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 two things in consistent stress: the push for softer, more breathable prints that people actually take pleasure in using, and the need to produce at scale without jeopardizing the environment or the bottom line. That tension has actually formed how I pick inks, pretreatments, and fabrics for customized apparel tasks. For many years, I've learned that water based inks and discharge printing are not simply buzzwords, they are useful tools that produce beautiful outcomes and real comfort, especially for T t-shirt printing that requires to withstand daily wear.

If you run a brand name, handle bulk t shirt orders, or just want your individualized shirts to seem like a favorite embroidery turnaround time from the first wash, it deserves comprehending how these ink systems work, where they shine, and where they need care. custom patches near me The right option can make the difference between a shirt that gets used when and one that ends up being the go-to.

What water based ink actually is

Water based inks suspend pigments in water rather than in plasticizers and solvents. Unlike plastisol, which sits on top of the fabric and cures into a film, water based inks soak up into the fibers. That single particular explains 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 incorporated. On light garments, the hand is frequently indistinguishable from the shirt itself. For custom-made t t-shirts created for comfort, this is the path to the "retail feel" customers ask for.

There are 2 primary households: basic water based and discharge. Basic water based ink works best on white or extremely light t-shirts. It can cover mid-tones with the best base, once you move into darker fabrics, you either need a heavier print or you change to discharge. Release printing utilizes an activator that lifts the dye from the material during curing, essentially bleaching the t-shirt's color in the printed areas, then changes it with your pigment. The end result is the softest possible print on dark cotton, often with impressive detail.

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

Eco friendly inks are not a marketing motto if you unload the chemistry and the workflow. Water based inks generally consist of fewer volatile organic substances than solvent-heavy options and avoid PVC altogether. Numerous are certified with stringent requirements like Oeko-Tex or meet retail testing routines that ban specific phthalates and heavy metals. If you sell custom-made garments into corporate wellness programs, 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 look at store practices: filtering on your washout booth, reclaim chemistry, energy usage on your clothes dryer, and even material sourcing. Discharge requires an activator, typically based on zinc formaldehyde sulfoxylate or similar compounds, which has its own handling and ventilation requirements. In a well-run shop, direct exposure is controlled and waste is recorded. If you're using print on demand with a partner, ask how they manage discharge effluent and whether they have air exchange and curing controls dialed in. Real sustainability hides in the details.

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

Most people do not purchase a graphic tee due to the fact that they love the ink. They buy it due to the fact that the garment looks excellent, feels good, and keeps that character after repeated cleaning. Water based inks, consisting of discharge, offer you that broken-in comfort from day one. On an one hundred percent ring-spun cotton blank, a water based print is breathable and versatile. You will not hear the crackle you often get from heavy plastisol when you extend across the chest.

I keep a shelf of contrast 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 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 customers choose, but the wearer feedback is consistent: water based seems like a premium garment.

Color, protection, and how expectations shape results

Color precision with water based inks refers control, humidity, and the fabric's own dye. On white or heather light t-shirts, basic water based ink can hit tight Pantones with a measured ink mix and a tidy mesh. On darker cotton, discharge includes variables. Various dye lots discharge differently, even within the 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 guides the final color, but you're still dealing with a background that is shifting as the color is removed.

That's not a defect, it's part of the medium. Many designers welcome the a little classic character of discharge, where reds land earthy and blues feel deep instead of neon. If your brand demands laser-precise color reproduction for business logos, either order test prints on the exact batch you plan to utilize or think about a water based underbase or hybrid technique where needed. For wholesale t shirts that will be dispersed nationally, put example approvals into your process so there are no surprises at scale.

Fabric matters more than many 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 beverages ink unevenly. Blends make complex things. A 50/50 poly-cotton or a triblend with rayon can deal with water based, however discharge just lifts the cotton part. That suggests your color fills the cotton while the polyester and rayon remain as-is, often yielding a heathered or speckled print that looks deliberate if you style for it. If your goal is flat, vibrant color on a poly mix, standard 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 ended up tees introduces seams, folds, and inconsistent pressure that show up as blank micro-gaps. If you need to print on finished garments, expect 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 stop briefly too long. Running a greater mesh for information, say 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 space humidity in a stable range, roughly 45 to 55 percent, to prevent early drying. Manual press operators will discover how rapidly a standard water based ink clears the screen compared to a heavy plastisol. Car presses, with flood bars and constant rate, minimize clogging.

Curing is where many novices miss the mark. Water based inks require both heat and time for the water to vaporize, then for the binders to cross-link. A dryer tunnel with enough airflow makes the distinction. You want even heat across the belt and sufficient dwell to reach the manufacturer's remedy temperature level throughout the ink layer, not just at the surface. Shirts exiting the tunnel should be dry to the touch without any cool spots. For discharge, the chemical reaction occurs throughout this treatment, and you will smell the activator. Great 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 last longer than the t-shirt. I determine resilience by standardized wash tests, 10 to 20 cycles at warm, tumble dry medium, then visual assessment for fading and splitting. Water based prints show gradual softening and a gentle fade in the exact same method jeans relaxes. Plastisol's failure mode is different, usually breaking if the ink layer is too thick or under-cured. For personalized 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 pick which method

Costs differ regionally, but the economics fall into familiar patterns. Water based ink itself is frequently similar to plastisol at the gallon level, but you invest more in store environment and drying capability. On press, water based can be slightly slower at setup since you pay closer attention to fit together, squeegee durometer, and off-contact. Once tuned, vehicles perform at similar speeds. Where it truly settles remains in viewed value. 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 overnight turn-around and art changes continuously, direct-to-garment or DTF may be better operationally, though both have their own ecological and feel trade-offs. When you handle wholesale t t-shirts with numerous colorways and must keep inventory flexible, a flexible water based combination on light garments is efficient, given that you prevent the weight and stiffness that accumulate with numerous underbases in plastisol.

