November 3, 2025

Beyond Basic 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 2 things in continuous stress: the push for softer, more breathable prints that people actually take pleasure in using, and the requirement to produce at scale without compromising the environment or the bottom line. That stress has formed how I select inks, pretreatments, and materials for custom-made garments jobs. For many years, I have actually found out that water based inks and discharge printing are not just buzzwords, they are practical tools that produce beautiful outcomes and genuine convenience, especially for T t-shirt printing that needs to withstand everyday wear.

If you run a brand name, manage bulk t shirt orders, or merely desire your personalized t-shirts to seem like a preferred from the very first wash, it's worth understanding how these ink systems work, where they shine, and where they require care. The right option can make the difference in between a t-shirt that gets used as soon as 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 fabric and treatments into a movie, water based inks take in into the fibers. That single particular explains most of the benefits and compromises. Prints feel soft since you're touching the cotton, not a layer of cured PVC. Colors tend to look more matte and incorporated. On light garments, the hand is frequently identical from the shirt itself. For custom-made t t-shirts developed for comfort, this is the course to the "retail feel" customers ask for.

There are 2 primary households: basic water based and discharge. Standard water based ink works best on white or very light t-shirts. It can cover mid-tones with the ideal base, once you move into darker materials, you either need a heavier print or you change to discharge. Release printing uses an activator that lifts the dye from the fabric throughout treating, basically whitening the t-shirt's dye in the printed locations, then replaces it with your pigment. The end outcome is the softest possible print on dark cotton, often 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 unpack the chemistry and the workflow. Water based inks normally contain less unstable organic substances than solvent-heavy options and prevent PVC entirely. Numerous are certified with rigorous standards like Oeko-Tex or fulfill retail testing regimes that prohibit particular phthalates and heavy metals. If you offer custom-made 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 store practices: purification on your washout cubicle, reclaim chemistry, energy usage on your clothes dryer, and even material sourcing. Discharge needs an activator, usually based on zinc formaldehyde sulfoxylate or comparable substances, which has its own handling and ventilation requirements. In a well-run store, direct exposure is managed and waste is recorded. If you're utilizing print on demand with a partner, ask how they deal with discharge effluent and whether they have air exchange and curing controls dialed in. Real sustainability conceals in the details.

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

Most individuals do not purchase a graphic tee since they love the ink. They buy it because the garment looks great, feels excellent, and keeps that character after repeated washing. Water based inks, including discharge, offer you that broken-in convenience from the first day. 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 extend across the chest.

I keep a shelf of comparison t-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 somewhat, and the shirts kept moving. A plastisol sample with the exact same art looks glossier and still pops more under severe light, which some streetwear clients choose, however the user feedback is consistent: water based feels 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 shirts, basic water based ink can hit tight Pantones with a determined ink mix and a tidy mesh. On darker cotton, discharge adds variables. Different color lots discharge in a different way, even within the same brand name 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 add steers the final color, but you're still working with a background that is moving as the dye is removed.

That's not a flaw, it's part of the medium. Numerous designers accept 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 logos, either order test prints on the precise batch you plan to use or consider a water based underbase or hybrid technique where needed. For wholesale t shirts that will be distributed nationally, put example approvals into your procedure so there are no surprises at scale.

Fabric matters more than many people think

A water based print is a partnership Jacksonville T shirt printing online in 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 raises the cotton portion. That suggests your color fills the cotton while the polyester and rayon stay as-is, frequently yielding a heathered or speckled print that looks intentional if you design for it. If your objective is flat, brilliant color on a poly blend, standard plastisol or a specialized low-cure system might be smarter.

On all over print tasks, such as a seam-to-seam tonal pattern behind a chest graphic, think about cut-and-sew with water based prints on panels before assembly. Garment printing all over on completed tees introduces seams, folds, and inconsistent pressure that show up as blank micro-gaps. If you need to print on finished garments, expect little spaces along joints, which some customers 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 material however can lock a mesh if you pause too long. Running a greater mesh for detail, say 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 constant range, roughly 45 to 55 percent, to avoid early drying. Manual press operators will observe how quickly a standard water based ink clears the screen compared to a heavy plastisol. Car presses, with flood bars and constant speed, reduce clogging.

Curing is where many beginners miss the mark. Water based inks need both heat and time for the water to vaporize, then for the binders to cross-link. A clothes dryer tunnel with adequate air flow makes the difference. You want even heat throughout the belt and enough dwell to reach the manufacturer's cure temperature level throughout the ink layer, not simply at the surface area. T-shirts exiting the tunnel should 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. 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 outlive the shirt. I measure sturdiness by standardized wash tests, 10 to 20 cycles at warm, tumble dry medium, then visual inspection for fading and splitting. Water based prints show progressive softening and a mild fade in the same way jeans relaxes. Plastisol's failure mode is different, generally splitting if the ink layer is too thick or under-cured. For tailored shirts that need to look proficient at a household reunion and still be in rotation next summer, water based holds up when produced correctly.

Cost, throughput, and when to choose which method

Costs differ regionally, however the economics fall under familiar patterns. Water based ink itself is often similar 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. As soon as tuned, autos perform at comparable speeds. Where it really pays off is in perceived worth. A soft print on a mid-tier blank typically feels premium without jumping to the highest-cost t-shirt. Brands can price accordingly.

For bulk t t-shirt orders above a few hundred pieces where the art suits the medium, discharge on 100 percent cotton is a workhorse. For print as needed that needs overnight turnaround and art modifications continuously, direct-to-garment or DTF may be much 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 flexible water based palette on light garments is effective, considering that you avoid the weight and tightness that collect with several underbases in plastisol.

