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 print shop that takes its craft seriously, and you will see 2 things in continuous tension: the push for softer, more breathable prints that people really delight in using, and the need to produce at scale without jeopardizing the environment or the bottom line. That stress has actually shaped how I pick inks, pretreatments, and fabrics for customized apparel jobs. For many years, I have actually found out that water based inks and discharge printing are not simply buzzwords, they are practical tools that produce gorgeous results and genuine convenience, particularly for T shirt printing that requires to withstand everyday wear.

If you run a brand name, manage bulk t shirt orders, or merely want your personalized t-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 need care. The ideal choice can make the difference between a shirt that gets worn when and one that ends up being the go-to.

What water based ink really is

DTG color profiles ICC

Water based inks suspend pigments in water rather than in plasticizers and solvents. Unlike plastisol, which sits on top of the material and cures into a movie, water based inks absorb into the fibers. That single particular describes the majority 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 indistinguishable from the shirt itself. For custom t shirts created for convenience, this is the course to the "retail feel" clients ask for.

There are 2 main families: basic water based and discharge. Standard water based ink works best on white or extremely light t-shirts. It can cover mid-tones with the right base, once you move into darker fabrics, you either require a heavier print or you change to discharge. Discharge printing utilizes an activator that lifts the dye from the material throughout treating, essentially bleaching the t-shirt's color in the printed locations, then replaces 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 motto if you unload the chemistry and the workflow. Water based inks generally consist of fewer unpredictable natural compounds than solvent-heavy options and avoid PVC entirely. Lots of are compliant with strict standards like Oeko-Tex or meet retail testing routines that ban specific phthalates and heavy metals. If you offer customized garments 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 likewise need to take a look at shop practices: purification 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 comparable compounds, which has its own handling and ventilation needs. In a well-run store, direct exposure is controlled and waste is caught. 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 called in. Genuine sustainability conceals in the details.

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

Most individuals do not buy a graphic tee because they love the ink. They purchase it due to the fact that the garment looks great, feels excellent, and keeps that character after duplicated washing. Water based inks, including discharge, offer you that broken-in convenience from the first day. On an one hundred percent ring-spun cotton blank, a water based print is breathable and flexible. You will not hear the crackle you in some cases receive from heavy plastisol when you extend across the chest.

I keep a rack of comparison shirts in the studio. One from a surf brand name, one from a brewery, both printed with discharge on midweight cotton. After 30 to 40 home washes, the prints softened a lot more, the colors mellowed slightly, and the t-shirts kept moving. A plastisol sample with the same art looks glossier and still pops more under harsh light, which some streetwear clients choose, however the user feedback corresponds: water based seems like a premium garment.

Color, coverage, and how expectations form results

Color precision with water based inks is a matter of control, humidity, and the material's own dye. On white or heather light shirts, standard water based ink can hit tight Pantones with a determined ink mix and a tidy mesh. On darker cotton, discharge includes variables. Different color lots discharge in a different way, even within the very same brand and color. Black 3001 blanks from one batch may lift to a warm charcoal, while the next batch clears to a cooler grey. The pigment you include guides the last color, however you're still working with a background that is moving as the dye is removed.

That's not a defect, it's part of the medium. Many designers accept the somewhat vintage character of discharge, where reds land earthy and blues feel deep instead of neon. If your brand demands laser-precise color reproduction for corporate logos, either order test prints on the precise batch you prepare to utilize or think about a water based underbase or hybrid technique where required. For wholesale t t-shirts that will be distributed 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 partnership in between ink and fiber. Ringspun cotton takes ink perfectly. Carded open end cotton is scratchier and beverages ink unevenly. Blends complicate things. A 50/50 poly-cotton or a triblend with rayon can work with water based, however discharge only raises the cotton part. That implies your color saturates the cotton while the polyester and rayon stay as-is, frequently yielding a heathered or speckled print that looks intentional if you design for it. If your goal is flat, brilliant color on a poly blend, standard plastisol or a specialized low-cure system might be smarter.

