October 18, 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 individuals actually enjoy wearing, and the need to produce at scale without compromising the environment or the bottom line. That stress has actually shaped how I select inks, pretreatments, and materials for custom-made apparel tasks. 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 lovely results and genuine comfort, 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 simply desire your tailored t-shirts to feel like a favorite from the very first wash, it deserves comprehending how these ink systems work, where they shine, and where they need care. The right option can make the difference between a t-shirt that gets used when and one that ends up being 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 soak up into the fibers. That single characteristic explains the majority 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 often indistinguishable from the t-shirt itself. For custom-made t shirts developed for convenience, this is the course to the "retail feel" clients ask for.

There are 2 main families: basic water based and discharge. Basic water based ink works best on white or very light shirts. It can cover mid-tones with the right base, once you move into darker materials, you either need a much heavier print or you change to discharge. Discharge printing utilizes an activator that raises the color from the material throughout curing, essentially whitening the t-shirt's dye in the printed locations, then replaces it with your pigment. Completion 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 unload the chemistry and the workflow. Water based inks generally consist of less unstable natural compounds than solvent-heavy alternatives and avoid PVC altogether. Lots of are certified with strict requirements like Oeko-Tex or satisfy retail screening routines that ban particular phthalates and heavy metals. If you sell custom-made apparel into corporate health cares, schools, or health-conscious brands, those certificates smooth procurement and keep you ahead of compliance.

That stated, "eco friendly" is a system principle. Ink is one part. You also need to take a look at store practices: purification on your washout cubicle, recover chemistry, energy usage 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 custom hoodies and shirts ventilation needs. In a well-run shop, direct exposure is managed and waste is recorded. If you're utilizing print on demand with a partner, ask how they handle discharge effluent and whether they have air exchange and curing controls called in. Real sustainability conceals in the details.

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

Most people do not buy a graphic tee because they enjoy the ink. They buy it due to the fact that the garment looks good, feels good, and keeps that character after duplicated washing. Water based inks, consisting of discharge, give you that broken-in comfort from the first day. 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 stretch throughout the chest.

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

Color, protection, and how expectations shape results

Color precision with water based inks is a matter of control, humidity, and the material's own color. On white or heather light shirts, standard water based ink can hit tight Pantones with a measured ink mix and a clean mesh. On darker cotton, discharge includes variables. Various color lots discharge in a different way, even within the very 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 add steers the last color, but you're still working with a background that is shifting as the dye is removed.

That's not a defect, it belongs to the medium. Lots of designers accept the somewhat vintage character of discharge, where reds land earthy and blues feel deep rather than neon. If your brand needs laser-precise color reproduction for business logo designs, either order test prints on the exact batch you plan to use or consider 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 beautifully. 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 suggests your color saturates the cotton while the polyester and rayon remain as-is, often yielding a heathered or speckled print that looks deliberate if you design for it. If your goal is flat, brilliant color on a poly mix, standard 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, think about cut-and-sew with water based prints on panels before assembly. Garment printing all over on finished tees presents joints, folds, and irregular pressure that show up as blank micro-gaps. If you must print on completed garments, anticipate little 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 faster in the screen, which works on material however can lock a mesh if you pause too long. Running a higher mesh for information, say 230 to 305, keeps the deposit thin and crisp. Set up with a misting bottle or a devoted screen rewetting service at hand, and keep the print space humidity in a steady variety, approximately 45 to 55 percent, to prevent premature 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 constant pace, minimize 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 clothes dryer tunnel with adequate airflow makes the difference. You desire even heat across the belt and adequate dwell to reach the maker's treatment temperature level throughout the ink layer, not just at the surface area. Shirts leaving the tunnel should be dry to the touch without any cool areas. For discharge, the chemical reaction occurs during this cure, and you will smell the activator. Good ventilation is non-negotiable.

Durability and wash testing

Durability depends on appropriate treatment 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, topple dry medium, then visual examination for fading and splitting. Water based prints show steady softening and a gentle fade in the very same method denim relaxes. Plastisol's failure mode is various, usually breaking if the ink layer is too thick or under-cured. For tailored shirts that need to look proficient at a family reunion and still remain in rotation next summer, water based holds up when produced correctly.

Cost, throughput, and when to select which method

Costs differ regionally, but the economics fall under familiar patterns. Water based ink itself is often similar 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 fit together, squeegee durometer, and off-contact. As soon as tuned, vehicles perform at similar speeds. Where it really pays off is in perceived value. A soft print on a mid-tier blank often feels premium without jumping to the highest-cost t-shirt. Brands can price accordingly.

For bulk t shirt orders above a couple of hundred pieces where the art fits the medium, discharge on 100 percent cotton custom hoodie printing is a workhorse. For print on demand that requires over night turn-around and art modifications continuously, direct-to-garment or DTF may be better operationally, though both have their own ecological and feel trade-offs. When you take on wholesale t shirts with several colorways and must keep stock versatile, a flexible water based combination on light garments is effective, because you prevent the weight and tightness that collect with several underbases in plastisol.

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

Design planning begins with the fabric color and ends with treating. On light t-shirts, lean into detail: thin lines, halftones, hand-drawn textures. Standard water based ink prints those with a delicacy that plastisol tends to subdue. On dark cotton, discharge shines with mid-tone richness and soft edges. Think about how the t-shirt color looks 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 fill in with discharge, especially on high-absorbency cotton. If you require razor unfavorable area, separate the art to print unfavorable shapes as favorable 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 record fiber interaction and color lift.

