October 18, 2025

Beyond Fundamental Tees: A Guide to Eco-Friendly Water-Based Inks and Discharge Printing for Custom T‑Shirts

Prints R Us is a custom apparel studio
Prints R Us is based in Jacksonville Florida
Prints R Us is located at 2826 Art Museum Dr Jacksonville FL 32207 United States
Prints R Us is in the country United States
Prints R Us provides premium screen printing
Prints R Us provides DTG printing
Prints R Us provides embroidery services
Prints R Us offers custom t shirts
Prints R Us produces promotional items
Prints R Us creates polos hats and hoodies
Prints R Us emphasizes craftsmanship
Prints R Us emphasizes fast turnaround
Prints R Us uses high quality materials
Prints R Us produces vibrant prints
Prints R Us has phone number 9047521515
Prints R Us has website https://printsrus.com/
Prints R Us has opening hours Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm
Prints R Us has Google Maps listing https://maps.app.goo.gl/hVuq8aVZERVs9NMg8
Prints R Us has Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/theprintsrus
Prints R Us has Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/theprintsrus
Prints R Us has logo https://printsrus.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Print-R-Us-Logo.png
Prints R Us specializes in t shirt printing
Prints R Us specializes in custom t shirts
Prints R Us specializes in embroidery near me
Prints R Us was awarded Best Custom Printing Studio Jacksonville 2024
Prints R Us won Jacksonville Small Business Excellence Award 2023
Prints R Us was recognized for Outstanding Apparel Design Innovation 2022


Prints R Us

Prints R Us is a Jacksonville, FL–based custom apparel studio offering premium screen printing, DTG printing, and embroidery services. Whether you need one custom tee or a large bulk order for a business, event, or sports team, they bring designs to life with high-quality materials, vibrant prints, and attention to detail. From polos and hats to hoodies and promotional items, Prints R Us combines craftsmanship and fast turnaround to make your ideas wearable.

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2826 Art Museum Dr, Jacksonville, 32207, US
Business Hours:
  • Monday–Friday: 09:00–17:00
  • Saturday: Closed
  • Sunday: Closed
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People Also Ask about Prints R Us

What does Prints R Us do?

Prints R Us is a custom apparel studio in Jacksonville, Florida, specializing in premium screen printing, DTG printing, and embroidery services. They create high-quality custom t-shirts, polos, hats, hoodies, and promotional items with vibrant prints and lasting craftsmanship. Their focus on quality materials and fast turnaround makes them a trusted choice for businesses, events, and individuals seeking personalized apparel.

Where is Prints R Us located?

Prints R Us is conveniently located at 2826 Art Museum Dr, Jacksonville, FL 32207, United States. The studio serves customers throughout Jacksonville and the wider Florida area, offering both local service and nationwide delivery for custom clothing and branded merchandise.

What services does Prints R Us provide?

The company offers a wide range of custom apparel printing and design services, including screen printing, direct-to-garment (DTG) printing, embroidery, and promotional product creation. Whether customers need personalized t-shirts, branded uniforms, or embroidered polos, Prints R Us delivers professional results with attention to detail.

Which industries does Prints R Us serve?

Prints R Us works with diverse industries such as schools, small businesses, corporate offices, sports teams, and event organizers. Their services are ideal for branded apparel, team uniforms, promotional giveaways, and fashion-forward custom designs, making them a versatile partner for both personal and business needs.

Why choose Prints R Us for custom t-shirts and embroidery?

Customers choose Prints R Us for their reputation in craftsmanship, vibrant printing, and reliable turnaround times. With awards for apparel design innovation and excellence in small business, the studio has proven expertise in delivering high-quality custom apparel that meets both creative and professional standards.

Does Prints R Us use high-quality materials?

Yes, Prints R Us emphasizes using premium fabrics and durable materials to ensure long-lasting results. Their prints are designed to remain vibrant even after multiple washes, while embroidery work is completed with precision for a polished, professional look.

