November 3, 2025

Beyond Standard 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 two things in consistent stress: the push for softer, more breathable prints that people actually delight in using, and the need to produce at scale without jeopardizing the environment or the bottom line. That tension has formed how I choose inks, pretreatments, and materials for custom clothing tasks. Over the years, I've discovered that water based inks and discharge printing are not just buzzwords, they are useful tools that produce best Jacksonville T shirt printing companies stunning results and real convenience, specifically for T t-shirt printing that requires to withstand day-to-day wear.

If you run a brand, handle bulk t shirt orders, or just want your individualized shirts to feel like a preferred from the first wash, it's worth understanding how these ink systems work, where they shine, and where they require care. The best choice can make the distinction in between a shirt that gets used once and one that becomes 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 material and cures into a film, water based inks absorb into the fibers. That single characteristic describes most of the benefits and compromises. Prints feel soft because you're touching the cotton, not a layer of treated PVC. Colors tend to look more matte and integrated. On light garments, the hand is often identical from the shirt itself. For custom-made t t-shirts created for comfort, this is the course to the "retail feel" clients ask for.

There are two 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 materials, you either require a much heavier print or you switch to release. Release printing utilizes an activator that raises the color from the material during curing, essentially whitening the shirt's dye in the printed locations, then changes it with your pigment. Completion outcome is the softest possible print on dark cotton, frequently with outstanding detail.

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

Eco friendly inks are not a marketing slogan if you unpack the chemistry and the workflow. Water based inks normally contain fewer unstable natural substances than solvent-heavy options and avoid PVC altogether. Many are compliant with rigorous standards like Oeko-Tex or satisfy retail screening programs that ban certain phthalates and heavy metals. If you offer customized apparel into corporate health cares, schools, or health-conscious brands, those certificates smooth procurement and keep you ahead of compliance.

That said, "eco friendly" is a system concept. Ink is one part. You likewise require to look at shop practices: filtration on your washout cubicle, reclaim chemistry, energy use on your dryer, and even fabric sourcing. Discharge requires an activator, generally based on zinc formaldehyde sulfoxylate or comparable compounds, which has its own handling and ventilation needs. In a well-run store, direct exposure is managed 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 treating controls dialed in. Genuine sustainability hides in the details.

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

Most people do not buy a graphic tee since they enjoy the ink. They purchase it since the garment looks good, feels great, and keeps that character after duplicated washing. Water based inks, consisting of discharge, provide you that broken-in comfort from the first day. On a 100 percent ring-spun cotton blank, a water based print is breathable and flexible. You will not hear the crackle you in some cases get from heavy plastisol when you extend throughout the chest.

I keep a rack of comparison 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 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 customers choose, however the wearer feedback corresponds: water based seems 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 color. 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 adds variables. Various dye lots discharge differently, even within the exact same brand name 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 final color, but you're still working with a background that is shifting as the color is removed.

That's not a flaw, it becomes part of the medium. Many designers embrace the a little vintage character of discharge, where reds land earthy and blues feel deep rather than neon. If your brand name needs laser-precise color recreation for corporate logos, either order test prints on the precise batch you plan to use or think about a water based underbase or hybrid technique where needed. For wholesale t shirts that will be distributed nationally, put swatch approvals into your procedure so there are not a surprises at scale.

Fabric matters more than many people think

A water based print is a collaboration between ink and fiber. Ringspun cotton takes ink magnificently. 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 deal with water based, but discharge just raises the cotton part. That indicates 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, brilliant color on a poly blend, conventional plastisol or a specialized low-cure system may be smarter.

On all over print projects, 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 completed tees introduces joints, folds, and irregular pressure that show up as blank micro-gaps. If you must print on ended up garments, expect little spaces along seams, which some customers like as part of the garment's character.

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

Water based inks act differently on press. They dry much faster in the screen, which is useful on fabric however can lock a mesh if you pause too long. Running a greater mesh for detail, say 230 to 305, keeps the deposit thin and crisp. Set up with a misting bottle or a dedicated screen rewetting option at hand, and keep the print room humidity in a steady range, roughly 45 to 55 percent, to avoid early drying. Manual press operators will observe how quickly a basic water based ink clears the screen compared to a heavy plastisol. Automobile presses, with flood bars and consistent rate, lower clogging.

Curing is where numerous 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 clothes dryer tunnel with adequate airflow makes the distinction. You want even heat across the belt and enough dwell to reach the manufacturer's cure temperature throughout the ink layer, not simply at the surface. T-shirts leaving the tunnel needs to be dry to the touch with no cool spots. For discharge, the chain reaction happens throughout this treatment, and you will smell the activator. Excellent ventilation is non-negotiable.

Durability and wash testing

Durability depends on correct cure and fiber engagement. A well-cured water based print on cotton can last longer than the shirt. I measure durability by standardized wash tests, 10 to 20 cycles at warm, tumble dry medium, then visual evaluation for fading and cracking. Water based prints reveal progressive softening and a gentle fade in the exact same method denim unwinds. Plastisol's failure mode is different, normally splitting if the ink layer is too thick or under-cured. For tailored shirts that require to look good at a family reunion and still remain in rotation next summertime, water based holds up when produced correctly.

