October 18, 2025

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

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


Prints R Us

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

View on Google Maps
2826 Art Museum Dr, Jacksonville, 32207, US
Business Hours:
  • Monday–Friday: 09:00–17:00
  • Saturday: Closed
  • Sunday: Closed
Follow Us:

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 really enjoy using, and the requirement to produce at scale without compromising the environment or the bottom line. That stress has formed how I select inks, pretreatments, and fabrics for customized garments jobs. Over the years, I have actually discovered that water based inks and discharge printing are not simply buzzwords, they are useful tools that produce gorgeous outcomes and real convenience, specifically for T shirt printing that needs to withstand everyday wear.

If you run a brand, handle bulk t t-shirt orders, or merely desire your personalized t-shirts to seem like a favorite 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 in between a shirt that gets used when and one that becomes the go-to.

What water based ink really is

Water based inks suspend pigments in water rather than in plasticizers and solvents. Unlike plastisol, which sits on top of the material and treatments into a film, water based inks take in into the fibers. That single characteristic describes the majority of the advantages and trade-offs. Prints feel soft since 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 often identical from the t-shirt itself. For customized t shirts developed for convenience, this is the course to the "retail feel" customers ask for.

There are 2 main families: basic water based and discharge. Basic water based ink works best on white or very light shirts. It can cover mid-tones with the best base, once you move into darker materials, you either require a heavier print or you change to discharge. Discharge printing utilizes an activator that raises the dye from the material during treating, basically bleaching the t-shirt's dye in the printed areas, then replaces it with your pigment. The end outcome is the softest possible print on dark cotton, frequently 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 text printing on shirts based inks normally consist of less unpredictable organic substances than solvent-heavy alternatives and prevent PVC altogether. Lots of are certified with strict requirements like Oeko-Tex or meet retail testing programs that prohibit particular phthalates and heavy metals. If you sell custom-made apparel into business wellness programs, schools, or health-conscious brand names, those certificates smooth procurement and keep you ahead of compliance.

That stated, "eco friendly" is a system concept. Ink is one part. You likewise need to take a look at shop practices: filtering on your washout cubicle, recover chemistry, energy use on your dryer, and even fabric sourcing. Discharge needs an activator, usually based upon zinc formaldehyde sulfoxylate or comparable compounds, which has its own handling and ventilation requirements. In a well-run shop, direct exposure is controlled and waste is captured. If you're utilizing print on demand with a partner, ask how they manage discharge effluent and whether they have air exchange and treating controls called in. Genuine sustainability conceals 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 buy it due to the fact that the garment looks great, feels great, and keeps that character after duplicated cleaning. Water based inks, consisting of discharge, provide you that broken-in comfort from day one. On an one hundred percent ring-spun cotton blank, a water based print is breathable and flexible. You will not hear the crackle you sometimes receive from heavy plastisol when you stretch 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 much more, the colors mellowed slightly, and the t-shirts kept moving. A plastisol sample with the very same art looks glossier and still pops more under harsh light, which some streetwear clients choose, but the wearer feedback is consistent: water based seems like a premium garment.

Color, protection, and how expectations form results

Color accuracy with water based inks is a matter of control, humidity, and the material's own dye. 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 includes variables. Various dye lots discharge in a different way, even within the exact same brand name and color. Black 3001 blanks from one batch might lift to a warm charcoal, while the next batch clears to a cooler grey. The pigment you include steers the last color, however you're still working with a background that is shifting as the color is removed.

That's not a flaw, it's part of the medium. Numerous designers welcome the a little vintage character soft hand feel prints of discharge, where reds land earthy and blues feel deep instead of neon. If your brand name needs laser-precise color recreation for business logo designs, either order test prints on the specific batch you plan to use or think about a water based underbase or hybrid approach where needed. For wholesale t t-shirts that will be distributed nationally, put example 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 beautifully. 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, however discharge only lifts the cotton portion. That indicates your color fills the cotton while the polyester and rayon stay as-is, frequently yielding a heathered or speckled print that looks deliberate if you design for it. If your goal is flat, vivid color on a poly blend, 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 with water based prints on panels before assembly. Garment printing all over on finished tees presents seams, folds, and irregular pressure that appear as blank micro-gaps. If you should print on ended up garments, expect little voids along seams, which some customers like as part of the garment's character.

