October 18, 2025

Beyond Standard 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 print shop that takes its craft seriously, and you will see two things in constant tension: the push for softer, more breathable prints that people really delight in wearing, and the need to produce at scale without compromising the environment or the bottom line. That tension has actually shaped how I select inks, pretreatments, and materials for custom clothing projects. Over the years, I've found out that water based inks and discharge printing are not just buzzwords, they are useful tools that produce beautiful outcomes and real convenience, particularly for T t-shirt printing that needs to withstand daily wear.

If you run a brand, manage bulk t t-shirt orders, or just desire your individualized shirts to feel like a preferred from the very first wash, it's worth understanding how these ink systems work, where they shine, and where they require care. The best option can make the difference in between a shirt that gets worn as soon as 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 treatments into a movie, water based inks absorb into the fibers. That single characteristic describes most of the benefits and compromises. Prints feel soft due to the fact that 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 frequently identical from the t-shirt itself. For custom t shirts created for comfort, this is the path to the "retail feel" customers ask for.

There are 2 primary families: basic water based and discharge. Standard water based ink works best on white or extremely light shirts. It can cover mid-tones with the right base, but once you move into darker materials, you either require a much heavier print or you switch to release. Release printing utilizes an activator that lifts the color from the fabric during treating, basically whitening the shirt's color in the printed locations, then replaces it with your pigment. The end outcome is the softest possible print on dark cotton, frequently with outstanding 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 typically contain less unstable organic substances than solvent-heavy options and avoid PVC altogether. Numerous are compliant with stringent standards like Oeko-Tex or fulfill retail testing programs that prohibit certain phthalates and heavy metals. If you sell custom-made garments into business health cares, 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 need to look at store practices: purification on your washout cubicle, recover chemistry, energy use on your clothes dryer, and even material sourcing. Discharge needs an activator, usually based upon zinc formaldehyde sulfoxylate or similar substances, which has its own handling and ventilation requirements. In a well-run store, exposure is managed and waste is captured. If you're utilizing print as needed with a partner, ask how they deal with discharge effluent and whether they have air exchange and treating controls called in. Genuine sustainability hides in the details.

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

Most people do not purchase a graphic tee since they enjoy the ink. They purchase it because the garment looks good, feels good, and keeps that character after repeated washing. Water based inks, including discharge, give 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 sometimes get from heavy plastisol when you extend throughout the chest.

I keep a shelf of comparison 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 much more, the colors mellowed a little, and the shirts kept moving. A plastisol sample with the very same art looks glossier and still pops more under harsh light, which some streetwear customers prefer, however the wearer feedback is consistent: water based feels like a premium garment.

Color, protection, and how expectations shape 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 hit tight Pantones with a determined ink mix and a clean mesh. On darker cotton, discharge includes variables. Different color lots discharge differently, even within the same brand and color. Black 3001 blanks from one batch may raise to a warm charcoal, while the next batch clears to a cooler grey. The pigment you add guides the last color, but you're still dealing with a background that is shifting as the dye is removed.

That's not a flaw, it's part of the medium. Numerous designers accept the slightly classic character of discharge, where reds land earthy and blues feel deep instead of neon. If your brand needs laser-precise color reproduction for corporate logo designs, either order test prints on the precise batch you prepare to utilize or think about a water based underbase or hybrid approach 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 most people think

A water based print is a collaboration in between ink and fiber. Ringspun cotton takes ink perfectly. 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 work with water based, however discharge just lifts the cotton portion. That implies your color saturates the cotton while the polyester and rayon remain as-is, often yielding a heathered or speckled print that looks intentional if you design for it. If your goal is flat, vivid color on a poly mix, conventional plastisol or a specialized low-cure system may be smarter.

