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 print 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 delight in wearing, and the need to produce at scale without jeopardizing the environment or the bottom line. That stress has formed how I select inks, pretreatments, and fabrics for custom garments projects. For many years, I've found out that water based inks and discharge printing are not just buzzwords, they are practical tools that produce lovely outcomes and real comfort, particularly for T t-shirt printing that needs to stand up to everyday wear.

If you run a brand, handle bulk t t-shirt orders, or just desire your tailored shirts to feel like a preferred from the very first wash, it deserves comprehending how these ink systems work, where they shine, and where they require care. The ideal option can make the difference between a shirt that gets worn once and one that ends up being the go-to.

What water based ink actually is

Water based inks suspend pigments in water rather than in plasticizers and solvents. Unlike plastisol, which sits on top of the material and remedies into a movie, water based inks soak up into the fibers. That single characteristic discusses most of the advantages and trade-offs. Prints feel soft due to the fact that 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 often indistinguishable from the shirt itself. For custom-made t shirts designed for convenience, this is the course to the "retail feel" customers ask for.

There are two main families: standard water based and discharge. Basic water based ink works best on white or really light shirts. It can cover mid-tones with the best base, once you move into darker fabrics, you either require a much heavier print or you change to release. Release printing utilizes an activator that lifts the color from the fabric during treating, essentially bleaching the shirt's dye in the printed locations, then replaces it with your pigment. Completion result is the softest possible print on dark cotton, frequently with impressive 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 normally contain less volatile natural compounds than solvent-heavy alternatives and avoid PVC entirely. Lots of are certified with stringent requirements like Oeko-Tex or fulfill retail testing programs that ban certain 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 likewise require to take a look at store practices: filtering on your washout booth, recover chemistry, energy usage on your clothes dryer, and even fabric sourcing. Discharge needs an activator, generally based upon zinc formaldehyde sulfoxylate or comparable compounds, which has its own handling and ventilation needs. In a well-run shop, exposure is controlled and waste is recorded. If you're utilizing print as needed with a partner, ask how they manage discharge effluent and whether they have air exchange and curing controls called in. Real sustainability hides in the details.

Hand feel, breathability, and the "favorite 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 excellent, feels good, and keeps that character after duplicated cleaning. Water based inks, consisting of discharge, provide 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 often obtain from heavy plastisol when you stretch throughout the chest.

I keep a shelf of contrast 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 a lot more, the colors mellowed a little, and the shirts kept moving. A plastisol sample with the exact same art looks glossier and still pops more under harsh light, which some streetwear clients choose, but the user feedback is consistent: water based seems like a premium garment.

Color, protection, and how expectations shape results

Color precision with water based inks refers control, humidity, and the material's own color. On white or heather light t-shirts, standard water based ink can strike tight Pantones with a determined ink mix and a clean mesh. On darker cotton, discharge includes variables. Various dye lots discharge differently, even within the same brand 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 include steers the last color, but you're still working with a background that is shifting as the color is removed.

That's not a flaw, it belongs to the medium. Lots of designers embrace the slightly vintage character of discharge, where reds land earthy and blues feel deep rather than neon. If your brand needs laser-precise color recreation for corporate logos, either order test prints on the exact batch you prepare to utilize or think about a water based underbase or hybrid approach where required. For wholesale t shirts that will be dispersed nationally, put example approvals into your process so there are no surprises at scale.

Fabric matters more than most people think

A water based print is a collaboration between ink and fiber. Ringspun cotton takes ink wonderfully. 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, but discharge only lifts the cotton part. That suggests 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 goal is flat, vivid color on a poly mix, conventional plastisol or a specialized low-cure system might be smarter.

