October 18, 2025

Beyond Fundamental 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.

View on Google Maps
2826 Art Museum Dr, Jacksonville, 32207, US
Business Hours:
  • Monday–Friday: 09:00–17:00
  • Saturday: Closed
  • Sunday: Closed
Follow Us:

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 2 things in consistent tension: the push for softer, more breathable prints that people actually enjoy wearing, and the need to produce at scale without jeopardizing the environment or the bottom line. That stress has shaped how I select inks, pretreatments, and materials for customized apparel projects. Throughout the years, I've found out that water based inks and discharge printing are not just buzzwords, they are useful tools that produce stunning results and genuine convenience, specifically for T shirt printing that needs to stand up to everyday wear.

If you run a brand, manage bulk t shirt orders, or merely desire your personalized shirts to towel and robe embroidery seem like a favorite 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 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 discusses 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 incorporated. On light garments, the hand is typically indistinguishable from the shirt itself. For custom-made t shirts designed for eco-friendly inks comfort, this is the path to the "retail feel" clients ask for.

There are two primary families: basic water based and discharge. Basic 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 switch to release. Discharge printing uses an activator that lifts the dye from the material during treating, essentially whitening the shirt's dye in the printed areas, then replaces it with your pigment. The end result is the softest possible print on dark cotton, frequently with impressive detail.

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

Eco friendly inks are not a marketing motto if you unload the chemistry and the workflow. Water based inks typically consist of fewer volatile natural compounds than solvent-heavy alternatives and avoid PVC entirely. Numerous are compliant with stringent requirements like Oeko-Tex or satisfy retail screening programs that ban particular phthalates and heavy metals. If you sell custom-made apparel 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 need to take a look at shop practices: filtration on your washout booth, recover chemistry, energy usage on your dryer, and even material sourcing. Discharge requires an activator, usually based on zinc formaldehyde sulfoxylate or similar compounds, which has its own handling and ventilation requirements. In a well-run shop, exposure is controlled and waste is captured. If you're using print as needed with a partner, ask how they manage discharge effluent and whether they have air exchange and treating controls dialed in. Real sustainability conceals in the details.

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

Most individuals do not buy a graphic tee since they like the ink. They buy it since the garment looks great, feels excellent, and keeps that character after duplicated 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 often receive from heavy plastisol when you stretch throughout the chest.

I keep a rack of comparison 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 a lot more, the colors mellowed a little, and the t-shirts kept moving. A plastisol sample with the very same art looks glossier and still pops more under harsh light, which some streetwear clients prefer, but the user feedback is consistent: water based feels like a premium garment.

Color, protection, and how expectations form results

Color accuracy with water based inks is a matter of control, humidity, and the fabric's own color. On white or heather light t-shirts, standard water based ink can hit tight Pantones with a measured ink mix and a clean mesh. On darker cotton, discharge adds variables. Various dye lots discharge in a different way, even within the exact same brand and color. Black 3001 blanks from one batch may raise to a warm charcoal, while the next batch clears to a cooler grey. The pigment you include guides the final color, however you're still dealing with a background that is shifting as the dye is removed.

That's not a defect, it's part of the medium. Numerous designers welcome the somewhat classic character of discharge, where reds land earthy and blues feel deep rather than neon. If your brand demands laser-precise color reproduction for corporate logo designs, either order test prints on the precise batch you prepare to utilize or think about a water based underbase or hybrid technique where required. For wholesale t t-shirts that will be dispersed nationally, put example approvals into your procedure so there are no surprises at scale.

Fabric matters more than most 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 make complex things. A 50/50 poly-cotton or a triblend with rayon can work with water based, but discharge only raises the cotton portion. That means your color fills the cotton while the polyester and rayon stay as-is, often yielding a heathered or speckled print that looks intentional if you design for it. If your goal is flat, brilliant color on a poly blend, traditional 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, 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 show up as blank micro-gaps. If you should print on ended up garments, anticipate little voids along joints, 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 higher mesh for detail, state 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 steady range, roughly 45 to 55 percent, to avoid early drying. Manual press operators will see how quickly a basic water based ink clears the screen compared to a heavy plastisol. Car presses, with flood bars and constant rate, reduce clogging.

