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.

View on Google Maps
2826 Art Museum Dr, Jacksonville, 32207, US
Business Hours:
  • Monday–Friday: 09:00–17:00
  • Saturday: Closed
  • Sunday: Closed
Follow Us:

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 continuous tension: the push for softer, more breathable prints that people actually delight in wearing, and the need to produce at scale without compromising the environment or the bottom line. That stress has shaped how I select inks, pretreatments, and fabrics for custom-made clothing tasks. Throughout the years, I have actually discovered that water based inks and discharge printing are not just buzzwords, they are practical tools that produce beautiful results and genuine comfort, particularly for T t-shirt printing that needs to stand up to everyday wear.

If you run a brand name, handle bulk t shirt orders, or simply desire your tailored t-shirts to seem like a favorite from the very first wash, it deserves understanding how these ink systems work, where they shine, and where they need care. The right option can make the difference in between a t-shirt that gets worn as soon as and one that becomes the go-to.

What water based ink really is

Water based inks suspend pigments in water rather than in plasticizers and solvents. Unlike plastisol, which sits on top of the material and cures into a movie, water based inks absorb into the fibers. That single characteristic explains the majority of the advantages and compromises. Prints feel soft because you're touching the cotton, not a layer of cured PVC. Colors tend to look more matte and integrated. On light garments, the hand is typically identical from the shirt itself. For custom-made t t-shirts developed for comfort, this is the path to the "retail feel" customers ask for.

There are 2 main families: basic water based and discharge. Basic water based ink works best on white or really light shirts. It can cover mid-tones with the right base, once you move into darker fabrics, you either require a much heavier print or you change to release. Release printing uses an activator that raises the color from the fabric throughout treating, basically whitening the t-shirt's color in the printed areas, then replaces it with your pigment. Completion result is the softest possible print on dark cotton, typically with impressive detail.

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

Eco friendly inks are not a marketing slogan if you unload the chemistry and the workflow. Water based inks normally include less unstable organic substances than solvent-heavy alternatives and avoid PVC altogether. Numerous are certified with strict standards like Oeko-Tex or fulfill retail screening programs that prohibit certain phthalates and heavy metals. If you offer custom apparel into corporate wellness programs, schools, or health-conscious brands, those certificates smooth procurement and keep you ahead of compliance.

That said, "eco friendly" is a system idea. Ink is one part. You also require to take a look at shop practices: purification on your washout cubicle, reclaim chemistry, energy use on your clothes dryer, and even fabric sourcing. Discharge requires an activator, generally based upon zinc formaldehyde sulfoxylate or comparable compounds, which has its own handling and ventilation needs. In a well-run store, exposure is controlled and waste is recorded. If you're utilizing print as needed with a partner, ask how they deal with discharge effluent and whether they have air exchange and curing controls dialed in. Real sustainability hides in the details.

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

Most individuals do not buy a graphic tee because they like the ink. They purchase it because the garment looks excellent, feels excellent, and keeps that character after duplicated cleaning. Water based inks, including discharge, offer 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 receive from heavy plastisol when you stretch across the chest.

I keep a shelf of comparison t-shirts in the studio. One from a browse brand, 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 slightly, and the t-shirts kept moving. A plastisol sample with the same art looks glossier and still pops more under severe light, which some streetwear customers prefer, but the wearer feedback corresponds: water based feels like a premium garment.

Color, coverage, and how expectations shape results

Color precision with water based inks refers 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 tidy mesh. On darker cotton, discharge adds variables. Various dye lots discharge differently, even within the exact 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 steers the last color, however you're still dealing with a background that is shifting as the dye is removed.

That's not a defect, it's part of the medium. Lots of designers embrace the somewhat classic 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 prepare to use or consider a water based underbase or hybrid approach where needed. For wholesale t shirts that will be dispersed nationally, put example 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 perfectly. 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 raises the cotton portion. That suggests your color fills the cotton while the polyester and rayon remain as-is, frequently yielding a heathered or speckled print that looks intentional if you design for it. If your goal is flat, brilliant color on a poly mix, traditional plastisol or a specialized low-cure system might Stencil durability 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 finished tees introduces joints, folds, and irregular pressure that show up as blank micro-gaps. If you must print on finished garments, anticipate small spaces along joints, which some clients like as part of the garment's character.

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

Water based inks behave differently on press. They dry much faster in the screen, which works on material however can lock a mesh if you stop briefly too long. Running a greater 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 range, approximately 45 to 55 percent, to prevent early drying. Manual press operators will see how quickly a standard water based ink clears the screen compared to a heavy plastisol. Auto presses, with flood bars and consistent pace, minimize clogging.

Curing is where lots of novices miss the mark. Water based inks require both heat and time for the water to evaporate, then for the binders to cross-link. A dryer tunnel with enough airflow makes the distinction. You want even heat throughout the belt and adequate dwell to reach the producer's remedy temperature level throughout the ink layer, not just at the surface. Shirts exiting the tunnel should be dry to the touch without any cool areas. For discharge, the chain reaction happens throughout this remedy, and you will smell the activator. Good ventilation is non-negotiable.

