October 18, 2025

Beyond Fundamental Tees: A Guide to Eco-Friendly Water-Based Inks and Discharge Printing for Customized 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 print shop that takes its craft seriously, and you will see 2 things in constant tension: the push for softer, more breathable prints that people in fact enjoy using, and the need to produce at scale without jeopardizing the environment or the bottom line. That stress has actually formed how I select inks, pretreatments, and fabrics for custom clothing jobs. For many years, I've learned that water based inks and discharge printing are not just buzzwords, they are useful tools that produce lovely outcomes and genuine convenience, specifically for T shirt printing that requires to stand up to everyday wear.

If you run a brand, handle bulk t shirt orders, or just desire your tailored t-shirts to seem like a favorite from the very first wash, it's worth comprehending how these ink systems work, where they shine, and where they need care. The best choice can make the distinction 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 remedies into a film, water based inks absorb into the fibers. That single characteristic describes most of the benefits 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 incorporated. On light garments, the hand is frequently indistinguishable from the shirt itself. For custom t t-shirts developed for comfort, this is the path to the "retail feel" clients ask for.

There are 2 primary families: 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 right base, once you move into darker fabrics, you either require a much heavier print or you change to release. Release printing utilizes an activator that raises the color from the fabric throughout treating, basically whitening the t-shirt's color in the printed locations, then changes it with your pigment. The end outcome is the softest possible print on dark cotton, frequently with exceptional 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 based inks usually contain fewer volatile organic compounds than solvent-heavy alternatives and avoid PVC entirely. Numerous are certified with strict requirements like Oeko-Tex or satisfy retail testing routines that prohibit certain phthalates and heavy metals. If you offer customized apparel into corporate wellness rush order t shirts programs, schools, or health-conscious brand names, those certificates smooth procurement and keep you ahead of compliance.

That said, "eco friendly" is a system principle. Ink is one part. You likewise need to take a look at shop practices: filtering on your washout booth, recover chemistry, energy use on your clothes dryer, and even fabric sourcing. Discharge requires an activator, generally based upon zinc formaldehyde sulfoxylate or similar substances, which has its own handling and ventilation requirements. In a well-run store, exposure is controlled and waste is recorded. If you're using print as needed with a partner, ask how they handle discharge effluent and whether they have air exchange and curing controls called in. Real sustainability hides in the details.

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

Most individuals do not purchase a graphic tee because they like the ink. They buy it due to the fact that the garment looks excellent, feels excellent, and keeps that character after repeated washing. Water based inks, consisting of discharge, give you that broken-in comfort from the first day. On a 100 percent ring-spun cotton blank, a water based print is breathable and versatile. You will not hear the crackle you sometimes obtain from heavy plastisol when you extend across the chest.

I keep a shelf of contrast 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 a lot more, the colors mellowed somewhat, 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 prefer, however the user feedback corresponds: water based feels like a premium garment.

Color, coverage, and how expectations form results

Color accuracy 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 strike tight Pantones with a measured ink mix and a tidy mesh. On darker cotton, discharge adds variables. Various color lots discharge differently, even within the very 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 add guides the last color, however you're still dealing with a background that is shifting as the dye is removed.

That's not a defect, it belongs to the medium. Numerous designers welcome the slightly classic character of discharge, where reds land earthy and blues feel deep rather than neon. If your brand needs laser-precise color recreation for business logo designs, either order test prints on the exact batch you prepare to utilize or think about a water based underbase or hybrid approach where needed. For wholesale t t-shirts that will be dispersed 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 collaboration in between ink and fiber. Ringspun cotton takes ink beautifully. Carded open end cotton is scratchier and beverages ink unevenly. Blends complicate things. A 50/50 poly-cotton or a triblend with rayon can deal with water based, but discharge only lifts the cotton portion. That means your color fills the cotton while the polyester and rayon remain as-is, frequently 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, conventional plastisol or a specialized low-cure system may be smarter.

On all over print tasks, 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 introduces seams, folds, and irregular pressure that appear as blank micro-gaps. If you should print on completed garments, anticipate small spaces along joints, which some clients like as part of the garment's character.

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

Water based inks act differently on press. They dry quicker in the screen, which is useful on material however 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 constant 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. Vehicle presses, with flood bars and consistent speed, lower clogging.

Curing is where many newbies miss the mark. Water based inks need both heat and time for the water to evaporate, then for the binders to cross-link. A dryer tunnel with enough air flow makes the difference. You want even heat across the belt and sufficient dwell to reach the maker's treatment temperature throughout the ink layer, not simply at the surface. Shirts exiting the tunnel should be dry to the touch with no cool spots. 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 appropriate treatment and fiber engagement. A well-cured water based print on cotton can last longer than the t-shirt. I determine sturdiness by standardized wash tests, 10 to 20 cycles at warm, tumble dry medium, then visual evaluation for fading and breaking. Water based prints reveal gradual softening and a gentle fade in the exact same method denim unwinds. Plastisol's failure mode is various, typically cracking if the ink layer is too thick or under-cured. For individualized t-shirts that require to look good at a household 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 differ regionally, however the economics fall into familiar patterns. Water based ink itself is often similar 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 due to the fact that you pay closer attention to fit together, squeegee durometer, and off-contact. As soon as tuned, autos perform at comparable speeds. Where it truly settles is in perceived worth. A soft print on a mid-tier blank typically feels premium without jumping to the highest-cost t-shirt. Brand names can price accordingly.