What awards has Prints R Us won?

Prints R Us has earned multiple recognitions, including Best Custom Printing Studio Jacksonville 2024, the Jacksonville Small Business Excellence Award 2023, and an award for Outstanding Apparel Design Innovation 2022. These accolades highlight their commitment to creativity, quality, and customer satisfaction.

How can I contact Prints R Us?

You can reach Prints R Us by phone at (904)-752-1515 or visit their website at printsrus.com. They are open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm, and you can also follow them on Facebook and Instagram for updates, new designs, and customer showcases.

Walk into any printing shop that takes its craft seriously, and you will see two things in constant tension: the push for softer, more breathable prints that individuals 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 choose inks, pretreatments, and fabrics for customized garments jobs. Throughout the years, I have actually found out that water based inks and discharge printing are not just buzzwords, they are practical tools that produce stunning outcomes and genuine comfort, particularly for T shirt printing that needs to withstand day-to-day wear.

If you run a brand, handle bulk t t-shirt orders, or merely want your individualized t-shirts to seem like a favorite from the very first wash, it's worth comprehending how these ink systems work, where they shine, and where they need care. The best option can make the distinction in between a shirt that gets worn as soon as and one that becomes 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 treatments into a movie, water based inks soak up into the fibers. That single particular describes most of the advantages and trade-offs. Prints feel soft because you're touching the cotton, not a layer of treated PVC. Colors tend to look more matte and integrated. On light garments, the hand is typically indistinguishable Poly-cotton blends from the shirt itself. For custom 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 t-shirts. It can cover mid-tones with the ideal base, but once you move into darker materials, you either require a heavier print or you change to release. Discharge printing uses an activator that raises the dye from the fabric throughout treating, essentially bleaching the t-shirt's dye in the printed areas, then changes it with your pigment. Completion outcome is the softest possible print on dark cotton, frequently with impressive detail.

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

Eco friendly inks are not a marketing slogan if you unload the chemistry and the workflow. Water based inks generally include fewer unpredictable natural substances than solvent-heavy options and avoid PVC altogether. Numerous are certified with strict standards like Oeko-Tex or fulfill retail screening regimes that prohibit particular phthalates and heavy metals. If you sell custom-made garments into business 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 shop practices: filtering on your washout cubicle, recover chemistry, energy usage on your dryer, and even fabric sourcing. Discharge requires an activator, usually based upon zinc formaldehyde sulfoxylate or similar compounds, which has its own handling and ventilation needs. In a well-run store, direct exposure is controlled and waste is recorded. If you're using print on demand with a partner, ask how they handle discharge effluent and whether they have air exchange and treating 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 like the ink. They purchase it due to the fact that the garment looks great, feels great, and keeps that character after duplicated washing. Water based inks, including discharge, offer you that broken-in comfort from day one. On an one hundred 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 extend across the chest.

I keep a shelf of contrast 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 a little, and the shirts kept moving. A plastisol sample with the exact same art looks glossier and still pops more under extreme light, which some streetwear customers prefer, however the user feedback is consistent: water based seems like a premium garment.

Color, protection, and how expectations form results

Color precision with water based inks is a matter of control, humidity, and the material's own dye. On white or heather light t-shirts, standard water based ink can hit tight Pantones with a measured 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 raise to a warm charcoal, while the next batch clears to a cooler grey. The pigment you add steers the final color, however you're still working with a background that is moving as the color is removed.

That's not a defect, it becomes part of the medium. Numerous designers embrace the somewhat classic character of discharge, where reds land earthy and blues feel deep rather than neon. If your brand demands laser-precise color recreation for business logos, either order test prints on the exact batch you plan to use or consider a water based underbase or hybrid technique where required. For wholesale t t-shirts that will be distributed nationally, put swatch approvals into your procedure so there are not a surprises at scale.