Curing is where lots of newbies miss the mark. Water based inks need both heat and time for the water to vaporize, then for the binders to cross-link. A dryer tunnel with adequate airflow makes the distinction. You desire even heat across the belt and sufficient dwell to reach the maker's treatment temperature level throughout the ink layer, not simply at the surface area. T-shirts exiting the tunnel must be dry to the touch with no cool spots. For discharge, the chemical reaction happens throughout this cure, and you will smell the activator. Excellent ventilation is non-negotiable.

Durability and wash testing

Durability depends upon appropriate remedy and fiber engagement. A well-cured water based print on cotton can outlast the t-shirt. I determine resilience by standardized wash tests, 10 to 20 cycles at warm, topple dry medium, then visual inspection for fading and breaking. Water based prints reveal steady softening and a gentle fade in the same method jeans relaxes. Plastisol's failure mode is various, usually splitting if the ink layer is too thick or under-cured. For tailored t-shirts that require to look good at a household 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 under familiar patterns. Water based ink itself is often comparable to plastisol at the gallon level, however you invest more in store environment and drying capacity. On press, water based can be a little slower at setup since you pay closer attention to fit together, squeegee durometer, and off-contact. As soon as tuned, vehicles perform at comparable speeds. Where it actually pays off remains in viewed value. A soft print on a mid-tier blank often feels premium without leaping to the highest-cost shirt. Brand names can price accordingly.

For bulk t shirt orders above a couple of hundred pieces where the art suits the medium, discharge on 100 percent cotton is a workhorse. For print on demand that needs overnight turnaround and art modifications continuously, direct-to-garment or DTF may be better operationally, though both have their own environmental and feel trade-offs. When you take on wholesale t t-shirts with several colorways and should keep stock versatile, a flexible water based palette on light garments is efficient, given that you avoid the weight and tightness that accumulate with numerous underbases in plastisol.

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

Design preparation starts with the fabric color and ends with treating. On light shirts, lean into information: thin lines, halftones, hand-drawn textures. Standard water based ink prints those with a special that plastisol tends to subdue. On dark cotton, discharge shines with mid-tone richness and soft edges. Think about how the shirt color peeks through. A charcoal heather with a discharge cream graphic looks like it grew there.

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

When you should say no to discharge

There are times I advise versus discharge. Polyester-rich garments are top of the list. The activator can trigger color migration, particularly with sublimated or cationic-dyed efficiency shirts, causing ghosting or brownish casts. Some garment dyes, especially reactive black blends, resist lifting, leaving a shadowed print that looks undercured even when it isn't. If a client is delicate to small odor during curing, discharge days in the store are noticeable. Well-managed airflow alleviates this, but it belongs to the process.

If a customer needs metallics, puff, or specialized textures, plastisol or hybrid systems still own that area. Water based metallics exist, but the particles frequently sink, and the impact is more satin than real metal. For high-opacity neons on dark t-shirts that must 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 depend on a partner, set up a workflow that gets rid of uncertainty. A simple method keeps surprises at bay and helps you struck deadlines for launches and events.

