October 18, 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 two things in consistent tension: the push for softer, more breathable prints that people actually delight in wearing, and the need to produce at scale without jeopardizing the environment or the bottom line. That stress has formed how I pick inks, pretreatments, and fabrics for custom apparel jobs. Throughout the years, I have actually learned that water based inks and discharge printing are not simply buzzwords, they are practical tools that produce gorgeous outcomes and real comfort, particularly for T t-shirt printing that needs to withstand daily wear.

If you run a brand, handle bulk t t-shirt orders, or just desire your individualized 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 require care. The right choice can make the difference in between a shirt that gets used when and one that ends up being 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 take in into the fibers. That single characteristic explains most 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 integrated. On light garments, the hand is typically equivalent from the shirt itself. For customized t shirts created for convenience, this is the path 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 really light t-shirts. It can cover mid-tones with the best base, once you move into darker fabrics, you either need a much heavier print or you switch to discharge. Discharge printing uses an activator that lifts the dye from the fabric throughout treating, basically whitening the shirt's dye in the printed areas, then replaces it with your pigment. The end outcome is the softest possible print on dark cotton, often with exceptional detail.

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

Eco friendly inks are not a marketing slogan if you unload the chemistry and the workflow. Water based inks normally contain less unpredictable organic substances than solvent-heavy options and avoid PVC altogether. Many are certified with stringent requirements like Oeko-Tex or meet retail testing routines that ban particular phthalates and heavy metals. If you offer custom clothing into business wellness programs, schools, or health-conscious brands, those certificates smooth procurement and keep you ahead of compliance.

That said, "eco friendly" is a system principle. Ink is one part. You likewise require to take a look at shop practices: filtering on your washout booth, recover chemistry, energy use on your clothes dryer, and even material sourcing. Discharge needs an activator, normally based upon zinc formaldehyde sulfoxylate or comparable substances, which has its own handling and ventilation requirements. In a well-run store, direct exposure is controlled and waste is captured. If you're using print as needed with a partner, ask how they handle discharge effluent and whether they have air exchange and treating controls dialed in. Real sustainability conceals in the details.

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

Most people do not purchase a graphic tee due to the fact that they love the ink. They buy it due to the fact that the garment looks good, feels great, and keeps that character after repeated 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 flexible. You will not hear the crackle you sometimes obtain from heavy plastisol when you stretch across the chest.

I keep a shelf 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 much more, the colors mellowed slightly, and the t-shirts kept moving. A plastisol sample with the exact same art looks glossier and still pops more under harsh light, which some streetwear clients prefer, however the user feedback is consistent: water based feels like a premium garment.

Color, coverage, and how expectations form results

Color precision 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 measured ink mix and a clean mesh. On darker cotton, discharge includes variables. Different color lots discharge differently, even within the very 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 steers the last color, but you're still working with a background that is shifting as the color is removed.

That's not a flaw, it belongs to the medium. Numerous designers welcome the a little vintage character of discharge, where reds land earthy and blues feel deep rather than neon. If your brand needs laser-precise screen printing and embroidery color reproduction for corporate logo designs, either order test prints on the exact batch you prepare to use or consider 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 the majority of people think

A water based print is a partnership between ink and fiber. Ringspun cotton takes ink perfectly. Carded open end cotton is scratchier and beverages ink unevenly. Blends make complex things. A 50/50 poly-cotton or a triblend with rayon can work with water based, but discharge only 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 intentional if you design for it. If your objective is flat, vivid color on a poly blend, traditional plastisol or a specialized low-cure system might be smarter.

On all over print tasks, such as a seam-to-seam tonal pattern behind a chest graphic, consider cut-and-sew with water based prints on panels before assembly. Garment printing all over on completed tees presents joints, folds, and irregular pressure that show up as blank micro-gaps. If you should print on ended up garments, anticipate small voids along joints, which some clients like as part of the garment's character.

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

Water based inks behave in a different way on press. They dry faster in the screen, which is useful on material 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 devoted screen rewetting solution at hand, and keep the print room humidity in a consistent variety, approximately 45 to 55 percent, to avoid premature drying. Manual press operators will observe how quickly a basic water based ink clears the screen compared to a heavy plastisol. Automobile presses, with flood bars and consistent pace, minimize clogging.

Curing is where lots of novices fizzle. Water based inks need both heat and time for the water to evaporate, then for the binders to cross-link. A dryer tunnel with adequate airflow makes the difference. You want even heat across the belt and sufficient dwell to reach the producer's cure temperature throughout the ink layer, not simply at the surface area. T-shirts exiting the tunnel ought to be dry to the touch without any cool spots. For discharge, the chemical reaction occurs during this treatment, and you will smell the activator. Good ventilation is non-negotiable.

Durability and wash testing

Durability depends upon correct treatment and fiber engagement. A well-cured water based print on cotton can last longer than the shirt. I determine resilience by standardized wash tests, 10 to 20 cycles at warm, topple dry medium, then visual examination for fading and splitting. Water based prints reveal progressive softening and a mild fade in the exact same method denim relaxes. Plastisol's failure mode is various, generally cracking if the ink layer is too thick or under-cured. For individualized t-shirts that need to look good at a family reunion and still be in rotation next summer, water based holds up when produced correctly.