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

Water based inks behave in a different way on press. They dry much faster in the screen, which is useful on material but can lock a mesh if you stop briefly too long. Running a higher mesh for information, state 230 to 305, keeps the deposit thin and crisp. Set up with a misting bottle or a dedicated screen rewetting service at hand, and keep the print room humidity in a stable range, approximately 45 to 55 percent, to prevent early drying. Manual press operators will notice how rapidly a standard water based ink clears the screen compared to a heavy plastisol. Vehicle presses, with flood bars and constant speed, reduce clogging.

Curing is where lots of beginners miss the mark. Water based inks need both heat and time for the water to evaporate, then for the binders to cross-link. A clothes dryer tunnel with sufficient air flow makes the difference. You desire even heat across the belt and sufficient dwell to reach the maker's cure temperature throughout the ink layer, not simply at the surface area. T-shirts leaving the tunnel must be dry to the touch without any cool areas. For discharge, the chemical reaction takes place throughout this treatment, and you will smell the activator. Good ventilation is non-negotiable.

Durability and wash testing

Durability depends upon proper cure and fiber engagement. A well-cured water based print on cotton can last longer than the t-shirt. I measure sturdiness by standardized wash tests, 10 to 20 cycles at warm, tumble dry medium, then visual assessment for fading and cracking. Water based prints show steady softening and a gentle fade in the same way jeans relaxes. Plastisol's failure mode is various, usually cracking if the ink layer is too thick or under-cured. For individualized t-shirts that need to look good at a family reunion and still be in rotation next summer season, water based holds up when produced correctly.

Cost, throughput, and when to choose which method

Costs vary regionally, however the economics fall under familiar patterns. Water based ink itself is often comparable to plastisol at the gallon level, however you invest more in shop environment and drying capability. On press, water based can be somewhat slower at setup since you pay closer attention to fit together, squeegee durometer, and off-contact. As soon as tuned, vehicles run at comparable speeds. Where it really pays off remains in viewed worth. A soft print on a mid-tier blank often feels premium without leaping to the highest-cost t-shirt. Brands can price accordingly.

For bulk t shirt orders above a couple of hundred pieces where the art matches the medium, discharge on one hundred percent cotton is a workhorse. For print on demand that needs over night turn-around and art modifications constantly, direct-to-garment or DTF may be much better operationally, though both have their own ecological and feel trade-offs. When you handle wholesale t shirts with several colorways and need to keep inventory flexible, a flexible water based combination on light garments is efficient, because you avoid the weight and stiffness that build up with several underbases in plastisol.

Design options that highlight the very best in water based and discharge

Design preparation starts with the material color and ends with curing. On light t-shirts, lean into detail: thin lines, halftones, hand-drawn textures. Standard 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 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, specifically on high-absorbency cotton. If you require razor unfavorable area, 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 real garment rather than relying on a digital mockup. A mockup can not catch fiber interplay and color lift.

When you ought to say no to discharge

There are times I encourage versus discharge. Polyester-rich garments are leading of the list. The activator can trigger dye migration, especially with sublimated or cationic-dyed efficiency t-shirts, causing 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 sensitive to minor smell during curing, discharge days in the shop are obvious. Well-managed airflow alleviates this, however it becomes part of 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 impact is more satin than real 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 brands and creators

Whether you run your own presses or rely on a partner, set up a workflow that gets rid of uncertainty. A basic approach keeps surprises at bay and helps no minimum order shirts you struck due dates for launches and events.

  • Decide on fabric first, then ink: pick one hundred 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 shirt per colorway is generally enough to lock approvals, especially for bulk t t-shirt orders where consistency matters.
  • Clarify color expectations in context: supply Pantone targets for light garments and explain appropriate ranges for dark discharge prints, with images of prior work you like.
  • Align on care labels and handling: suggest cold wash and low heat dry for consumers, then validate your treatment times so wash durability matches the tag guidance.
  • Confirm environmental standards: ask your printer about ink accreditations, ventilation, and waste capture, especially if your brand messaging leans into eco friendly inks.

