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 consistent tension: the push for softer, more breathable prints that people actually delight in 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 fabrics for customized clothing jobs. For many years, I have actually learned that water based inks and discharge printing are not simply buzzwords, they are useful tools that produce beautiful outcomes and genuine convenience, particularly for T shirt printing that needs to withstand day-to-day wear.

If you run a brand name, handle bulk t t-shirt orders, or merely desire your individualized shirts to seem like a preferred from the very first wash, it's worth understanding how these ink systems work, where they shine, and where they need care. The right option can make the difference in between a shirt that gets used as soon as 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 material and cures into a film, water based inks soak up into the fibers. That single particular describes most of the benefits and trade-offs. Prints feel soft because 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 often equivalent from the t-shirt itself. For customized t t-shirts developed for convenience, this is the path to the "retail feel" customers ask for.

There are two main families: standard water based and discharge. Standard water based ink works best on white or very light t-shirts. It can cover mid-tones with the ideal base, once you move into darker fabrics, you either need a much heavier print or you change to discharge. Release printing utilizes an activator that lifts the color from the fabric during curing, basically whitening the t-shirt's color in the printed areas, then changes it with your pigment. Completion result is the softest possible print on dark cotton, often with exceptional detail.

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

Eco friendly inks are not a marketing motto if you unpack the chemistry and the workflow. Water based inks normally consist of less unpredictable natural substances than solvent-heavy options and avoid PVC altogether. Many are compliant with rigorous standards like Oeko-Tex or satisfy retail testing programs that prohibit particular phthalates and heavy metals. If you sell customized clothing into corporate wellness programs, schools, or health-conscious brand names, those certificates smooth procurement and keep you ahead of compliance.

That stated, "eco friendly" is a system idea. Ink is one part. You likewise require to look at shop practices: purification on your washout booth, recover chemistry, energy use on your clothes dryer, and even fabric sourcing. Discharge requires an activator, normally based on zinc formaldehyde sulfoxylate or comparable compounds, which has its own handling and ventilation needs. In a well-run store, exposure is managed and waste is recorded. If you're using print on demand with a partner, ask how they manage discharge effluent and whether they have air exchange and curing controls dialed in. Real sustainability conceals in the details.

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

Most individuals do not purchase a graphic tee because they love the ink. They buy it because the garment looks good, feels excellent, and keeps that character after repeated cleaning. Water based inks, consisting of discharge, offer 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 in some cases receive from heavy plastisol when you stretch across the chest.

I keep a rack of contrast t-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 a little, and the 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, however the wearer feedback is consistent: water based feels like a premium garment.

Color, coverage, and how expectations form results

Color precision with water based inks is a matter of control, humidity, and the fabric's own color. On white or heather light t-shirts, basic 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 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 add steers the last color, however you're still dealing with a background that is moving as the dye is removed.

That's not a defect, it belongs to the medium. Many designers embrace the cotton t-shirt printing somewhat vintage character of discharge, where reds land earthy and blues feel deep rather than neon. If your brand name needs laser-precise color recreation for business logo designs, either order test prints on the precise batch you prepare to use or think about a water based underbase or hybrid approach where needed. For wholesale t t-shirts that will be distributed nationally, put example approvals into your process so there are no surprises at scale.

Fabric matters more than the majority of people think

A water based print is a partnership 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, however discharge just lifts the cotton portion. That suggests your color fills the cotton while the polyester and rayon remain as-is, typically yielding a heathered or speckled print that looks deliberate if you style for it. If your goal is flat, vibrant color on a poly blend, traditional plastisol or a specialized low-cure system might be smarter.

On all over print jobs, 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 finished tees presents seams, folds, and inconsistent pressure that appear as blank micro-gaps. If you need to print on completed garments, expect small spaces along seams, which some clients 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 quicker 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. Set up with a misting bottle or a dedicated screen rewetting option at hand, and keep the print space humidity in a constant range, approximately 45 to 55 percent, to avoid premature drying. Manual press operators will discover how rapidly a standard water based ink clears the screen compared to a heavy plastisol. Car presses, with flood bars and consistent rate, minimize clogging.