On all over print projects, 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 ended up tees introduces seams, folds, and inconsistent pressure that show up as blank micro-gaps. If you need to print on finished garments, anticipate little 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 faster in the screen, which works on material however can lock a mesh if you pause too long. Running a higher mesh for detail, state 230 to 305, keeps the deposit thin and crisp. Establish with a misting bottle or a devoted screen rewetting service at hand, and keep the print space humidity in a consistent range, approximately 45 to 55 percent, to prevent premature drying. Manual press operators will observe how rapidly a standard water based ink clears the screen compared to a heavy plastisol. Auto presses, with flood bars and consistent rate, minimize clogging.

Curing is where many 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 dryer tunnel with sufficient airflow makes the difference. You want even heat across the belt and enough dwell to reach the manufacturer's cure temperature throughout the ink layer, not simply at the surface area. T-shirts exiting the tunnel must be dry to the touch with no cool spots. For discharge, the chain reaction takes place during this treatment, and you will smell the activator. Excellent ventilation is non-negotiable.

Durability and wash testing

Durability depends on proper cure and fiber engagement. A well-cured water based print on cotton can outlive the t-shirt. I determine sturdiness by standardized wash tests, 10 to 20 cycles at warm, topple dry medium, then visual evaluation for fading and breaking. Water based prints reveal progressive softening and a mild fade in the exact same method denim relaxes. Plastisol's failure mode is various, normally splitting 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 summertime, water based holds up when produced correctly.

Cost, throughput, and when to pick which method

Costs vary regionally, but the economics fall under familiar patterns. Water based ink itself is typically comparable to plastisol at the gallon level, however you invest more in shop environment and drying capacity. On press, water based can be somewhat slower at setup because you pay closer attention to mesh, squeegee durometer, and off-contact. When tuned, autos run at comparable speeds. Where it actually settles remains in perceived value. A soft print on a mid-tier blank frequently feels premium without jumping to heat transfer vinyl the highest-cost t-shirt. Brands can price accordingly.

For bulk t 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 as needed that requires overnight turn-around and art changes continuously, direct-to-garment or DTF might be better operationally, though both have their own environmental and feel trade-offs. When you take on wholesale t shirts with numerous colorways and need to keep stock flexible, a versatile water based combination on light garments is efficient, considering that you avoid the weight and stiffness that build up with numerous underbases in plastisol.

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

Design preparation starts with the material color and ends with treating. On light t-shirts, lean into detail: thin lines, halftones, hand-drawn textures. Basic water based ink prints those with a delicacy that plastisol tends to overpower. On dark cotton, discharge shines with mid-tone richness and soft edges. Consider 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 negative space, 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 real garment rather than relying on a digital mockup. A mockup can not record fiber DTG maintenance and troubleshooting 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 cause color migration, specifically with sublimated or cationic-dyed performance shirts, causing 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 client is sensitive to small odor during curing, discharge days in the store are visible. Well-managed air flow alleviates this, but it becomes part of the process.

If a client needs metallics, puff, or specialized textures, plastisol or hybrid systems still own that area. Water based metallics exist, but the particles often sink, and the result is more satin than real metal. For high-opacity neons on dark shirts that should be billboard-bright, you might need 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 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, high-quality cotton for standard water based. Prevent high poly unless the heathered impact is desired.
  • Request test prints on the precise blanks: one shirt per colorway is typically sufficient to lock approvals, especially for bulk t shirt orders where consistency matters.
  • Clarify color expectations in context: provide Pantone targets for light garments and explain acceptable ranges for dark discharge prints, with photos of prior work you like.
  • Align on care labels and handling: advise cold wash and low heat dry for customers, then confirm your treatment times so clean resilience matches the tag guidance.
  • Confirm ecological requirements: ask your printer about ink accreditations, ventilation, and waste capture, particularly if your brand messaging leans into eco friendly inks.

How water based fits with print on demand

Print on demand has its own restraints: quick art modifications, little batch sizes, and the requirement 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 catalog technique. For styles that are high volume even at little daily quantities, pre-burning screens and keeping a little stock of popular sizes lets you ship very 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 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. Consumers who appreciate touch will notice.