Cost, throughput, and when to choose which method

Costs differ regionally, however the economics fall into familiar patterns. Water based ink itself is typically comparable to plastisol at the gallon level, but you invest more in shop environment and drying capacity. On press, water based can be somewhat slower at setup because you pay closer attention to mesh, squeegee durometer, and off-contact. Once tuned, automobiles run at comparable speeds. Where it actually pays off is in viewed worth. A soft print on a mid-tier blank frequently feels premium without jumping to the highest-cost t-shirt. Brand names can price accordingly.

For bulk t t-shirt orders above a couple of hundred pieces where the art fits the medium, discharge on 100 percent cotton is a workhorse. For print as needed that requires overnight turn-around and art modifications constantly, direct-to-garment or DTF might be better operationally, though both have their own environmental and feel trade-offs. When you take on wholesale t t-shirts with numerous colorways and need to keep stock flexible, a versatile water based combination on light garments is efficient, given that you avoid the weight and stiffness that build up with several underbases in plastisol.

Design options that highlight the very best in water based and discharge

Design planning starts with the material color and ends with curing. 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. Consider how the shirt color glimpses 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 out with discharge, particularly on high-absorbency cotton. If you need razor negative area, separate 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 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 recommend versus discharge. Polyester-rich garments are leading of the list. The activator can trigger color migration, especially with sublimated or cationic-dyed efficiency shirts, causing ghosting or brownish casts. Some garment dyes, particularly 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 store are visible. Well-managed airflow alleviates this, however it belongs to the process.

If a client 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 true metal. For high-opacity neons on dark shirts that should be billboard-bright, you may 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, established a workflow that gets rid of guesswork. An easy technique keeps surprises at bay and assists you hit due dates for launches and events.

  • Decide on material first, then ink: pick one hundred 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 exact blanks: one shirt per colorway is typically sufficient to lock approvals, especially for bulk t shirt orders where consistency matters.
  • Clarify color expectations in context: offer 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 consumers, then validate your treatment 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 as needed has its own restraints: fast art changes, little batch sizes, and the need for a broad color gamut. Direct-to-garment has actually ended up being the default, but water based screen printing can fit POD if you arrange catalog technique. For styles that are high volume even at little day-to-day quantities, pre-burning screens and keeping a little stock of popular sizes lets you deliver very same day with water based prints that feel much better than numerous DTG outputs. It works finest when you keep art to a couple of 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. Use it where cotton comfort and breathability are the selling points. Customers who care about touch will notice.

Pricing, margins, and interacting value

When clients ask why a water based or discharge print costs more than a standard plastisol task, I describe what uniform embroidery they are purchasing. They get the soft hand that retail customers correspond with quality, improved 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 selecting a slightly more cost-effective blank. If the program is for wholesale t shirts going into boutiques or e-commerce at superior cost points, the improvement in viewed value more than covers the change.

For customized t-shirts, such as charity runs or college clubs, choices 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 clients optimize for cost, others for feel. Satisfying both lets you serve a wider market without diluting your craft.

Care guidelines that customers actually follow

Care labels often read like legal disclaimers. Keep it basic and sensible so the shirt survives real life. Water based and discharge prints choose cooler washes and lower clothes dryer heat, but they will sustain regular laundering if correctly treated. I suggest Poly-cotton blends phrasing care pointers in human terms on item pages: wash cold with similar colors, tumble dry low, avoid material conditioners if you want colors to remain crisp. The last note matters due to the fact that some softeners can deposit films on fibers, dulling the visual contrast of great lines.

I've tested 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 revealed a little quicker fading of mid-tones, yet still looked great. That tolerance originates from right remedy, not from babying the garment.

All over print ideas that do not fight the limitations

All over print captures attention, however printing flood coats on assembled 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 use a ghosted grid that looks deliberate when it breaks at hems. Additionally, run panel printing and stitch. Brands that sell limited runs can validate cut-and-sew for 100 to 300 pieces if the design necessitates it. The completed garments read as custom-made from a distance, which is the goal.

A quick anecdote from a hectic season

One spring we ran a series for a regional music festival. The client desired soft black tees with a sunburst print that seemed like it resided in the fabric. We tested on 3 blacks from two mills. Batch one lifted cleanly 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 changed dwell time by 10 to 15 seconds to finish the response. The outcome: constant tees throughout 2,400 units, 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 dish matters, but so does tasting and adjusting.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Most problems I see trace back to procedure, 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 temperature for the ideal period. Utilize a donut probe or an embedded thermochromic strip to measure real ink movie temperature, not simply dryer setpoints. Screen lockup is the second. Keep a consistent rate on press, flood in between prints, and control store humidity.

custom youth t shirts

A third risk is neglecting fabric variability. If you change blanks mid-run due to the fact that a size runs out stock, you may see shifts in color. Construct contingency into your acquiring. For brand names planning ahead, picking a standard blank and locking it with your provider lowers surprises.

Final guidance for choosing your path

If your concern is soft, breathable customized clothing that customers keep using, water based inks deserve the knowing curve. Usage standard water based on light garments for tidy detail and matte color. Move to release on one hundred percent cotton when you want the softest prints on dark shirts. Accept and prepare for minor color variation with discharge, especially throughout color lots. For bulk t t-shirt orders, build in a single round of physical tasting on the actual blanks you will utilize, then document your settings and hold back a referral shirt for quality control.

If you run a print as needed catalog, take a water based pill of best sellers on light t-shirts. Market the difference: eco friendly inks, breathable feel, and retail-quality hand. Keep your specialty effects 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 however fiber, you have actually won. That's the moment water based and discharge provide, and why they are worthy of a place in any severe store 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.