November 3, 2025

Beyond Standard 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 delight in using, and the need to produce at scale without jeopardizing the environment or the bottom line. That tension has formed how I pick inks, pretreatments, and fabrics for custom garments tasks. Throughout the years, I've discovered that water based inks and discharge printing are not simply buzzwords, they are practical tools that produce stunning results and genuine comfort, specifically for T shirt printing that requires to withstand day-to-day wear.

If you run a brand, manage bulk t shirt orders, or merely want 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 best option can make the difference in between a shirt that gets worn when and one that ends up being the go-to.

What water based ink in fact 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 take in into the fibers. That single particular discusses 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 frequently indistinguishable from the t-shirt itself. For customized t shirts designed for comfort, this is the path to the "retail feel" customers ask for.

There are two primary families: standard water based and discharge. Standard water based ink works best on white or very light shirts. It can cover mid-tones with the ideal base, once you move into darker materials, you either require a heavier print or you switch to discharge. Discharge printing uses an activator that raises the color from the fabric during treating, essentially whitening the shirt's dye in the printed locations, then changes it with your pigment. Completion result is the softest possible print on dark cotton, frequently with outstanding detail.

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

Eco friendly inks are not a marketing slogan if you unpack the chemistry and the workflow. Water based inks normally contain fewer volatile organic substances than solvent-heavy options and prevent PVC altogether. Many are compliant with strict requirements like Oeko-Tex or meet retail screening routines that prohibit particular phthalates and heavy metals. If you offer custom-made clothing 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 idea. Ink is one part. You also require to look at shop practices: filtration on your washout cubicle, reclaim chemistry, energy usage on your clothes dryer, and even fabric sourcing. Discharge needs an activator, normally based on zinc formaldehyde sulfoxylate or similar compounds, which has its own handling and ventilation requirements. In a well-run store, exposure is controlled and waste is captured. If you're using print on demand with a partner, ask how they deal with discharge effluent and whether they have air exchange and curing controls dialed in. Genuine 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 like the ink. They buy it due to the fact that the garment looks great, feels good, and keeps that character after repeated cleaning. Water based inks, consisting of discharge, give you that broken-in convenience from the first day. On a 100 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 across the chest.

I keep a rack of comparison shirts in the studio. One from a surf brand, 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 slightly, and the 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, however 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 color. On white or heather light 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 name and color. Black 3001 blanks from one batch may lift to a warm charcoal, while the next batch clears to a cooler grey. The pigment you add guides the last color, but you're still dealing with a background that is shifting as the dye is removed.

That's not a flaw, it's part of the medium. Lots of designers welcome 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 business logo designs, either order test prints on the precise batch you prepare to use or consider a water based underbase or hybrid technique where needed. For wholesale t shirts that will be distributed nationally, put swatch approvals into your process so there are no surprises at scale.

Fabric matters more than most people think

A water based print is a collaboration 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 part. That implies 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 goal is flat, vibrant color on a poly blend, traditional plastisol or a specialized low-cure system may be smarter.

On all over print jobs, 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 ended up tees presents seams, folds, and inconsistent pressure that show up as blank micro-gaps. If you need to print on completed garments, anticipate small spaces 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 much faster in the screen, which works on material however can lock a mesh if you pause too long. Running a greater mesh for information, say 230 to 305, keeps the deposit thin and crisp. Establish with a misting bottle or a devoted screen rewetting service at hand, and keep the print space humidity in a consistent variety, roughly 45 to 55 percent, to avoid early drying. Manual press operators will notice how rapidly a basic water based ink clears the screen compared to a heavy plastisol. Automobile presses, with flood bars and consistent pace, decrease clogging.

Curing is where many 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 clothes dryer tunnel with sufficient airflow makes the distinction. You want even heat across the belt and adequate dwell to reach the manufacturer's cure temperature level throughout the ink layer, not simply at the surface. T-shirts exiting the tunnel must be dry to the touch without any cool spots. For discharge, the chain reaction takes place throughout this treatment, and you will smell the activator. Great ventilation is non-negotiable.

Durability and wash testing

Durability depends on appropriate treatment and fiber engagement. A well-cured water based print on cotton can outlast the t-shirt. I determine 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 gradual softening and a mild fade in the very same method jeans unwinds. Plastisol's failure mode is various, typically breaking if the ink layer is too thick or under-cured. For tailored t-shirts that need to look proficient at a family reunion and still be in rotation next summer, water based holds up when produced correctly.

Cost, throughput, and when to choose which method

Costs differ regionally, however the economics fall under familiar patterns. Water based ink itself is frequently equivalent to plastisol at the gallon level, but you invest more in store environment and drying capability. On press, water based can be a little slower at setup due to the fact that 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 perceived 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 couple of hundred pieces where the art suits the medium, discharge on 100 percent cotton is a workhorse. For print on demand that requires overnight turn-around and art modifications constantly, direct-to-garment or DTF may be better operationally, though both have their own environmental and feel trade-offs. When you handle wholesale t shirts with several colorways and must keep stock flexible, a flexible water based combination on light garments is efficient, considering that you avoid the weight and tightness that collect with several underbases in plastisol.

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

Design planning starts with the fabric color and ends with treating. On light t-shirts, lean into information: thin lines, halftones, hand-drawn textures. Standard 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 t-shirt color glances 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 in with discharge, especially on high-absorbency cotton. If you require razor unfavorable space, separate the art to print negative shapes as positive strokes with a clear schedule for squeegee pressure and flashes. Ask your printer for an evidence on the actual garment instead of trusting a digital mockup. A mockup can not capture fiber interaction and dye lift.

