November 3, 2025

Beyond Standard 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 2 things in consistent tension: the push for softer, more breathable prints that people actually enjoy using, and the need to produce at scale without compromising the environment or the bottom line. That tension has actually shaped how I choose inks, pretreatments, and fabrics for custom apparel projects. For many years, I have actually learned that water based inks and discharge printing are not just buzzwords, they Jacksonville T shirt printing specials are practical tools that produce lovely results and genuine convenience, especially for T shirt printing that needs to withstand daily wear.

If you run a brand name, handle bulk t shirt orders, or just want your personalized t-shirts to feel like a preferred from the first wash, it's worth comprehending how these ink systems work, where they shine, and where they need care. The right option can make the distinction between a shirt that gets used as soon as and one that becomes the go-to.

What water based ink really is

Water based inks suspend pigments in water instead of in plasticizers and solvents. Unlike plastisol, which sits on top of the material and cures into a movie, water based inks soak up into the fibers. That single particular discusses most of the benefits 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 often identical from the t-shirt itself. For custom t t-shirts designed for convenience, this is the path to the "retail feel" clients ask for.

There are 2 primary households: standard water based and discharge. Standard water based ink works best on Jacksonville T shirt printing for events white or very light t-shirts. It can cover mid-tones with the ideal base, but once you move into darker materials, you either need a heavier print or you switch to discharge. Release printing utilizes an activator that lifts the dye from the fabric throughout treating, basically bleaching the shirt's dye in the printed locations, then replaces it with your pigment. Completion result is the softest possible print on dark cotton, typically with outstanding detail.

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

Eco friendly inks are not a marketing motto if you unpack the chemistry and the workflow. Water based inks normally consist of fewer volatile organic substances than solvent-heavy options and avoid PVC completely. Lots of are compliant with strict requirements like Oeko-Tex or meet retail testing programs that prohibit specific phthalates and heavy metals. If you offer 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 principle. Ink is one part. You likewise require to take a look at store practices: filtration on your washout booth, reclaim chemistry, energy usage on your clothes dryer, and even fabric sourcing. Discharge requires an activator, normally based on zinc formaldehyde sulfoxylate or comparable compounds, which has its own handling and ventilation requirements. In a well-run store, exposure is managed and waste is recorded. If you're using print as needed with a partner, ask how they manage discharge effluent and whether they have air exchange and curing 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 due to the fact that they enjoy the ink. They purchase it due to the fact that the garment looks good, feels good, and keeps that character after duplicated washing. Water based inks, including discharge, provide 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 in some cases receive from heavy plastisol when you extend throughout the chest.

I keep a shelf of contrast 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 a lot more, the colors mellowed somewhat, and the t-shirts kept moving. A plastisol sample with the very same art looks glossier and still pops more under extreme light, which some streetwear customers choose, but the user feedback is consistent: water based feels like a premium garment.

Color, coverage, and how expectations shape results

Color precision with water based inks refers control, humidity, and the fabric's own color. On white or heather light t-shirts, standard water based ink can strike tight Pantones with a determined ink mix and a clean mesh. On darker cotton, discharge adds variables. Different color lots discharge differently, even within the exact same brand name and color. Black 3001 blanks from one batch might lift to a warm charcoal, while the next batch clears to a cooler grey. The pigment you add guides the last color, but you're still dealing with a background that is moving as the color is removed.

That's not a flaw, it becomes part of the medium. Lots of designers accept the somewhat vintage character of discharge, where reds land earthy and blues feel deep instead of neon. If your brand name needs laser-precise color reproduction for corporate logo designs, either order test prints on the specific batch you prepare to utilize or think about a water based underbase or hybrid technique where required. For wholesale t shirts that will be dispersed nationally, put example approvals into your procedure so there are not a surprises at scale.

Fabric matters more than many people think

A water based print is a collaboration between ink and fiber. Ringspun cotton takes ink magnificently. 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 just raises the cotton part. That indicates your color saturates the cotton while the polyester and rayon remain 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, standard plastisol or a specialized low-cure system may be smarter.

