October 18, 2025

Beyond Standard 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 printing shop that takes its craft seriously, and you will see two things in consistent tension: the push for softer, more breathable prints that individuals in fact take pleasure in using, and the requirement to produce at scale without jeopardizing the environment or the bottom line. That stress has formed how I choose inks, pretreatments, and materials for custom-made garments tasks. Over the years, I've discovered that water based inks and discharge printing are not just buzzwords, they are practical tools that produce beautiful results and genuine convenience, particularly for T t-shirt printing that requires to withstand day-to-day wear.

If you run a brand name, handle bulk t shirt orders, or merely want your tailored t-shirts to seem like a favorite from the first wash, it deserves understanding how these ink systems work, where they shine, and where they require care. The best choice can make the difference in between a t-shirt that gets used once and one that becomes the go-to.

What water based ink actually is

Water based inks suspend pigments in water rather than in plasticizers and solvents. Unlike plastisol, which sits on top of the material and cures into a film, water based inks absorb into the fibers. That single characteristic explains the majority of the advantages and compromises. Prints feel soft since you're touching the cotton, not a layer of treated PVC. Colors DTF vs DTG tend to look more matte and incorporated. On light garments, the hand is typically equivalent from the shirt itself. For customized t shirts designed for comfort, this is the path to the "retail feel" customers ask for.

There are 2 primary families: standard water based and discharge. Basic water based ink works best on white or extremely light t-shirts. It can cover mid-tones with the best base, but once you move into darker fabrics, you either require a heavier print or you switch to discharge. Discharge printing utilizes an activator that raises the dye from the fabric during treating, essentially whitening the shirt's dye in the printed locations, then replaces it with your pigment. Completion outcome is the softest possible print on dark cotton, frequently with outstanding 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 contain fewer volatile natural compounds than solvent-heavy alternatives and prevent PVC entirely. Lots of are certified with rigorous standards like Oeko-Tex or satisfy retail testing programs that ban particular phthalates and heavy metals. If you offer custom apparel into corporate wellness programs, schools, or health-conscious brands, those certificates smooth procurement and keep you ahead of compliance.

That stated, "eco friendly" is a system idea. Ink is one part. You also require to look at store practices: filtration on your washout booth, recover chemistry, energy usage on your clothes dryer, and even material sourcing. Discharge needs an activator, generally based upon zinc formaldehyde sulfoxylate or comparable compounds, which has its own handling and ventilation requirements. 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 manage discharge effluent and whether they have air exchange and treating controls called in. Genuine sustainability hides in the details.

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

Most people do not buy a graphic tee because they love the ink. They purchase it since the garment looks good, feels good, and keeps that character after repeated washing. Water based inks, consisting of discharge, provide you that broken-in comfort from day one. On a 100 percent ring-spun cotton blank, a water based print is breathable and versatile. You will not hear the crackle you in some cases receive from heavy plastisol when you stretch throughout the chest.

I keep a rack of comparison shirts in the studio. One from a browse 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 somewhat, and the shirts kept moving. A plastisol sample with the very same art looks glossier and still pops more under harsh light, which some streetwear clients prefer, however the user feedback corresponds: water based seems like a premium garment.

Color, coverage, and how expectations shape results

Color accuracy with water based inks refers 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 determined ink mix and a clean mesh. On darker cotton, discharge includes variables. Various color lots discharge in a different way, 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 guides the last color, but you're still working with a background that is moving as the color is removed.

That's not a flaw, it belongs to the medium. Lots of designers accept 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 logo designs, either order test prints on the exact batch you prepare to utilize or consider a water based underbase or hybrid method where needed. For wholesale t shirts that discharge printing will be distributed nationally, put swatch approvals into your procedure so there are not a surprises at scale.

Fabric matters more than most people think

A water based print is a collaboration in between ink and fiber. Ringspun cotton takes ink wonderfully. Carded open end cotton is scratchier and drinks ink unevenly. Blends make complex things. A 50/50 poly-cotton or a triblend with rayon can deal with water based, however discharge only lifts the cotton part. That indicates your color saturates the cotton while the polyester and rayon stay as-is, often yielding a heathered or speckled print that looks intentional if you design for it. If your goal is flat, vibrant color on a poly blend, traditional plastisol or a specialized low-cure system might be smarter.