How water based fits with print on demand

Print as needed has its own constraints: fast art changes, little batch sizes, and the requirement for a broad full-color photo printing on fabric color gamut. Direct-to-garment has ended up being the default, but water based screen printing can fit POD if you arrange brochure technique. For designs that are high volume even at small everyday quantities, 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 best when you keep art to a couple of colors and select light garments.

If your POD model depends on all over print sublimation for polyester garments, water based screen printing is not a replacement, it is a parallel offering. Use it where cotton comfort and breathability are the selling points. Consumers who appreciate touch will notice.

Pricing, margins, and communicating value

When customers ask why a water based or discharge print costs more than a fundamental plastisol task, I explain what they are purchasing. They get the soft hand that retail consumers relate with quality, improved breathability, and compliance for delicate buyers. On a per-shirt basis, the difference for a basic three-color front hit might be modest, often a small uplift that can be neutralized by selecting a somewhat more economical blank. If the program is for wholesale t shirts going into stores or e-commerce at exceptional price points, the improvement in perceived value more than covers the change.

For customized shirts, such as charity runs or college clubs, alternatives matter. Deal a base price 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 optimize for expense, others for feel. Meeting both lets you serve a broader market without diluting your craft.

Care directions that customers really follow

Care labels typically read like legal disclaimers. Keep it simple and realistic so the shirt survives reality. Water based and discharge prints prefer cooler washes and lower dryer heat, however they will endure regular laundering if properly cured. I recommend phrasing care suggestions in human terms on product pages: wash cold with comparable colors, topple dry low, avoid material conditioners if you desire colors to stay crisp. The bulk custom t shirts last note matters due to the fact that some conditioners can transfer films on fibers, dulling the visual contrast of great lines.

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

All over print ideas that do not battle the limitations

All over print captures attention, however printing flood coats on put together garments with water based inks can be unforgiving. Rather of fighting joints, design for them. Use 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. Brand names that sell restricted runs can validate cut-and-sew for 100 to 300 pieces if the style requires it. The completed garments check out as custom-made from a distance, which is the goal.

A brief anecdote from a busy season

One spring we ran a series for a regional music celebration. The client wanted soft black tees with a sunburst print that felt like it resided in the fabric. We sampled on three blacks from two mills. Batch one lifted cleanly with discharge, batch two remained stubbornly dark in the mid-rays of the artwork. We logged color lot numbers, pivoted the ink mix by adding a touch more white pigment to compensate, and changed dwell time by 10 to 15 seconds to complete the reaction. The outcome: constant tees throughout 2,400 systems, each with a soft, breathable print that offered out by day two.

That job taught the crew to deal with discharge like cooking, not chemistry on a chalkboard. The recipe matters, however so does tasting and adjusting.

Common mistakes and how to prevent them

Most problems I see trace back to procedure, not the ink household. Under-curing is the first perpetrator. Water based ink that feels dry can still be under-cured if the core of the print never ever struck the needed temp for the best period. Use a donut probe or an ingrained thermochromic strip to measure real ink film temperature, not simply clothes dryer setpoints. Screen lockup is the 2nd. Keep a consistent pace on press, flood in between prints, and control shop humidity.

A third risk is disregarding fabric irregularity. If you switch blanks mid-run due to the fact that a size is out of stock, you might see shifts in color. Construct contingency into your buying. For brands planning ahead, selecting a basic blank and locking it with your provider decreases surprises.

Final assistance for picking your path

If your top priority is soft, breathable custom clothing that consumers keep using, water based inks are worth the knowing curve. Usage basic water based upon light garments for tidy detail and matte color. Transfer to release on one hundred percent cotton when you desire the softest prints on dark shirts. Accept and plan for small color difference with discharge, specifically throughout dye lots. For bulk t t-shirt orders, build in a single round of physical tasting on the real blanks you will utilize, then document your settings and keep back a recommendation t-shirt for quality control.

If you operate a print on demand brochure, carve out a water based capsule of finest sellers on light t-shirts. Market the distinction: eco friendly inks, breathable feel, and retail-quality hand. Keep your specialty 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 consumer rubs their thumb across a print and feels absolutely nothing but fiber, you have actually won. That's the minute water based and discharge deliver, and why they are worthy of 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.