October 18, 2025

Beyond Fundamental 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 delight in using, and the requirement to produce at scale without compromising the environment or the bottom line. That tension has actually shaped how I choose inks, pretreatments, and materials for custom apparel projects. Over the years, I have actually found out that Custom apparel printing water based inks and discharge printing are not simply buzzwords, they are practical tools that produce beautiful results and real convenience, especially for T shirt printing that requires to withstand everyday wear.

If you run a brand name, manage bulk t shirt orders, or just want your individualized shirts to seem like a favorite from the first wash, it deserves comprehending how these ink systems work, where they shine, and where they require care. The right choice can make the distinction between a shirt that gets worn once and one that becomes the go-to.

What water based ink really 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 absorb into the fibers. That single characteristic explains the majority 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 integrated. On light garments, the hand is typically equivalent from the shirt itself. For custom t t-shirts created for comfort, this is the course to the "retail feel" clients ask for.

There are 2 main households: 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 ideal base, once you move into darker materials, you either need a much heavier print or you change to release. Release printing utilizes an activator that lifts the color from the fabric during treating, basically bleaching the shirt's color in the printed locations, then replaces it with your pigment. Completion outcome is the softest possible print on dark cotton, typically with exceptional detail.

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

Eco friendly inks are not a marketing slogan if you unload the chemistry and the workflow. Water based inks normally contain less unstable organic compounds than solvent-heavy alternatives and avoid PVC entirely. Many are compliant with rigorous requirements like Oeko-Tex or meet retail screening routines that ban specific phthalates and heavy metals. If you offer custom garments into business health cares, schools, or health-conscious brand names, those certificates smooth procurement and keep you ahead of compliance.

That stated, "eco friendly" is a system principle. Ink is one part. You also require to look at store practices: filtration on your washout cubicle, reclaim chemistry, energy use on your clothes dryer, and even fabric sourcing. Discharge needs an activator, usually based upon zinc formaldehyde sulfoxylate or comparable substances, which has its own handling and ventilation requirements. In a well-run store, exposure is managed and waste is recorded. If you're utilizing 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 hides in the details.

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

Most people do not buy a graphic tee due to the fact that they love the ink. They buy it because the garment looks good, feels good, and keeps that character after duplicated washing. Water based inks, including discharge, give you that broken-in convenience from day one. On an one hundred percent ring-spun cotton blank, a water based print is breathable and flexible. You will not hear the crackle you sometimes receive from heavy plastisol when you extend throughout the chest.

I keep a rack 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 even more, the colors mellowed a little, and the t-shirts kept moving. A plastisol sample with the same art looks glossier and still pops more under severe light, which some streetwear customers choose, but the user feedback corresponds: water based feels 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 t-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 dye lots discharge differently, even within the very 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 include steers the final color, however you're still working with a background that is moving as the color is removed.

That's not a flaw, it becomes part of the medium. Many designers embrace the a little classic character of discharge, where reds land earthy and blues feel deep instead of neon. If your brand needs laser-precise color recreation for corporate logo designs, either order test prints on the exact batch you Gildan blanks plan to utilize or consider a water based underbase or hybrid approach where needed. For wholesale t t-shirts that will be distributed nationally, put example approvals into your procedure so there are not a surprises at scale.

Fabric matters more than many people think

A water based print is a partnership between ink and fiber. Ringspun cotton takes ink magnificently. Carded open end cotton is scratchier and beverages ink unevenly. Blends complicate things. A 50/50 poly-cotton or a triblend with rayon can deal with water based, but discharge just raises the cotton part. That suggests 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, brilliant color on a poly blend, 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 finished tees introduces seams, folds, and irregular pressure that show up as blank micro-gaps. If you must print on completed garments, expect 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 quicker in the screen, which works on fabric however can lock a mesh if you stop briefly too long. Running a greater mesh for detail, state 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 stable range, approximately 45 to 55 percent, to prevent early drying. Manual press operators will observe how rapidly a standard water based ink clears the screen compared to a heavy plastisol. Automobile presses, with flood bars and consistent speed, minimize clogging.

Curing is where many novices fizzle. Water based inks need both heat and time for the water to vaporize, then for the binders to cross-link. A dryer tunnel with enough air flow makes the distinction. You want even heat across the belt and adequate dwell to reach the maker's remedy temperature throughout the ink layer, not just at the towel and robe embroidery surface. T-shirts exiting the tunnel needs to be dry to the touch with no cool spots. For discharge, the chemical reaction occurs during this cure, and you will smell the activator. Excellent ventilation is non-negotiable.

Durability and wash testing

Durability depends on correct cure and fiber engagement. A well-cured water based print on cotton can last longer than the t-shirt. I determine durability by standardized wash tests, 10 to 20 cycles at warm, topple dry medium, then visual examination for fading and breaking. Water based prints show gradual softening and a mild fade in the same method jeans unwinds. Plastisol's failure mode is different, usually cracking if the ink layer is too thick or under-cured. For personalized t-shirts that require to look good at a family reunion and still remain in rotation next summer season, water based holds up when produced correctly.

