November 3, 2025

Beyond Basic Tees: A Guide to Eco-Friendly Water-Based Inks and Discharge Printing for Customized 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 constant stress: the push for softer, more breathable prints that individuals in fact take pleasure in wearing, and the requirement to produce at scale without compromising the environment or the bottom line. That tension has actually formed how I select inks, pretreatments, and materials for custom-made clothing jobs. Throughout the years, I've learned that water based inks and discharge printing are not simply buzzwords, they are useful tools that produce stunning results and genuine comfort, especially for T shirt printing that requires to withstand daily wear.

If you run a brand name, handle bulk t t-shirt orders, or simply want your customized shirts to feel like a preferred from the very 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 between a t-shirt that gets worn once and one that ends up being the go-to.

What water based ink in fact is

Water based inks suspend pigments in water rather than in plasticizers and solvents. Unlike plastisol, which sits on top of the fabric and remedies into a movie, water based inks soak up into the fibers. That single characteristic discusses most of the benefits 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 often indistinguishable from the t-shirt itself. For customized t shirts designed for comfort, this is the course to the "retail feel" customers ask for.

There are two primary households: 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 ideal base, once you move into darker materials, you either need a much heavier print or you switch to discharge. Discharge printing utilizes an activator that lifts the dye from the fabric during treating, basically bleaching the shirt's color in the printed locations, then changes it with your pigment. Completion outcome is the softest possible print on dark cotton, often with outstanding detail.

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

Eco friendly inks are not a marketing slogan if you unpack the chemistry and the workflow. Water based inks typically contain fewer volatile natural compounds than solvent-heavy options and avoid PVC altogether. Many are compliant with stringent standards like Oeko-Tex or fulfill retail testing routines that ban particular phthalates and heavy metals. If you sell customized clothing into corporate health cares, schools, or health-conscious brand names, those certificates smooth procurement and keep you ahead of compliance.

That said, "eco friendly" is a system concept. Ink is one part. You likewise need to take a look at shop practices: purification on your washout booth, recover chemistry, energy use on your clothes dryer, and even material buy custom t shirts sourcing. Discharge needs an activator, normally based on zinc formaldehyde sulfoxylate or similar compounds, which has its own handling and ventilation needs. In a well-run store, exposure is controlled and waste is captured. If you're utilizing print as needed with a partner, ask how they manage discharge effluent and whether they have air exchange and treating controls dialed in. Genuine sustainability hides in the details.

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

Most individuals do not buy a graphic tee due to the fact that they like the ink. They purchase it since the garment looks good, feels excellent, and keeps that character after repeated washing. Water based inks, consisting of discharge, provide you that broken-in comfort from the first day. 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 shelf of contrast shirts in the studio. One from a browse brand, 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 same art looks glossier and still pops more under severe light, which some streetwear customers prefer, however the wearer feedback corresponds: water based seems like a premium garment.

Color, protection, and how expectations shape results

Color accuracy with water based inks is a matter of control, humidity, and the material's own color. 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. Different color lots discharge differently, even within the same brand 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 include steers the final color, but you're still dealing with a background that is shifting as the color is removed.

That's not a defect, it belongs to the medium. Lots of designers embrace the slightly vintage character of discharge, where reds land earthy and blues feel deep rather than neon. If your brand demands laser-precise color reproduction for business logo designs, 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 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 collaboration between ink and fiber. Ringspun cotton takes ink beautifully. 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, however discharge just lifts the cotton part. That suggests your color fills the cotton while the polyester and rayon remain as-is, typically 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, 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 introduces joints, folds, and inconsistent pressure that appear as blank micro-gaps. If you should print on finished garments, anticipate little voids along joints, which some customers like as part of the garment's character.

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

Water based inks act differently on press. They dry much faster in the screen, which works on fabric however 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 option at hand, and keep the print room humidity in a steady range, approximately 45 to 55 percent, to prevent early drying. Manual press operators will discover how quickly a standard water based ink clears the screen compared to a heavy plastisol. Vehicle presses, with flood bars and constant rate, lower 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 adequate air flow makes the distinction. You want even heat across the belt and sufficient dwell to reach the producer's cure temperature level throughout the ink layer, not simply at the surface. Shirts leaving the tunnel ought to be dry to the touch with no design Jacksonville Custom t shirts cool spots. For discharge, the chain reaction takes place during this remedy, and you will smell the activator. Excellent ventilation is non-negotiable.

Durability and wash testing

Durability depends on proper treatment and fiber engagement. A well-cured water based print on cotton can outlast the shirt. I measure durability by standardized wash tests, 10 to 20 cycles at warm, topple dry medium, then visual inspection for fading and cracking. Water based prints reveal steady softening and a mild fade in the same way jeans relaxes. Plastisol's failure mode is different, typically splitting if the ink layer is too thick or under-cured. For customized shirts that need to look proficient at a household reunion and still remain in rotation next summer, water based holds up when produced correctly.

Cost, throughput, and when to select which method

Costs vary regionally, but the economics fall into familiar patterns. Water based ink itself is typically comparable 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 because you pay closer attention to fit together, squeegee durometer, and off-contact. When tuned, vehicles run at similar speeds. Where it really pays off remains in viewed value. A soft print on a mid-tier blank often feels premium without leaping to the highest-cost shirt. Brands can price accordingly.

