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 constant tension: the push for softer, more breathable prints that individuals in fact delight in using, and the requirement to produce at scale without compromising the environment or the bottom line. That tension has shaped how I select inks, pretreatments, and materials for custom-made apparel projects. Over the years, I've found out that water based inks and discharge printing are not simply buzzwords, they are useful tools that produce stunning outcomes and real convenience, particularly for T t-shirt printing that needs to withstand daily wear.

If you run a brand name, manage bulk t t-shirt orders, or simply want your personalized shirts to feel like a favorite from the first wash, it's worth understanding how these ink systems work, where they shine, and where they need care. The best choice can make the difference in between a t-shirt that gets worn once and one that becomes the go-to.

What water based ink in fact is

Water based inks suspend pigments in water instead of 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 particular explains most of the benefits 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 frequently equivalent from the shirt itself. For custom t t-shirts created for comfort, this is the course to the "retail feel" customers ask for.

There are 2 primary households: 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, but once you move into darker fabrics, you either require a much heavier print or you switch to discharge. Discharge printing uses an activator that raises the color from the fabric throughout treating, basically bleaching 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, often with outstanding detail.

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

Eco friendly inks are not a marketing motto if you unpack the chemistry and the workflow. Water based inks typically consist of fewer unpredictable natural substances than solvent-heavy options and avoid PVC altogether. Many are certified with strict standards like Oeko-Tex or meet retail screening programs that prohibit specific phthalates and heavy metals. If you sell customized apparel 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 idea. Ink is one part. You also require to look at store practices: filtration on your washout cubicle, reclaim chemistry, energy use on your clothes dryer, and even fabric sourcing. Discharge requires an activator, normally based on zinc formaldehyde sulfoxylate or similar substances, which has its own handling and ventilation needs. In a well-run store, exposure is managed and waste is captured. If you're using print on demand with a partner, ask how they manage discharge effluent and whether they have air exchange and curing controls called in. Genuine sustainability hides in the details.

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

Most people do not purchase a graphic tee due to the fact that they love the ink. They buy it since the garment looks great, feels good, and keeps that character after duplicated 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 often receive from heavy plastisol when you extend across the chest.

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

Color, coverage, and how expectations form results

Color accuracy with water based inks is a matter of control, humidity, and the material's own dye. On white or heather light t-shirts, standard water based ink can strike tight Pantones with a determined ink mix and a tidy mesh. On darker cotton, discharge includes variables. Different dye lots discharge differently, even within the exact same brand name and color. Black 3001 blanks from one batch may lift to a warm charcoal, while the next batch clears to a cooler grey. The pigment you add guides the last color, however you're still working with a background that is moving as the dye is removed.

That's not a defect, it's part of the medium. Numerous designers embrace the slightly classic character of discharge, where reds land earthy and blues feel deep instead of neon. If your brand name demands laser-precise color reproduction for corporate logos, either order test prints on the specific 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 swatch 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 magnificently. Carded open end cotton is scratchier and drinks ink unevenly. Blends complicate things. A 50/50 poly-cotton or a triblend with rayon can deal with water based, however discharge just lifts the cotton part. That implies your color saturates the cotton while the polyester and rayon stay as-is, typically yielding a heathered or speckled print that looks deliberate if you style for it. If your objective is flat, brilliant color on a poly mix, traditional 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 finished tees presents joints, folds, and irregular pressure that show up as blank micro-gaps. If you should print on completed garments, anticipate small spaces along seams, which some customers like as part of the garment's character.

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

Water based inks behave in a different way on press. They dry quicker in the screen, which is useful on material however can lock a mesh if you pause too long. Running a Custom t-shirts greater mesh for information, say 230 to 305, keeps the deposit thin and crisp. Set up with a misting bottle or a dedicated screen rewetting service at hand, and keep the print room humidity in a steady range, 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. Vehicle presses, with flood bars and consistent pace, decrease clogging.

