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 constant tension: the push for softer, more breathable prints that individuals in fact delight in using, and the requirement to produce at scale without jeopardizing the environment or the bottom line. That stress has actually shaped how I pick inks, pretreatments, and materials for customized clothing jobs. Throughout the years, I have actually found out that water based inks and discharge printing are not just buzzwords, they are practical tools that produce lovely outcomes and real comfort, especially for T shirt printing that needs to withstand daily wear.

If you run a brand name, manage bulk t t-shirt orders, or just desire your personalized shirts to feel like a preferred from the very first wash, it's worth comprehending how these ink systems work, where they shine, and where they require care. The ideal choice can make the distinction in between a shirt that gets used once 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 movie, water based inks soak up into the fibers. That single characteristic discusses most of the advantages 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 incorporated. On light garments, the hand is frequently identical from the t-shirt itself. For custom t t-shirts designed for convenience, 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 extremely light shirts. It can cover mid-tones with the right base, once you move into darker materials, you either require a much heavier print or you switch to release. Discharge printing utilizes an activator that raises the dye Screen printing from the material during treating, essentially bleaching the t-shirt's dye in the printed areas, then changes it with your pigment. The end outcome is the softest possible print on dark cotton, typically with impressive detail.

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

Eco friendly inks are not a marketing slogan if you unpack the chemistry and the workflow. Water based inks normally include fewer unpredictable natural compounds than solvent-heavy options and prevent PVC completely. Lots of are compliant with strict requirements like Oeko-Tex or meet retail testing regimes that prohibit certain phthalates and heavy metals. If you offer custom-made clothing into corporate 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 also require to look at shop practices: filtering on your washout booth, recover chemistry, energy use on your dryer, and even material sourcing. Discharge needs an activator, typically based upon zinc formaldehyde sulfoxylate or similar compounds, which has its own handling and ventilation requirements. In a well-run shop, exposure is controlled and waste is recorded. If you're using print on demand with a partner, ask how they handle discharge effluent and whether they have air exchange and treating controls called in. Genuine sustainability hides in the details.

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

Most people do not buy a graphic tee because they enjoy the ink. They buy it since the garment looks excellent, feels good, and keeps that character after repeated cleaning. 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 versatile. You will not hear the crackle you often receive from heavy plastisol when you stretch across the chest.

I keep a shelf of comparison t-shirts in the studio. One from a surf 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 shirts kept moving. A plastisol sample with the exact same art looks glossier and still pops more under severe light, which some streetwear customers prefer, but the user feedback is consistent: water based seems like a premium garment.

Color, protection, and how expectations form results

Color precision with water based inks is a matter of control, humidity, and the fabric's own dye. On white or heather light t-shirts, basic water based ink can strike tight Pantones with a determined ink mix and a clean mesh. On darker cotton, discharge adds variables. Various color lots discharge in a different way, even within the exact same brand name 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, however you're still dealing with a background that is shifting as the dye is removed.

That's not a defect, it becomes part of the medium. Lots of designers embrace the a little vintage character of discharge, where reds land earthy and blues feel deep instead of neon. If your brand needs laser-precise color recreation for business logos, either order test prints on the precise batch you plan to use or consider a water based underbase or hybrid technique where needed. For wholesale t t-shirts that will be distributed nationally, put swatch approvals into your process so there are no surprises at scale.

Fabric matters more than most 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, but discharge just lifts the cotton portion. That implies 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 style for it. If your objective is flat, vivid color on a poly mix, conventional plastisol or a specialized low-cure system may be smarter.

On all over print jobs, such as a seam-to-seam tonal pattern behind a chest graphic, consider cut-and-sew with water based prints on panels before assembly. Garment printing all over on ended up tees presents joints, folds, and irregular pressure that show up as blank micro-gaps. If you need to print on finished garments, anticipate small spaces along joints, which some clients like as part of the garment's character.