On all over print jobs, such as a seam-to-seam tonal pattern behind a chest graphic, consider cut-and-sew with water based prints on panels before assembly. Garment printing all over on completed tees presents joints, folds, and inconsistent pressure that show up as blank micro-gaps. If you should print on completed garments, expect little voids along seams, which some customers 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 much faster in the screen, which works on fabric but can lock a mesh if you stop briefly too long. Running a higher mesh for detail, state 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 consistent variety, roughly 45 to 55 percent, to avoid early drying. Manual press operators will observe how rapidly a standard water based ink clears the screen compared to a heavy plastisol. Auto presses, with flood bars and constant pace, decrease clogging.

Curing is where numerous newbies fizzle. Water based inks require both heat and time for the water to evaporate, then for the binders to cross-link. A dryer tunnel with sufficient airflow makes the distinction. You desire even heat across the belt and sufficient dwell to reach the maker's cure temperature throughout the ink layer, not simply at the surface. T-shirts exiting the tunnel must be dry to the touch without any cool areas. For discharge, the chain reaction takes place during this cure, and you will smell the activator. Great ventilation is non-negotiable.

Durability and wash testing

Durability depends upon proper treatment and fiber engagement. A well-cured water based print on cotton can last longer than the shirt. I determine resilience by standardized wash tests, 10 to 20 cycles at warm, topple dry medium, then visual assessment for fading and breaking. Water based prints reveal steady softening and a mild fade in the same way jeans unwinds. Plastisol's failure mode is different, generally splitting if the ink layer is too thick or under-cured. For personalized t-shirts that cheap custom t shirts require to look good at a household reunion and still be in rotation next summer, 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 frequently comparable 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 mesh, squeegee durometer, and off-contact. When tuned, automobiles perform at similar speeds. Where it really pays off remains in perceived worth. A soft print on a mid-tier blank typically feels premium without leaping to the highest-cost t-shirt. Brand names can price accordingly.

For bulk t shirt orders above a couple of hundred pieces where the art suits the medium, discharge on 100 percent cotton is a workhorse. For print as needed that requires over night turn-around and art modifications continuously, direct-to-garment or DTF may be much better operationally, though both have their own environmental and feel compromises. When you handle wholesale t t-shirts with several colorways and should keep inventory versatile, a flexible water based combination on light garments is effective, since you avoid the weight and tightness that build up with numerous underbases in plastisol.

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

Design preparation begins with the fabric color and ends with monogramming 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 custom t shirts and soft edges. Think about 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 locations can fill in with discharge, specifically on high-absorbency cotton. If you need razor negative space, different the art to print unfavorable shapes as positive strokes with a clear schedule for squeegee pressure and flashes. Ask your printer for an evidence on the actual garment instead of trusting a digital mockup. A mockup can not catch fiber interaction and color 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 cause dye migration, especially with sublimated or cationic-dyed efficiency shirts, leading to 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 odor during curing, discharge days in the store are noticeable. Well-managed airflow mitigates this, but it becomes part of the process.

If a customer needs metallics, puff, or specialized textures, plastisol or hybrid systems still own that area. Water based metallics exist, however the particles frequently sink, and the impact is more satin than true metal. For high-opacity neons on dark t-shirts that should be billboard-bright, you may need a water based underbase tuned for opacity Screen reclaiming or a switch to plastisol.

Practical workflow for brands and creators

Whether you run your own presses or depend on a partner, set up a workflow that gets rid of guesswork. An easy technique keeps surprises at bay and assists you struck deadlines for launches and events.

