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 2 things in consistent tension: the push for softer, more breathable prints that individuals in fact enjoy using, and the need to produce at scale without jeopardizing the environment or the bottom line. That stress has actually shaped how I choose inks, pretreatments, and fabrics for customized garments tasks. Throughout the years, I have actually found out that water based inks and discharge printing are not simply buzzwords, they are practical tools that produce beautiful results and real comfort, particularly for T shirt printing that requires to stand up to everyday wear.

If you run a brand name, manage bulk t t-shirt orders, or simply want your personalized t-shirts to seem like a preferred from the very first wash, it deserves understanding how these ink systems work, where they shine, and where they require care. The ideal option can make the distinction between a t-shirt that gets used once and one that ends up being the go-to.

What water based ink actually is

Water based inks suspend pigments in water instead of in plasticizers and solvents. Unlike plastisol, which sits on top of the fabric and remedies into a movie, water based inks absorb into the fibers. That single characteristic explains the majority of the advantages and compromises. Prints feel soft due to the fact that 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 equivalent from the t-shirt itself. For custom t shirts developed for comfort, this is the path to the "retail feel" clients ask for.

There are 2 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 best base, but once you move into darker fabrics, you either need a heavier print or you switch to discharge. Release printing utilizes an activator that raises the dye from the material during treating, essentially bleaching the t-shirt's color in the printed locations, then replaces it with your pigment. Completion result is the softest possible print on dark cotton, often with impressive detail.

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

Eco friendly inks are not a marketing motto if you unpack the chemistry and the workflow. Water based inks typically include fewer unpredictable organic substances than solvent-heavy alternatives and avoid PVC altogether. Lots of are compliant with strict standards like Oeko-Tex or satisfy retail testing programs that ban particular phthalates and heavy metals. If you sell custom clothing into corporate health cares, schools, or health-conscious brand names, those certificates smooth procurement and keep you ahead of compliance.

That stated, "eco friendly" is a system concept. Ink is one part. You also need to look at shop practices: purification on your washout cubicle, recover chemistry, energy usage on your clothes dryer, and even fabric sourcing. Discharge needs an activator, normally based upon zinc formaldehyde sulfoxylate or similar compounds, which has its own handling and ventilation needs. In a well-run shop, direct exposure is controlled and waste is captured. If you're using print as needed with a partner, ask how they handle discharge effluent and whether they have air exchange and treating controls called in. Genuine sustainability conceals 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 since the garment looks great, feels good, and keeps that character after duplicated cleaning. Water based inks, consisting of discharge, give 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 receive from heavy plastisol when you stretch across the chest.

I keep a rack of contrast t-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 slightly, and the shirts kept moving. A plastisol sample with the exact same art looks glossier and still pops more under harsh light, which some streetwear customers prefer, but the wearer feedback is consistent: water based feels like a premium garment.

Color, coverage, and how expectations shape results

Color accuracy with water based inks refers control, humidity, and the fabric's own dye. On white or heather light t-shirts, basic water based ink can strike tight Pantones with a determined ink mix and a clean mesh. On darker cotton, discharge adds variables. Various dye lots discharge in a different way, even within the exact same brand name and color. Black 3001 blanks from one batch might raise to a warm charcoal, while the next batch clears to a cooler grey. The pigment you add guides the last color, however 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 embrace the somewhat vintage character of discharge, where reds land earthy and blues feel deep rather than neon. If your brand name demands laser-precise color reproduction for corporate logos, either order test prints on the precise batch you plan to utilize or consider a water based underbase or hybrid method where needed. For wholesale t shirts that will be distributed nationally, put swatch approvals into your procedure so there are no surprises at scale.