Pricing, margins, and communicating value

When customers ask why a water based or discharge print costs more than a basic plastisol job, I explain what they are purchasing. They get the soft hand that retail clients correspond with quality, enhanced breathability, and compliance for sensitive buyers. On a per-shirt basis, the distinction for a basic three-color front hit may be modest, often a small uplift that can be neutralized by selecting a slightly more cost-effective blank. If the program is for wholesale t shirts going into stores or e-commerce at exceptional cost points, the improvement in viewed value more than covers the change.

For customized t-shirts, such as charity runs or college clubs, options matter. Deal a base rate with plastisol on midweight cotton, then a "convenience upgrade" that includes a ringspun blank with water based ink. You will see a clear split: some customers optimize for cost, others for feel. Fulfilling both lets you serve a broader market without diluting your craft.

Care guidelines that consumers actually follow

Care labels often check out like legal disclaimers. Keep it easy and reasonable so the shirt makes it through real life. Water based and discharge prints choose cooler washes and lower clothes dryer heat, but they will endure typical laundering if properly treated. I suggest phrasing care suggestions in human terms on item pages: wash cold with similar colors, tumble dry low, avoid material softeners if you want colors to stay crisp. The last note matters because some softeners can transfer films on fibers, dulling the visual contrast of great lines.

I have actually checked these instructions in-house: two similar shirts, one cleaned cold and dried low, the other washed Flash curing warm and dried high. After 15 cycles, the warm/high tee showed slightly quicker fading of mid-tones, yet still looked great. That tolerance originates from right cure, not from babying the garment.

All over print concepts that do not battle the limitations

All over print catches attention, however printing flood coats on assembled garments with water based inks can be unforgiving. Rather of battling joints, design for them. Use tone-on-tone patterns that fade naturally at seams, or use a ghosted grid that looks deliberate when it breaks at hems. Alternatively, run panel printing and sew. Brand names that sell limited runs can justify cut-and-sew for 100 to 300 pieces if the design requires it. The ended up garments read as custom-made from a range, which is the goal.

A short anecdote from a busy season

One spring we ran a series for a local music celebration. The customer wanted soft black tees with a sunburst print that seemed like it resided in the fabric. We tested on 3 blacks from two mills. Batch one lifted cleanly with discharge, batch 2 stayed stubbornly dark in the mid-rays of the art work. We logged dye lot numbers, rotated the ink mix by including a touch more white pigment to compensate, and adjusted dwell time by 10 to 15 seconds to finish the reaction. The result: consistent tees throughout 2,400 units, each with a soft, breathable print that sold out by day two.

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

Common risks and how to avoid them

Most issues I see trace back to procedure, 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 needed temperature for the right period. Utilize a donut probe or an embedded thermochromic strip to determine true ink film temperature level, not just dryer setpoints. Screen lockup is the 2nd. Keep a consistent speed on press, flood in between prints, and control store humidity.

A third risk is disregarding fabric irregularity. If you change blanks mid-run due to the fact that a size is out of stock, you might see shifts in color. Construct contingency into your acquiring. For brands planning ahead, choosing a basic blank and locking it with your supplier lowers surprises.

Final assistance for selecting your path

If your priority is soft, breathable custom garments that customers keep wearing, water based inks deserve the learning curve. Use standard water based upon light garments for tidy detail and matte color. Move to release on 100 percent cotton when you want the softest prints on dark shirts. Accept and prepare for minor color difference with discharge, particularly throughout color lots. For bulk t shirt orders, integrate in a single round of physical tasting on the actual blanks you will utilize, then record your settings and keep back a recommendation shirt for quality control.

If you run a print on demand 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 specialized effects and neon stunners in plastisol or hybrid systems where they belong.

Custom t shirts are judged in the hands, not simply on screens. When a consumer rubs their thumb across a print and feels nothing but fiber, you have actually won. That's the minute water based and discharge provide, and why they should have a place in any serious shop 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.