When you need to state no to discharge

There are times I advise versus discharge. Polyester-rich garments are top of the list. The activator can trigger dye migration, particularly with sublimated or cationic-dyed efficiency t-shirts, resulting in ghosting or brownish casts. Some garment dyes, specifically reactive black blends, resist lifting, leaving a shadowed print that looks undercured even when it isn't. If a customer is sensitive to small smell during treating, discharge days in the shop are obvious. Well-managed air flow alleviates this, however it is part of the process.

If a client needs metallics, puff, or specialized textures, plastisol or hybrid systems still own that space. 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 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 count on a partner, established a workflow that eliminates uncertainty. A basic technique keeps surprises at bay and helps you hit deadlines for launches and events.

  • Decide on material first, then ink: pick one hundred percent ringspun cotton for discharge, or light, top quality cotton for standard water based. Avoid high poly unless the heathered result is desired.
  • Request test prints on the exact blanks: one shirt per colorway is usually enough to lock approvals, especially 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: recommend cold wash and low heat dry for customers, then validate your remedy times so clean toughness matches the tag guidance.
  • Confirm environmental standards: ask your printer about ink certifications, ventilation, and waste capture, especially if your brand name messaging leans into eco friendly inks.

How water based fits with print on demand

Contract screen printing

Print as needed has its own constraints: fast art changes, little batch sizes, and the requirement for a broad color gamut. Direct-to-garment has actually become the default, however water based screen printing can fit POD if you organize brochure strategy. For styles that are high volume even at little day-to-day amounts, pre-burning screens and keeping a small stock of popular sizes lets you ship same day with water based prints that feel better than lots of DTG outputs. It works best when you keep art to a couple of colors and choose light garments.

If your POD design relies 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. Customers who care about touch will notice.

Pricing, margins, and communicating value

When customers 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, enhanced breathability, and compliance for sensitive purchasers. On a per-shirt basis, the difference for a standard three-color front hit may be modest, typically 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 boutiques or e-commerce at exceptional price points, the enhancement in perceived value more than covers the change.

For personalized shirts, such as charity runs or college clubs, options matter. Offer a base cost 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 clients optimize for expense, others for feel. Satisfying both lets you serve a larger market without diluting your craft.

Care guidelines that consumers actually follow

Care labels often read like legal disclaimers. Keep it basic and sensible so the shirt survives reality. Water based and discharge prints choose cooler washes and lower dryer heat, however they will endure regular laundering if appropriately treated. I recommend phrasing care tips in human terms on product pages: wash cold with comparable colors, topple dry low, avoid material conditioners if you desire colors to stay crisp. The last note matters because some conditioners can transfer films on fibers, dulling the visual contrast of fine lines.

I have actually tested these directions in-house: two similar t-shirts, one washed cold and dried low, the other washed warm and dried high. After 15 cycles, the warm/high tee revealed slightly faster fading of mid-tones, yet still looked good. That tolerance comes from appropriate treatment, not from babying the garment.

All over print concepts that do not battle the limitations

All over print captures attention, however printing flood coats on assembled garments with water based inks can be unforgiving. Instead of combating joints, style for them. Use tone-on-tone patterns that fade naturally at seams, or use a ghosted grid that looks intentional when it breaks at hems. Additionally, run panel printing and sew. Brand names that offer minimal 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 range, which is the goal.

A quick anecdote from a busy season

One spring we ran a series for a regional music festival. The client wanted soft black tees with a sunburst print that felt like it resided in the fabric. We tested on 3 blacks from 2 mills. Batch one lifted easily with discharge, batch 2 stayed stubbornly dark in the mid-rays of the artwork. We logged color lot numbers, pivoted the ink mix by including a touch more white pigment to compensate, and changed 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 job taught the team to treat discharge like cooking, not chemistry on a blackboard. The recipe matters, but so does tasting and adjusting.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Most problems I see trace back to procedure, 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 struck the required temperature for the ideal period. Use a donut probe or an ingrained thermochromic strip to determine true ink movie temperature level, not just clothes dryer setpoints. Screen lockup is the 2nd. Keep a consistent rate on press, flood in between prints, and control store humidity.

A third mistake is disregarding fabric variability. If you change blanks mid-run since a size is out of stock, you may see shifts in color. Build contingency into your acquiring. For brands preparing ahead, choosing a basic blank and locking it with your provider reduces surprises.

Final assistance for choosing your path

If your concern is soft, breathable custom-made apparel that customers keep using, water based inks are worth the knowing curve. Usage standard water based upon light garments for tidy information and matte color. Transfer to release on 100 percent cotton when you desire the softest prints on dark t-shirts. Accept and prepare for slight color variation with discharge, particularly across dye lots. For bulk t shirt orders, integrate in a single round of physical sampling on the actual blanks you will utilize, then document your settings and hold back a recommendation t-shirt for quality control.

If you operate a print on demand catalog, 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 specialty effects and neon stunners in plastisol or hybrid systems where they belong.

Custom t shirts are evaluated in the hands, not just on screens. When a customer rubs their thumb throughout a print and feels absolutely nothing but fiber, you have actually won. That's the moment water based and discharge provide, and why they should have a place in any serious 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.