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

Water based inks act in a different way on press. They dry faster in the screen, which works on fabric but can lock a mesh if you pause too long. Running a higher mesh for information, state 230 to 305, keeps the deposit thin and crisp. Establish with a misting bottle or a dedicated screen rewetting option at hand, and keep the print room humidity in a consistent variety, approximately 45 to 55 percent, to prevent early drying. Manual press operators will observe how quickly a basic water based ink clears the screen compared to a heavy plastisol. Auto presses, with flood bars and consistent pace, lower clogging.

Curing is where many newbies miss the mark. Water based inks need both heat and time for the water to vaporize, then for the binders to cross-link. A clothes dryer tunnel with adequate air flow makes the distinction. You want even heat across the belt and adequate dwell to reach the producer's remedy temperature throughout the ink layer, not simply at the surface area. T-shirts leaving the tunnel ought to be dry to the touch with no cool areas. For discharge, the chain reaction takes place during this cure, and you will smell the activator. Excellent ventilation is non-negotiable.

Durability and wash testing

Durability depends upon correct cure and fiber engagement. A well-cured water based print on cotton can last longer than the t-shirt. I measure durability by standardized wash tests, 10 to 20 cycles at warm, tumble dry medium, then visual evaluation for fading and splitting. Water based prints show gradual softening and a mild fade in the same way jeans unwinds. Plastisol's failure mode is various, usually cracking if the ink layer is too thick or under-cured. For individualized t-shirts that require to look proficient at a household reunion and still remain in rotation next summertime, water based holds up when produced correctly.

Cost, throughput, and when to select which method

Costs vary regionally, but the economics fall into familiar patterns. Water based ink itself is typically equivalent to plastisol at the gallon level, but you invest more in shop environment and drying capability. On press, water based can be a little slower at setup since you pay closer attention to fit together, squeegee durometer, and off-contact. When tuned, autos perform at comparable speeds. Where it really settles remains in perceived worth. A soft print on a mid-tier blank frequently feels premium without jumping to the highest-cost t-shirt. Brands can price accordingly.

For bulk t t-shirt orders above a couple of hundred pieces where the art suits the medium, discharge on one hundred percent cotton is a workhorse. For print as needed that needs over night turnaround and art modifications constantly, direct-to-garment or DTF may be much better operationally, though both have their own ecological and feel compromises. When you take on wholesale t shirts with numerous colorways and should keep stock versatile, a flexible water based combination on light garments is efficient, because you avoid the weight and stiffness that accumulate with several underbases in plastisol.

Design options that highlight the best in water based and discharge

Design planning begins with the material color and ends with treating. 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. Think about how the shirt color glimpses through. A charcoal heather with a discharge cream graphic appear like it grew there.

Type weight matters. Extremely thin knockouts inside heavy flood locations can fill out with discharge, especially on high-absorbency cotton. If you need razor negative area, 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 rather than relying on a digital mockup. A mockup can not record fiber interplay and color lift.

When you need to state no to discharge

There are times I encourage versus discharge. Polyester-rich garments are leading of the list. The activator can cause color migration, particularly with sublimated or cationic-dyed efficiency t-shirts, resulting in 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 delicate to minor odor throughout curing, discharge days in the shop are obvious. Well-managed airflow alleviates this, but it is part of the process.

If a customer needs metallics, puff, or specialty textures, plastisol or hybrid systems still own that area. Water based metallics exist, but the particles frequently sink, and the effect 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 count on a partner, set up a workflow that removes uncertainty. A basic method keeps surprises at bay and assists you struck deadlines for launches and events.

  • Decide on fabric first, then ink: select 100 percent ringspun cotton for discharge, or light, high-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 usually sufficient to lock approvals, particularly for bulk t t-shirt orders where consistency matters.
  • Clarify color expectations in context: offer Pantone targets for light garments and explain appropriate varieties for dark discharge prints, with images of prior work you like.
  • Align on care labels and handling: recommend cold wash and low heat dry for customers, then confirm your treatment times so wash durability 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 restrictions: quick art changes, small batch sizes, and the need for a broad color gamut. Direct-to-garment has become the default, but water based screen printing can fit POD if you arrange brochure strategy. For designs that are high volume even at small daily amounts, pre-burning screens and keeping a small stock of popular sizes lets you ship very same day with water based prints that feel much better than many DTG outputs. It works finest when you keep art to a couple of colors and select light garments.

