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 print shop that takes its craft seriously, and you will see two things in continuous stress: the push for softer, more breathable prints that people really delight in wearing, and the need to produce at scale without compromising the environment or the bottom line. That stress has actually shaped how I select inks, pretreatments, and materials for custom clothing projects. Throughout the years, I've learned that water based inks and discharge printing are not just buzzwords, they are practical tools that produce gorgeous outcomes and real convenience, particularly for T t-shirt printing that needs to withstand daily wear.

If you run a brand name, manage bulk t shirt orders, or just desire your personalized t-shirts to feel like a favorite from the first wash, it deserves comprehending how these ink systems work, where they shine, and where they require care. The ideal choice can make the difference in between a t-shirt that gets used when and one that becomes 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 cures into a movie, water based inks take in into the fibers. That single particular explains most of the benefits and trade-offs. Prints feel soft because you're touching the cotton, not a layer of treated PVC. Colors tend to look more matte and integrated. On light garments, the hand is frequently identical from the t-shirt itself. For custom t t-shirts developed for convenience, this is the course to the "retail feel" customers ask for.

There are 2 primary households: standard water based and discharge. Standard water based ink works best on white or really light shirts. It can cover mid-tones with the best base, once you move into darker materials, you either need a heavier print or you switch to discharge. Release printing uses an activator that raises the dye from the fabric throughout treating, basically whitening the t-shirt's dye in the printed areas, then replaces it with your pigment. Completion outcome is the softest possible print on dark cotton, often with exceptional detail.

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

Eco friendly inks are not a marketing motto if you unload the chemistry and the workflow. Water based inks generally include less unstable natural compounds than solvent-heavy alternatives and avoid PVC completely. Many are certified with strict standards like Oeko-Tex or meet retail screening routines that ban certain phthalates and heavy metals. If you offer customized clothing into business health cares, 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 likewise need to take a look at shop practices: purification on your washout booth, reclaim chemistry, energy use on your clothes dryer, and even material sourcing. Discharge needs an activator, typically based upon zinc formaldehyde sulfoxylate or similar substances, which has its own handling and ventilation needs. In a well-run store, exposure is managed and waste is caught. If you're using print on demand with a partner, ask how they handle discharge effluent and whether they have air exchange and treating controls called in. Genuine sustainability hides in the details.

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

Most individuals do not buy a graphic tee because they enjoy the ink. They buy it because the garment looks great, feels good, and keeps that character after repeated washing. Water based inks, consisting of discharge, offer 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 sometimes get from heavy plastisol when you extend across the chest.

I keep a shelf of comparison t-shirts in the studio. One from a surf brand, 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 same art looks glossier and still pops more under harsh light, which some streetwear clients choose, but the user feedback is consistent: water based seems like a premium garment.

Color, coverage, and how expectations form results

Color accuracy with water based inks is a matter of control, humidity, and the fabric's own dye. On white or heather light shirts, basic water based ink can hit tight Pantones with a determined ink mix and a clean mesh. On darker cotton, discharge adds variables. Various color lots discharge differently, even within the same brand and color. Black 3001 blanks from one batch may lift to a warm charcoal, while the next batch clears to a cooler grey. The pigment you add guides the final color, however you're still dealing with a background that is shifting as the dye is removed.

That's not a flaw, it belongs to the medium. Lots of designers embrace the somewhat vintage character of discharge, where reds land earthy and blues feel deep instead of neon. If your brand demands laser-precise color recreation for business logos, either order test prints on the exact batch you plan to utilize or consider a water based underbase or hybrid method where needed. For wholesale t t-shirts that will be distributed nationally, put example 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 in between ink and fiber. Ringspun cotton takes ink wonderfully. Carded open end cotton is scratchier and drinks ink unevenly. Blends complicate things. A 50/50 poly-cotton or a triblend with rayon can work with water based, but discharge just lifts the cotton part. That indicates your color fills the cotton while the polyester and rayon stay as-is, frequently yielding a heathered or speckled print that looks intentional if you style for it. If your objective is flat, vivid color on a poly mix, conventional 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 inconsistent pressure that show up as blank micro-gaps. If you must print on completed garments, expect small spaces along seams, which some customers 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 faster in the screen, which works 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 service at hand, and keep the print room humidity in a constant range, roughly 45 to 55 percent, to avoid early drying. Manual press operators will discover how quickly a basic water based ink clears the screen compared to a heavy plastisol. Automobile presses, with flood bars and consistent pace, lower clogging.