Curing is where numerous beginners 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 adequate airflow makes the distinction. You want even heat throughout the belt and enough dwell to reach the manufacturer's remedy temperature level throughout the ink layer, not simply at the surface. Shirts leaving the tunnel must be dry to the touch without any cool areas. For discharge, the chemical reaction occurs throughout this treatment, and you will smell the activator. Good ventilation is non-negotiable.

Durability and wash testing

Durability depends on proper remedy and fiber engagement. A well-cured water based print on cotton can last longer than the t-shirt. I determine durability by standardized wash tests, 10 to 20 cycles at warm, topple dry medium, then visual assessment for fading and breaking. Water based prints reveal gradual softening and a mild fade in the very same way jeans relaxes. Plastisol's failure mode is various, usually cracking if the ink layer is too thick or under-cured. For individualized t-shirts that need to look good at a household reunion and still be in rotation next summer season, water based holds up when produced correctly.

Cost, throughput, and when to select which method

Costs vary regionally, but the economics fall into familiar patterns. Water based ink itself is often equivalent 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 because you pay closer attention to mesh, squeegee durometer, and off-contact. When tuned, cars perform at comparable 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. Brands can price accordingly.

For bulk t shirt orders above a couple of hundred pieces where the art matches the medium, discharge on one hundred percent cotton is a workhorse. For print as needed that needs overnight turnaround and art modifications constantly, direct-to-garment or DTF may be better operationally, though both have their own environmental and feel compromises. When you take on wholesale t shirts with numerous colorways and should keep inventory versatile, a versatile water based scheme on light garments is efficient, given that you avoid the weight and stiffness that accumulate with several underbases in plastisol.

Design choices that highlight the best in water based and discharge

Design preparation begins with the fabric color and ends with treating. On light shirts, lean into information: thin lines, halftones, hand-drawn textures. Basic 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. Consider how the shirt color glances through. A charcoal heather with a discharge cream graphic appear like it grew there.

Type weight matters. Extremely thin knockouts inside heavy flood areas can fill in with discharge, specifically on high-absorbency cotton. If you need razor negative area, different the art to print unfavorable shapes as favorable strokes with a clear schedule for squeegee pressure and flashes. Ask your printer for a proof on the actual garment instead of relying on a digital mockup. A mockup can not record fiber interaction and dye lift.

When you ought to say no to discharge

There are times I advise versus discharge. Polyester-rich garments are leading of the list. The activator can cause color migration, especially with sublimated or cationic-dyed performance shirts, causing 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 sensitive to minor smell during treating, discharge days in the store are visible. Well-managed airflow mitigates this, however it belongs to the process.

If a client requires metallics, puff, or specialty textures, plastisol or hybrid systems still own that area. Water based metallics exist, however the particles typically sink, and the result is more satin than real metal. For high-opacity neons on dark t-shirts that should be billboard-bright, you may 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 custom patches near me a partner, set up a workflow that removes guesswork. A simple technique keeps surprises at bay and assists you struck due dates for launches and events.

  • Decide on material first, then ink: choose 100 percent ringspun cotton for discharge, or light, top quality cotton for basic water based. Avoid high poly unless the heathered effect is desired.
  • Request test prints on the specific blanks: one t-shirt per colorway is typically 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 explain appropriate ranges for dark discharge prints, with pictures of prior work you like.
  • Align on care labels and handling: recommend cold wash and low heat dry for clients, then validate your remedy times so wash toughness matches the tag guidance.
  • Confirm environmental standards: ask your printer about ink certifications, ventilation, and waste capture, particularly if your brand name messaging leans into eco friendly inks.

How water based fits with print on demand

Print as needed has its own restraints: fast art changes, little batch sizes, and the need 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 everyday amounts, pre-burning screens and keeping a little stock of popular sizes lets you ship exact same day with water based prints that feel 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 depends 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 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 job, I discuss what they are purchasing. They get the soft hand that retail clients relate with quality, enhanced breathability, and compliance for sensitive buyers. On a per-shirt basis, the distinction for a standard three-color front hit may be modest, often a little uplift that can be reduced the effects of by picking a slightly more affordable blank. If the program is for wholesale t shirts going into boutiques or e-commerce at superior price points, the improvement in viewed value more than covers the change.