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

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

Type weight matters. Extremely thin knockouts inside heavy flood locations can fill in with discharge, especially on high-absorbency cotton. If you require razor unfavorable area, separate 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 instead of relying on a digital mockup. A mockup can not record fiber interplay and dye lift.

When you must say no to discharge

There are times I advise against discharge. Polyester-rich garments are leading of the list. The activator can trigger dye migration, especially with sublimated or cationic-dyed efficiency shirts, resulting in ghosting or brownish casts. Some garment dyes, specifically reactive black blends, withstand lifting, leaving a shadowed print that looks undercured even when it isn't. If a client is delicate to minor smell throughout treating, discharge days in the store are obvious. Well-managed airflow mitigates this, but it is part of the process.

If a customer requires metallics, puff, or specialized textures, plastisol or hybrid systems still own that space. Water based metallics exist, but the particles frequently sink, and the effect is more satin than real metal. For high-opacity neons on dark t-shirts that need to be billboard-bright, you may 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 rely on a partner, established a workflow that gets rid of guesswork. A simple method keeps surprises at bay and helps you struck due dates for launches and events.

  • Decide on fabric initially, then ink: pick 100 percent ringspun cotton for discharge, or light, premium cotton for basic water based. Avoid high poly unless the heathered result is desired.
  • Request test prints on the specific blanks: one t-shirt per colorway is usually adequate to lock approvals, especially for bulk 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 photos of prior work you like.
  • Align on care labels and handling: suggest cold wash and low heat dry for customers, then confirm your cure times so wash toughness matches the tag guidance.
  • Confirm environmental requirements: 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: quick art modifications, small batch sizes, and the requirement for a broad color range. Direct-to-garment has become the default, but water based screen printing can fit POD if you arrange brochure technique. For styles that are high volume even at little everyday quantities, pre-burning screens and keeping a small stock of popular sizes lets you ship very same day with water based prints that feel better than numerous DTG outputs. It works finest when you keep art to one or two colors and select 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. Utilize it where cotton comfort and breathability are the selling points. Clients who appreciate touch will notice.

Pricing, margins, and communicating value

When customers ask why a water based or discharge print costs more than a standard plastisol job, I describe what they are buying. They get the soft hand that retail consumers equate with quality, enhanced breathability, and compliance for delicate buyers. On a per-shirt basis, the distinction for a standard three-color front hit may be modest, typically a small uplift that can be neutralized by selecting a slightly more affordable blank. If the program is for wholesale t t-shirts going into boutiques or e-commerce at superior cost points, the improvement in perceived worth more than covers the change.

For personalized 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 consists of a ringspun blank with water based ink. You will see a clear split: some clients enhance for expense, others for feel. Fulfilling both lets you serve a wider market without diluting your craft.

Care guidelines that customers actually follow

Care labels typically check out like legal disclaimers. Keep it simple and reasonable so the shirt endures reality. Water based and discharge prints choose cooler washes and lower dryer heat, however they will endure normal laundering if appropriately treated. I recommend phrasing care ideas in human terms on product pages: wash cold with similar colors, topple dry low, avoid material softeners if you want colors to stay crisp. The last note matters since some conditioners can deposit films on fibers, dulling the visual contrast of fine lines.

I've checked these instructions in-house: 2 identical t-shirts, one cleaned cold and dried low, the other washed warm and dried high. After 15 cycles, the warm/high tee revealed somewhat quicker fading of mid-tones, yet still looked great. That tolerance comes from appropriate treatment, not from babying the garment.

All over print concepts that do not fight the limitations

All over print captures attention, however printing flood coats on put together garments with water based inks can be unforgiving. Rather of fighting joints, 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. Additionally, run panel printing and stitch. Brands that offer limited runs can justify cut-and-sew for 100 to 300 pieces if the style requires it. The ended up garments read as custom from a range, which is the goal.

A brief anecdote from a busy season

One spring we ran a series for a regional music festival. The customer wanted soft black tees with a sunburst print that felt like it lived in the material. We sampled on 3 blacks from 2 mills. Batch one lifted cleanly with discharge, batch two remained stubbornly dark in the mid-rays of the art work. We logged dye lot numbers, pivoted 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 chalkboard. The dish 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 household. 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 temperature for the right duration. Use a donut probe or an embedded thermochromic strip to measure true ink film temperature level, not just dryer setpoints. Screen lockup is the 2nd. Keep a constant speed on press, flood in between prints, and control store humidity.

A 3rd mistake is ignoring material irregularity. If you switch blanks mid-run due to the fact that a size is out of stock, you may see shifts in color. Develop contingency into your getting. For brand names preparing ahead, selecting a standard blank and locking it with your supplier decreases surprises.

Final guidance for picking your path

If your concern is soft, breathable customized apparel that clients keep wearing, water based inks are worth the knowing curve. Use basic water based upon light garments for tidy detail and matte color. Transfer to discharge on 100 percent cotton when you want the softest prints on dark t-shirts. Accept and plan 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 utilize, then document your settings and hold back a referral t-shirt for quality control.

If you run a print on demand brochure, take a water based capsule of best sellers on light t-shirts. Market the difference: 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 evaluated in the hands, not simply on screens. When a client rubs their thumb across a print and feels absolutely nothing but fiber, you've won. That's the minute water based and discharge provide, and why they are worthy of a place in any severe 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.