Fabric matters more than many people think

A water based print is a partnership between ink and fiber. Ringspun cotton takes ink beautifully. Carded open end cotton is scratchier and beverages ink unevenly. Blends complicate things. A 50/50 poly-cotton or a triblend with rayon can deal with water based, but discharge only lifts the cotton portion. That suggests 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 objective is flat, vibrant color on a poly blend, standard 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, think about cut-and-sew with water based prints on panels before assembly. Garment printing all over on finished tees introduces seams, folds, and irregular pressure that show up as blank micro-gaps. If you need to print on completed garments, anticipate little voids along seams, which some clients 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 quicker in the screen, which works on fabric but can lock a mesh if you pause too long. Running a greater mesh for information, 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 space humidity in a steady range, approximately 45 to 55 percent, to avoid premature drying. Manual press operators will notice how rapidly a standard water based ink clears the screen compared to a heavy plastisol. Auto presses, with flood bars and consistent rate, minimize clogging.

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

Durability and wash testing

Durability depends on proper remedy and fiber engagement. A well-cured water bag and backpack embroidery based print on cotton can outlast the t-shirt. I measure durability by standardized wash tests, 10 to 20 cycles at warm, topple dry medium, then visual examination for fading and cracking. Water based prints show steady softening and a mild fade in the exact same method jeans unwinds. Plastisol's failure mode is various, normally cracking if the ink layer is too thick or under-cured. For personalized t-shirts that require to look proficient at a household reunion and still remain in rotation next summer season, water based holds up when produced correctly.

Cost, throughput, and when to pick which method

Costs differ regionally, but the economics fall under familiar patterns. Water based ink itself is typically equivalent to plastisol at the gallon level, but you invest more in store environment and drying capability. On press, water based can be somewhat slower at setup because you pay closer attention to mesh, squeegee durometer, and off-contact. Once tuned, autos perform at comparable speeds. Where it actually settles remains in viewed worth. A soft print on a mid-tier blank frequently feels premium without jumping to the highest-cost shirt. Brands can price accordingly.

For bulk t t-shirt orders above a couple of hundred pieces where the art fits the medium, discharge on one hundred percent cotton is a workhorse. For print on demand that requires overnight turn-around and art changes continuously, direct-to-garment or DTF may be better operationally, though both have their own environmental and feel compromises. When you take on wholesale t t-shirts with numerous colorways and need to keep inventory versatile, a versatile water based combination on light garments is efficient, since you prevent the weight and tightness that build up with numerous underbases in plastisol.

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

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

Type weight matters. Very thin knockouts inside heavy flood areas can fill out with discharge, specifically on high-absorbency cotton. If you require razor negative area, different the art to print unfavorable shapes as positive 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 record fiber interaction and dye lift.

When you should state no to discharge

There are times I recommend versus discharge. Polyester-rich garments are leading of the list. The activator can trigger dye migration, particularly with sublimated or cationic-dyed efficiency t-shirts, resulting in 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 client is delicate to small odor during treating, discharge days in the store are noticeable. Well-managed airflow alleviates this, however it belongs to the process.

If a customer needs metallics, puff, or specialty textures, plastisol or hybrid systems still own that area. Water based metallics exist, but the particles frequently sink, and the effect is more satin than true metal. For high-opacity neons on dark shirts that must be billboard-bright, you might need a water based underbase tuned for opacity or a switch to plastisol.

Practical workflow for brands and creators

Whether you run your own presses or count on a partner, set up a workflow that gets rid of uncertainty. A basic approach keeps surprises at bay and helps you struck due dates for launches and events.

  • Decide on material first, then ink: pick 100 percent ringspun cotton for discharge, or light, high-quality cotton for standard water based. Prevent high poly unless the heathered impact is desired.
  • Request test prints on the precise blanks: one shirt per colorway is usually adequate to lock approvals, specifically for bulk t shirt orders where consistency matters.
  • Clarify color expectations in context: offer Pantone targets for light garments and explain appropriate varieties for dark discharge prints, with images of previous work you like.
  • Align on care labels and handling: suggest cold wash and low heat dry for consumers, then validate your remedy times so clean sturdiness matches the tag guidance.
  • Confirm environmental standards: ask your printer about ink certifications, ventilation, and waste capture, especially if your brand messaging leans into eco friendly inks.

