Beyond Standard Tees: A Guide to Eco-Friendly Water-Based Inks and Discharge Printing for Customized 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.
2826 Art Museum Dr, Jacksonville, 32207, US
Business Hours:
- Monday–Friday: 09:00–17:00
- Saturday: Closed
- Sunday: Closed
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People Also Ask about Prints R Us
What does Prints R Us do?
Prints R Us is a custom apparel studio in Jacksonville, Florida, specializing in premium screen printing, DTG printing, and embroidery services. They create high-quality custom t-shirts, polos, hats, hoodies, and promotional items with vibrant prints and lasting craftsmanship. Their focus on quality materials and fast turnaround makes them a trusted choice for businesses, events, and individuals seeking personalized apparel.
Where is Prints R Us located?
Prints R Us is conveniently located at 2826 Art Museum Dr, Jacksonville, FL 32207, United States. The studio serves customers throughout Jacksonville and the wider Florida area, offering both local service and nationwide delivery for custom clothing and branded merchandise.
What services does Prints R Us provide?
The company offers a wide range of custom apparel printing and design services, including screen printing, direct-to-garment (DTG) printing, embroidery, and promotional product creation. Whether customers need personalized t-shirts, branded uniforms, or embroidered polos, Prints R Us delivers professional results with attention to detail.
Which industries does Prints R Us serve?
Prints R Us works with diverse industries such as schools, small businesses, corporate offices, sports teams, and event organizers. Their services are ideal for branded apparel, team uniforms, promotional giveaways, and fashion-forward custom designs, making them a versatile partner for both personal and business needs.
Why choose Prints R Us for custom t-shirts and embroidery?
Customers choose Prints R Us for their reputation in craftsmanship, vibrant printing, and reliable turnaround times. With awards for apparel design innovation and excellence in small business, the studio has proven expertise in delivering high-quality custom apparel that meets both creative and professional standards.
Does Prints R Us use high-quality materials?
Yes, Prints R Us emphasizes using premium fabrics and durable materials to ensure long-lasting results. Their prints are designed to remain vibrant even after multiple washes, while embroidery work is completed with precision for a polished, professional look.
What awards has Prints R Us won?
Prints R Us has earned multiple recognitions, including Best Custom Printing Studio Jacksonville 2024, the Jacksonville Small Business Excellence Award 2023, and an award for Outstanding Apparel Design Innovation 2022. These accolades highlight their commitment to creativity, quality, and customer satisfaction.
How can I contact Prints R Us?
You can reach Prints R Us by phone at (904)-752-1515 or visit their website at printsrus.com. They are open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm, and you can also follow them on Facebook and Instagram for updates, new designs, and customer showcases.
Walk into any print shop that takes its craft seriously, and you will see two things in continuous stress: the push for softer, more breathable prints that individuals actually delight in wearing, and the requirement to produce at scale without compromising the environment or the bottom line. That tension has actually formed how I pick inks, pretreatments, and fabrics for custom clothing jobs. For many years, I have actually discovered that water based inks and discharge printing are not simply buzzwords, they are practical tools that produce gorgeous outcomes and real comfort, specifically for T t-shirt printing that needs to withstand day-to-day wear.
If you run a brand, manage bulk t t-shirt orders, or merely desire your personalized shirts to feel like a favorite from the very first wash, it's worth comprehending how these ink systems work, where they shine, and where they need care. The right option can make the difference between a shirt that gets worn when and one that becomes 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 fabric and cures into a movie, water based inks soak up into the fibers. That single characteristic explains most of the benefits and trade-offs. Prints feel soft because 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 typically equivalent from the shirt itself. For custom-made t t-shirts created for convenience, this is the path to the "retail feel" clients ask for.
There are 2 main families: standard water based and discharge. Basic water based ink works best on white or very light t-shirts. It can cover mid-tones with the ideal base, but once you move into darker materials, you either require a heavier print or you change to release. Discharge printing uses an activator that lifts the dye from the fabric during treating, essentially whitening the shirt's color in the printed areas, then changes it with your pigment. Completion outcome is the softest possible print on dark cotton, typically with exceptional detail.
Why the eco friendly label matters, and where it has limits
Eco friendly inks are not a marketing motto if you unload the chemistry and the workflow. Water based inks generally contain less volatile natural substances than solvent-heavy alternatives and prevent PVC entirely. Lots of are certified with strict standards like Oeko-Tex or satisfy retail testing programs that ban particular phthalates and heavy metals. If you sell custom apparel into corporate 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 also need to take a look at store practices: filtration on your washout booth, reclaim chemistry, energy usage on your clothes dryer, and even material sourcing. Discharge requires an activator, normally based on zinc formaldehyde sulfoxylate or similar substances, which has its own handling and ventilation needs. In a well-run store, direct exposure is controlled and waste is caught. If you're using print as needed with a partner, ask how they handle discharge effluent and whether they have air exchange and curing controls called in. Real sustainability conceals in the details.