On all over print jobs, 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 ended up tees introduces joints, folds, and irregular pressure that show up as blank micro-gaps. If you should print on completed garments, anticipate little spaces along joints, which some clients like as part of the garment's character.

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

Water based inks act in a different way on press. They dry 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. Set up with a misting bottle or a dedicated screen rewetting service at hand, and keep the print space humidity in a steady range, roughly 45 to 55 percent, to avoid early drying. Manual press operators will notice how rapidly a basic water based ink clears the screen compared to a heavy plastisol. Vehicle presses, with flood bars and constant rate, lower clogging.

Curing is where many beginners miss the mark. Water based inks require both heat and time for the water to evaporate, then for the binders to cross-link. A clothes dryer tunnel with sufficient airflow makes the difference. You want even heat across the belt and adequate dwell to reach the producer's cure temperature throughout the ink layer, not simply at the surface area. T-shirts leaving the tunnel ought to be dry to the touch with no cool spots. For discharge, the chemical reaction occurs during this cure, and you will smell the activator. Great 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 last longer than the t-shirt. I determine sturdiness by standardized wash tests, 10 to 20 cycles at warm, tumble dry medium, then visual evaluation for fading and splitting. Water based prints show gradual softening and a gentle fade in the same method jeans relaxes. Plastisol's failure mode is various, typically cracking if the ink layer is too thick or under-cured. For customized t-shirts that need 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 pick which method

Costs differ regionally, however the economics fall into familiar patterns. Water based ink itself is often similar to plastisol at the gallon level, but you invest more in store 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. Once tuned, cars run at comparable speeds. Where it truly pays off remains in perceived worth. A soft print on a mid-tier blank typically feels premium without leaping to the highest-cost t-shirt. Brand names can price accordingly.

For bulk t shirt orders above a couple of hundred pieces where the art suits the medium, discharge on 100 percent cotton is a workhorse. For print on demand that needs overnight turn-around and art modifications constantly, direct-to-garment or DTF might be better operationally, though both have their own ecological and feel compromises. When you handle wholesale t t-shirts with several colorways and must keep inventory flexible, a flexible water based palette on light garments is effective, since you prevent the weight and stiffness that build up with numerous underbases in plastisol.

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

Design affordable Jacksonville T shirt printing planning begins with the fabric color and ends with treating. On light t-shirts, lean into information: thin lines, halftones, hand-drawn textures. Standard 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 shirt color glimpses through. A charcoal heather with a discharge cream graphic looks like it grew there.

Type weight matters. Extremely thin knockouts inside heavy flood locations can fill out with discharge, specifically on high-absorbency cotton. If you need razor negative area, different the art to print negative shapes as favorable strokes with a clear schedule for squeegee pressure and flashes. Ask your printer for a proof on the actual garment instead of trusting a digital mockup. A mockup can not record fiber interplay and dye lift.

When you need to state no to discharge

There are times I recommend against discharge. Polyester-rich garments are top of the list. The activator can trigger color migration, particularly with sublimated or cationic-dyed performance t-shirts, leading to ghosting or brownish casts. Some garment dyes, especially reactive black blends, resist lifting, leaving a shadowed print that looks undercured even when it isn't. If a customer is sensitive to small odor throughout treating, discharge days in the store are noticeable. Well-managed airflow alleviates this, but it becomes part of the process.

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

Practical workflow for brand names and creators

Whether you run your own presses or depend on a partner, established a workflow that gets rid of uncertainty. An easy method keeps surprises at bay and assists you struck deadlines for launches and events.

  • Decide on material first, then ink: select 100 percent ringspun cotton for discharge, or light, premium cotton for standard water based. Prevent high poly unless the heathered effect is desired.
  • Request test prints on the precise blanks: one shirt per colorway is generally sufficient to lock approvals, particularly for bulk t shirt orders where consistency matters.
  • Clarify color expectations in context: offer Pantone targets for light garments and describe appropriate ranges for dark discharge prints, with pictures of previous work you like.
  • Align on care labels and handling: suggest cold wash and low heat dry for customers, then confirm your remedy times so wash durability matches the tag guidance.
  • Confirm ecological requirements: ask your printer about ink accreditations, ventilation, and waste capture, especially if your brand name messaging leans into eco friendly inks.