On all over print jobs, 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 finished tees introduces seams, folds, and inconsistent pressure that show up as blank micro-gaps. If you need to print on ended up garments, anticipate little spaces along joints, which some clients 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 faster in the screen, which is useful on fabric but can lock a mesh if you pause 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 dedicated screen rewetting solution at hand, and keep the print space humidity in a stable range, roughly 45 to 55 percent, to avoid premature drying. Manual press operators will see how quickly a standard water based ink clears the screen compared to a heavy plastisol. Auto presses, with flood bars and constant rate, decrease clogging.

Curing is where numerous beginners fizzle. 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 adequate airflow makes the distinction. You desire even heat throughout the belt and adequate dwell to reach the producer's remedy temperature throughout the ink layer, not just at the surface. T-shirts exiting the tunnel should be dry to the touch with no cool areas. For discharge, the chain reaction occurs throughout this treatment, and you will smell the activator. Excellent ventilation is non-negotiable.

Durability and wash testing

Durability depends on proper treatment and fiber engagement. A well-cured water based print on cotton can outlast the t-shirt. I measure sturdiness by standardized wash tests, 10 to 20 cycles screen printing at warm, topple dry medium, then visual examination for fading and splitting. Water based prints reveal gradual softening and a gentle fade in the same method denim unwinds. Plastisol's failure mode is various, typically breaking if the ink layer is too thick or under-cured. For individualized shirts that require to look proficient at a household reunion and still remain in rotation next summertime, water based holds up when produced correctly.

Cost, throughput, and when to choose which method

Costs vary regionally, however the economics fall under familiar patterns. Water based ink itself is often comparable 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 fit together, squeegee durometer, and off-contact. Once tuned, cars perform at similar speeds. Where it actually pays off is in perceived worth. A soft print on a mid-tier blank often feels premium without leaping to the highest-cost shirt. Brand names can price accordingly.

For bulk t shirt orders above a few hundred pieces where the art matches the medium, discharge on 100 percent cotton is a workhorse. For print as needed that requires over night turn-around 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 several colorways and must keep inventory versatile, a versatile water based palette on light garments is effective, considering that you avoid the weight and stiffness that accumulate with multiple underbases in plastisol.

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

Design preparation begins with the material color and ends with curing. On light t-shirts, lean into detail: 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 shirt color peeks through. A charcoal heather with a discharge cream graphic appear like it grew there.

Type weight matters. Extremely thin knockouts inside heavy flood locations can fill in with discharge, particularly on high-absorbency cotton. If you need razor negative space, separate the art to print negative shapes as favorable strokes with a clear schedule for squeegee pressure and flashes. Ask your printer for an evidence on the real garment rather than relying on a digital mockup. A mockup can not catch fiber interplay and dye lift.

When you must say no to discharge

There are times I recommend versus discharge. Polyester-rich garments are leading of the list. The activator can trigger color migration, particularly with sublimated or cationic-dyed performance t-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 sensitive to minor odor during treating, discharge days in the shop are visible. Well-managed air flow reduces this, however it is part of the process.

If a customer requires metallics, puff, or specialty textures, plastisol or hybrid systems still own that space. Water based metallics exist, however the particles typically 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 might 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, set Custom apparel printing up a workflow that eliminates uncertainty. A basic technique keeps surprises at bay and assists you struck deadlines for launches and events.

  • Decide on fabric first, then ink: pick 100 percent ringspun cotton for discharge, or light, top quality cotton for standard water based. Prevent high poly unless the heathered result is desired.
  • Request test prints on the specific blanks: one t-shirt per colorway is normally sufficient to lock approvals, particularly for bulk t t-shirt orders where consistency matters.
  • Clarify color expectations in context: supply Pantone targets for light garments and explain appropriate varieties 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 consumers, then verify your treatment times so clean durability 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 as needed has its own constraints: quick art modifications, small batch sizes, and the need for a broad color range. Direct-to-garment has ended up being the default, but water based screen printing can fit POD if you organize 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 much better than numerous DTG outputs. It works finest when you keep art to one or two colors and choose 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 convenience and breathability are the selling points. Clients who care about touch will notice.