Hand feel, breathability, and the "favorite tee" factor
Most people do not purchase a graphic tee because they love the ink. They buy it since the garment looks great, feels excellent, and keeps that character after duplicated washing. Water based inks, including discharge, offer you that broken-in comfort 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 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 slightly, and the shirts kept moving. A plastisol sample with the same art looks glossier and still pops more under severe light, which some streetwear clients choose, but the wearer feedback corresponds: water based feels like a premium garment.
Color, protection, and how expectations shape results
Color precision with water based inks refers control, humidity, and the material's own dye. On white or heather light t-shirts, standard water based ink can strike tight Pantones with a determined ink mix and a clean mesh. On darker cotton, discharge includes variables. Various color lots discharge differently, even within the same brand name and color. Black 3001 blanks from one batch might raise 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 defect, it belongs to the medium. Many designers embrace the a little 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 logo designs, either order test prints on the precise batch you plan to utilize or consider a water based underbase or hybrid approach where required. For wholesale t shirts that will be dispersed nationally, put example approvals into your process so there are not a surprises at scale.
Fabric matters more than the majority of 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 deal with water based, but discharge just raises the cotton part. That means your color fills the cotton while the polyester and rayon stay as-is, frequently yielding a heathered or speckled print that looks intentional if you style for it. If your goal is flat, brilliant color on a poly mix, 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, consider cut-and-sew with water based prints on panels before assembly. Garment printing all over on finished tees introduces joints, folds, and irregular pressure that show up as blank micro-gaps. If you should print on completed garments, expect 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 act differently on press. They dry much faster in the screen, which is useful on fabric but can lock a mesh if you stop briefly too long. Running a higher mesh for detail, say 230 to 305, keeps the deposit thin and crisp. Set up with a misting bottle or a devoted screen rewetting option at hand, and keep the print space humidity in a consistent range, approximately 45 to 55 percent, to prevent premature drying. Manual press operators will notice how quickly a standard water based ink clears the screen compared to a heavy plastisol. Auto presses, with flood bars and consistent pace, decrease clogging.
Curing is where many beginners 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 difference. You want even heat across the belt and sufficient dwell to reach the manufacturer's remedy temperature level throughout the ink layer, not just at the surface area. T-shirts leaving the tunnel must be dry to the touch with no cool areas. For discharge, the chain reaction occurs throughout this remedy, and you will smell the activator. Excellent ventilation is non-negotiable.
Durability and wash testing
Durability depends on correct treatment 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 assessment for fading and breaking. Water based prints reveal progressive softening and a mild fade in the same way denim relaxes. Plastisol's failure mode is various, normally splitting if the ink layer is too thick or under-cured. For customized t-shirts that need to look good at a household reunion and still be in rotation next summer, water based holds up when produced correctly.
Cost, throughput, and when to select which method
Costs differ regionally, however the economics fall into 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 since you pay closer attention to mesh, squeegee durometer, and off-contact. Once tuned, autos run at comparable speeds. Where it actually pays off remains in viewed value. A soft print on a mid-tier blank frequently 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 as needed that requires over night turnaround and art changes continuously, direct-to-garment or DTF might be much better operationally, though both have their own environmental and feel trade-offs. When you take on wholesale t shirts with multiple colorways and should keep stock flexible, a versatile water based palette on light garments is efficient, considering that you prevent the weight and tightness that build up with several underbases in plastisol.
Design choices that bring out the very best in water based and discharge
Design planning starts with the material color and ends with curing. On light t-shirts, lean into detail: thin lines, halftones, hand-drawn textures. Standard water based ink prints those with a delicacy that plastisol tends to overpower. 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. Very thin knockouts inside heavy flood locations can fill in with discharge, especially on high-absorbency cotton. If you need razor unfavorable space, separate the art to print unfavorable shapes as favorable strokes with a clear schedule for squeegee pressure and flashes. Ask your printer for a proof on the actual garment rather than relying on a digital mockup. A mockup can not record fiber interaction and dye lift.
When you should state no to discharge
There are times I advise versus discharge. Polyester-rich garments are leading of the list. The activator can cause dye migration, particularly with sublimated or cationic-dyed efficiency t-shirts, resulting in 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 sensitive to small smell throughout treating, discharge days in the store are obvious. Well-managed air flow alleviates this, but it becomes part of the process.