How water based fits with print on demand

Print on demand has its own constraints: quick art changes, little batch sizes, and the need for a broad color gamut. Direct-to-garment has actually ended up being the default, however water based screen printing can fit POD if you arrange brochure strategy. For styles that are high volume even at little everyday quantities, pre-burning screens and keeping a small stock of popular sizes lets you deliver very same day with water based prints that feel better than numerous DTG outputs. It works finest when you keep art to a couple of 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 comfort and breathability are the selling points. Clients 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 basic plastisol task, I discuss what they are purchasing. They get the soft hand that retail clients relate with quality, improved breathability, and compliance for sensitive purchasers. On a per-shirt basis, the distinction for a basic three-color front hit might be modest, frequently a little uplift that can be reduced the effects of by selecting a slightly more economical blank. If the program is for wholesale t shirts entering into shops or e-commerce at superior price points, the enhancement in perceived value more than covers the change.

For customized 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. Fulfilling both lets you serve a larger market without diluting your craft.

Care directions that consumers actually follow

Care labels often read like legal disclaimers. Keep it basic and realistic so the shirt endures reality. Water based and discharge prints choose cooler washes and lower dryer heat, but they will endure normal laundering if appropriately treated. I suggest phrasing care pointers in human terms on item pages: wash cold with comparable colors, topple dry low, avoid material conditioners if you want colors to remain crisp. The last note matters since some conditioners can deposit movies on fibers, dulling the visual contrast of fine lines.

I've evaluated these directions in-house: 2 similar t-shirts, one cleaned 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 good. That tolerance originates from appropriate cure, not from babying the garment.

All over print ideas that do not battle the limitations

All over print captures attention, however printing flood coats on assembled garments with water based inks can be unforgiving. Rather of battling seams, design for them. Use tone-on-tone patterns that fade naturally at joints, or apply a ghosted grid that looks deliberate when it breaks at hems. Alternatively, run panel printing and stitch. Brands that sell minimal runs can justify cut-and-sew for 100 to 300 pieces if the design warrants it. The finished garments read as custom-made from a distance, which is the goal.

A brief anecdote from a busy season

One spring we ran a series for a local music celebration. The customer desired soft black tees with a sunburst print that seemed like it lived in the material. We tested on three blacks from 2 mills. Batch one raised easily with discharge, batch two remained stubbornly dark in the mid-rays of the artwork. We logged color lot numbers, rotated the ink mix by including a touch more white pigment to compensate, and changed dwell time by 10 to 15 seconds to complete the response. The result: constant tees throughout 2,400 systems, each with a soft, breathable print that offered out by day two.

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

Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

Most problems I see trace back to process, not the ink family. Under-curing is the very first offender. 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 best duration. Utilize a donut probe or an ingrained thermochromic strip to determine true ink movie temperature level, not simply clothes dryer setpoints. Screen lockup is the 2nd. Keep a consistent speed on press, flood between prints, and control shop humidity.

A 3rd pitfall is ignoring fabric irregularity. If you switch blanks mid-run because a size runs out stock, you may see shifts in color. Build contingency into your buying. For brand names preparing ahead, picking a standard blank and locking it with your supplier decreases surprises.

Final guidance for picking your path

If your top priority is soft, breathable customized clothing that customers keep using, water based inks are worth the learning curve. Usage standard water based upon light garments for clean information and matte color. Transfer to release on 100 percent cotton when you desire the softest prints on dark t-shirts. Accept and prepare for minor color variance with discharge, particularly throughout dye lots. For bulk 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 referral t-shirt for quality control.

If you operate a print on demand brochure, take a water based capsule of finest sellers on light shirts. Market the distinction: eco friendly inks, breathable feel, and retail-quality hand. Keep your specialized impacts 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 customer rubs their thumb throughout a print and feels absolutely nothing however fiber, you've won. That's the minute water based and discharge provide, and why they deserve a location 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.