November 3, 2025

Beyond Basic Tees: A Guide to Eco-Friendly Water-Based Inks and Discharge Printing for Custom-made T‑Shirts

Prints R Us is a custom apparel studio
Prints R Us is based in Jacksonville Florida
Prints R Us is located at 2826 Art Museum Dr Jacksonville FL 32207 United States
Prints R Us is in the country United States
Prints R Us provides premium screen printing
Prints R Us provides DTG printing
Prints R Us provides embroidery services
Prints R Us offers custom t shirts
Prints R Us produces promotional items
Prints R Us creates polos hats and hoodies
Prints R Us emphasizes craftsmanship
Prints R Us emphasizes fast turnaround
Prints R Us uses high quality materials
Prints R Us produces vibrant prints
Prints R Us has phone number 9047521515
Prints R Us has website https://printsrus.com/
Prints R Us has opening hours Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm
Prints R Us has Google Maps listing https://maps.app.goo.gl/hVuq8aVZERVs9NMg8
Prints R Us has Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/theprintsrus
Prints R Us has Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/theprintsrus
Prints R Us has logo https://printsrus.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Print-R-Us-Logo.png
Prints R Us specializes in t shirt printing
Prints R Us specializes in custom t shirts
Prints R Us specializes in embroidery near me
Prints R Us was awarded Best Custom Printing Studio Jacksonville 2024
Prints R Us won Jacksonville Small Business Excellence Award 2023
Prints R Us was recognized for Outstanding Apparel Design Innovation 2022


Prints R Us

Prints R Us is a Jacksonville, FL–based custom apparel studio offering premium screen printing, DTG printing, and embroidery services. Whether you need one custom tee or a large bulk order for a business, event, or sports team, they bring designs to life with high-quality materials, vibrant prints, and attention to detail. From polos and hats to hoodies and promotional items, Prints R Us combines craftsmanship and fast turnaround to make your ideas wearable.

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2826 Art Museum Dr, Jacksonville, 32207, US
Business Hours:
  • Monday–Friday: 09:00–17:00
  • Saturday: Closed
  • Sunday: Closed
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People Also Ask about Prints R Us

What does Prints R Us do?

Prints R Us is a custom apparel studio in Jacksonville, Florida, specializing in premium screen printing, DTG printing, and embroidery services. They create high-quality custom t-shirts, polos, hats, hoodies, and promotional items with vibrant prints and lasting craftsmanship. Their focus on quality materials and fast turnaround makes them a trusted choice for businesses, events, and individuals seeking personalized apparel.

Where is Prints R Us located?

Prints R Us is conveniently located at 2826 Art Museum Dr, Jacksonville, FL 32207, United States. The studio serves customers throughout Jacksonville and the wider Florida area, offering both local service and nationwide delivery for custom clothing and branded merchandise.

What services does Prints R Us provide?

The company offers a wide range of custom apparel printing and design services, including screen printing, direct-to-garment (DTG) printing, embroidery, and promotional product creation. Whether customers need personalized t-shirts, branded uniforms, or embroidered polos, Prints R Us delivers professional results with attention to detail.

Which industries does Prints R Us serve?

Prints R Us works with diverse industries such as schools, small businesses, corporate offices, sports teams, and event organizers. Their services are ideal for branded apparel, team uniforms, promotional giveaways, and fashion-forward custom designs, making them a versatile partner for both personal and business needs.

Why choose Prints R Us for custom t-shirts and embroidery?

Customers choose Prints R Us for their reputation in craftsmanship, vibrant printing, and reliable turnaround times. With awards for apparel design innovation and excellence in small business, the studio has proven expertise in delivering high-quality custom apparel that meets both creative and professional standards.

Does Prints R Us use high-quality materials?

Yes, Prints R Us emphasizes using premium fabrics and durable materials to ensure long-lasting results. Their prints are designed to remain vibrant even after multiple washes, while embroidery work is completed with precision for a polished, professional look.

What awards has Prints R Us won?