Curing is where lots of newbies fizzle. Water based inks require both heat and time for the water to evaporate, then for the binders to cross-link. A dryer tunnel with adequate air flow makes the distinction. You desire even heat across the belt and sufficient dwell to reach the maker's remedy temperature level throughout the ink layer, not just at the surface area. T-shirts exiting the tunnel should be dry to the touch with no cool spots. For discharge, the chemical reaction occurs throughout this cure, and you will smell the activator. Good ventilation is non-negotiable.

Durability and wash testing

Durability depends on appropriate cure and fiber engagement. A well-cured water based print on cotton can last longer than the t-shirt. I measure resilience by standardized wash tests, 10 to 20 cycles at warm, topple dry medium, then visual evaluation for fading and cracking. Water based prints reveal progressive softening and a gentle fade in the same way denim relaxes. Plastisol's failure mode is different, normally breaking if the ink layer is too thick or under-cured. For personalized t-shirts that require to look proficient at a family reunion and still be in rotation next summertime, water based holds up when produced correctly.

Cost, throughput, and when to select which method

Costs differ regionally, however the economics fall into familiar patterns. Water based ink itself is often equivalent to plastisol at the gallon level, however you invest more in shop environment and drying capability. On press, water based can be somewhat slower at setup since you pay closer attention to fit together, squeegee durometer, and off-contact. Once tuned, automobiles perform at similar speeds. Where it really pays off remains in viewed value. A soft print on a mid-tier blank typically feels premium without jumping to the highest-cost shirt. Brands can price accordingly.

For bulk t t-shirt orders above a few hundred pieces where the art fits the medium, discharge on 100 percent cotton is a workhorse. For print on demand that requires over night turn-around and art changes 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 numerous colorways and need to keep stock versatile, a flexible water based combination on light garments is efficient, since you prevent the weight and stiffness that build up with numerous underbases in plastisol.

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

Design planning starts with the fabric color and ends with treating. On light t-shirts, lean into detail: 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. Consider how the shirt color glimpses through. A charcoal heather with a discharge cream graphic looks like it grew there.

Type weight matters. Really thin knockouts inside heavy flood locations can complete with discharge, especially on high-absorbency cotton. If you require razor unfavorable space, separate the art to print unfavorable shapes as favorable strokes with a clear schedule for squeegee pressure and flashes. Ask your printer for an evidence on the actual garment instead of trusting a digital mockup. A mockup can not record fiber interplay and color lift.

When you ought to say no to discharge

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

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

Practical workflow for brands and creators

Whether you run your own presses or depend on a partner, set up a workflow that eliminates uncertainty. An easy approach keeps surprises at bay and assists you struck deadlines for launches and events.

  • Decide on material initially, then ink: pick 100 percent ringspun cotton for discharge, or light, top quality cotton for basic water based. Avoid high poly unless the heathered effect is desired.
  • Request test prints on the precise blanks: one t-shirt per colorway is normally sufficient to lock approvals, particularly for bulk t shirt orders where consistency matters.
  • Clarify color expectations in context: provide Pantone targets for light garments and describe appropriate ranges 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 clients, then confirm your cure times so wash toughness matches the tag guidance.
  • Confirm environmental requirements: ask your printer about ink accreditations, ventilation, and waste capture, particularly 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 modifications, little batch sizes, and the need for a broad color gamut. Direct-to-garment has ended up being the default, however water based screen printing can fit POD if you organize brochure technique. 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 deliver same day with water based prints that feel much better than lots of 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. Use it where cotton comfort and breathability are the selling points. Customers who care about touch will notice.

