Printing on a CD

[missemanuel]

Hey there

Iv been trying to print my own CD labels without much success, cant seem to find a great application for my mac, iv tried a few. :bang: So im thinking of buying a printer that can print directly onto CDs..

Has anyone got one, or used one? Id love to hear if they are actually any good or I should try and persevere with labels...

thanks!

 

[andyred]

I've the Canon iP4500 and you can print directly on to cds (would have thought the new version will also do this), my old Epson R300 also allowed printing directly on to cd's

I was warned a few years ago, not to use the printable labels as if they start to peel / lift, they could damage / destroy the player.

 

[whiteflyer]

I use my Canon iP4500 to print direct on to CD & DVDs works well.

 

[jamesb1239]

Bought an Epson Stylus Photo P50 on Friday, excellent prints on CD/DVD etc and the photos are rather impressive too, hopefully all these will stay the same when my CISS arrives

 

[chuckles]

I actually bought a Canon MP640 which does the job admirably. Did find it difficult to pass money Canon's but needs must

Pretty good scanner and document handler too

 

[MatBin]

I've an HP printer (D54?? I think) has a drop down tray, works just fine.
Photoshop templates are available to create the 'label' and the case insert.
Obviously you need white faced CD/DVD printable versions.

Matt

 

[missemanuel]

It seems priting on the Cd is the way to go!

Thanks for all of your printer suggestions I shall go off to check them out!


thanks!

 

[pg333]

I've used both the Epson and Canon CD/DVD printers to print CD labels/covers and designs for the CDs/DVDs themselves for work purposes and they are generally very good. Be prepared to lose a few blank CDs in the process of tweaking the designs to fit if you are looking for accuracy. A stack of 100 blank white covered CDs and a couple of packs of glossy CD cover inlays are reasonably cheap nowadays.

Even if you decide not to go ahead with a CD printer, just remember not to ever write (or stick!) with a pen/pencil/anything on the CD itself (either side!) as this will damage the media/reading of the media.

 

[missemanuel]

I've used both the Epson and Canon CD/DVD printers to print CD labels/covers and designs for the CDs/DVDs themselves for work purposes and they are generally very good. Be prepared to lose a few blank CDs in the process of tweaking the designs to fit if you are looking for accuracy. A stack of 100 blank white covered CDs and a couple of packs of glossy CD cover inlays are reasonably cheap nowadays.

Even if you decide not to go ahead with a CD printer, just remember not to ever write (or stick!) with a pen/pencil/anything on the CD itself (either side!) as this will damage the media/reading of the media.

Thanks, i didnt realise that writing on a CD was bad for it, surely then maybe printing is too?

 

[haggis]

Even if you decide not to go ahead with a CD printer, just remember not to ever write (or stick!) with a pen/pencil/anything on the CD itself (either side!) as this will damage the media/reading of the media.

Utter rubbish - it is totally dependant on the surface type of the CD/DVD - some even come with a suitable pen

 

[Dman]

I recently bought an Epson PX650 from eBay for £105, works a treat for DVD printing which is the reason I bought it, wasn't that impressed with the photo printing but that may be because I just tried printing on on the free glossy paper they provided.

Make sure you use good discs though, I go for the Taiyo Yuden Watershield ones which are quite popular.

 

[missemanuel]

Cheers for the advice guys....

 

[pg333]

Utter rubbish - it is totally dependant on the surface type of the CD/DVD - some even come with a suitable pen

Afraid not - have you tried reading any of your 3 year old CDs recently? The ink bleeds through to the data eventually. Writing on the clear plastic inner circle before the data is fine though, which is what I do. Better still, back it up somewhere else too, preferably to HD. I don't like CDs/DVDs any more as I find them quite unreliable after a few years...

Printing on the CD surface itself with the correct printable CDs and recommended printer inks should not permeate through the coating to the data layer of the disc, but as I say, most CDs end up degrading over time anyway!

 

[Wedding-Photos]

Afraid not - have you tried reading any of your 3 year old CDs recently? The ink bleeds through to the data eventually. Writing on the clear plastic inner circle before the data is fine though, which is what I do. Better still, back it up somewhere else too, preferably to HD. I don't like CDs/DVDs any more as I find them quite unreliable after a few years...

