at hems. Additionally, run panel printing and stitch. Brands that sell restricted runs can justify cut-and-sew for 100 to 300 pieces if the design necessitates it. The ended up garments read as custom from a range, which is the goal.

A short anecdote from a hectic season

One spring we ran a series for a regional music celebration. The client wanted 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 raised cleanly with discharge, batch two remained stubbornly dark in the mid-rays of the artwork. We logged dye lot numbers, pivoted the ink mix by including a touch more white pigment to compensate, and adjusted dwell time by 10 to 15 seconds to finish the response. The outcome: constant 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 chalkboard. The recipe matters, however so does tasting and adjusting.

Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

Most issues 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 hit the needed temp for the ideal duration. Utilize a donut probe or an embedded thermochromic strip to determine true ink film temperature level, not simply dryer setpoints. Screen lockup is the 2nd. Keep a constant speed on press, flood between prints, and control store humidity.

A 3rd pitfall is disregarding fabric variability. If you change blanks mid-run due to the fact that a size runs out stock, you may see shifts in color. Build contingency into your purchasing. For brands preparing ahead, choosing a basic blank and locking it with your provider decreases surprises.

Final guidance for picking your path

If your priority is soft, breathable custom-made clothing that clients keep using, water based inks are worth the knowing curve. Usage standard water based on light garments for tidy information and matte color. Transfer to discharge on 100 percent cotton when you desire the softest prints on dark shirts. Accept and plan for small color variance with discharge, specifically across dye lots. For bulk t t-shirt orders, build in a single round of physical sampling on the real blanks you will utilize, then document your settings and keep back a referral t-shirt for quality control.

If you run a print as needed brochure, carve out a water based pill of best 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 shirts are evaluated in the hands, not simply on screens. When a customer rubs their thumb throughout a print and feels absolutely nothing however fiber, you've won. That's the moment water based and discharge provide, and why they deserve a place in any serious store 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.