Cost, throughput, and when to pick which method

Costs vary regionally, however the economics fall into familiar patterns. Water based ink itself is frequently comparable to plastisol at the gallon level, however you invest more in store environment and drying capability. On press, water based can be somewhat slower at setup since you pay closer attention to mesh, squeegee durometer, and off-contact. When tuned, vehicles perform at similar speeds. Where it actually settles is in viewed worth. A soft print on a mid-tier blank typically feels premium without jumping to the highest-cost shirt. Brand names can price accordingly.

For bulk t shirt orders above a few hundred pieces where the art suits the medium, discharge on 100 percent cotton is a workhorse. For print as needed that needs overnight turn-around and art modifications continuously, direct-to-garment or DTF might be much better operationally, though both have their own environmental and feel compromises. When you take on wholesale t shirts with several colorways and should keep stock flexible, a flexible water based scheme on light garments is efficient, since you avoid the weight and tightness that collect with multiple underbases in plastisol.

Design options that bring out the 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. 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. Very thin knockouts inside heavy flood areas can fill in with discharge, specifically on high-absorbency cotton. If you need razor negative space, separate 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 rather than trusting a digital mockup. A mockup can not record fiber interaction and color lift.

When you must say no to discharge

There are times I advise against discharge. Polyester-rich garments are top 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, 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 noticeable. Well-managed air flow alleviates this, however it is part of the process.

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

Practical workflow for brand names and creators

Whether you run your own presses or depend on a partner, set up a workflow that eliminates guesswork. An easy method keeps surprises at bay and helps you struck due dates for launches and events.

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

How water based fits with print on demand

Print on demand has its own restraints: fast art modifications, little batch sizes, and the need 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 arrange catalog technique. For designs that are high volume even at little daily quantities, pre-burning screens and keeping a small stock of popular sizes lets you deliver very same day with water based prints that feel better than many DTG outputs. It works best when you keep art to a couple of colors and select light garments.

If your POD model depends on all over print sublimation for polyester garments, water based screen printing is not a replacement, it is a parallel offering. Use it where cotton convenience 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 standard plastisol task, I explain what they are buying. They get the soft hand that retail customers relate with quality, enhanced breathability, and compliance for sensitive buyers. On a per-shirt basis, the difference for a standard three-color front hit may be modest, often a small uplift that can be reduced the effects of by selecting a slightly more cost-effective blank. If the program is for wholesale t shirts going into stores or e-commerce at exceptional price points, the enhancement in perceived value more than covers the change.

For individualized t-shirts, such as charity runs or college clubs, alternatives matter. Deal a base cost 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 enhance for cost, others for feel. Satisfying both lets you serve a larger market without diluting your craft.

Care guidelines that clients really follow

Care labels often read like legal disclaimers. Keep it simple and sensible so the shirt survives reality. Water based and discharge prints prefer cooler washes and lower dryer heat, however they will sustain typical laundering if appropriately cured. I suggest phrasing care suggestions in human terms on item pages: wash cold with similar colors, tumble dry low, avoid material conditioners if you desire colors to stay crisp. The last note matters due to the fact that some softeners can transfer movies on fibers, dulling the visual contrast of great lines.

I have actually evaluated these instructions in-house: 2 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 comes from appropriate cure, not from babying the garment.

All over print ideas that do not fight the limitations

All over print captures attention, but printing flood coats on assembled garments with water based inks can be unforgiving. Instead of fighting joints, design 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 restricted runs can validate cut-and-sew for 100 to 300 pieces if the style warrants it. The completed garments check out as custom from a range, which is the goal.

A brief anecdote from a hectic season

One spring we ran a series for a regional music celebration. The client desired soft black tees with a sunburst print that seemed like it resided in the fabric. We sampled on three blacks from 2 mills. Batch one raised cleanly with discharge, batch two stayed stubbornly dark in the mid-rays of the artwork. We logged dye lot numbers, rotated the ink mix by adding a touch more white pigment to compensate, and changed dwell time by 10 to 15 seconds to complete the reaction. 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 dish matters, however so does tasting and adjusting.

Common pitfalls and how to avoid them

Most issues I see trace back to procedure, 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 ideal duration. Use a donut probe or an embedded thermochromic strip to determine real ink film temperature level, not just clothes dryer setpoints. Screen lockup is the second. Keep a constant rate on press, flood between prints, and control shop humidity.

A 3rd pitfall is neglecting material variability. If you switch blanks mid-run due to the fact that a size is out of stock, you might see shifts in color. Construct contingency into your buying. For brands preparing ahead, selecting a standard blank and locking it with your supplier decreases surprises.

Final guidance for choosing your path

If your top priority is soft, breathable customized garments that customers keep using, water based inks are worth the knowing curve. Use basic water based on light garments for tidy information and matte color. Relocate to discharge on 100 percent cotton when you want the softest prints on dark shirts. Accept and plan for slight color difference with discharge, specifically across dye lots. For bulk t t-shirt orders, integrate in a single round of physical tasting on the real blanks you will utilize, then record your settings and keep back a recommendation t-shirt for quality control.

If you operate a print as needed 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 specialized impacts and neon stunners in plastisol or hybrid systems custom hoodies and tees where they belong.

Custom t t-shirts are judged in the hands, not just on screens. When a customer rubs their thumb across a print and feels absolutely nothing but fiber, you have actually won. That's the minute water based and discharge provide, and why they are worthy of a place in any severe 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.