Prints R Us has earned multiple recognitions, including Best Custom Printing Studio Jacksonville 2024, the Jacksonville Small Business Excellence Award 2023, and an award for Outstanding Apparel Design Innovation 2022. These accolades highlight their commitment to creativity, quality, and customer satisfaction.

How can I contact Prints R Us?

You can reach Prints R Us by phone at (904)-752-1515 or visit their website at printsrus.com. They are open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm, and you can also follow them on Facebook and Instagram for updates, new designs, and customer showcases.

Walk into any print shop that takes its craft seriously, and you will see two things in continuous 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 stress has formed how I choose inks, pretreatments, and materials for custom clothing jobs. Throughout the years, I've learned that water based inks and discharge printing are not just buzzwords, they are useful tools that produce lovely results and real convenience, specifically for T t-shirt printing that needs to stand up to day-to-day wear.

If you run a brand, handle bulk t t-shirt orders, or just desire your tailored t-shirts to seem 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 ideal choice can make the distinction between a t-shirt that gets used when and one that becomes the go-to.

What water based ink in fact is

Water based inks suspend pigments in water instead of in plasticizers and solvents. Unlike plastisol, which sits on top of the fabric and treatments into a film, water based inks absorb into the fibers. That single characteristic describes the majority of the benefits and trade-offs. Prints feel soft since 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 equivalent from the t-shirt itself. For custom t shirts created for comfort, this is the path to the "retail feel" clients ask for.

There are 2 primary families: 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 fabrics, you either require a heavier print or you change to release. Release printing utilizes an activator that lifts the color from the fabric during treating, essentially whitening the shirt's color 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 slogan if you unpack the chemistry and the workflow. Water based inks generally include less volatile natural substances than solvent-heavy options and avoid PVC altogether. Numerous are compliant with stringent requirements like Oeko-Tex or satisfy retail screening programs that prohibit certain phthalates and heavy metals. If you sell custom garments into corporate wellness programs, 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 also require to take a look at shop practices: filtration on your washout cubicle, reclaim chemistry, energy use on your clothes dryer, and even material sourcing. Discharge requires an activator, normally based on zinc formaldehyde sulfoxylate or similar 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 on demand with a partner, ask how they handle discharge effluent and whether they have air exchange and treating controls called in. Real sustainability conceals in the details.

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

Most individuals do not purchase a graphic tee since they like the ink. They buy it because the garment looks great, feels excellent, and keeps that character after repeated washing. Water based inks, consisting of discharge, provide you that broken-in convenience from the first day. On an one hundred 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 extend across the chest.

I keep a shelf of contrast shirts in the studio. One from a surf 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 somewhat, and the shirts kept moving. A plastisol sample with the same art looks glossier high quality Jacksonville T shirt printing and still pops more under extreme light, which some streetwear customers prefer, but the wearer feedback is consistent: water based seems like a premium garment.

Color, coverage, and how expectations shape 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, standard water based ink can hit tight Pantones with a measured ink mix and a clean mesh. On darker cotton, discharge includes variables. Different dye lots discharge differently, even within the same brand name 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 last color, however you're still working with a background that is shifting as the color is removed.

That's not a defect, it belongs to the medium. Numerous designers accept the somewhat classic character of discharge, where reds land earthy and blues feel deep rather than neon. If your brand needs laser-precise color reproduction for business logo designs, either order test prints on the precise batch you prepare to use or consider a water based underbase or hybrid approach where needed. 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 collaboration 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 deal with water based, but discharge just lifts the cotton portion. That means your color fills the cotton while the polyester and rayon stay as-is, frequently yielding a heathered or speckled print that looks deliberate if you design for it. If your objective is flat, brilliant color on a poly mix, traditional plastisol or a specialized low-cure system may 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 seams, folds, and inconsistent pressure that show up as blank micro-gaps. If you should print on finished garments, anticipate little 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 much faster in the screen, which is useful on fabric however can lock a mesh if you pause too long. Running a higher mesh for detail, say 230 to 305, keeps the deposit thin and crisp. Set up with a misting bottle or a dedicated screen rewetting option at hand, and keep the print space humidity in a steady variety, approximately 45 to 55 percent, to avoid early drying. Manual press operators will notice how quickly a standard water based ink clears the screen compared to a heavy plastisol. Automobile presses, with flood bars and constant pace, reduce clogging.