How water based fits with print on demand

Print as needed has its own restrictions: quick art changes, small batch sizes, and the requirement for a broad color gamut. Direct-to-garment has become the default, but water based screen printing can fit POD if you arrange catalog method. For designs that are high volume even at little day-to-day quantities, pre-burning screens and keeping a small stock of popular sizes lets you ship very same day with water based prints that feel better than many DTG outputs. It works finest when you keep art to one or two colors and choose light garments.

If your POD design depends 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. 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 fundamental plastisol job, I discuss what they are purchasing. They get the soft hand that retail clients correspond with quality, enhanced breathability, and compliance for delicate buyers. On a per-shirt basis, the difference for a standard three-color front hit may be modest, often a small uplift that can be reduced the effects of by selecting a slightly more cost-effective blank. If the program is for wholesale t t-shirts going into boutiques or e-commerce at premium cost points, the enhancement in viewed worth more than covers the change.

For personalized t-shirts, such as charity runs or college clubs, options 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 customers optimize for cost, others for feel. Meeting both lets you serve a larger market without diluting your craft.

Care directions that clients in fact follow

Care labels frequently read like legal disclaimers. Keep it basic and sensible so the t-shirt endures real life. Water based and discharge prints prefer cooler washes and lower dryer heat, however they will sustain typical laundering if properly cured. I recommend phrasing care tips in human terms on product pages: wash T shirt printing prices Jacksonville cold with similar colors, tumble dry low, avoid fabric softeners if you want colors to remain crisp. The last note matters because some conditioners can deposit movies on fibers, dulling the visual contrast of fine lines.

I have actually checked 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 somewhat much faster fading of mid-tones, yet still looked great. That tolerance comes from right treatment, not from babying the garment.

All over print ideas that do not fight the limitations

All over print captures attention, but printing flood coats on put together garments with water based inks can be unforgiving. Instead of fighting seams, style for them. Usage tone-on-tone patterns that fade naturally at seams, or apply a ghosted grid that looks deliberate when it breaks at custom t shirts Jacksonville same day hems. Additionally, run panel printing and stitch. Brand names that offer restricted runs can justify cut-and-sew for 100 to 300 pieces if the design necessitates it. The completed garments check out as custom-made from a distance, which is the goal.

A short anecdote from a hectic season

One spring we ran a series for a regional music celebration. 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 remained stubbornly dark in the mid-rays of the artwork. We logged color lot numbers, rotated the ink mix by adding a touch more white pigment to compensate, and changed dwell time by 10 to 15 seconds to finish the response. The result: constant tees throughout 2,400 systems, each with a soft, breathable print that offered out by day two.

That job taught the crew to deal with 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 procedure, not the ink household. Under-curing is the first culprit. Water based ink that feels dry can still be under-cured if the core of the print never ever hit the needed temperature for the best duration. Use a donut probe or an embedded thermochromic strip to determine real ink film temperature, not just clothes dryer setpoints. Screen lockup is the second. Keep a constant rate on press, flood between prints, and control shop humidity.

A 3rd pitfall is disregarding material variability. If you switch blanks mid-run since a size is out of stock, you may see shifts in color. Develop contingency into your buying. For brands preparing ahead, picking a standard blank and locking it with your supplier decreases surprises.

Final assistance for picking your path

If your top priority is soft, breathable customized garments that clients keep using, water based inks deserve the knowing curve. Use basic water based on light garments for tidy detail and matte color. Transfer to release on one hundred percent cotton when you desire the softest prints on dark t-shirts. Accept and plan for slight color variance with discharge, especially across dye lots. For bulk t t-shirt orders, build in a single round of physical tasting on the real blanks you will use, then document your settings and hold back a referral shirt for quality control.

If you operate a print as needed catalog, 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 specialty impacts and neon stunners in plastisol or hybrid systems where they belong.

Custom t t-shirts are judged in the hands, not just on screens. When a client rubs their thumb throughout a print and feels absolutely nothing but fiber, you've won. That's the moment 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.