  • Decide on material first, then ink: choose 100 percent ringspun cotton for discharge, or light, high-quality cotton for standard water based. Avoid high poly unless the heathered effect is desired.
  • Request test prints on the exact blanks: one shirt per colorway is typically enough to lock approvals, specifically for bulk t t-shirt orders where consistency matters.
  • Clarify color expectations in context: provide Pantone targets for light garments and describe appropriate ranges for dark discharge prints, with images of previous work you like.
  • Align on care labels and handling: suggest cold wash and low heat dry for clients, then confirm your cure times so wash sturdiness matches the tag guidance.
  • Confirm environmental 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 on demand has its own restraints: fast art changes, little batch sizes, and the need for a broad color gamut. Direct-to-garment has become the default, but water based screen printing can fit POD if you arrange brochure method. For designs that are high volume even at small everyday amounts, pre-burning screens and keeping a small stock of popular sizes lets you deliver very same day with water based prints that feel much better than lots of 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. Use it where cotton comfort and breathability are the selling points. Clients 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 customers equate with quality, enhanced breathability, and compliance for sensitive buyers. On a per-shirt basis, the difference for a basic three-color front hit might be modest, typically a little uplift that can be reduced the effects of by selecting a slightly more cost-effective blank. If the program is for wholesale t t-shirts going into boutiques or e-commerce at superior rate points, the improvement in perceived value more than covers the change.

For individualized shirts, such as charity runs or college clubs, options matter. Offer a base price with plastisol on midweight cotton, then a "convenience 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 wider market without diluting your craft.

Care directions that customers in fact follow

Care labels typically check out like legal disclaimers. Keep it simple and reasonable so the shirt endures real life. Water based and discharge prints choose cooler washes and lower clothes dryer heat, however they will sustain typical laundering if correctly treated. I recommend phrasing care suggestions in human terms on product pages: wash cold with similar colors, tumble dry low, prevent fabric softeners if you want colors to stay crisp. The last note matters due to the fact that some softeners can transfer films on fibers, dulling the visual contrast of fine lines.

I've evaluated these instructions in-house: 2 similar 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 correct cure, not from babying the garment.

All over print ideas that do not combat the limitations

All over print captures attention, but printing flood coats on assembled garments with water based inks can be unforgiving. Instead of battling seams, 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. Alternatively, run panel printing and stitch. Brands that sell restricted runs can justify cut-and-sew for 100 to 300 pieces if the style requires it. The completed garments check out as custom from a distance, which is the goal.

A quick anecdote from a hectic season

One spring we ran a series for a regional music festival. The client wanted soft black tees with a sunburst print that seemed like it resided in the fabric. We sampled on three blacks from two mills. Batch one lifted cleanly with discharge, batch two remained stubbornly dark in the mid-rays of the art work. We logged color lot numbers, rotated the ink mix by including a touch more white pigment to compensate, and adjusted 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 job taught the crew to treat discharge like cooking, not chemistry on a chalkboard. The dish matters, however so does tasting and adjusting.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Most issues I see trace back to procedure, not the ink family. Under-curing is the very first offender. Water DTF printing based ink that feels dry can still be under-cured if the core of the print never ever struck the required temp for the best period. Use a donut probe or an embedded thermochromic strip to measure real ink movie temperature level, not just clothes dryer setpoints. Screen lockup is the second. Keep a consistent speed on press, flood in between prints, and control store humidity.

A 3rd risk is ignoring fabric variability. If you change blanks mid-run since a size runs out stock, you might see shifts in color. Develop contingency into your acquiring. For brands preparing ahead, selecting a basic blank and locking it with your supplier reduces surprises.

Final assistance for picking your path

If your priority is soft, breathable custom-made garments that customers keep using, water based inks deserve the learning curve. Use basic water based on light garments for tidy information and matte color. Transfer to release on 100 percent cotton when you want the softest prints on dark t-shirts. Accept and plan for slight color difference with discharge, particularly throughout dye lots. For bulk t t-shirt orders, integrate in a single round of physical tasting on the real blanks you will use, then document your settings and hold back a referral shirt for quality control.

If you operate a print as needed catalog, take a water based pill of best sellers on light t-shirts. Market the distinction: 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 shirts are judged in the hands, not simply on screens. When a client rubs their thumb across a print and feels nothing but fiber, you have actually won. That's the minute water based and discharge provide, and why they deserve a location in any major 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.