Durability and wash testing

Durability depends on correct treatment and fiber engagement. A well-cured water based print on cotton can outlast the t-shirt. I measure resilience by standardized wash tests, 10 to 20 cycles at warm, tumble dry medium, then visual examination for fading and cracking. Water based prints show gradual softening and a mild fade in the exact same way jeans unwinds. Plastisol's failure mode is different, usually cracking if the ink layer is too thick or under-cured. For personalized t-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 choose which method

Costs vary regionally, but the economics fall into familiar patterns. Water based ink itself is frequently 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 since you pay closer attention to fit together, squeegee durometer, and off-contact. When tuned, vehicles run at similar speeds. Where it actually pays off remains in perceived value. A soft print on a mid-tier blank typically feels premium without jumping to the highest-cost 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 is a workhorse. For print as needed that needs overnight turnaround and art changes constantly, 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 multiple colorways and need to keep inventory flexible, a flexible water based combination on light garments is efficient, considering that you prevent the weight and stiffness that build up with numerous underbases in plastisol.

Design options that highlight the 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 special 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 appear like it grew there.

Type weight matters. Very thin knockouts inside heavy flood areas can complete with discharge, specifically on high-absorbency cotton. If you require razor unfavorable 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 state no to discharge

There are times I encourage against discharge. Polyester-rich garments are top of the list. The activator can trigger dye migration, especially with sublimated or cationic-dyed efficiency t-shirts, leading to ghosting or brownish casts. Some garment dyes, particularly reactive black blends, resist lifting, leaving a shadowed print that looks undercured even when it isn't. If a client is sensitive to small odor during curing, discharge days in the store are noticeable. Well-managed air flow alleviates this, but it belongs to the process.

If a client needs 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 count on a partner, established a workflow that eliminates guesswork. A simple method keeps surprises at bay and assists you hit due dates for launches and events.

  • Decide on material initially, then ink: select 100 percent ringspun cotton for discharge, or light, premium cotton for basic water based. Prevent high poly unless the heathered impact is desired.
  • Request test prints on the exact blanks: one t-shirt per colorway is normally adequate to lock approvals, particularly for bulk t t-shirt orders where consistency matters.
  • Clarify color expectations in context: provide Pantone targets for light garments and describe acceptable ranges for dark discharge prints, with images of prior work you like.
  • Align on care labels and handling: advise cold wash and low heat dry for customers, then validate your treatment times so clean durability matches the tag guidance.
  • Confirm ecological 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

Print as needed has its own restrictions: fast art modifications, small batch sizes, and the requirement for a broad color gamut. Direct-to-garment has become the default, however water based screen printing can fit POD if you arrange catalog technique. 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 exact same day with water based prints that feel much better than many DTG outputs. It works finest when you keep art to a couple of colors and select light garments.

If your POD 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 convenience and breathability are the selling points. Consumers who appreciate touch will notice.

Pricing, margins, and interacting value

When customers ask why a water based or discharge print costs more than a basic plastisol task, I describe what they are purchasing. They get the soft hand that retail customers relate with quality, improved breathability, and compliance for sensitive buyers. On a per-shirt basis, the difference for a basic three-color front hit may be modest, typically a small uplift that can be neutralized by picking a slightly more affordable blank. If the program is for wholesale t shirts entering into shops or e-commerce at superior cost points, the improvement in perceived value more than covers the change.

For personalized t-shirts, such as charity runs or college clubs, options matter. Offer a base rate with plastisol on midweight cotton, then a "comfort upgrade" that includes a ringspun blank with water based ink. You will see a clear split: some clients optimize for expense, others for feel. Satisfying both lets you serve a wider market without diluting your craft.

Care guidelines that consumers in fact follow

Care labels typically read like legal disclaimers. Keep it simple and practical so the shirt survives real life. Water based and discharge prints prefer cooler washes and lower clothes dryer heat, but they will sustain regular laundering if appropriately treated. I recommend phrasing care ideas in human terms on item pages: wash cold with similar colors, topple dry low, prevent fabric softeners if you desire colors to stay crisp. The last note matters because some conditioners can transfer films on fibers, dulling the visual contrast of great lines.

I've evaluated these instructions 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 a little quicker fading of mid-tones, yet still looked excellent. That tolerance originates from correct treatment, not from babying the garment.

All over print ideas that do not fight the limitations

All over print catches attention, however printing flood coats on put together garments with water based inks can be unforgiving. Instead of fighting seams, style for them. Use tone-on-tone patterns that fade naturally at joints, or use a ghosted grid that looks intentional when it breaks at hems. Alternatively, run panel printing and stitch. Brands that offer restricted runs can validate cut-and-sew for 100 to 300 pieces if the design warrants it. The finished garments read as customized from a range, which is the goal.

A brief 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 felt like it lived in the fabric. We sampled on three blacks from two mills. Batch one raised easily with discharge, batch 2 stayed 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 reaction. The outcome: consistent tees across 2,400 units, each with a soft, breathable print that sold out by day two.

That job taught the team to deal with 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 problems I see trace back to process, not the ink family. Under-curing is the very 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 ideal duration. Use a donut probe or an embedded thermochromic strip to measure true ink movie temperature level, not simply clothes dryer setpoints. Screen lockup is the second. Keep a constant rate on press, flood in between prints, and control store humidity.

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

Final guidance for picking your path

If your concern is soft, breathable custom-made apparel that consumers keep using, water based inks are worth the learning curve. Usage standard water based upon light garments for tidy detail and matte color. Relocate to discharge on one hundred percent cotton when you desire the softest prints on dark shirts. Accept and prepare for minor color variance with discharge, particularly throughout dye lots. For bulk t t-shirt orders, build in a single round of physical sampling on the actual blanks you will use, then record your settings and keep back a recommendation shirt for quality control.

If you operate a print as needed catalog, carve out a water based pill of best sellers on light shirts. Market the distinction: 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 t-shirts are judged in the hands, not just on screens. When a consumer rubs their thumb across a print and feels absolutely nothing however fiber, you have actually won. That's the minute water based and discharge deliver, and why they are worthy of a location in any major 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.