On all over print tasks, 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 presents seams, folds, and inconsistent pressure that appear as blank micro-gaps. If you should print on ended up 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 behave differently on press. They dry much faster in the screen, which works on fabric but can lock a mesh if you pause too long. Running a higher mesh for detail, say 230 to 305, keeps the deposit thin and crisp. Set up with a misting bottle or a devoted screen rewetting solution at hand, and keep the print room humidity in a stable range, approximately 45 to 55 percent, to prevent premature drying. Manual press operators will notice how quickly a standard water based ink clears the screen compared to a heavy plastisol. Car presses, with flood bars and consistent pace, reduce clogging.

Curing is where lots of beginners fizzle. Water based inks need both heat and time for the water to vaporize, then for the binders to cross-link. A dryer tunnel with adequate airflow makes the difference. You desire even heat across the belt and sufficient dwell to reach the manufacturer's treatment temperature throughout the ink layer, not simply at the surface area. Shirts exiting the tunnel should be dry to the touch with no cool spots. For discharge, the chemical reaction takes place during this treatment, and you will smell the activator. Excellent 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 outlive the shirt. I determine toughness by standardized wash tests, 10 to 20 cycles at warm, topple dry medium, then visual inspection for fading and cracking. Water based prints reveal steady softening and a mild fade in the very same method denim unwinds. Plastisol's failure mode is different, generally cracking if the ink layer is too thick or under-cured. For individualized shirts that need to look proficient 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 vary regionally, but the economics fall under familiar patterns. Water based ink itself is often equivalent to plastisol at the gallon level, however you invest more in shop environment and drying capacity. On press, water based can be a little slower at setup since you pay closer attention to mesh, squeegee durometer, and off-contact. When tuned, vehicles run at comparable speeds. Where it actually pays off is in perceived worth. A soft print on a mid-tier blank frequently feels premium without leaping to the highest-cost t-shirt. Brands can price accordingly.

For bulk t t-shirt orders above a few hundred pieces where the art suits the medium, discharge on 100 percent cotton is a workhorse. For print as needed that requires overnight turn-around and art modifications continuously, direct-to-garment or DTF might be much better operationally, though both have their own environmental and feel compromises. When you take on wholesale t shirts with numerous colorways and must keep stock flexible, a versatile water based scheme on light garments is efficient, given that you prevent the weight and stiffness that accumulate with numerous underbases in plastisol.

Design options that highlight the best in water based and discharge

Design preparation begins with the fabric color and ends with treating. On light t-shirts, lean into information: 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 t-shirt color peeks through. A charcoal heather with a discharge cream graphic looks like it grew there.

Type weight matters. Really thin knockouts inside heavy flood areas can complete with discharge, especially on high-absorbency cotton. If you require razor negative area, different 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 real garment rather than trusting a digital mockup. A mockup can not capture fiber interaction and dye lift.

When you need to state no to discharge

There are times I encourage against discharge. Polyester-rich garments are top of the list. The activator can trigger color migration, specifically with sublimated or cationic-dyed efficiency t-shirts, causing ghosting or brownish casts. Some garment dyes, especially reactive black blends, resist lifting, leaving a shadowed print that looks undercured even when it isn't. If a client is delicate to minor smell during treating, discharge days in the shop are obvious. Well-managed airflow mitigates this, but it belongs to the process.

If a client requires metallics, puff, or specialty textures, plastisol or hybrid systems still own that space. Water based metallics exist, but the particles often sink, and the result is more satin than real metal. For high-opacity neons on dark shirts that should be billboard-bright, you might 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 rely on a partner, set up a workflow that gets rid of uncertainty. A simple approach keeps surprises at bay and helps you hit due dates for launches and events.

  • Decide on fabric initially, then ink: select 100 percent ringspun cotton for discharge, or light, premium cotton for standard water based. Avoid high poly unless the heathered effect is desired.
  • Request test prints on the specific blanks: one t-shirt per colorway is typically enough 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 pictures of previous work you like.
  • Align on care labels and handling: suggest cold wash and low heat dry for customers, then validate your remedy times so wash toughness matches the tag guidance.
  • Confirm ecological standards: ask your printer about ink accreditations, ventilation, and waste capture, particularly if your brand name messaging leans into eco friendly inks.