Curing is where many beginners miss the mark. Water based inks need both heat and time for the water to evaporate, then for the binders to cross-link. A clothes dryer tunnel with sufficient air flow makes the difference. You want even heat throughout the belt and enough dwell to reach the maker's treatment temperature throughout the ink layer, not just at the surface. T-shirts exiting the tunnel must be dry to the touch with no cool spots. For discharge, the chemical reaction happens during this cure, and you will smell the activator. Good 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 outlive the t-shirt. I measure resilience by standardized wash tests, 10 to 20 cycles at warm, topple dry medium, then visual assessment for fading and breaking. Water based prints show progressive softening and a gentle fade in the same method jeans unwinds. Plastisol's failure mode is various, usually cracking if the ink layer is too thick or under-cured. For individualized shirts that require to look good at a household reunion and still remain 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 under familiar patterns. Water based ink itself is typically comparable to plastisol at the gallon level, however you invest more in store environment and drying capability. On press, water based can be slightly slower at setup since you pay closer attention to fit together, squeegee durometer, and off-contact. Once tuned, autos run at comparable speeds. Where it truly pays off remains in perceived worth. A soft print on a mid-tier blank often feels premium without jumping to the highest-cost t-shirt. Brand names can price accordingly.

For bulk t shirt orders above a few hundred pieces where the art fits the medium, discharge on one hundred percent cotton is a workhorse. For print as needed that needs overnight turn-around and art changes constantly, direct-to-garment or DTF may be much better operationally, though both have their own ecological and feel compromises. When you take on wholesale t t-shirts with several colorways and need to keep inventory versatile, a flexible water based scheme on light garments is efficient, considering that you prevent the weight and tightness that collect with several underbases in plastisol.

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

Design planning begins with the fabric color and ends with curing. On light t-shirts, lean into information: thin lines, halftones, hand-drawn textures. Basic 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. Think about how the shirt color glances through. A charcoal heather with a discharge cream graphic looks like it grew there.

Type weight matters. Very thin knockouts inside heavy flood locations can fill out with discharge, especially on high-absorbency cotton. If you need razor negative space, 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 actual garment instead of relying on a digital mockup. A mockup can not capture fiber interaction and dye lift.

When you ought to say no to discharge

There are times I advise versus discharge. Polyester-rich garments are leading of the list. The activator can trigger dye migration, especially with sublimated or cationic-dyed performance t-shirts, resulting in 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 customer is sensitive to minor odor during treating, discharge days in the shop are visible. Well-managed airflow alleviates this, but it becomes part of the process.

If a client requires metallics, puff, or specialized textures, plastisol or hybrid systems still own that buy custom t shirts 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 shirts that need to 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 removes uncertainty. A basic technique keeps surprises at bay and helps you hit deadlines for launches and events.

  • Decide on material first, then ink: pick one hundred percent ringspun cotton for discharge, or light, premium cotton for standard water based. Avoid high poly unless the heathered result is desired.
  • Request test prints on the specific blanks: one shirt per colorway is usually sufficient to lock approvals, especially for bulk t shirt orders where consistency matters.
  • Clarify color expectations in context: supply Pantone targets for light garments and explain appropriate ranges for dark discharge prints, with pictures of prior work you like.
  • Align on care labels and handling: suggest cold wash and low heat dry for customers, then confirm your treatment times so wash resilience matches the tag guidance.
  • Confirm environmental standards: ask your printer about ink accreditations, ventilation, and waste capture, especially if your brand messaging leans into eco friendly inks.