Pricing, margins, and communicating value

When clients ask why a water based or discharge print costs more than a fundamental plastisol job, I discuss what they are buying. They get the soft hand that retail customers equate with quality, enhanced breathability, and compliance for delicate buyers. On a per-shirt basis, the distinction for a standard three-color front hit might be modest, frequently a small uplift that can be reduced the effects of by choosing a slightly more cost-effective blank. If the program is for wholesale t t-shirts entering into boutiques or e-commerce at premium price points, the enhancement in perceived value more than covers the change.

For individualized shirts, such as charity runs or college clubs, choices matter. Deal a base cost 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. Meeting both lets you serve a larger market without diluting your craft.

Care guidelines that consumers really follow

Care labels frequently check out like legal disclaimers. Keep it easy and sensible so the shirt makes it through reality. Water based and discharge prints prefer cooler washes and lower dryer heat, but they will sustain typical laundering if effectively cured. I recommend phrasing care ideas in human terms on item pages: wash cold with similar colors, tumble dry low, prevent fabric conditioners if you want colors to stay crisp. The last note matters since some softeners can deposit movies on fibers, dulling the visual contrast of great lines.

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

All over print ideas that do not combat the limitations

All over print catches attention, but printing flood coats on assembled garments with water based inks can be unforgiving. Rather of fighting seams, design for them. Use tone-on-tone patterns that fade naturally at seams, or apply a ghosted grid that looks deliberate when it breaks at hems. Alternatively, run panel printing and stitch. Brand names that sell restricted runs can validate cut-and-sew for 100 to 300 pieces if the style requires it. The finished garments check out as customized from a distance, which is the goal.

A brief anecdote from a busy season

One spring we ran a series for a regional music festival. The customer desired soft black tees with a sunburst print that seemed like it resided in the fabric. We sampled on three blacks from 2 mills. Batch one lifted easily with discharge, batch two remained stubbornly dark in the mid-rays of the art work. We logged color 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 complete the response. The result: consistent tees throughout 2,400 units, each with a soft, breathable print that offered out by day two.

That job taught the team to deal with discharge like cooking, not chemistry on a cheap custom t shirts chalkboard. The dish matters, however so does tasting and adjusting.

Common risks and how to prevent them

Most issues I see trace back to procedure, not the ink family. Under-curing is the very first culprit. Water based ink that feels dry can still be under-cured if the core of the print never hit the required temperature for the ideal duration. Utilize a donut probe or an ingrained thermochromic strip to measure real ink movie temperature level, not just clothes dryer setpoints. Screen lockup is the second. Keep a constant speed on press, flood between prints, and control shop humidity.

A 3rd mistake is neglecting material irregularity. If you change blanks mid-run since a size is out of stock, you might see shifts in color. Develop contingency into your getting. For brands planning ahead, picking a basic blank and locking it with your supplier reduces surprises.

Final guidance for selecting your path

If your priority is soft, breathable customized apparel that customers keep using, water based inks are worth the learning curve. Usage standard water based upon light garments for tidy detail and matte color. Move to release on 100 percent cotton when you want the softest prints on dark shirts. Accept and plan for slight color variation with discharge, specifically across color lots. For bulk t t-shirt orders, integrate in a single round of physical sampling on the actual blanks you will use, then document your settings and hold back a reference 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 distinction: eco friendly inks, breathable feel, and retail-quality hand. Keep your specialized results and neon stunners in plastisol or hybrid systems where they belong.

Custom t shirts are judged in the hands, not just on screens. When a customer rubs their thumb across a print and feels nothing but fiber, you've won. That's the moment water based and discharge deliver, 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.