If your POD model counts 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 convenience and breathability are the selling points. Customers who appreciate touch will notice.

Pricing, margins, and interacting value

When clients ask why a water based or discharge print costs more than a fundamental plastisol job, I describe what they are buying. They get the soft hand that retail consumers relate with quality, enhanced breathability, and compliance for sensitive buyers. On a per-shirt basis, the distinction for a standard three-color front hit may be modest, often a little uplift that can be reduced the effects of by choosing a slightly more cost-effective blank. If the program is for wholesale t t-shirts going into boutiques or e-commerce at exceptional cost points, the improvement in perceived worth more than covers the change.

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

Care instructions that customers really follow

Care labels frequently read like legal disclaimers. Keep it basic and sensible so the t-shirt survives reality. Water based and discharge prints choose cooler washes and lower clothes dryer heat, but they will withstand normal laundering if correctly cured. I recommend phrasing care pointers in human terms on product pages: wash cold with comparable colors, tumble dry low, avoid fabric 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've tested these instructions in-house: two similar t-shirts, one washed cold and dried low, the other washed warm and dried high. After 15 cycles, the warm/high tee showed somewhat much faster fading of mid-tones, yet still looked good. That tolerance comes from proper remedy, 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. Instead of combating joints, style for them. Use tone-on-tone patterns that fade naturally at seams, or use a ghosted grid that looks intentional when it breaks at hems. Additionally, run panel printing and stitch. Brand names that offer limited runs can justify cut-and-sew for 100 to 300 pieces if the design necessitates it. The finished garments read as custom from a range, which is the goal.

A short anecdote from a busy season

One spring we ran a series for a regional music celebration. The customer wanted soft black tees with a sunburst print that seemed like it lived in the material. We tested on three blacks from two mills. Batch one raised easily with discharge, batch 2 stayed stubbornly dark in the mid-rays of the artwork. We logged color lot numbers, pivoted the ink mix by including a touch more white pigment to compensate, and changed dwell time by 10 to 15 seconds to complete the response. The outcome: consistent tees throughout 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 process, 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 required temp for the best period. Utilize a donut probe or an ingrained thermochromic strip to measure real ink movie temperature level, not just clothes dryer setpoints. Screen lockup is the 2nd. Keep a constant rate on press, flood between prints, and control store humidity.

A 3rd risk is ignoring 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 getting. For brands planning ahead, picking a basic blank and locking it with your supplier reduces surprises.

Final guidance for picking your path

If your priority is soft, breathable custom-made clothing that consumers keep wearing, water based inks deserve the learning curve. Use basic water based upon light garments for tidy detail and matte color. Relocate to discharge on 100 percent cotton when you desire the softest prints on dark t-shirts. Accept and prepare for minor color variance with discharge, particularly throughout dye lots. For bulk t shirt orders, integrate in a single round of physical tasting on the actual blanks you will use, then record your settings and keep back a recommendation shirt for quality control.

If you run a print on demand catalog, carve out a water based pill 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 shirts are judged 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 minute water based and discharge provide, and why they deserve a place in any severe shop or brand's toolkit.

Business Name: Prints R Us
Address: 2826 Art Museum Dr, Jacksonville, FL 32207, United States
Phone: (904)-752-1515

I am a dynamic innovator with a broad knowledge base in entrepreneurship. My conviction in entrepreneurship spurs my desire to innovate disruptive organizations. In my business career, I have cultivated a profile as being a daring thinker. Aside from creating my own businesses, I also enjoy counseling young startup founders. I believe in empowering the next generation of startup founders to pursue their own aspirations. I am easily seeking out disruptive opportunities and working together with similarly-driven creators. Redefining what's possible is my purpose. Aside from engaged in my enterprise, I enjoy immersing myself in dynamic environments. I am also focused on health and wellness.