How water based fits with print on demand

Print on demand has its own restraints: quick art modifications, little batch sizes, and the requirement for a broad color range. Direct-to-garment has actually ended up being the default, but water based screen printing can fit POD if you organize brochure strategy. For styles that are high volume even at little day-to-day amounts, pre-burning screens and keeping a small stock of popular sizes lets you ship 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 select light garments.

If your POD model relies on all over print sublimation for polyester garments, water based screen affordable custom t shirts printing is not a replacement, it is a parallel offering. Use it where cotton comfort and breathability are the selling points. Customers who appreciate 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 describe what they are purchasing. They get the soft hand that retail consumers relate with quality, enhanced breathability, and compliance for delicate buyers. On a per-shirt basis, the difference for a standard three-color front hit might be modest, often a little uplift that can be neutralized by picking a somewhat more affordable blank. If the program is for wholesale t t-shirts entering into stores or e-commerce at premium rate points, the enhancement in viewed worth more than covers the change.

For individualized shirts, such as charity runs or college clubs, choices matter. Offer a base cost with plastisol on midweight cotton, then a "comfort upgrade" that includes a ringspun blank with design Jacksonville Custom t shirts water based ink. You will see a clear split: some customers optimize for cost, others for feel. Satisfying both lets you serve a wider market without diluting your craft.

Care directions that consumers really follow

Care labels often check out like legal disclaimers. Keep it easy and practical so the t-shirt endures real life. Water based and discharge prints choose cooler washes and lower clothes dryer heat, however they will endure typical laundering if appropriately cured. I recommend phrasing care tips in human terms on product pages: wash cold with similar colors, topple dry low, avoid material softeners if you want colors to stay crisp. The last note matters since some conditioners can deposit films on fibers, dulling the visual contrast of fine lines.

I've evaluated these instructions in-house: two identical t-shirts, one washed cold and dried low, the other washed warm and dried high. After 15 cycles, the warm/high tee revealed somewhat quicker fading of mid-tones, yet still looked good. That tolerance originates from appropriate cure, not from babying the garment.

All over print ideas that do not fight the limitations

All over print captures attention, however printing flood coats on assembled garments with water based inks can be unforgiving. Rather of fighting joints, design 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. Alternatively, run panel printing and stitch. Brands that offer minimal runs can justify cut-and-sew for 100 to 300 pieces if the design requires it. The finished garments read as custom from a distance, which is the goal.

A short anecdote from a busy season

One spring we ran a series for a regional music festival. The client wanted soft black tees with a sunburst print that seemed like it lived in the fabric. We tested on three blacks from 2 mills. Batch one raised easily with discharge, batch 2 stayed stubbornly dark in the mid-rays of the artwork. We logged dye lot numbers, rotated the ink mix by including a touch more white pigment to compensate, and adjusted dwell time by 10 to 15 seconds custom t shirts for teams to complete the response. The outcome: consistent tees throughout 2,400 units, each with a soft, breathable print that sold out by day two.

That task taught the crew to deal with discharge like cooking, not chemistry on a chalkboard. The recipe 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 very first offender. Water based ink that feels dry can still be under-cured if the core of the print never ever struck the needed temperature for the ideal period. Use a donut probe or an embedded thermochromic strip to determine real ink film temperature level, not simply clothes dryer setpoints. Screen lockup is the second. Keep a consistent rate on press, flood between prints, and control store humidity.

A 3rd risk is ignoring material 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 brands preparing ahead, choosing a standard blank and locking it with your provider lowers surprises.

Final assistance for selecting your path

If your priority is soft, breathable custom garments that consumers keep wearing, water based inks deserve the learning curve. Use standard water based on light garments for clean information and matte color. Relocate to release on one hundred percent cotton when you desire the softest prints on dark shirts. Accept and prepare for slight color difference with discharge, particularly throughout dye lots. For bulk t t-shirt orders, integrate 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 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 shirts are judged in the hands, not just on screens. When a consumer 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 should have 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.