November 3, 2025

Beyond Basic Tees: A Guide to Eco-Friendly Water-Based Inks and Discharge Printing for Custom-made 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 2 things in constant tension: the push for softer, more breathable prints that individuals really delight in wearing, and the requirement to produce at scale without compromising the environment or the bottom line. That stress has actually shaped how I pick inks, pretreatments, and materials for customized clothing jobs. Over the years, I've discovered that water based inks and discharge printing are not simply buzzwords, they are useful tools that produce gorgeous results and genuine convenience, specifically for T t-shirt printing that needs to withstand everyday wear.

If you run a brand, manage bulk t t-shirt orders, or merely want your tailored shirts to feel like a preferred from the first wash, it deserves comprehending how these ink systems work, where they shine, and where they require care. The best choice can make the distinction in between a shirt that gets worn when and one that ends up being the go-to.

What water based ink in fact is

Water based inks suspend pigments in water rather than in plasticizers and solvents. Unlike plastisol, which sits on top of the fabric and cures into a film, water based inks soak up into the fibers. That single particular explains most of the advantages and compromises. Prints feel soft since you're touching the cotton, not a layer of treated PVC. Colors tend to look more matte and incorporated. On light garments, the hand is typically indistinguishable from the t-shirt itself. For custom-made t shirts created for convenience, this is the course to the "retail feel" customers ask for.

There are two main families: standard water based and discharge. Standard water based ink works best on white or very light shirts. It can cover mid-tones with the right base, once you move into darker materials, you either require a heavier print or you switch to release. Release printing uses an activator that lifts the color from the material throughout treating, essentially whitening the shirt's dye in the printed areas, then replaces it with your pigment. Completion outcome is the softest possible print on dark cotton, frequently with exceptional detail.

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

Eco friendly inks are not a marketing slogan if you unpack the chemistry and the workflow. Water based inks normally include fewer unstable natural compounds than solvent-heavy options and prevent PVC entirely. Lots of are certified with stringent standards like Oeko-Tex or satisfy retail screening regimes that ban certain phthalates and heavy metals. If you sell customized apparel into corporate wellness programs, schools, or health-conscious brand names, those certificates smooth procurement and keep you ahead of compliance.

That stated, "eco friendly" is a system idea. Ink is one part. You also need to look at store practices: purification on your washout booth, recover chemistry, energy usage on your dryer, and even fabric sourcing. Discharge needs an activator, normally based on zinc formaldehyde sulfoxylate or similar compounds, which has its own handling and ventilation requirements. In a well-run shop, direct exposure is controlled and waste is recorded. If you're using print as needed with a partner, ask how they deal with discharge effluent and whether they have air exchange and curing controls called in. Real sustainability hides in the details.

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

Most individuals do not purchase a graphic tee since they like the ink. They buy it because the garment looks excellent, feels good, and keeps that character after repeated cleaning. Water based inks, consisting of discharge, give you that broken-in comfort 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 often get from heavy plastisol when you extend across the chest.

I keep a shelf of contrast 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 even more, the colors mellowed a little, and the t-shirts kept moving. A plastisol sample with the same art looks glossier and still pops more under harsh light, which some streetwear clients prefer, however the wearer feedback corresponds: water based feels like a premium garment.

Color, protection, and how expectations shape results

Color accuracy with water based inks is a matter of control, humidity, and the material'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. Different color lots discharge differently, even within the very same brand and color. Black 3001 blanks from one batch might lift to a warm charcoal, while the next batch clears to a cooler grey. The pigment you add guides the final color, but you're still dealing with a background that is moving as the color is removed.

That's not a defect, it becomes part of the medium. Many designers welcome the a little vintage character of discharge, where reds land earthy and blues feel deep instead of neon. If your brand demands laser-precise color reproduction for business logos, either order test prints on the exact batch you plan to utilize or think about a water based underbase or hybrid approach where required. For wholesale t t-shirts that will be dispersed 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 partnership in between ink and fiber. Ringspun cotton takes ink magnificently. Carded open end cotton T shirt printing near Jacksonville 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 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 goal is flat, custom T shirt printing Jacksonville vibrant color on a poly mix, standard plastisol or a specialized low-cure system may be smarter.

