October 18, 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.

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 printing shop that takes its craft seriously, and you will see two things in consistent tension: the push for softer, more breathable prints that people really take pleasure in using, and the requirement to produce at scale without jeopardizing the environment or the bottom line. That tension has shaped how I choose inks, pretreatments, and materials for custom-made garments tasks. Throughout the years, I've discovered that water based inks and discharge printing are not simply buzzwords, they are practical tools that produce stunning outcomes and genuine convenience, especially for T t-shirt printing that needs to withstand everyday wear.

If you run a brand name, handle bulk t shirt orders, or merely want your customized t-shirts to seem like a preferred from the very first wash, it's worth 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 used once and one that ends up being the go-to.

What water based ink really is

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

There are 2 primary families: standard 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 fabrics, you either need a heavier print or you switch to release. Discharge printing utilizes an activator that raises the color from the fabric throughout treating, essentially whitening the shirt's dye in the printed areas, then changes it with your pigment. The end result 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 motto if you unload the chemistry and the workflow. Water based inks usually contain less unstable natural substances than solvent-heavy alternatives and prevent PVC altogether. Numerous are compliant with stringent requirements like Oeko-Tex or meet retail testing routines that prohibit certain phthalates and heavy metals. If you offer customized garments 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. water-based inks Ink is one corporate apparel embroidery part. You likewise need to look at store practices: filtering on your washout cubicle, recover chemistry, energy usage on your dryer, and even fabric sourcing. Discharge needs an activator, generally based upon zinc formaldehyde sulfoxylate or comparable substances, which has its own handling and ventilation requirements. In a well-run store, direct exposure is controlled and waste is captured. If you're utilizing print as needed with a partner, ask how they handle 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 since they enjoy the ink. They purchase it due to the fact that the garment looks excellent, feels good, and keeps that character after repeated washing. Water based inks, consisting of discharge, offer you that broken-in convenience from day one. On a 100 percent ring-spun cotton blank, a water based print is breathable and versatile. You will not hear the crackle you in some cases get from heavy plastisol when you stretch across the chest.

I keep a shelf 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 much 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, but the user feedback corresponds: 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 fabric's own dye. On white or heather light shirts, basic water based ink can hit tight Pantones with a determined ink mix and a clean mesh. On darker cotton, discharge includes variables. Different dye lots discharge differently, even within the 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 include steers the last color, but you're still working with a background that is moving as the dye is removed.

That's not a defect, it becomes part of the medium. Numerous designers welcome the somewhat classic character of discharge, where reds land earthy and blues feel deep instead of neon. If your brand name needs laser-precise color reproduction for business logos, either order test prints on the exact batch you plan to use or think about a water based underbase or hybrid approach where required. For wholesale t t-shirts that will be distributed 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 partnership in between ink and fiber. Ringspun cotton takes ink perfectly. 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 only raises the cotton portion. That means your color fills the cotton while the polyester and rayon stay as-is, typically yielding a heathered or speckled print that looks intentional if you style for it. If your goal is flat, vivid color on a poly mix, traditional 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, consider cut-and-sew with water based prints on panels before assembly. Garment printing all over on finished tees introduces joints, folds, and inconsistent pressure that show up as blank micro-gaps. If you should print on completed garments, anticipate small voids along seams, which some customers like as part of the garment's character.

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

Water based inks behave in a different way on press. They dry faster in the screen, which works on fabric however can lock a mesh if you stop briefly too long. Running a higher mesh for information, say 230 to 305, keeps the deposit thin and crisp. Establish with a misting bottle or a devoted screen rewetting option at hand, and keep the print space humidity in a stable variety, roughly 45 to 55 percent, to avoid premature drying. Manual press operators will see how rapidly a basic water based ink clears the screen compared to a heavy plastisol. Car presses, with flood bars and constant rate, lower clogging.

Curing is where numerous newbies miss the mark. Water based inks need both heat and time for the water to evaporate, then for the binders to cross-link. A dryer tunnel with enough airflow makes the distinction. You want even heat throughout the belt and sufficient dwell to reach the producer's remedy temperature throughout the ink layer, not just at the surface area. T-shirts leaving the tunnel ought to be dry to the touch with no cool areas. For discharge, the chemical reaction takes place during this cure, and you will smell the activator. Excellent ventilation is non-negotiable.

Durability and wash testing

Durability depends upon 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, tumble dry medium, then visual evaluation for fading and splitting. Water based prints reveal progressive softening and a mild fade in the same way jeans unwinds. Plastisol's failure mode is various, generally cracking if the ink layer is too thick or under-cured. For personalized t-shirts that need to look proficient at a family 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 frequently comparable to plastisol at the gallon level, but you invest more in shop environment and drying capacity. On press, water based can be slightly slower at setup due to the fact that you pay closer attention to mesh, squeegee durometer, and off-contact. When tuned, cars run at comparable speeds. Where it truly pays off is in perceived value. A soft print on a mid-tier blank typically feels premium without leaping to the highest-cost shirt. Brands can price accordingly.