  • Decide on fabric initially, then ink: choose 100 percent ringspun cotton for discharge, or light, top quality cotton for standard water based. Avoid high poly unless the heathered result is desired.
  • Request test prints on the exact blanks: one t-shirt per colorway is usually adequate to lock approvals, particularly for bulk t t-shirt orders where consistency matters.
  • Clarify color expectations in context: supply Pantone targets for light garments and explain 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 confirm your cure times so clean resilience matches the tag guidance.
  • Confirm ecological 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 restraints: quick art changes, small batch sizes, and the need for a broad color gamut. Direct-to-garment has become the default, but water based screen printing can fit POD if you organize catalog method. For styles that are high volume even at little daily amounts, pre-burning screens and keeping a little stock of popular sizes lets you deliver very same day with water based prints that feel much better than many DTG outputs. It works best 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 convenience 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 no minimum order shirts a basic plastisol task, I discuss 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 basic three-color front hit may be modest, typically a little uplift that can be neutralized by picking a slightly more cost-effective blank. If the program is for wholesale t shirts entering into stores or e-commerce at exceptional price points, the improvement in viewed worth more than covers the change.

For personalized shirts, such as charity runs or college clubs, alternatives matter. Offer 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 customers enhance for cost, others for feel. Satisfying both lets you serve a larger market without diluting your craft.

Care instructions that clients actually follow

Care labels often check promotional products out like legal disclaimers. Keep it simple and practical so the t-shirt endures real life. Water based and discharge prints choose cooler washes and lower dryer heat, but they will endure normal laundering if correctly treated. I suggest phrasing care suggestions in human terms on product pages: wash cold with comparable colors, tumble dry low, prevent fabric softeners if you want colors to stay crisp. The last note matters because some conditioners can deposit movies on fibers, dulling the visual contrast of great lines.

I have actually checked these directions in-house: two identical t-shirts, one cleaned cold and dried low, the other washed warm and dried high. After 15 cycles, the warm/high tee revealed a little much faster fading of mid-tones, yet still looked great. That tolerance comes from appropriate cure, not from babying the garment.

All over print concepts that do not battle the limitations

All over print captures attention, but printing flood coats on assembled garments with water based inks can be unforgiving. Rather of fighting seams, style for them. Use 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 sell limited runs can validate cut-and-sew for 100 to 300 pieces if the style warrants it. The ended up garments check out as custom-made from a range, which is the goal.

A brief anecdote from a busy season

One spring we ran a series for a regional music festival. The customer wanted soft black tees with a sunburst print that felt like it resided in the material. We tested on 3 blacks from two mills. Batch one lifted cleanly with discharge, batch two remained stubbornly dark in the mid-rays of the artwork. We logged color lot numbers, pivoted the ink mix by adding a touch more white pigment to compensate, and adjusted dwell time by 10 to 15 seconds to finish the response. The result: consistent tees throughout 2,400 systems, each with a soft, breathable print that sold out by day two.

That job taught the team 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 prevent them

Most problems I see trace back to procedure, not the ink household. Under-curing is the very first perpetrator. Water based ink that feels dry can still be under-cured if the core of the print never ever struck the required temp for the ideal period. Utilize a donut probe or an embedded thermochromic strip to determine real ink movie temperature, not simply clothes dryer setpoints. Screen lockup is the second. Keep a consistent rate on press, flood between prints, and control shop humidity.

A third mistake is ignoring fabric variability. If you switch blanks mid-run due to the fact that a size runs out stock, you may see shifts in color. Develop contingency into your buying. For brands preparing ahead, choosing a standard blank and locking it with your provider reduces surprises.

Final guidance for choosing your path

If your concern is soft, breathable customized garments that consumers keep using, water based inks are worth the learning curve. Usage standard water based upon light garments for clean detail and matte color. Transfer to discharge on one hundred percent cotton when you desire the softest prints on dark shirts. Accept and prepare for slight color variance with discharge, particularly 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 hold back a recommendation shirt for quality control.

If you run a print on demand brochure, carve out a water based capsule of finest sellers on light t-shirts. Market the difference: eco friendly inks, breathable feel, cheap t shirt printing and retail-quality hand. Keep your specialized results and neon stunners in plastisol or hybrid systems where they belong.

Custom t shirts are judged in the hands, not simply on screens. When a customer rubs their thumb across a print and feels nothing but fiber, you have actually won. That's the minute water based and discharge provide, and why they should have a location in any major shop 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.