On all over print tasks, 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 completed tees presents joints, folds, and irregular pressure that show up as blank micro-gaps. If you must print on finished garments, expect 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 differently on press. They dry faster in the screen, which is useful on material but 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 dedicated screen rewetting option at hand, and keep the print room humidity in a consistent variety, roughly 45 to 55 percent, to prevent premature drying. Manual press operators will observe how rapidly a basic water based ink clears the screen compared to a heavy plastisol. Car presses, with flood bars and consistent speed, decrease clogging.

Curing is where lots of novices miss the mark. Water based inks require both heat and time for the water to vaporize, then for the binders to cross-link. A clothes dryer tunnel with enough airflow makes the difference. You desire even heat throughout the belt and adequate dwell to reach the maker's cure temperature level throughout the ink layer, not just at the surface area. T-shirts leaving the tunnel should be dry to the touch without any cool spots. For discharge, the chain reaction occurs during this cure, and you will smell the activator. Great ventilation is non-negotiable.

Durability and wash testing

Durability depends on appropriate remedy and fiber engagement. A well-cured water based print on cotton can outlive the shirt. I determine sturdiness 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 gentle fade in the very same method denim unwinds. Plastisol's failure mode is different, generally cracking if the ink layer is too thick or under-cured. For customized t-shirts that need to look proficient at a family reunion and still be 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 comparable 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 due to the fact that you pay closer attention to mesh, squeegee durometer, and off-contact. Once tuned, vehicles run at comparable speeds. Where it really settles is in viewed value. A soft print on a mid-tier blank often feels premium without leaping to the highest-cost t-shirt. Brand names can price accordingly.

For bulk t t-shirt orders above a couple of hundred pieces where the art matches the medium, discharge on 100 percent cotton is a workhorse. For print on demand that requires overnight turn-around and art modifications continuously, direct-to-garment or DTF might be better operationally, though both have their own environmental and feel compromises. When you take on wholesale t t-shirts with numerous colorways and should keep stock versatile, a flexible water based combination on light garments is efficient, since you prevent the weight and stiffness that collect with numerous underbases in plastisol.

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

Design planning starts with the fabric color and ends with curing. On light shirts, lean into detail: thin lines, halftones, hand-drawn textures. Basic 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 glimpses through. A charcoal heather with a discharge cream graphic appear like it grew there.

Type weight matters. Really thin knockouts inside heavy flood locations can fill out with discharge, particularly 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 an evidence on the real garment instead of relying on a digital mockup. A mockup can not catch fiber interplay and color lift.

When you need to say no to discharge

There are times I advise against discharge. Polyester-rich garments are top of the list. The activator can trigger color migration, especially with sublimated or cationic-dyed efficiency shirts, causing ghosting or brownish casts. Some garment dyes, especially reactive black blends, withstand lifting, leaving a shadowed print that looks undercured even when it isn't. If a best Jacksonville T shirt printing companies client is delicate to small smell during curing, discharge days in the store are obvious. Well-managed air flow reduces this, however it belongs to the process.

If a client needs metallics, puff, or specialty textures, plastisol or hybrid systems still own that area. Water based metallics exist, however the particles frequently sink, and the result is more satin than true metal. For high-opacity neons on dark 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 a partner, set up a workflow that removes guesswork. An easy method keeps design Jacksonville Custom t shirts surprises at bay and assists you hit deadlines for launches and events.

  • Decide on fabric initially, then ink: choose 100 percent ringspun cotton for discharge, or light, premium cotton for basic water based. Prevent high poly unless the heathered effect is desired.
  • Request test prints on the specific blanks: one t-shirt per colorway is generally sufficient to lock approvals, particularly for bulk t t-shirt orders where consistency matters.
  • Clarify color expectations in context: offer Pantone targets for light garments and explain acceptable varieties for dark discharge prints, with images of previous work you like.
  • Align on care labels and handling: recommend cold wash and low heat dry for clients, then verify your cure times so wash toughness matches the tag guidance.
  • Confirm environmental requirements: ask your printer about ink accreditations, ventilation, and waste capture, especially if your brand name messaging leans into eco friendly inks.