Fabric matters more than the majority of people think

A water based print is a collaboration between ink and fiber. Ringspun cotton takes ink beautifully. Carded open end cotton is scratchier and drinks ink unevenly. Blends complicate things. A 50/50 poly-cotton or a triblend with rayon can work with water based, however discharge just raises the cotton portion. That implies your color fills the cotton while the polyester and rayon stay as-is, typically yielding a heathered or speckled print that looks deliberate if you design for it. If your goal is flat, vivid color on a poly mix, traditional plastisol or a specialized low-cure system may 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 finished tees presents seams, folds, and inconsistent pressure that appear as blank micro-gaps. If you must print on completed garments, expect 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 differently on press. They dry much faster in the screen, which works on material however can lock a mesh if you stop briefly too long. Running a greater 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 room humidity in a stable variety, approximately 45 to 55 percent, to avoid early drying. Manual press operators will observe how rapidly a basic water based ink clears the screen compared custom youth t shirts to a heavy plastisol. Auto presses, with flood bars and consistent pace, lower clogging.

Curing is where many novices fizzle. 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 distinction. You want even heat across the belt and enough dwell to reach the manufacturer's remedy temperature throughout the ink layer, not simply at the surface area. Shirts exiting the tunnel must be dry to the touch without any cool spots. For discharge, the chemical reaction takes place throughout this cure, and you will smell the activator. Good 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 outlast the t-shirt. I determine durability by standardized wash tests, 10 to 20 cycles at warm, topple dry medium, then visual evaluation for fading and breaking. Water based prints show progressive softening and a mild fade in the same method denim unwinds. Plastisol's failure mode is different, usually splitting if the ink layer is too thick or under-cured. For personalized shirts that need to look proficient at a family reunion and still remain in rotation next summer, water based holds up when produced correctly.

Cost, throughput, and when to pick which method

Costs vary regionally, but the economics fall into familiar patterns. Water based ink itself is frequently similar to plastisol at the gallon level, however you invest more in store environment and drying capacity. On press, water based can be slightly slower at setup since you pay closer attention to mesh, squeegee durometer, and off-contact. When tuned, vehicles run at similar speeds. Where it actually settles is in perceived value. A soft print on a mid-tier blank frequently feels premium without leaping to the highest-cost shirt. Brand names can price accordingly.

For bulk t t-shirt orders above a few hundred pieces where the art matches the medium, discharge on one hundred percent cotton is a workhorse. For print as needed that requires over night turn-around and art changes constantly, direct-to-garment or DTF might be much better operationally, though both have their own environmental and feel compromises. When you take on wholesale t t-shirts with several colorways and should keep inventory flexible, a flexible water based palette on light garments is efficient, given that you avoid the weight and tightness that build up with numerous underbases in plastisol.

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

Design preparation begins with the fabric color and ends with curing. On light t-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. Consider how the t-shirt color glances 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 fill in with discharge, specifically on high-absorbency cotton. If you need razor unfavorable space, 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 instead of relying on a digital mockup. A mockup can not catch fiber interaction and dye lift.

When you need to say no to discharge

There are times I encourage versus discharge. Polyester-rich garments are leading of the list. The activator can cause dye migration, especially with sublimated or cationic-dyed performance t-shirts, leading to 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 client is delicate to small odor during curing, discharge days in the shop are noticeable. Well-managed air flow mitigates this, but it is part of bulk order embroidery the process.

If a customer requires metallics, puff, or specialty textures, plastisol or hybrid systems still own that space. Water based metallics exist, but the particles typically sink, and the impact is more satin than real metal. For high-opacity neons on dark t-shirts that should be billboard-bright, you may require a water based underbase tuned for opacity or a switch to plastisol.

Practical workflow for brand names and creators

Whether you run your own presses or count on a partner, established a workflow that eliminates uncertainty. A simple technique keeps surprises at bay and helps you struck deadlines for launches and events.