Cost, throughput, and when to pick which method

Costs vary regionally, but the economics fall into familiar patterns. Water based ink itself is frequently equivalent to plastisol at the gallon level, but you invest more in store environment and drying capacity. On press, water based can be a little slower at setup because you pay closer attention to mesh, squeegee durometer, and off-contact. As soon as tuned, automobiles run at comparable speeds. Where it really settles is in perceived 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 shirt orders above a few hundred pieces where the art suits the medium, discharge on one hundred percent cotton is a workhorse. For print as needed that requires overnight turn-around and art changes constantly, direct-to-garment or DTF might be much better operationally, though both have their own ecological and feel trade-offs. When you take on wholesale t shirts with several colorways and need to keep inventory versatile, a flexible water based palette on light garments is effective, because you avoid the weight and tightness that accumulate with several underbases in plastisol.

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

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

Type weight matters. Extremely thin knockouts inside heavy flood areas can fill out with discharge, specifically on high-absorbency cotton. If you need razor negative space, 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 actual garment rather than trusting a digital mockup. A mockup can not record fiber interaction and dye lift.

When you must say no to discharge

There are times I recommend against discharge. Polyester-rich garments are leading of the list. The activator can cause dye migration, specifically with sublimated or cationic-dyed efficiency shirts, leading to ghosting or brownish casts. Some garment dyes, especially reactive black blends, withstand lifting, leaving a shadowed print that looks undercured even when it isn't. If a client is sensitive to small smell throughout treating, discharge days in the shop are noticeable. Well-managed air flow reduces this, but it becomes part of 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 impact is more satin than true 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 brand names and creators

Whether you run your own presses or rely on a partner, established a workflow that gets rid of uncertainty. A simple approach keeps surprises at bay and assists you struck deadlines for launches and events.

  • Decide on material 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 specific blanks: one t-shirt per colorway is normally sufficient to lock approvals, particularly for bulk t t-shirt orders where consistency matters.
  • Clarify color expectations in context: supply Pantone targets for light garments and describe appropriate ranges for dark discharge prints, with images of prior work you like.
  • Align on care labels and handling: suggest cold wash and low heat dry for customers, then verify your remedy times so wash sturdiness matches the tag guidance.
  • Confirm ecological standards: ask your printer about ink certifications, 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 restraints: quick art changes, little batch sizes, and the requirement 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 brochure method. For designs that are high volume even at little 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 much better than many DTG outputs. It works best when you keep art to a couple of colors and select light garments.

If your POD model 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 convenience and breathability are the selling points. Consumers 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 explain what they are purchasing. They get the soft hand that retail consumers equate with quality, enhanced breathability, and compliance for delicate 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 reduced the effects of by picking a slightly more affordable blank. If the program is for wholesale t t-shirts entering into boutiques or e-commerce at premium rate points, the enhancement in viewed value more than covers the change.

For personalized t-shirts, such as charity runs or college clubs, choices matter. Deal a base rate with plastisol on midweight cotton, then a "convenience upgrade" that consists of 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 larger market without diluting your craft.

Care instructions that customers really follow

Care labels typically check out like legal disclaimers. Keep it simple and practical so the shirt survives real life. Water based and discharge prints choose cooler washes and lower dryer heat, however they will withstand normal laundering if properly cured. I suggest phrasing care ideas in human terms on item pages: wash cold with comparable colors, tumble dry low, prevent fabric softeners T shirt printing companies Jacksonville if you want colors to remain crisp. The last note matters since some conditioners can transfer movies on fibers, dulling the visual contrast of fine lines.

I have actually evaluated these instructions in-house: 2 similar t-shirts, one cleaned 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 comes from right treatment, not from babying the garment.

All over print ideas that do not fight the limitations

All over print captures attention, but printing flood coats on assembled garments with water based inks can be unforgiving. Rather of fighting joints, design for them. Use tone-on-tone patterns that fade naturally at joints, or apply a ghosted grid that looks intentional when it breaks at hems. Additionally, run panel printing and sew. Brand names that sell restricted runs can validate cut-and-sew for 100 to 300 pieces if the design requires it. The ended up garments check out as custom from a distance, which is the goal.

A quick anecdote from a busy season

One spring we ran a series for a local music festival. The client wanted soft black tees with a sunburst print that felt like it lived in the fabric. We sampled on 3 blacks from 2 mills. Batch one raised cleanly with discharge, batch two 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 adjusted dwell time by 10 to 15 seconds to finish the response. The result: consistent tees throughout 2,400 systems, each with a soft, breathable print that offered out by day two.

That job taught the team to treat discharge like cooking, not chemistry on a blackboard. The recipe matters, however so does tasting and adjusting.

Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

Most issues I see trace back to procedure, not the ink household. Under-curing is the very 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. Use a donut probe or an embedded thermochromic strip to determine real ink film temperature level, not just clothes T shirt printing options Jacksonville dryer setpoints. Screen lockup is the 2nd. Keep a consistent pace on press, flood in between prints, and control store humidity.

A third pitfall is ignoring material variability. If you change blanks mid-run because a size runs out stock, you might see shifts in color. Build contingency into your buying. For brand names planning ahead, selecting a standard blank and locking it with your supplier minimizes surprises.

Final guidance for picking your path

If your top priority is soft, breathable customized apparel that customers keep wearing, water based inks are worth the learning curve. Use basic water based on light garments for tidy detail and matte color. Transfer to release on affordable T shirt printing one hundred percent cotton when you desire the softest prints on dark shirts. Accept and plan for slight color variation with discharge, specifically across dye lots. For bulk t shirt orders, build in a single round of physical sampling on the real blanks you will use, then record your settings and hold back a recommendation shirt for quality control.

If you operate a print as needed catalog, carve out a water based capsule of finest 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 t-shirts are evaluated in the hands, not simply on screens. When a customer rubs their thumb across a print and feels nothing but fiber, you have actually won. That's the moment water based and discharge provide, and why they deserve a place in any serious 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.