When you must state no to discharge

There are times I recommend versus discharge. Polyester-rich garments are leading of the list. The activator can trigger color migration, specifically with sublimated or cationic-dyed efficiency 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 is delicate to minor odor during curing, discharge days in the shop are visible. Well-managed airflow alleviates this, however it is part of 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 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 brands and creators

Whether you run your own presses or count on a partner, established a workflow that removes guesswork. An easy approach keeps surprises at bay and assists you struck due dates for launches and events.

  • Decide on fabric first, then ink: choose one hundred percent ringspun cotton for discharge, or light, premium cotton for basic water based. Prevent high poly unless the heathered effect is desired.
  • Request test prints on the exact blanks: one shirt per colorway is generally enough to lock approvals, particularly for bulk t shirt orders where consistency matters.
  • Clarify color expectations in context: supply Pantone targets for light garments and explain appropriate ranges for dark discharge prints, with images of prior work you like.
  • Align on care labels and handling: recommend cold wash and low heat dry for consumers, then validate your remedy times so wash durability matches the tag guidance.
  • Confirm environmental requirements: ask your printer about ink accreditations, ventilation, and waste capture, especially if your brand messaging leans into eco friendly inks.

How water based fits with print on demand

Print as needed has its own restrictions: quick art modifications, small batch sizes, and the requirement for a broad color range. Direct-to-garment has actually ended up being the default, but water based screen printing can fit POD if you arrange brochure technique. For styles that are high volume even at little daily quantities, pre-burning screens and keeping a little stock of popular sizes lets you deliver same day with water based prints that feel better than lots of DTG outputs. It works best when you keep art to a couple of 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 comfort and breathability are the selling points. Clients who appreciate touch will notice.

Pricing, margins, and interacting value

When clients ask why a water based or discharge print costs more than a fundamental plastisol job, I discuss what they are buying. They get the soft hand that retail customers relate with quality, improved breathability, and compliance for sensitive purchasers. On a per-shirt basis, the distinction for a basic three-color front hit may be modest, typically a small uplift that can be reduced the effects of by selecting a somewhat more economical blank. If the program is for wholesale t t-shirts entering into boutiques or e-commerce at exceptional price points, the improvement in perceived value more than covers the change.

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

Care directions that customers actually follow

Care labels typically read like legal disclaimers. Keep it easy and reasonable so the shirt makes it through real life. Water based and discharge prints prefer cooler washes and lower dryer heat, but they will withstand normal laundering if appropriately treated. I custom Jacksonville t shirts for groups suggest phrasing care suggestions in human terms on item pages: wash cold with similar colors, topple dry low, prevent fabric conditioners if you desire colors to remain crisp. The last note matters due to the fact that some softeners can transfer movies on fibers, dulling the visual contrast of fine lines.

I've tested these directions in-house: two 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 quicker fading of mid-tones, yet still looked good. That tolerance originates from appropriate treatment, 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 put together 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 use a ghosted grid that looks deliberate when it breaks at hems. Alternatively, run panel printing and stitch. Brand names that offer limited runs can validate cut-and-sew for 100 to 300 pieces if the design 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 music celebration. The client wanted soft black tees with a sunburst print that felt like it resided in the fabric. We sampled on 3 blacks from two mills. Batch one raised easily with discharge, batch 2 stayed stubbornly dark in the mid-rays of the artwork. We logged color lot numbers, pivoted the ink mix by including a touch more white pigment to compensate, and adjusted dwell time by 10 to 15 seconds to finish the response. The outcome: consistent tees across 2,400 systems, each with a soft, breathable print that offered out by day two.

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

Common mistakes and how to prevent them

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

A 3rd pitfall is ignoring fabric irregularity. If you switch blanks mid-run due to the fact that a size runs out stock, you might see shifts in color. Construct contingency into your acquiring. For brand names planning ahead, picking a standard blank and locking it with your supplier decreases surprises.

Final guidance for selecting your path

If your priority is soft, breathable custom-made 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. Move to release on one hundred percent cotton when you desire the softest prints on dark t-shirts. Accept and prepare for minor color difference with discharge, specifically across color lots. For bulk t shirt orders, integrate in a single round of physical sampling on the real blanks you will utilize, then document your settings and hold back a reference t-shirt for quality control.

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

Custom t t-shirts are evaluated in the hands, not just on screens. When a consumer rubs their thumb throughout a print and feels absolutely nothing but fiber, you've won. That's the moment water based and discharge provide, and why they are worthy of a location in any severe store or brand's toolkit.

Business Name: Prints R Us
Address: 2826 Art Museum Dr, Jacksonville, FL 32207, United States
Phone: (904)-752-1515

I am a dynamic innovator with a broad knowledge base in entrepreneurship. My conviction in entrepreneurship spurs my desire to innovate disruptive organizations. In my business career, I have cultivated a profile as being a daring thinker. Aside from creating my own businesses, I also enjoy counseling young startup founders. I believe in empowering the next generation of startup founders to pursue their own aspirations. I am easily seeking out disruptive opportunities and working together with similarly-driven creators. Redefining what's possible is my purpose. Aside from engaged in my enterprise, I enjoy immersing myself in dynamic environments. I am also focused on health and wellness.