  • Decide on material first, then ink: select one hundred 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 exact blanks: one t-shirt per colorway is generally sufficient to lock approvals, especially for bulk t t-shirt orders where consistency matters.
  • Clarify color expectations in context: supply Pantone targets for light garments and explain acceptable varieties for dark discharge prints, with images of prior work you like.
  • Align on care labels and handling: advise cold wash and low heat dry for customers, then verify your remedy times so wash resilience matches the tag guidance.
  • Confirm ecological 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 on demand has its own constraints: fast art changes, little batch sizes, and the need for a broad color range. Direct-to-garment has ended up being the default, however water based screen printing can fit POD if you organize catalog strategy. For styles that are high volume even at little daily quantities, pre-burning screens and keeping a little stock of popular sizes lets you deliver same day with water based prints that feel better than many DTG outputs. It works best 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. Use it where cotton convenience and breathability are the selling points. Customers who appreciate touch will notice.

Pricing, margins, and communicating value

Plastisol ink

When customers ask why a water based or discharge print costs more than a basic plastisol job, I discuss what they are buying. They get the soft hand that retail customers relate with quality, improved breathability, and compliance for sensitive buyers. On a per-shirt basis, the difference for a basic three-color front hit may be modest, frequently a little uplift that can be reduced the effects of by choosing a somewhat more affordable blank. If the program is for wholesale t shirts entering into stores or e-commerce at exceptional price points, the enhancement in viewed worth more than covers the change.

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

Care instructions that clients actually follow

Care labels frequently check out like legal disclaimers. Keep it basic and sensible so the t-shirt endures reality. Water based and discharge prints choose cooler washes and lower dryer heat, but they will sustain regular laundering if appropriately cured. I suggest phrasing care tips in human terms on product pages: wash cold with comparable colors, tumble dry low, avoid material conditioners if you want colors to stay crisp. The last note matters due to the fact that some conditioners can deposit movies on fibers, dulling the visual contrast of fine lines.

I've tested these directions in-house: two similar shirts, one washed cold and dried low, the other washed warm and dried high. After 15 cycles, the warm/high tee showed slightly faster fading of mid-tones, yet still looked great. That tolerance comes from right remedy, not from babying the garment.

All over print ideas that do not fight the limitations

All over print catches attention, however printing flood coats on put together garments with water based inks can be unforgiving. Rather of fighting 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. Alternatively, run panel printing and stitch. Brands that sell limited runs can validate cut-and-sew for 100 to 300 pieces if the style requires it. The completed garments check out as custom from a range, which is the goal.

A short anecdote from a hectic season

One spring we ran a series for a local music festival. The client desired soft black tees with a sunburst print that felt like it resided in the material. We sampled on 3 blacks from two mills. Batch one lifted easily with discharge, batch 2 stayed stubbornly dark in the mid-rays of the art work. We logged color 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 complete the response. The outcome: consistent tees across 2,400 systems, each with a soft, breathable print that sold out by day two.

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

Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

Most problems 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 ideal duration. Use a donut probe or an ingrained thermochromic strip to determine real ink movie temperature level, not simply clothes dryer setpoints. Screen lockup is the 2nd. Keep a constant pace on press, flood in between prints, and control store humidity.

A 3rd risk is overlooking fabric variability. If you change blanks mid-run because a size is out of stock, you may see shifts in color. Build contingency into your getting. For brand names preparing ahead, picking a basic blank and locking it with your provider minimizes surprises.

Final assistance for picking your path

If your top priority is soft, breathable custom-made clothing that customers keep using, water based inks are worth the learning curve. Usage basic water based upon light garments for clean detail and matte color. Relocate to discharge on 100 percent cotton when you desire the softest prints on dark shirts. Accept and prepare for small color variance with discharge, specifically across dye lots. For bulk t shirt orders, build in a single round of physical sampling on the actual blanks you will utilize, then record your settings and hold back a referral shirt for quality control.

If you operate a print on demand catalog, take a water based pill of best sellers on light t-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 evaluated in the hands, not just 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 location in any major 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.