If a client needs metallics, puff, or specialty textures, plastisol or hybrid systems still own that space. Water based metallics exist, but the particles frequently sink, and the effect is more satin than true metal. For high-opacity neons on dark t-shirts that need to 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 depend on a partner, established a workflow that eliminates uncertainty. A basic approach keeps surprises at bay and helps you struck deadlines for launches and events.
Decide on material first, then ink: select one hundred 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 normally adequate to lock approvals, especially for bulk t t-shirt orders where consistency matters. Clarify color expectations in context: offer Pantone targets for light garments and explain appropriate varieties 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 customers, then verify your cure times so clean sturdiness matches the tag guidance. Confirm environmental requirements: ask your printer about ink certifications, 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 constraints: fast art changes, small batch sizes, and the requirement for a broad color range. Direct-to-garment has ended up being the default, however water based screen printing can fit POD if you arrange brochure technique. For styles that are high volume even at little day-to-day quantities, pre-burning screens and keeping a small stock of popular sizes lets you ship very same day with water based prints that feel much better than many DTG outputs. It works best 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. Use it where cotton comfort and breathability are the selling points. Consumers who care about touch will notice.
Pricing, margins, and interacting value
When customers ask why a water based or discharge print costs more than a fundamental plastisol job, I describe what they are purchasing. They get the soft hand that retail consumers equate with quality, enhanced breathability, and compliance for delicate buyers. 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 cost-effective blank. If the program is for wholesale t t-shirts entering into shops or e-commerce at premium cost points, the enhancement in perceived worth more than covers the change.
For personalized shirts, such as charity runs or college clubs, alternatives matter. Deal 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. Meeting both lets you serve a larger market without diluting your craft.
Care directions that clients really follow
Care labels typically read like legal disclaimers. Keep it basic and practical so the shirt endures real life. Water based and discharge prints choose cooler washes and lower dryer heat, but they will sustain normal laundering if appropriately cured. I recommend phrasing care ideas in human terms on item pages: wash cold with similar colors, tumble dry low, avoid material conditioners if you want colors to remain crisp. The last note matters due to the fact that some conditioners can transfer movies on fibers, dulling the visual contrast of great lines.
I have actually checked these directions in-house: 2 identical shirts, one washed cold and dried low, the other washed warm and dried high. After 15 cycles, the warm/high tee revealed a little faster fading of mid-tones, yet still looked great. That tolerance originates from right treatment, not from babying the garment.
All over print ideas that do not battle the limitations
All over print catches attention, but printing flood coats on assembled garments with water based inks can be unforgiving. Rather of combating seams, design for them. Usage tone-on-tone patterns that fade naturally at joints, or apply a ghosted grid that looks intentional when it breaks at hems. Additionally, run panel printing and sew. Brands that sell minimal runs can validate cut-and-sew for 100 to 300 pieces if the design requires it. The ended up garments read as customized from a distance, which is the goal.
A brief anecdote from a busy season
One spring we ran a series for a regional music celebration. The customer wanted soft black tees with a sunburst print that seemed like it resided in the material. We tested on three blacks from 2 mills. Batch one raised cleanly with discharge, batch two stayed stubbornly dark in the mid-rays of the artwork. We logged dye lot numbers, 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: consistent tees across 2,400 units, each with a soft, breathable print that sold out by day two.
That job taught the team to treat discharge like cooking, not chemistry https://printsrus.com/services/ on a blackboard. The recipe matters, however so does tasting and adjusting.
Common mistakes and how to prevent them
Most problems I see trace back to procedure, not the ink household. 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 temp for the right period. Use a donut probe or an ingrained thermochromic strip to determine real ink film temperature, not simply clothes dryer setpoints. Screen lockup is the second. Keep a constant speed on press, flood in between prints, and control shop humidity.
A 3rd risk is disregarding material irregularity. If you change blanks mid-run due to the fact that a size is out of stock, you might see shifts in color. Develop contingency into your acquiring. For brands planning ahead, picking a basic blank and locking it with your supplier reduces surprises.
Final assistance for choosing your path
If your priority is soft, breathable custom-made garments that consumers keep using, water based inks deserve the learning curve. Usage basic water based upon 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 variance with discharge, specifically across dye lots. For bulk t shirt orders, integrate in a single round of physical sampling on the actual blanks you will use, then document your settings and hold back a reference shirt for quality control.
If you run a print on demand brochure, take 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 impacts and neon stunners in plastisol or hybrid systems where they belong.
Custom t t-shirts are judged in the hands, not just on screens. When a consumer rubs their thumb throughout a print and feels nothing however 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