October 18, 2025

Beyond Standard Tees: A Guide to Eco-Friendly Water-Based Inks and Discharge Printing for Custom T‑Shirts

Prints R Us is a custom apparel studio
Prints R Us is based in Jacksonville Florida
Prints R Us is located at 2826 Art Museum Dr Jacksonville FL 32207 United States
Prints R Us is in the country United States
Prints R Us provides premium screen printing
Prints R Us provides DTG printing
Prints R Us provides embroidery services
Prints R Us offers custom t shirts
Prints R Us produces promotional items
Prints R Us creates polos hats and hoodies
Prints R Us emphasizes craftsmanship
Prints R Us emphasizes fast turnaround
Prints R Us uses high quality materials
Prints R Us produces vibrant prints
Prints R Us has phone number 9047521515
Prints R Us has website https://printsrus.com/
Prints R Us has opening hours Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm
Prints R Us has Google Maps listing https://maps.app.goo.gl/hVuq8aVZERVs9NMg8
Prints R Us has Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/theprintsrus
Prints R Us has Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/theprintsrus
Prints R Us has logo https://printsrus.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Print-R-Us-Logo.png
Prints R Us specializes in t shirt printing
Prints R Us specializes in custom t shirts
Prints R Us specializes in embroidery near me
Prints R Us was awarded Best Custom Printing Studio Jacksonville 2024
Prints R Us won Jacksonville Small Business Excellence Award 2023
Prints R Us was recognized for Outstanding Apparel Design Innovation 2022


Prints R Us

Prints R Us is a Jacksonville, FL–based custom apparel studio offering premium screen printing, DTG printing, and embroidery services. Whether you need one custom tee or a large bulk order for a business, event, or sports team, they bring designs to life with high-quality materials, vibrant prints, and attention to detail. From polos and hats to hoodies and promotional items, Prints R Us combines craftsmanship and fast turnaround to make your ideas wearable.

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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 printing shop that takes its craft seriously, and you will see two things in consistent tension: the push for softer, more breathable prints that people actually enjoy wearing, and the requirement to produce at scale without jeopardizing the environment or the bottom line. That tension has actually formed how I pick inks, pretreatments, and materials for custom clothing projects. Over the years, I've found out that water based inks and discharge printing are not simply buzzwords, they are practical tools that produce beautiful outcomes and genuine comfort, particularly for T t-shirt printing that requires to withstand daily wear.

If you run a brand, manage bulk t shirt orders, or just want your customized shirts to feel like a favorite from the very first wash, it's worth comprehending how these ink systems work, where they shine, and where they require care. The ideal choice can make the distinction between a t-shirt that gets used as soon as and one that becomes the go-to.

What water based ink actually is

Water based inks suspend pigments in water instead of in plasticizers and solvents. Unlike plastisol, which sits on top of the fabric and remedies into a film, water based inks take in into the fibers. That single particular discusses the majority 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 typically identical from the t-shirt itself. For custom t t-shirts developed for comfort, this is the course to the "retail feel" clients ask for.

There are two main households: basic water based and discharge. Basic 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 fabrics, you either need a heavier print or you change to discharge. Discharge printing uses an activator that lifts the color from the material during treating, essentially whitening the t-shirt's color in the printed areas, 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 include fewer unpredictable organic substances than solvent-heavy alternatives and prevent PVC completely. Numerous are certified with strict standards like Oeko-Tex or meet retail testing regimes that prohibit specific phthalates and heavy metals. If you sell custom garments 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 principle. Ink is one part. You likewise need to take a look at store practices: purification on your washout cubicle, reclaim chemistry, energy use on your clothes dryer, and even material sourcing. Discharge needs an activator, typically based on zinc formaldehyde sulfoxylate or similar substances, which has its own handling and ventilation needs. In a well-run shop, exposure is controlled local embroidery shop and waste is captured. If you're utilizing print on demand with a partner, ask how they manage discharge effluent and whether they have air exchange and curing controls dialed in. Genuine sustainability hides in the details.

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

Most individuals do not buy a graphic tee because they like the ink. They purchase it since the garment looks excellent, feels excellent, and keeps that character after duplicated washing. Water based inks, including discharge, offer you that broken-in comfort from day one. On a 100 percent ring-spun cotton blank, a water based print is breathable and flexible. You will not hear the crackle you sometimes receive from heavy plastisol when you stretch across the chest.

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

Color, coverage, and how expectations shape results

Color precision with water based inks is a matter of control, humidity, and the fabric's own color. On white or heather light shirts, basic water based ink can strike tight Pantones with a determined ink mix and a clean mesh. On darker cotton, discharge adds variables. Various color lots discharge differently, even within the very same brand 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 include guides the final color, but you're still working with a background that is shifting as the dye is removed.

