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.

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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 2 things in consistent tension: the push for softer, more breathable prints that people really enjoy wearing, and the need to produce at scale without compromising the environment or the bottom line. That stress has formed how I select inks, pretreatments, and fabrics for customized clothing projects. Throughout the years, I've found out that water based inks and discharge printing are not simply buzzwords, they are practical tools that produce gorgeous results and real convenience, especially for T shirt printing that needs to stand up to day-to-day wear.

If you run a brand name, handle bulk t t-shirt orders, or simply desire your personalized t-shirts to feel 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 option can make the difference in between a shirt that gets worn as soon as and one that becomes the go-to.

What water based ink really is

Water based inks suspend pigments in water instead of in plasticizers and solvents. Unlike plastisol, which sits on top of the material and cures into a film, water based inks soak up into the fibers. That single characteristic describes the majority of the advantages and trade-offs. Prints feel soft due to the fact that you're touching the cotton, not a layer of cured PVC. Colors tend to look more matte and incorporated. On light garments, the hand is often indistinguishable from the t-shirt itself. For custom t shirts created for convenience, this is the path to the "retail feel" customers ask for.

There are 2 primary households: basic water based and discharge. Standard water based ink works best on white or extremely light t-shirts. It can cover mid-tones with the right base, once you move into darker materials, you either need a heavier print or you switch to release. Discharge printing utilizes an activator that raises the dye from the fabric throughout treating, basically bleaching the shirt's dye in the printed locations, then replaces it with your pigment. Completion result is the softest possible print on dark cotton, frequently with impressive 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 usually include less unpredictable natural substances than solvent-heavy options and avoid PVC altogether. Many are compliant with strict standards like Oeko-Tex or satisfy retail testing routines that ban certain phthalates and heavy metals. If you sell customized clothing into business health cares, schools, or health-conscious brands, those certificates smooth procurement and keep you ahead of compliance.

That stated, "eco friendly" is a system concept. Ink is one part. You likewise require to look at store practices: filtering on your washout cubicle, reclaim chemistry, energy usage on your dryer, and even fabric sourcing. Discharge requires an activator, typically based on zinc formaldehyde sulfoxylate or comparable substances, which has its own handling and ventilation requirements. In a well-run store, exposure is controlled and waste is recorded. If you're using print on demand with a partner, ask how they deal with discharge effluent and whether they have air exchange and treating controls called in. Real sustainability conceals in the details.

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

Most individuals do not purchase a graphic tee due to the fact that they enjoy the ink. They buy it because the garment looks excellent, feels good, and keeps that character after repeated cleaning. 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 flexible. You will not hear the crackle you often get from heavy plastisol when you extend throughout the chest.

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

Color, coverage, and how expectations form results

Color accuracy with water based inks is a matter of control, humidity, and the fabric's own dye. On white or heather light t-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 color lots discharge differently, even within the very 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 guides the last color, however you're still working with a background that is moving as the color is removed.

That's not a defect, it belongs to the medium. Lots of designers welcome the slightly classic character of discharge, where reds land earthy and blues feel deep rather than neon. If your brand demands laser-precise color recreation for business logos, either order test prints on the precise batch you plan to utilize or think about a water based underbase or hybrid method 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 many people think

A water based print is a collaboration in between ink and fiber. Ringspun cotton takes ink beautifully. 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 only lifts the cotton part. That indicates your color saturates the cotton while the polyester and rayon remain 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, conventional 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, think about cut-and-sew with water based prints on panels before assembly. Garment printing all over on completed tees presents joints, folds, and inconsistent pressure that show up as blank micro-gaps. If you should print on completed garments, anticipate small spaces along seams, which some customers like as part of the garment's character.

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

Water based inks behave differently on press. They dry faster in the screen, which is useful on fabric but can lock a mesh if you stop briefly too long. Running a greater mesh for information, state 230 to 305, keeps the deposit thin and crisp. Establish with a misting bottle or a dedicated screen rewetting solution at hand, and keep the print room humidity in a steady variety, approximately 45 to 55 percent, to prevent early drying. Manual press operators will see how rapidly a basic water based ink clears the screen compared to a heavy plastisol. Car presses, with flood bars and consistent pace, minimize clogging.

Curing is where lots of newbies fizzle. Water based inks require both heat and time for the water to evaporate, then for the binders to cross-link. A dryer tunnel with adequate airflow makes the difference. You want even heat across the belt and adequate dwell to reach the manufacturer's cure temperature throughout the ink layer, not just at the surface area. T-shirts exiting the tunnel must be dry to the touch without any cool spots. For discharge, the chain reaction occurs throughout this treatment, and you will smell the activator. Excellent ventilation is non-negotiable. Custom apparel printing

Durability and wash testing

Durability depends on appropriate cure and fiber engagement. A well-cured water based print on cotton can outlive the t-shirt. I measure toughness by standardized wash tests, 10 to 20 cycles at warm, topple dry medium, then visual evaluation for fading and splitting. Water based prints show progressive softening and a mild fade in the exact same way denim unwinds. Plastisol's failure mode is different, usually breaking if the ink layer is too thick or under-cured. For customized t-shirts that require to look proficient at a household reunion and still be in rotation next summer, water based holds up when produced correctly.

Cost, throughput, and when to choose which method

Costs vary regionally, but the economics fall into familiar patterns. Water based ink itself is frequently comparable to plastisol at the gallon level, however you invest more in shop environment and drying capacity. On press, water based can be a little slower at setup because you pay closer attention to mesh, squeegee durometer, and off-contact. Once tuned, vehicles run at comparable speeds. Where it really settles remains in viewed worth. A soft print on a mid-tier blank frequently feels premium without jumping to the highest-cost t-shirt. Brand names can price accordingly.