Curing is where many beginners fizzle. Water based inks require both heat and time for the water to vaporize, then for the binders to cross-link. A dryer tunnel with adequate airflow makes the distinction. You desire even heat across the belt and adequate dwell to reach the manufacturer's treatment temperature level throughout the ink layer, not just at the surface. T-shirts leaving the tunnel needs to be dry to the touch with no cool areas. For discharge, the chemical reaction happens during this remedy, and you will smell the activator. Great 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 last longer than the t-shirt. I measure durability by standardized wash tests, 10 to 20 cycles at warm, topple dry medium, then visual inspection for fading and splitting. Water based prints reveal gradual softening and a gentle fade in the exact same way denim relaxes. Plastisol's failure mode is different, generally cracking if the ink layer is too thick or under-cured. For tailored t-shirts that require to look proficient at a household reunion and still remain in rotation next summertime, water based holds up when produced correctly.

Cost, throughput, and when to choose which method

Costs vary regionally, however the economics fall into familiar patterns. Water based ink itself is typically comparable to plastisol at the gallon level, but you invest more in store environment and drying capability. On press, water based can be slightly slower at setup due to the fact that you pay closer attention to mesh, squeegee durometer, and off-contact. As soon as tuned, automobiles perform at comparable speeds. Where it truly pays off remains in perceived value. A soft print on a mid-tier blank typically feels premium without leaping to the highest-cost shirt. Brands can price accordingly.

For bulk t shirt orders above a few hundred pieces where the art custom t shirts fits the medium, discharge on 100 percent cotton is a workhorse. For print on demand that requires overnight turnaround 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 numerous colorways and need to keep inventory versatile, a versatile water based combination on light garments is effective, given that you prevent the weight and tightness that accumulate with several underbases in plastisol.

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

Design preparation starts with the fabric color and ends with curing. On light shirts, lean into information: thin lines, halftones, hand-drawn textures. Basic water embroidery services based ink prints those with a special that plastisol tends to overpower. On dark cotton, discharge shines with mid-tone richness and soft edges. Think about 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 complete with discharge, specifically 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 an evidence on the real garment instead of trusting a digital mockup. A mockup can not record fiber interplay and color lift.

When you must state no to discharge

There are times I recommend versus discharge. Polyester-rich garments are top of the list. The activator can cause dye migration, specifically with sublimated or cationic-dyed performance t-shirts, resulting in ghosting or brownish casts. Some garment dyes, specifically reactive black blends, withstand lifting, leaving a shadowed print that looks undercured even when it isn't. If a customer Flash curing is sensitive to small odor during curing, discharge days in the shop are noticeable. Well-managed airflow reduces this, but it belongs to the process.

If a client needs metallics, puff, or specialty textures, plastisol or hybrid systems still own that area. Water based metallics exist, however the particles frequently sink, and the effect is more satin than true metal. For high-opacity neons on dark shirts that should be billboard-bright, you might 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 count on a partner, set up a workflow that eliminates guesswork. A basic approach keeps surprises at bay and assists you hit due dates for launches and events.

  • Decide on material initially, then ink: choose one hundred percent ringspun cotton for discharge, or light, high-quality cotton for standard water based. Avoid high poly unless the heathered impact is desired.
  • Request test prints on the precise blanks: one shirt per colorway is normally sufficient to lock approvals, specifically for bulk t t-shirt orders where consistency matters.
  • Clarify color expectations in context: offer Pantone targets for light garments and describe acceptable ranges for dark discharge prints, with pictures of previous work you like.
  • Align on care labels and handling: advise cold wash and low heat dry for consumers, then confirm your cure times so wash durability matches the tag guidance.
  • Confirm ecological requirements: ask your printer about ink certifications, 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 restrictions: quick art changes, little batch sizes, and the need for a broad color gamut. Direct-to-garment has actually become the default, however water based screen printing can fit POD if you arrange brochure strategy. For styles that are high volume even at little everyday quantities, pre-burning screens and keeping a little stock of popular sizes lets you deliver exact same day with water based prints that feel much better than many DTG outputs. It works finest when you keep art to a couple of colors and choose 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. Utilize it where cotton comfort and breathability are the selling points. Customers who appreciate touch will notice.