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

Care instructions that consumers really follow

Care labels often read like legal disclaimers. Keep it basic and reasonable so the shirt survives real life. Water based and discharge prints prefer cooler washes and lower dryer heat, however they will withstand regular laundering if correctly treated. I suggest phrasing care tips in human terms on product pages: wash cold with comparable colors, tumble dry low, prevent fabric softeners if you desire colors to stay crisp. The last note matters because some softeners can deposit films on fibers, dulling the visual contrast of fine lines.

I've tested these instructions in-house: 2 identical 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 great. That tolerance comes from appropriate remedy, not from babying the garment.

All over print ideas that do not combat the limitations

All over print catches attention, however printing flood coats on put together garments with water based inks can be unforgiving. Rather of fighting seams, style for them. Use tone-on-tone patterns that fade naturally at seams, or apply a ghosted grid that looks intentional when it breaks at hems. Alternatively, run panel printing and sew. Brands that sell restricted runs can validate cut-and-sew for 100 to 300 pieces if the style warrants it. The ended up garments check out as custom-made from a distance, which is the goal.

A brief anecdote from a hectic season

One spring we ran a series for a local music festival. The client wanted soft black tees with a sunburst print that felt like it lived in the material. We sampled on three blacks from 2 mills. Batch one raised easily with discharge, batch two remained stubbornly dark in the mid-rays of the artwork. We logged dye lot numbers, pivoted 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 result: constant tees across 2,400 systems, each with a soft, breathable print that sold out by day two.

That task taught the crew to treat discharge like cooking, not chemistry on a blackboard. The dish matters, but so does tasting and adjusting.

Common risks and how to avoid them

Most issues I see trace back to process, not the ink family. Under-curing is the first offender. Water based ink that feels dry can still be under-cured if the core of the print never hit the required temp for the ideal period. Use a donut probe or an embedded thermochromic strip to measure true ink film temperature, not simply clothes dryer setpoints. Screen lockup is the second. Keep a constant rate on press, flood between prints, and control store humidity.

A third mistake is ignoring fabric irregularity. If you switch blanks mid-run due to the fact that a size is out of stock, you might see shifts in color. Construct contingency into your getting. For brand names planning ahead, picking a basic blank and locking it with your supplier lowers surprises.

Final assistance for picking your path

If your concern is soft, breathable custom-made clothing that consumers keep using, water based inks are worth the learning curve. Use standard water based on light garments for tidy detail and matte color. Transfer to release on 100 percent cotton when you desire the softest prints on dark shirts. Accept and prepare for slight color difference with discharge, particularly across color lots. For bulk t t-shirt orders, build in a rush t shirt printing single round of physical tasting on the real blanks you will utilize, then document your settings and keep back a referral t-shirt for quality control.

If you run a print on demand catalog, take a water based capsule of best sellers on light shirts. Market the distinction: eco friendly inks, breathable feel, and retail-quality hand. Keep your specialized results and neon stunners in plastisol or hybrid systems where they belong.

Custom t shirts are judged in the hands, not just on screens. When a customer rubs their thumb across a print and feels nothing however fiber, you've won. That's the minute water based and discharge deliver, and why they should have a location in any serious shop or brand name's toolkit.

Business Name: Prints R Us
Address: 2826 Art Museum Dr, Jacksonville, FL 32207, United States
Phone: (904)-752-1515

I am a dynamic innovator with a broad knowledge base in entrepreneurship. My conviction in entrepreneurship spurs my desire to innovate disruptive organizations. In my business career, I have cultivated a profile as being a daring thinker. Aside from creating my own businesses, I also enjoy counseling young startup founders. I believe in empowering the next generation of startup founders to pursue their own aspirations. I am easily seeking out disruptive opportunities and working together with similarly-driven creators. Redefining what's possible is my purpose. Aside from engaged in my enterprise, I enjoy immersing myself in dynamic environments. I am also focused on health and wellness.