For bulk t shirt orders above a couple of hundred pieces where the art matches the medium, discharge on one hundred percent cotton is a workhorse. For print as needed that needs overnight turnaround and art changes constantly, direct-to-garment or DTF might be much better operationally, though both have their own ecological and feel trade-offs. When you handle wholesale t t-shirts with multiple colorways and must keep stock versatile, a versatile water based combination on light garments is effective, since you prevent the weight and stiffness that build up with multiple underbases in plastisol.

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

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

Type weight matters. Really thin knockouts inside heavy flood areas 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 real garment instead of relying on a digital mockup. A mockup can not custom hoodies and tees catch fiber interaction and color lift.

When you should 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, 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 customer is sensitive to small odor during treating, discharge days in the store are noticeable. Well-managed air flow reduces this, however it is part of the process.

If a customer needs metallics, puff, or specialty textures, plastisol or hybrid systems still own that space. Water based metallics exist, but the particles often sink, and the effect is more satin than real metal. For high-opacity neons on dark shirts that must be billboard-bright, you might need 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 eliminates guesswork. A basic technique keeps surprises at bay and assists you hit deadlines 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. Prevent high poly unless the heathered impact is desired.
  • Request test prints on the specific blanks: one t-shirt per colorway is typically 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 describe appropriate 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 consumers, then validate your remedy times so wash resilience matches the tag guidance.
  • Confirm environmental requirements: 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 constraints: quick art changes, little batch sizes, and the requirement for a broad color range. Direct-to-garment has actually become the default, but water based screen printing can fit POD if you organize brochure strategy. For designs that are high volume even at little everyday quantities, pre-burning screens and keeping a small stock of popular sizes lets you ship exact same day with water based prints that feel better than many DTG outputs. It works finest when you keep art to one or two colors and choose light garments.

If your POD design relies on all over print sublimation for polyester garments, water based screen printing is not a replacement, it is a parallel offering. Use it where cotton convenience and breathability are the selling points. Clients who appreciate touch will notice.

Pricing, margins, and communicating value

When customers ask why a water based or discharge print costs more than a basic plastisol task, I describe what they are purchasing. They get the soft hand that retail customers correspond design your own shirt with quality, improved breathability, and compliance for delicate purchasers. On a per-shirt basis, the difference for a basic three-color front hit may be modest, frequently a little uplift that can be reduced the effects of by picking a slightly more economical blank. If the program is for wholesale t shirts going into shops or e-commerce at premium price points, the enhancement in viewed worth more than covers the change.

For personalized t-shirts, such as charity runs or college clubs, choices matter. Offer 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 optimize for expense, others for feel. Fulfilling both lets you serve a wider market without diluting your craft.

Care instructions that consumers actually follow

Care labels often read like legal disclaimers. Keep it easy and sensible so the t-shirt endures real life. Water based and discharge prints prefer cooler washes and lower clothes dryer heat, but they will endure regular laundering if properly treated. I recommend phrasing care suggestions in human terms on product pages: wash cold with comparable colors, tumble dry low, prevent fabric conditioners if you desire colors to remain crisp. The last note matters since some conditioners can deposit films on fibers, dulling the visual contrast of great lines.

I have actually evaluated these instructions in-house: 2 identical 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 remedy, not from babying the garment.

All over print concepts that do not battle the limitations

All over print catches attention, however printing flood coats on assembled garments with water based inks can be unforgiving. Rather of fighting seams, design for them. Use tone-on-tone patterns that fade naturally at joints, or apply a ghosted grid that looks deliberate when it breaks at hems. Additionally, run panel printing and sew. Brands that sell limited runs can validate cut-and-sew for 100 to 300 pieces if the style requires it. The finished garments check out as custom from a distance, which is the goal.

A quick anecdote from a busy season

One spring we ran a series for a regional Live screen printing music festival. The customer wanted soft black tees with a sunburst print that seemed like it lived in the fabric. We sampled on three blacks from 2 mills. Batch one lifted cleanly with discharge, batch 2 remained stubbornly dark in the mid-rays of the art work. We logged dye lot numbers, pivoted the ink mix by including a touch more white pigment to compensate, and changed dwell time by 10 to 15 seconds to complete the response. The outcome: constant tees throughout 2,400 units, each with a soft, breathable print that sold out by day two.

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

Common risks and how to prevent them

Most issues I see trace back to process, not the ink family. Under-curing is the first culprit. 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 best period. Use a donut probe or an embedded thermochromic strip to determine true ink movie temperature, not simply dryer setpoints. Screen lockup is the second. Keep a consistent pace on press, flood between prints, and control store humidity.

A third pitfall is disregarding fabric variability. If you switch blanks mid-run because a size is out of stock, you may see shifts in color. Develop no minimum order shirts contingency into your acquiring. For brand names preparing ahead, picking a basic blank and locking it with your provider reduces surprises.

Final assistance for picking your path

If your concern is soft, breathable customized clothing that clients keep wearing, water based inks deserve the learning curve. Use basic water based on light garments for clean detail and matte color. Transfer to discharge on one hundred percent cotton when you want the softest prints on dark t-shirts. Accept and plan for slight color variation with discharge, especially across color lots. For bulk t t-shirt orders, integrate in a single round of physical tasting on the actual blanks you will utilize, then record your settings and hold back a referral t-shirt for quality control.

If you run a print on demand brochure, carve out a water based pill of finest sellers on light t-shirts. Market the distinction: 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 judged in the hands, not just on screens. When a customer rubs their thumb across a print and feels nothing however fiber, you've won. That's the minute water based and discharge provide, and why they deserve a place in any severe 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.