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

Design options that highlight the 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. Basic 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. Think about how the t-shirt color looks through. A charcoal heather with a discharge cream graphic appear like it grew there.

Type weight matters. Very thin knockouts inside heavy flood areas can complete with discharge, specifically on high-absorbency cotton. If you require razor negative area, separate the art to print unfavorable shapes as positive strokes with a clear schedule for squeegee pressure and flashes. Ask your printer for a proof on the actual garment rather than trusting a digital mockup. A mockup can not catch fiber interplay and color lift.

When you should state no to discharge

There are times I advise versus discharge. Polyester-rich garments are leading of the list. The activator can cause color migration, particularly with sublimated or cationic-dyed efficiency shirts, leading to 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 customer is delicate to small odor throughout curing, discharge days in the shop are visible. Well-managed air flow mitigates this, however it becomes part of the process.

If a client requires metallics, puff, or specialized textures, plastisol or hybrid systems still own that area. Water based metallics exist, however the particles typically sink, and the impact is more satin than true metal. For high-opacity neons on dark t-shirts that must 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 rely on a partner, established a workflow that eliminates guesswork. An easy method keeps surprises at bay and helps you struck due dates for launches and events.

  • Decide on material initially, then ink: select 100 percent ringspun cotton for discharge, or light, premium cotton for basic water based. Avoid high poly unless the heathered result is desired.
  • Request test prints on the specific blanks: one t-shirt per colorway is normally enough to lock approvals, specifically for bulk t shirt orders where consistency matters.
  • Clarify color expectations in context: supply Pantone targets for light garments and describe acceptable ranges for dark discharge prints, with images of prior work you like.
  • Align on care labels and handling: recommend cold wash and low heat dry for customers, then verify your cure times so clean resilience matches the tag guidance.
  • Confirm ecological standards: ask your printer about ink certifications, 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 restrictions: quick art changes, little batch sizes, and the need for a broad color range. Direct-to-garment has actually become the default, but water based screen printing can fit POD if you arrange catalog method. For styles that are high volume even at small day-to-day amounts, pre-burning screens and keeping a small stock of popular sizes lets you ship exact 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 choose light garments.

If your POD model 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 convenience and breathability are the selling points. Customers who care about touch will notice.

Pricing, margins, and interacting 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 clients correspond with quality, enhanced breathability, and compliance for sensitive buyers. On a per-shirt basis, the distinction for a standard three-color front hit might be modest, frequently a little uplift that can be neutralized by choosing a somewhat more affordable blank. If the program is for wholesale t t-shirts going into shops or e-commerce at premium price points, the improvement in viewed value more than covers the change.

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

Care instructions that customers actually follow

Care labels frequently check out like legal disclaimers. Keep it easy and sensible so the shirt endures real life. Water based and discharge prints prefer cooler washes and lower clothes dryer heat, however they will withstand 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 fabric conditioners if you desire colors to remain crisp. The last note matters since some conditioners can transfer movies on fibers, dulling the visual contrast of fine lines.

I have actually checked these directions in-house: 2 similar t-shirts, one washed cold and dried low, the other washed warm and dried high. After 15 cycles, the warm/high tee revealed slightly much faster fading of mid-tones, yet still looked excellent. That tolerance originates from right cure, not from babying the garment.

All over print ideas that do not battle the limitations

All over print catches attention, but printing flood coats on put together garments with water based inks can be unforgiving. Instead of battling joints, style 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. Additionally, run panel printing and sew. Brands that sell minimal runs can validate cut-and-sew for 100 to 300 pieces if the design requires it. The completed garments read as custom from a range, which is the goal.

A brief anecdote from a hectic season

One spring we ran a series for a regional music festival. The client desired soft black tees with a sunburst print that seemed like it resided in the material. We tested on three blacks from two mills. Batch one lifted cleanly with discharge, batch two stayed 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 changed dwell time by 10 to 15 seconds to complete the response. The outcome: constant tees across 2,400 units, each with a soft, breathable print that offered out by day two.

That job taught the team to treat discharge like cooking, not chemistry on a chalkboard. The dish matters, but so does tasting and adjusting.

Common pitfalls 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 required temp for the ideal period. Use a donut probe or an embedded thermochromic strip to measure real ink movie temperature, not simply dryer setpoints. Screen lockup is the second. Keep a constant speed on press, flood between prints, and control store humidity.

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

Final guidance for selecting your path

If your concern is soft, breathable custom-made garments that clients keep using, water based inks are worth the learning curve. Usage standard water based on light garments for tidy detail and matte color. Relocate to release on 100 percent cotton when you desire the softest prints on dark shirts. Accept and plan for small color variance with discharge, specifically across color lots. For bulk t shirt orders, build in a single round of physical tasting on the real blanks you will utilize, then record your settings and keep back a referral shirt for quality control.

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

Custom t t-shirts are judged in the hands, not simply on screens. When a consumer rubs their thumb throughout a print and feels absolutely nothing but fiber, you've won. That's the minute water based and discharge deliver, and why they should have 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.