How water based fits with print on demand

Print on demand has its own restraints: quick art modifications, small batch sizes, and the need for a broad color range. Direct-to-garment has become the default, however water based screen printing can fit POD if you arrange catalog method. For designs that are high volume even at small everyday amounts, pre-burning screens and keeping a little stock of popular sizes lets you deliver very same day with water based prints that feel better than many DTG outputs. It works best 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 clients ask why a water based or discharge print costs more than a standard plastisol task, I discuss what they are buying. They get the soft hand that retail customers relate with quality, enhanced breathability, and compliance for delicate purchasers. On a per-shirt basis, the difference for a basic three-color front hit may be modest, typically a little uplift that can be neutralized by choosing a slightly more affordable blank. If the program is for wholesale t t-shirts going into boutiques or e-commerce at exceptional cost points, the improvement in perceived value more than covers the change.

For customized t-shirts, such as charity runs or college clubs, alternatives matter. Deal a base price 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 enhance for expense, others for feel. Meeting both lets you serve a larger market without diluting your craft.

Care guidelines that customers really follow

Care labels often check out like legal disclaimers. Keep it easy and sensible so the t-shirt survives real life. Water based and discharge prints choose cooler washes and lower clothes dryer heat, but they will sustain typical laundering if properly cured. I suggest phrasing care suggestions in human terms on product pages: wash cold with comparable colors, tumble dry low, avoid material softeners if you desire colors to stay crisp. The last note matters due to the fact that some conditioners can transfer films on fibers, dulling the visual contrast of great lines.

I've evaluated these instructions in-house: two identical t-shirts, one washed cold and dried low, the other washed warm and dried high. After 15 cycles, the warm/high tee showed somewhat much faster fading of mid-tones, yet still looked good. That tolerance originates from appropriate remedy, not from babying the garment.

All over print ideas 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 combating seams, design 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. Additionally, run panel printing and sew. Brand names that sell limited runs can validate cut-and-sew for 100 to 300 pieces if the design warrants it. The ended up garments read as custom from a distance, which is the goal.

A quick 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 fabric. We tested on 3 blacks from 2 mills. Batch one raised easily with discharge, batch 2 remained stubbornly dark in the mid-rays of the art work. 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 complete the response. The outcome: constant tees across 2,400 systems, 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, but so does tasting and adjusting.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Most problems I see trace back to process, not the ink household. Under-curing is the first perpetrator. Water based ink that feels dry can still be under-cured if the core of the print never ever hit the needed temperature for the right period. Utilize a donut probe or an embedded thermochromic strip to determine true ink movie temperature level, not just clothes dryer setpoints. Screen lockup is the second. Keep a constant pace on press, flood between prints, and control shop humidity.

A 3rd mistake is ignoring material variability. If you switch blanks mid-run since a size is out of stock, you might see shifts in color. Develop contingency into your getting. For brand names planning ahead, selecting a standard blank and locking it with your provider minimizes surprises.

Final assistance for choosing your path

If your concern is soft, breathable custom-made garments that customers keep using, water based inks deserve the learning curve. Usage basic water based upon light garments for clean detail and matte color. Relocate to release on one hundred percent cotton when you want the softest prints on dark t-shirts. Accept and plan for minor color difference with discharge, specifically throughout color lots. For bulk t t-shirt orders, integrate in a single round of physical sampling on the actual blanks you will use, then record your settings and hold back a recommendation shirt for quality control.

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

Custom t shirts are evaluated in the hands, not simply on screens. When a customer rubs their thumb across a print and feels nothing but fiber, you've won. That's the minute water based and discharge deliver, and why they deserve a place in any serious store or brand name's toolkit.

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

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