For bulk t shirt orders above a few hundred pieces where the art suits the medium, discharge on 100 percent cotton is a workhorse. For print on demand that requires over night turn-around and art heat transfer vinyl changes 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 several colorways and should keep stock flexible, a flexible water based scheme on light garments is efficient, because you prevent the weight and tightness that accumulate with numerous underbases in plastisol.

Design options that draw out the best in water based and discharge

Design planning starts with the material color and ends with curing. On light t-shirts, lean into information: 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 peeks 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 fill in with discharge, particularly on high-absorbency cotton. If you need razor unfavorable area, separate 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 instead of relying on a digital mockup. A mockup can not record fiber interaction and color lift.

When you need to state no to discharge

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

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

  • Decide on material first, then ink: pick one hundred percent ringspun cotton for discharge, or light, high-quality cotton for basic water based. Prevent high poly unless the heathered impact is desired.
  • Request test prints on the exact blanks: one shirt per colorway is typically adequate to lock approvals, particularly for bulk 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 photos of previous work you like.
  • Align on care labels and handling: recommend cold wash and low heat dry for consumers, then confirm your cure times so clean 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 range. Direct-to-garment has actually ended up being the default, but water based screen printing can fit POD if you arrange catalog technique. For styles 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 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 design 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. Clients who appreciate touch will notice.

Pricing, margins, and communicating value

When clients ask why a water based or discharge print costs more than a standard plastisol job, I explain what they are buying. They get the soft hand that retail clients correspond with quality, improved breathability, and compliance for sensitive purchasers. On a per-shirt basis, the difference for a basic three-color front hit might be modest, typically a little uplift that can be neutralized by choosing a somewhat more cost-effective blank. If the program is for wholesale t shirts entering into boutiques or e-commerce at superior price points, the enhancement in perceived worth more than covers the change.

For personalized shirts, such as charity runs or college clubs, options 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 clients optimize for expense, others for feel. Fulfilling both lets you serve a wider market without diluting your craft.

Care directions that clients really follow

Care labels frequently read like legal disclaimers. Keep it basic and reasonable so the shirt survives real life. Water based and discharge prints choose cooler washes and lower dryer heat, however they will sustain normal laundering if correctly cured. I suggest phrasing care ideas in human terms on item pages: wash cold with similar colors, tumble dry low, avoid material softeners if you want colors to remain crisp. The last note matters since some conditioners can transfer films on fibers, dulling the visual contrast of fine lines.

I have actually evaluated 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 showed slightly much faster fading of mid-tones, yet still looked great. That tolerance comes from correct cure, not from babying the garment.

All over print ideas that do not battle the limitations

All over print catches attention, but printing flood coats on assembled garments with water based inks can be unforgiving. Rather of battling seams, design for them. Usage tone-on-tone patterns that fade naturally at joints, or apply a ghosted grid that looks deliberate when it breaks at hems. Additionally, run panel printing and stitch. Brand names that sell minimal runs can justify cut-and-sew for 100 to 300 pieces if the design necessitates it. The finished garments read as customized from a distance, which is the goal.

A short anecdote from a busy season

One spring we ran a series for a local music celebration. The customer desired soft black tees with a sunburst print that seemed like it lived in the fabric. We tested on three blacks from 2 mills. Batch one lifted cleanly with discharge, batch 2 remained stubbornly dark in the mid-rays of the artwork. We logged color lot numbers, rotated the ink mix by adding a touch more white pigment to compensate, and changed dwell time by 10 to 15 seconds to complete the response. The result: consistent tees across 2,400 systems, each with a soft, breathable print that offered out by day two.

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

Common risks and how to avoid them

Most problems 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 struck the required temperature for the best period. Use a donut probe or an ingrained thermochromic strip to measure true ink movie temperature, not simply dryer setpoints. Screen lockup is the second. Keep a consistent speed on press, flood between prints, and control store humidity.

A third risk is disregarding fabric variability. If you change blanks mid-run because a size runs out stock, you may see shifts in color. Build contingency into your acquiring. For brand names planning ahead, selecting a basic blank and locking it with your supplier decreases surprises.

Final guidance for selecting your path

If your top priority is soft, breathable custom-made garments that clients keep using, water based inks are worth the learning curve. Usage standard water based upon light garments for clean detail and matte color. Move to discharge on 100 percent cotton when you want the softest prints on dark t-shirts. Accept and plan for small color difference with discharge, especially across color lots. For bulk t shirt orders, build in a single round of physical tasting on the real blanks you will utilize, then document your settings and hold back a recommendation t-shirt for quality control.

If you run a print as needed brochure, take a water based pill of best sellers on light t-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 however fiber, you've won. That's the minute water based and discharge deliver, and why they deserve a location in any major store or brand's toolkit.

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

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