For bulk t shirt orders above a few hundred pieces where the art suits the medium, discharge on one hundred percent cotton is a workhorse. For print on demand that requires overnight turn-around and art modifications constantly, direct-to-garment or DTF may be much better operationally, though both have their own ecological and feel trade-offs. When you handle wholesale t t-shirts with several colorways and should keep inventory versatile, a flexible water based scheme on light garments is effective, because you avoid the weight and tightness that build up with multiple underbases in plastisol.

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

Design 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 overpower. 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 in with discharge, particularly on high-absorbency cotton. If you require razor unfavorable area, different the art to print unfavorable shapes as positive strokes with a clear schedule for squeegee pressure and flashes. Ask your printer for a proof on the real garment instead of relying on a digital mockup. A mockup can not catch fiber interaction and color lift.

When you must say no to discharge

There are times I encourage versus discharge. Polyester-rich garments are leading of the list. The activator can trigger dye migration, specifically with sublimated or cationic-dyed performance shirts, causing 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 minor smell throughout treating, discharge days in the shop are obvious. Well-managed airflow alleviates this, however it belongs to the process.

If a client needs metallics, puff, or specialized textures, plastisol or hybrid systems still own that space. Water based metallics exist, however the particles often sink, and the effect is more satin than real metal. For high-opacity neons on dark t-shirts that should be billboard-bright, you might require 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 uncertainty. A simple technique keeps surprises at bay and assists you hit due dates for launches and events.

  • Decide on fabric first, then ink: select 100 percent ringspun cotton for discharge, or light, top quality cotton for standard water based. Avoid high poly unless the heathered impact is desired.
  • Request test prints on the precise blanks: one shirt per colorway is typically enough to lock approvals, particularly for bulk t t-shirt orders where consistency matters.
  • Clarify color expectations in context: provide Pantone targets for light garments and describe acceptable varieties for dark discharge prints, with photos of previous work you like.
  • Align on care labels and handling: suggest cold wash and low heat dry for clients, then verify your cure times so clean sturdiness matches the tag guidance.
  • Confirm environmental standards: 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 on demand has its own constraints: quick art modifications, little batch sizes, and the need for a broad color range. Direct-to-garment has ended up being the default, however water based screen printing can fit POD if you arrange catalog strategy. For styles that are high volume even at small everyday quantities, pre-burning screens and keeping a little stock of popular sizes lets you ship exact same day with water based prints that feel much better than many DTG outputs. It works finest when you keep art to one or two colors and select light garments.

If your POD model counts 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 clients ask why a water based or discharge print costs more than a basic plastisol task, I explain what they are purchasing. They get the soft hand that retail consumers relate with quality, enhanced breathability, and compliance for sensitive buyers. On a per-shirt basis, the distinction for a basic three-color front hit might be modest, often a little uplift that can be neutralized by selecting a slightly more economical blank. If the program is for wholesale t t-shirts entering into stores or e-commerce at premium cost points, the enhancement in perceived worth more than covers the change.

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

Care directions that consumers really follow

Care labels frequently check out like legal disclaimers. Keep it simple and practical so the shirt makes it through real life. Water based and discharge prints prefer cooler washes and lower dryer heat, but they will withstand normal laundering if correctly cured. I recommend phrasing care ideas in human terms on item pages: wash cold with comparable colors, tumble dry low, prevent material softeners if you desire colors to stay crisp. The last note matters since some conditioners can transfer films on fibers, dulling the visual contrast of fine 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 showed somewhat much faster fading of mid-tones, yet still looked excellent. That tolerance comes from right remedy, not from babying the garment.

All over print ideas that do not combat 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 joints, design for them. Use tone-on-tone patterns that fade naturally at joints, or use a ghosted grid that looks intentional when it breaks at hems. Additionally, run panel printing and stitch. Brands that sell limited runs can justify cut-and-sew for 100 to 300 pieces if the design necessitates it. The finished garments read as custom from a distance, which is the goal.

A brief anecdote from a hectic season

One spring we ran a series for a regional music festival. The client wanted soft black tees with a sunburst print that felt like it resided in the fabric. We sampled on three blacks from two mills. Batch one raised easily with discharge, batch two 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 result: constant tees across 2,400 systems, each with a soft, breathable print that offered out by day two.

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

Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

Most problems I see trace back to procedure, not the ink family. Under-curing is the first offender. 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 right duration. Utilize a donut probe or an embedded thermochromic strip to measure true ink film temperature, not simply clothes dryer setpoints. Screen lockup is the 2nd. Keep a consistent rate on press, flood in between prints, and control shop humidity.

A third risk is overlooking material variability. If you change blanks mid-run due to the fact that a size runs out stock, you may see shifts in color. Build contingency into your purchasing. For brand names preparing ahead, picking a basic blank and locking it with your provider lowers surprises.

Final guidance for picking your path

If your top priority is soft, breathable customized clothing that clients keep wearing, water based inks are worth the learning curve. Use basic water based on light garments for clean detail and matte color. Move to release on one hundred percent cotton when you want the softest prints on dark shirts. Accept and plan for minor color variation with discharge, especially across color lots. For bulk t shirt orders, build in a single round of physical tasting on the real blanks you will use, then record your settings and keep back a reference shirt for quality control.

If you run a print on demand brochure, carve out a water based capsule of best sellers on light t-shirts. Market the difference: 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 shirts are evaluated in the hands, not simply on screens. When a client 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 should have a place in any major 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.