Pricing, margins, and communicating value

When customers ask why a water based or discharge print costs more than a standard plastisol job, I explain what they are buying. They get the soft hand that retail consumers relate with quality, improved breathability, and compliance for delicate buyers. On a per-shirt basis, the distinction for a basic three-color front hit might be modest, frequently a little uplift that can be neutralized by choosing a somewhat more affordable blank. If the program is for wholesale t shirts entering into boutiques or e-commerce at superior price points, the improvement in perceived worth more than covers the change.

For customized t-shirts, such as charity runs or college clubs, options matter. Deal a base price with plastisol on midweight cotton, then a "comfort 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 broader market without diluting your craft.

Care instructions that customers actually follow

Care labels typically check out like legal disclaimers. Keep it simple and practical so the t-shirt survives reality. Water based and discharge prints choose cooler washes and lower clothes dryer heat, but they will withstand typical laundering if effectively treated. I recommend phrasing care ideas in human terms on item pages: wash cold with similar colors, topple dry low, prevent material conditioners if you want colors to Custom t shirts Prints R Us remain crisp. The last note matters because some softeners can deposit films on fibers, dulling the visual contrast of great lines.

I have actually tested these instructions in-house: two similar shirts, one cleaned cold and dried low, the other washed warm and dried high. After 15 cycles, the warm/high tee showed somewhat faster fading of mid-tones, yet still looked excellent. That tolerance originates from correct treatment, not from babying the garment.

All over print concepts 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 joints, or use a ghosted grid that looks deliberate when it breaks at hems. Alternatively, run panel printing and sew. Brand names that offer minimal runs can justify cut-and-sew for 100 to 300 pieces if the design warrants it. The ended up garments read as custom-made from a distance, which is the goal.

A short anecdote from a busy season

One spring we ran a series for a local music celebration. The client desired soft black tees with a sunburst print that felt like it resided in the fabric. We tested on 3 blacks from 2 mills. Batch one lifted cleanly with discharge, batch 2 stayed stubbornly dark in the mid-rays of the art work. We logged dye lot numbers, rotated the ink mix by adding a touch more white pigment to compensate, and adjusted dwell time by 10 to 15 seconds to complete the response. The outcome: consistent tees across 2,400 systems, each with a soft, breathable print that offered out by day two.

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

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Most issues I see trace back to process, not the ink household. Under-curing is the first offender. Water based ink that feels dry can still be under-cured if the core of the print never struck the needed temp for the best duration. Use a donut probe or an ingrained thermochromic strip to measure real ink film temperature level, not just clothes dryer setpoints. Screen lockup is the second. Keep a consistent speed on press, flood in between prints, and control shop humidity.

A 3rd mistake is overlooking fabric irregularity. If you switch blanks mid-run because a size is out of stock, you might see shifts in color. Build contingency into your acquiring. For brands preparing ahead, picking a standard blank and locking it with your provider decreases surprises.

Final assistance for selecting your path

If your top priority is soft, breathable custom-made apparel that consumers keep wearing, 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 one hundred percent cotton when you desire the softest prints on dark shirts. Accept and plan for small color variance with discharge, especially throughout dye lots. For bulk t t-shirt orders, integrate in a single round of physical sampling on the real blanks you will use, then document your settings and hold back a reference t-shirt for quality control.

If you operate a print on demand brochure, carve out a water based pill of best sellers on light shirts. Market the distinction: eco friendly inks, breathable feel, and retail-quality hand. Keep your specialized effects and neon stunners in plastisol or hybrid systems where they belong.

Custom t t-shirts are judged in the hands, not simply on screens. When a client 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 are worthy of 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.