Beyond Basic 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.

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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 printing shop that takes its craft seriously, and you will see 2 things in consistent stress: the push for softer, more breathable prints that people in fact delight in using, and the need to produce at scale without jeopardizing the environment or the bottom line. That stress has actually formed how I choose inks, pretreatments, and materials for custom garments projects. Over the years, I've found out that water based inks and discharge printing are not simply buzzwords, they are useful tools that produce beautiful results and genuine convenience, specifically for T t-shirt printing that needs to stand up to day-to-day wear.

If you run a brand, handle bulk t shirt orders, or simply want your customized shirts to seem like a favorite from the first wash, it deserves comprehending how these ink systems work, where they shine, and where they require care. The best option can make the distinction in between a t-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 instead of in plasticizers and solvents. Unlike plastisol, which sits on top of the fabric and treatments into a film, water based inks soak up into the fibers. That single characteristic describes the majority of the benefits and trade-offs. Prints feel soft due to the fact that you're touching the cotton, not a layer of treated PVC. Colors tend to look more matte and integrated. On light garments, the hand is typically identical from the shirt itself. For custom t t-shirts developed for convenience, this is the path to the "retail feel" customers ask for.

There are 2 main families: standard water based and discharge. Standard water based ink works best on white or extremely light shirts. It can cover mid-tones with the right base, but once you move into darker materials, you either require a much heavier print or you change to release. Release printing uses an activator that lifts the dye from the material during curing, basically whitening the t-shirt's dye in the printed locations, then replaces it with your pigment. The end result is the softest possible print on dark cotton, typically with impressive detail.

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

Eco friendly inks are not a marketing slogan if you unload the chemistry and the workflow. Water based inks generally include less volatile natural compounds than solvent-heavy alternatives and avoid PVC entirely. Many are certified with strict requirements like Oeko-Tex or satisfy retail screening regimes that prohibit particular phthalates and heavy metals. If you sell customized garments into business health cares, schools, or health-conscious brands, those certificates smooth procurement and keep you ahead of compliance.

That said, "eco friendly" is a system concept. Ink is one part. You also need to take a look at store practices: purification on your washout cubicle, recover chemistry, energy use on your dryer, and even fabric sourcing. Discharge requires an activator, usually based on zinc formaldehyde sulfoxylate or comparable substances, which has its own handling and ventilation needs. In a well-run shop, direct exposure is managed and waste is caught. If you're utilizing 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 since they love the ink. They buy it because the garment looks great, feels good, and keeps that character after repeated cleaning. Water based inks, consisting of discharge, provide you that broken-in convenience from day one. On a 100 percent ring-spun cotton blank, a water based print is breathable and versatile. You will not hear the crackle you sometimes receive from heavy plastisol when you extend across the chest.

I keep a rack of contrast t-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 t-shirts kept moving. A plastisol sample with the exact same art looks glossier and still pops more under severe light, which some streetwear clients choose, however the wearer feedback is consistent: water based feels like a premium garment.

Color, protection, and how expectations form results

Color precision with water based inks refers 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 determined ink mix and a clean mesh. On darker cotton, discharge includes variables. Various color lots discharge in a different way, even within the exact 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 final 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 somewhat classic character of discharge, where reds land earthy and blues feel deep instead of neon. If your brand name needs laser-precise color recreation for business logos, either order test prints on the precise batch you plan to use or think about a water based underbase or hybrid method where required. For wholesale t shirts that will be dispersed nationally, put example approvals into your process so there are no surprises at scale.

Fabric matters more than many people think

A water based print is a collaboration between ink and fiber. Ringspun cotton takes ink magnificently. 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 just raises the cotton portion. That suggests 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 objective is flat, brilliant color on a poly mix, conventional plastisol or a specialized low-cure system may 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 finished tees introduces seams, folds, and irregular pressure that appear as blank micro-gaps. If you need to print on ended up garments, expect little voids along joints, which some clients like as part of the garment's character.

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

Water based inks behave in a different way on press. They dry quicker in the screen, which is useful on fabric however can lock a mesh if you stop briefly too long. Running a higher mesh for information, 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 room humidity in a constant range, roughly 45 to 55 percent, to avoid early drying. Manual press operators will see how quickly a basic water based ink clears the screen compared to a heavy plastisol. Automobile presses, with flood bars and consistent speed, minimize clogging.

Curing is where numerous beginners fizzle. Water based inks need both heat and time for the water to evaporate, then for the binders to cross-link. A clothes dryer tunnel with adequate air flow makes the distinction. You want even heat throughout the belt and enough dwell to reach the manufacturer's remedy temperature level throughout the ink layer, not simply at the surface area. Shirts leaving the tunnel must be dry to the touch without any cool areas. For discharge, the chain reaction happens during this remedy, and you will smell the activator. Excellent ventilation is non-negotiable.

Durability and wash testing

Durability depends on proper cure and fiber engagement. A well-cured water based print on cotton can last longer than the t-shirt. I measure sturdiness by standardized wash tests, 10 to 20 cycles at warm, topple dry medium, then visual assessment for fading and cracking. Water based prints show progressive softening and a mild fade in the exact same method denim unwinds. Plastisol's failure mode is various, generally cracking if the ink layer is too thick or under-cured. For individualized shirts that require to look good at a household reunion and still be in rotation next summer season, water based holds up when produced correctly.