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

Design preparation begins with the fabric color and ends with curing. On light shirts, lean into information: thin lines, halftones, hand-drawn textures. Basic water based ink prints those with a delicacy that plastisol tends to subdue. On dark cotton, discharge shines with mid-tone richness and soft edges. Consider how the shirt color peeks through. A charcoal heather with a discharge cream graphic appear like it grew there.

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

When you should state no to discharge

There are times I encourage against discharge. Polyester-rich garments are top of the list. The activator can cause color migration, particularly with sublimated or cationic-dyed performance t-shirts, causing 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 customer is sensitive to minor odor throughout treating, discharge days in the shop are noticeable. Well-managed airflow reduces this, however it belongs to the process.

If a customer needs metallics, puff, or specialty textures, plastisol or hybrid systems still own that space. Water based metallics exist, but the particles typically sink, and the effect 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 count on a partner, established a workflow that gets rid of guesswork. A basic technique keeps surprises at bay and assists you hit due dates for launches and events.

  • Decide on fabric first, then ink: select one hundred percent ringspun cotton for discharge, or light, premium cotton for standard water based. Prevent high poly unless the heathered effect is desired.
  • Request test prints on the precise blanks: one t-shirt per colorway is generally sufficient to lock approvals, particularly for bulk t shirt orders where consistency matters.
  • Clarify color expectations in context: offer Pantone targets for light garments and describe acceptable varieties for dark discharge prints, with photos of prior work you like.
  • Align on care labels and handling: advise cold wash and low heat dry for clients, then confirm your cure times so wash durability matches the tag guidance.
  • Confirm ecological standards: ask your printer about ink certifications, ventilation, and waste capture, particularly if your brand messaging leans into eco friendly inks.

How water based fits with print on demand

Print as needed has its own restraints: quick art changes, little batch sizes, and the requirement 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 technique. For designs that are high volume even at little daily quantities, pre-burning screens and keeping a little stock of popular sizes lets you ship very same day with water based prints that feel better than numerous DTG outputs. It works finest when you keep art to a couple of colors and choose 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. Utilize it where cotton comfort 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 task, I describe what they are purchasing. They get the soft hand that retail clients correspond with quality, enhanced breathability, and compliance for sensitive purchasers. On a per-shirt basis, the distinction for a basic three-color front hit may be modest, frequently a little uplift that can be neutralized by choosing a slightly more affordable blank. If the program is for wholesale t shirts going into stores or e-commerce at exceptional price points, the enhancement in perceived value more than covers the change.

For personalized shirts, such as charity runs or college clubs, alternatives matter. Offer a base price 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 larger market without diluting your craft.

Care guidelines that clients really follow

Care labels typically check out like legal disclaimers. Keep it basic and realistic so the t-shirt survives real life. Water based and discharge prints prefer cooler washes and lower dryer heat, but they will sustain typical laundering if appropriately treated. I suggest phrasing care pointers in human terms on item pages: wash cold with similar colors, tumble dry low, prevent fabric conditioners if you desire colors to remain crisp. The last note matters due to the fact that some conditioners can deposit films on fibers, dulling the visual contrast of great lines.

I've tested these instructions in-house: two identical shirts, one cleaned cold and dried low, the other washed warm and dried high. After 15 cycles, the warm/high tee showed a little much faster fading of mid-tones, yet still looked great. That tolerance originates from appropriate 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 battling seams, design 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. Alternatively, run panel printing and sew. Brand names that sell minimal runs can validate cut-and-sew for 100 to 300 pieces if the style necessitates it. The ended up garments check out as custom-made from a distance, which is the goal.

A quick 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 seemed like it lived in the fabric. We sampled on 3 blacks from 2 mills. Batch one lifted easily with discharge, batch 2 stayed stubbornly dark in the mid-rays of the art work. We logged color lot numbers, rotated the ink mix by adding a touch more white pigment to compensate, and adjusted 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 task taught the crew to deal with discharge like cooking, not chemistry on a blackboard. The dish matters, but 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 hit the needed temperature for the right period. Use a donut probe or an embedded thermochromic strip to determine true ink movie temperature level, not just clothes dryer setpoints. Screen lockup is the 2nd. Keep a constant pace on press, flood in between prints, and control shop humidity.

A third pitfall is disregarding fabric variability. If you switch blanks mid-run because a size runs out stock, you may see shifts in color. Construct contingency into your buying. For brands planning ahead, selecting a standard blank and locking it with your provider minimizes surprises.

Final guidance for selecting your path

If your priority is soft, breathable customized garments that customers keep using, water based inks deserve the knowing curve. Usage standard water based on light garments for clean detail and matte color. Transfer to release on one hundred percent cotton when you desire the softest prints on dark t-shirts. Accept and plan for minor color variance with discharge, specifically throughout dye lots. For bulk t shirt orders, build in a single round of physical tasting on the actual blanks you will utilize, then record your settings and keep back a recommendation shirt for quality control.

If you operate 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 effects and neon stunners in plastisol or hybrid systems where they belong.

Custom t t-shirts are judged in the hands, not just on screens. When a client rubs their thumb across a print and feels nothing but 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 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.