That's not a flaw, it belongs to the medium. Numerous designers embrace the a little classic character of discharge, where reds land earthy and blues feel deep rather than neon. If your brand name demands laser-precise color recreation for business logo designs, either order test prints on the exact batch you prepare to use or think about a water based underbase or hybrid method where needed. For wholesale t 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 the majority of people think

A water based print is a partnership in between ink and fiber. Ringspun cotton takes ink wonderfully. Carded open end cotton is scratchier and beverages ink unevenly. Blends complicate things. A 50/50 poly-cotton or a triblend with rayon can work with water based, but discharge only lifts the cotton portion. That indicates your color fills the cotton while the polyester and rayon stay as-is, often yielding a heathered or speckled print that looks deliberate if you design for it. If your goal is flat, vibrant color on a poly blend, standard 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, think about cut-and-sew with water based prints on panels before assembly. Garment printing all over on completed tees presents seams, folds, and irregular pressure that show up as blank micro-gaps. If you need to print on ended up garments, anticipate small spaces along seams, 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 works on fabric however can lock a mesh if you pause too long. Running a greater mesh for information, state 230 to 305, keeps the deposit thin and crisp. Establish with a misting bottle or a dedicated screen rewetting solution 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 rapidly a basic water based ink clears the screen compared to a heavy plastisol. Auto presses, with flood bars and constant rate, minimize 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 sufficient air flow makes the difference. You want even heat across the belt and adequate dwell to reach the maker's treatment temperature level throughout the ink layer, not simply at the surface. Shirts leaving the tunnel should be dry to the touch with no cool areas. For discharge, the chemical reaction happens during this cure, and you will smell the activator. Excellent ventilation is non-negotiable.

Durability and wash testing

Durability depends upon appropriate cure and fiber engagement. A well-cured water based print on cotton can last longer than the shirt. I measure toughness by standardized wash tests, 10 to 20 cycles at warm, topple dry medium, then visual evaluation for fading and breaking. Water based prints show progressive softening and a mild fade in the exact same method jeans relaxes. Plastisol's failure mode is different, generally breaking if the ink layer is too thick or under-cured. For customized shirts that require to look good at a household reunion and still remain in rotation next summer, water based holds up when produced correctly.

Cost, throughput, and when to pick which method

Costs differ regionally, however the economics fall under familiar patterns. Water based ink itself is frequently comparable to plastisol at the gallon level, however you invest more in store environment and drying capability. On press, water based can be a little slower at setup because you pay closer attention to fit together, squeegee durometer, and off-contact. When tuned, cars perform at comparable speeds. Where it actually settles remains in viewed worth. A soft print on a mid-tier blank often 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 one hundred percent cotton is a workhorse. For print on demand that needs overnight turnaround and art changes continuously, direct-to-garment or DTF may be much better operationally, though both have their own environmental and feel trade-offs. When you handle wholesale t shirts with multiple colorways and need to keep stock versatile, a versatile water based scheme on light garments is efficient, considering that you prevent the weight and stiffness that collect with multiple underbases in plastisol.

Design choices that highlight the best in water based and discharge

Design preparation starts with the fabric color and ends with treating. On light t-shirts, lean into information: thin lines, halftones, hand-drawn textures. Basic water based ink prints those with a delicacy that plastisol tends Custom apparel printing to overpower. On dark cotton, discharge shines with mid-tone richness and soft edges. Consider how the shirt color glimpses through. A charcoal heather with a discharge cream graphic looks like it grew there.

Type weight matters. Really thin knockouts inside heavy flood areas can complete with discharge, especially on high-absorbency cotton. If you require razor unfavorable space, separate 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 real garment instead of relying on a digital mockup. A mockup can not record fiber interaction and dye lift.

When you must state no to discharge

There are times I recommend versus discharge. Polyester-rich garments are top of the list. The activator can trigger dye migration, specifically 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 minor smell throughout treating, discharge days in the store are noticeable. Well-managed air flow alleviates this, but it is part of the process.

If a customer needs metallics, puff, or specialized textures, plastisol or hybrid systems still own that space. Water based metallics exist, however the particles typically sink, and the effect 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, set up a workflow that gets rid of guesswork. A basic method keeps surprises at bay and helps you hit due dates for launches and events.