Cost, throughput, and when to pick which method

Costs vary regionally, but the economics fall into familiar patterns. Water based ink itself is often similar 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 because you pay closer attention to fit together, squeegee durometer, and off-contact. Once tuned, automobiles run at comparable speeds. Where it truly pays off remains in viewed worth. A soft print on a mid-tier blank frequently feels premium without jumping to the highest-cost shirt. Brands can price accordingly.

For bulk t t-shirt orders above a couple of hundred pieces where the art suits the medium, discharge on one hundred percent cotton is a workhorse. For print on demand that requires over night turn-around and art modifications continuously, direct-to-garment or DTF might be better operationally, though both have their own ecological and feel trade-offs. When you handle wholesale t shirts with several colorways and must keep stock versatile, a versatile water based scheme on light garments is efficient, considering that you avoid the weight and stiffness that collect with multiple underbases in plastisol.

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

Design preparation starts with the material 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. Extremely thin knockouts inside heavy flood areas can fill out with discharge, particularly 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 rather than trusting a digital mockup. A mockup can not catch fiber interaction and dye lift.

When you should state no to discharge

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

If a client requires metallics, puff, or specialized textures, plastisol or hybrid systems still own that space. Water based metallics exist, however the particles frequently sink, and the impact is more satin than true metal. For high-opacity neons on dark shirts that should be billboard-bright, you may need 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 rely on a partner, established a workflow that gets rid of guesswork. A basic technique keeps surprises at bay and helps 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 standard water based. Avoid high poly unless the heathered result is desired. Request test prints on the exact blanks: one t-shirt per colorway is normally sufficient 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 acceptable varieties for dark discharge prints, with pictures of previous work you like. Align on care labels and handling: recommend cold wash and low heat dry for consumers, then validate your cure times so wash sturdiness matches the tag guidance. Confirm ecological standards: ask your printer about ink accreditations, ventilation, and waste capture, particularly if your brand messaging leans into eco friendly inks.

How water based fits with print on demand

Print as needed has its own restraints: fast art changes, small batch sizes, and the requirement for a broad color gamut. Direct-to-garment has ended up being the default, however water based screen printing can fit POD if you organize brochure method. For designs that are high volume even at little daily quantities, pre-burning screens and keeping a small 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 one or two 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 convenience and breathability are the selling points. Customers who appreciate touch will notice.

Pricing, margins, and communicating value

When clients 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 relate with quality, improved breathability, and compliance for sensitive buyers. On a per-shirt basis, the distinction for a standard three-color front hit may be modest, typically a little uplift that can be reduced the effects of by choosing a somewhat more economical blank. If the program is for wholesale t shirts entering into shops or e-commerce at exceptional cost points, the improvement in perceived worth more than covers the change.

For individualized shirts, such as charity runs or college clubs, alternatives matter. Deal a base price 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 guidelines that customers in fact follow

Care labels often read like legal disclaimers. Keep it simple and sensible so the shirt endures reality. Water based and discharge prints choose cooler washes and lower clothes dryer heat, but they will withstand typical laundering if properly treated. I recommend phrasing care ideas in https://rentry.co/3gvwf8hc human terms on item pages: wash cold with similar colors, tumble dry low, avoid fabric conditioners if you desire colors to stay crisp. The last note matters since some softeners can transfer films on fibers, dulling the visual contrast of fine lines.

I have actually tested 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 proper remedy, not from babying the garment.

All over print ideas that do not fight the limitations

All over print captures attention, however printing flood coats on put together garments with water based inks can be unforgiving. Instead of battling joints, design for them. Usage tone-on-tone patterns that fade naturally at seams, or apply a ghosted grid that looks deliberate when it breaks at hems. Alternatively, run panel printing and stitch. Brands that sell minimal runs can justify cut-and-sew for 100 to 300 pieces if the design necessitates it. The finished garments check out as customized from a range, which is the goal.

A short anecdote from a hectic season

One spring we ran a series for a regional music celebration. The customer desired soft black tees with a sunburst print that seemed like it lived in the material. We sampled on three blacks from 2 mills. Batch one raised easily with discharge, batch 2 remained 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 changed dwell time by 10 to 15 seconds to finish the reaction. The outcome: constant tees across 2,400 units, each with a soft, breathable print that offered out by day two.

That job taught the crew to treat discharge like cooking, not chemistry on a chalkboard. The dish 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 very first perpetrator. Water based ink that feels dry can still be under-cured if the core of the print never ever hit the required temperature for the ideal period. Use a donut probe or an ingrained thermochromic strip to determine true ink film temperature, not simply dryer setpoints. Screen lockup is the second. Keep a consistent rate on press, flood between prints, and control store humidity.

A third mistake is neglecting fabric variability. If you switch blanks mid-run because a size runs out stock, you may see shifts in color. Develop contingency into your acquiring. For brand names preparing ahead, choosing a basic blank and locking it with your provider minimizes surprises.

Final assistance for choosing your path

If your priority is soft, breathable custom-made apparel that customers keep using, water based inks deserve the knowing curve. Use standard water based on light garments for tidy detail and matte color. Relocate to release on 100 percent cotton when you desire the softest prints on dark shirts. Accept and prepare for slight color variance with discharge, particularly across color lots. For bulk t t-shirt orders, integrate in a single round of physical sampling on the actual blanks you will use, then record your settings and keep back a referral shirt for quality control.

If you operate a print on demand brochure, take a water based capsule of best sellers on light 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 just on screens. When a consumer rubs their thumb across a print and feels nothing but fiber, you've won. That's the minute water based and discharge provide, and why they are worthy of a location in any severe store or brand name's toolkit.

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

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Pub: 26 Sep 2025 04:11 UTC

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