How water based fits with print on demand

Print on demand has its own constraints: quick art changes, little batch sizes, and the need for a broad color gamut. Direct-to-garment has ended up being the default, however water based screen printing can fit POD if you arrange catalog method. For designs that are high volume even at small everyday amounts, pre-burning screens and keeping a little stock of popular sizes lets you deliver 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 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. Customers who appreciate touch will notice.

Pricing, margins, and interacting value

When customers ask why a water based or discharge print costs more than a basic plastisol task, I discuss what they are purchasing. They get the soft hand that retail customers correspond with quality, enhanced breathability, and compliance for delicate purchasers. On a per-shirt basis, the difference for a standard three-color front hit may be modest, often a small uplift that can be neutralized by selecting a somewhat more cost-effective blank. If the program is for wholesale t t-shirts going into stores or e-commerce at exceptional rate points, the improvement in perceived worth more than covers the change.

For customized t-shirts, such as charity runs or college clubs, choices matter. Offer a base price with plastisol on midweight cotton, then a "comfort upgrade" that consists of a ringspun blank with water based ink. You will see a clear split: some customers enhance for cost, others for feel. Fulfilling both lets you serve a larger market without diluting your craft.

Care directions that consumers really follow

Care labels often check out like legal disclaimers. Keep it basic and practical so the t-shirt survives reality. Water based and discharge prints choose cooler washes and lower dryer heat, however they will endure normal laundering if correctly cured. I suggest phrasing care suggestions in human terms on item pages: wash cold with similar colors, tumble dry low, avoid material softeners if you want colors to stay crisp. The last note matters because some softeners can transfer films on fibers, dulling the visual contrast of fine lines.

I have actually evaluated these directions in-house: two identical t-shirts, one washed cold and dried low, the other washed warm and dried high. After 15 cycles, the warm/high tee showed a little quicker fading of mid-tones, yet still looked good. That tolerance originates from proper cure, not from babying the garment.

All over print ideas that do not combat the limitations

All over print catches attention, however printing flood coats on assembled garments with water based inks can be unforgiving. Rather of fighting joints, style for them. Usage tone-on-tone patterns that fade naturally at joints, or use a ghosted grid that looks deliberate when it breaks at hems. Alternatively, run panel printing and stitch. Brands that offer limited runs can justify cut-and-sew for 100 to 300 pieces if the design requires it. The completed garments read as custom-made from a distance, which is the goal.

A brief anecdote from a hectic season

One spring we ran a series for a regional music festival. The customer desired soft black tees with a sunburst print that felt like it resided in the material. We tested on three blacks from 2 mills. Batch one lifted easily with discharge, batch two remained stubbornly dark in the mid-rays of the artwork. We logged dye lot numbers, rotated the ink mix by adding a touch more white pigment to compensate, and adjusted 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 sold out by day two.

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

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Most issues I see trace back to process, not the ink family. 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 hit the required temperature for the ideal period. Use a donut probe or an ingrained thermochromic strip to measure true ink film temperature, not simply dryer setpoints. Screen lockup is the second. Keep a constant pace on press, flood in between prints, and control shop humidity.

A 3rd mistake is ignoring fabric variability. If you switch blanks mid-run since a size is out of stock, you may see shifts in color. Construct contingency into your purchasing. For brands preparing ahead, choosing a standard blank and locking it with your provider reduces surprises.

Final assistance for selecting your path

If your concern is soft, breathable custom apparel that consumers keep using, water based inks are worth the learning curve. Use standard water based on light garments for tidy detail and matte color. Move to discharge on one hundred percent cotton when you want the softest prints on dark t-shirts. Accept and plan for minor color variance with discharge, especially across dye lots. For bulk t t-shirt orders, build in a single round of physical tasting on the real blanks you will utilize, then record your settings and keep back a reference shirt for quality control.

If you run a print as needed catalog, take a water based capsule 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 judged in the hands, not simply on screens. When a customer 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 are worthy of a place in any severe shop 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.