Pricing, margins, and communicating value

When customers ask why a water based or discharge print costs more than a fundamental plastisol task, I discuss what they are purchasing. They get the soft hand that retail consumers correspond with quality, enhanced breathability, and compliance for sensitive purchasers. On a per-shirt basis, the distinction for a basic three-color front hit might be modest, often a little uplift that can be neutralized by picking a somewhat more economical blank. If the program is for wholesale t shirts going into shops or e-commerce at premium price points, the enhancement in perceived worth more than covers the change.

For personalized t-shirts, such as charity runs or college clubs, choices 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 instructions that consumers really follow

Care labels typically read like legal disclaimers. Keep it simple and practical so the shirt survives real life. Water based and discharge prints prefer cooler washes and lower dryer heat, however they will withstand normal laundering if effectively cured. I suggest phrasing care suggestions in human terms on product pages: wash cold with similar colors, topple dry low, prevent fabric conditioners if you desire colors to stay crisp. The last note matters since some softeners can transfer movies on fibers, dulling the visual contrast of great lines.

I have actually evaluated these directions in-house: 2 identical t-shirts, one cleaned cold and dried low, the other washed warm and dried high. After 15 cycles, the warm/high tee revealed slightly quicker fading of mid-tones, yet still looked great. That tolerance comes from proper cure, not from babying the garment.

All over print concepts that do not battle the limitations

All over print captures attention, however printing flood coats on assembled garments with water based inks can be unforgiving. Rather of combating seams, design for them. Use tone-on-tone patterns that fade naturally at joints, or use a ghosted grid that looks intentional when it breaks at hems. Additionally, run panel printing and sew. Brand names that sell limited runs can justify cut-and-sew for 100 to 300 pieces if the style warrants it. The finished garments read as custom from a range, which is the goal.

A brief anecdote from a busy season

One spring we ran a series for a local music festival. The customer wanted soft black tees with a sunburst print that seemed like it lived in the material. We sampled on 3 blacks from two mills. Batch one lifted cleanly with discharge, batch two stayed stubbornly dark in the mid-rays of the art work. We logged dye 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 outcome: constant 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 recipe matters, but so does tasting and adjusting.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Most issues I see trace back to procedure, 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 right period. Use a donut probe or an embedded thermochromic strip to tri-blend t shirts measure real ink movie temperature, not just clothes dryer setpoints. Screen lockup is the second. Keep a consistent speed on press, flood in between prints, and control store humidity.

A 3rd mistake is ignoring material variability. If you switch blanks mid-run due to the fact that a size runs out stock, you may see shifts in color. Construct contingency into your getting. For brand names planning ahead, selecting a basic blank and locking it with your supplier lowers surprises.

Final assistance for choosing your path

If your concern is soft, breathable customized garments that clients keep using, water based inks are worth the learning curve. Usage basic water based upon light garments for tidy information and matte color. Transfer to discharge on one hundred percent cotton when you desire the softest prints on dark shirts. Accept and plan for small color variance with discharge, particularly across dye lots. For bulk t shirt orders, build in a single round of physical tasting on the real blanks you will use, then document your settings and keep back a reference t-shirt for quality control.

If you run a print as needed brochure, take a water based pill of best sellers on light t-shirts. Market the difference: eco friendly inks, breathable feel, and retail-quality hand. Keep your specialty effects and neon stunners in plastisol or hybrid systems where they belong.

Custom t t-shirts are evaluated in the hands, not simply on screens. When a client rubs their thumb throughout a print and feels nothing but fiber, you've won. That's the minute water based and discharge deliver, and why they should have a location in any major shop 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.