  • Decide on fabric first, then ink: pick one hundred percent ringspun cotton for discharge, or light, premium cotton for standard water based. Prevent high poly unless the heathered impact is desired.
  • Request test prints on the exact blanks: one t-shirt per colorway is generally enough to lock approvals, specifically for bulk t shirt orders where consistency matters.
  • Clarify color expectations in context: supply Pantone targets for light garments and explain acceptable varieties for dark discharge prints, with pictures of previous work you like.
  • Align on care labels and handling: recommend cold wash and low heat dry for consumers, then verify your cure times so wash toughness matches the tag guidance.
  • Confirm ecological standards: ask your printer about ink accreditations, ventilation, and waste capture, especially if your brand messaging leans into eco friendly inks.

How water based fits with print on demand

Print as needed has its own constraints: quick art changes, small batch sizes, and the need for a broad color gamut. Direct-to-garment has ended up being the default, however water based screen printing can fit POD if you organize brochure technique. For designs that are high volume even at small daily quantities, pre-burning screens and keeping a small stock of popular sizes lets you deliver same day with water based prints that feel much better than numerous DTG outputs. It works best when you keep art to one or two 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 convenience and breathability are the selling points. Clients who care about touch will notice.

Pricing, margins, and communicating value

When clients ask why a water based or discharge print costs more than a standard plastisol task, I discuss what they are purchasing. They get the soft hand that retail customers equate with quality, improved breathability, and compliance for delicate buyers. On a per-shirt basis, the difference for a standard three-color front hit might be modest, frequently a little uplift that can be neutralized by picking a somewhat more cost-effective blank. If the program is for wholesale t shirts going into boutiques or e-commerce at superior cost points, the enhancement in perceived value more than covers the change.

For individualized shirts, such as charity runs or college clubs, choices matter. Deal 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 customers enhance for cost, others for feel. Meeting both lets you serve a larger market without diluting your craft.

Care directions that clients really follow

Care labels frequently check out like legal disclaimers. Keep it easy and reasonable so the t-shirt makes it through real life. Water based and discharge prints prefer cooler washes and lower clothes dryer heat, however they will endure normal laundering if correctly cured. I recommend phrasing care ideas in human terms on item pages: wash cold with similar colors, topple dry low, avoid fabric conditioners if you want colors to stay crisp. The last note matters since some conditioners can transfer movies on fibers, dulling the visual contrast of fine lines.

I have actually checked these instructions 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 somewhat faster fading of mid-tones, yet still looked excellent. That tolerance originates from correct cure, not from babying the garment.

All over print concepts that do not fight the limitations

All over print catches attention, but printing flood coats on put together garments with water based inks can be unforgiving. Rather of fighting joints, design 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. Brands that offer restricted runs can validate cut-and-sew for 100 to 300 pieces if the design warrants it. The ended up garments check out as custom from a range, which is the goal.

A brief anecdote from a hectic season

One spring we ran a series for a local music festival. The client desired soft black tees with a sunburst print that felt like it lived in the material. We tested on 3 blacks from 2 mills. Batch one lifted easily with discharge, batch two stayed stubbornly dark in the mid-rays of the art work. 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 response. The outcome: consistent tees across 2,400 systems, each with a soft, breathable print that offered out by day two.

That task taught the team to deal with discharge like cooking, not chemistry on a chalkboard. The dish matters, however so does tasting and adjusting.

Common mistakes and how to prevent 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 temp for the best duration. Utilize a donut probe or an ingrained thermochromic strip to measure real ink movie temperature level, not just dryer setpoints. Screen lockup is the second. Keep a constant rate on press, flood between prints, and control shop humidity.

A third mistake is overlooking fabric variability. If you change blanks mid-run since a size runs out stock, you may see shifts in color. Construct contingency into your purchasing. For brands preparing ahead, selecting a standard blank and locking it with your supplier reduces surprises.

Final guidance for selecting your path

If your concern is soft, breathable custom garments that consumers keep wearing, water based inks are worth the knowing curve. Use basic water based upon light garments for tidy information and matte color. Move to discharge on one hundred percent cotton when you desire the softest prints on dark t-shirts. Accept and prepare for small color variance with discharge, especially throughout color lots. For bulk t t-shirt orders, integrate in a single round of physical tasting on the real blanks you will use, then record your settings and keep back a reference shirt for quality control.

If you operate a print as needed brochure, carve out a water based pill of finest sellers on light t-shirts. Market the distinction: eco friendly inks, breathable feel, and retail-quality hand. Keep your specialty results and neon stunners in plastisol or hybrid systems where they belong.

Custom t t-shirts are evaluated in the hands, not just on screens. When a customer rubs their thumb across a print and feels absolutely nothing however fiber, you've won. That's the minute water based and discharge provide, and why they should have a location in any serious store 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.