Printing on the CD surface itself with the correct printable CDs and recommended printer inks should not permeate through the coating to the data layer of the disc, but as I say, most CDs end up degrading over time anyway!

I have never heard or read an article that talks about CD/DVD's being damaged by writing on the correct side of them, I think you may be misinterpreting all the articles out there that talk about degradation of the inner structure of CD/DVD's due to the breakdown of the dyes used in there manufacture, there's certainly lots of articles out there discussing that but they don't mention writing on them as a cause from what I have seen.

I've got an Epson PX710W printer that is great for printing on disks and I use Taiyo Yuden White Watershield High Gloss disks which give a great finish and are well regarded in terms of standing up to structure degradation.

If you want ultimate longevity then there are disks out there that have gold in the reflective layer which are supposedly more resistant to structure breakdown so should retain data longer without errors.

 

[david1701]

do they need to be different, for the cost of the printer you could buy a stack of printed dvds from a professional printers that will be less aggro and probably look better

 

[Spuff]

If you're interested in the origins and quality of DVD blank media this is a useful resource:

http://www.digitalfaq.com/reviews/dvd-media.htm

Note its warnings about gold discs.

 

[Ozei]

Instead of using a printer, the other option is buy a Lightscribe-enabled optical drive** for your computer - then you can laser etch your label design onto the CD/DVD.

http://www.lightscribe.com/gettingstarted/index.aspx?id=95

http://www.lightscribe.com/gettingstarted/index.aspx?id=87

** A drive like this one will do it (on Blu-ray, DVD and CD) - http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/prods/components/opticaldrives/bluray/LG/BH10LS30.AUAR.html

 

[Wedding-Photos]

Instead of using a printer, the other option is buy a Lightscribe-enabled optical drive** for your computer - then you can laser etch your label design onto the CD/DVD.

http://www.lightscribe.com/gettingstarted/index.aspx?id=95

http://www.lightscribe.com/gettingstarted/index.aspx?id=87

** A drive like this one will do it (on Blu-ray, DVD and CD) - http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/prods/components/opticaldrives/bluray/LG/BH10LS30.AUAR.html

I used to lightscribe my client disks, until I saw the light and swapped to printing them.

LightScribe was slow, temperamental, and looked very poor and dated at the side of printed disks and the disks can fade/degrade very quickly (like within 2 months) if they are treated very carefully.

By comparison printing directly onto quality disks gives a great finish and is very quick to do.

Anyone who is seriously considering LightScribe should read the Wiki on it and that should be enough to put you off it.

 

[Spuff]

LightScribe was slow, temperamental, and looked very poor and dated at the side of printed disks and the disks can fade/degrade very quickly (like within 2 months) if they are treated very carefully.

I like the presentation of your disc and case above - very professional! What software do you use for the disc layout? I've used the software that's provided with my Canon printer but it's a bit basic.

 

[Wedding-Photos]

I like the presentation of your disc and case above - very professional! What software do you use for the disc layout? I've used the software that's provided with my Canon printer but it's a bit basic.

Thanks, its just the print CD software that came with thee epson printer, nothing fancy but it allows me to put elements where I want on the DVD to get the look I want.

 

[pg333]

Look there's no point in arguing about it - try it for yourself - write on a cd like this: http://www.artsncrafts-ideas.com/img/invitation/_invitation_cd_autocollants_1.jpg and test it in a few weeks or months time - chances are it probably won't read consistently, and do you want to risk your data like that for the sake of writing on the media? That's all I'm saying.

 

[david1701]

Look there's no point in arguing about it - try it for yourself - write on a cd like this: http://www.artsncrafts-ideas.com/img/invitation/_invitation_cd_autocollants_1.jpg and test it in a few weeks or months time - chances are it probably won't read consistently, and do you want to risk your data like that for the sake of writing on the media? That's all I'm saying.

and its BS I've got a few 80 disc wallets of films with the names written on them that I can pull out and watch

optical media is not an acceptable long term backup medium anyway

 

[pg333]

It depends on how long the ink has been on, the type of pen used, how hard you press and the type of top surface too, but chances are in the long run the writing on the disc will mess up the reading of it by the drive.

 

[BalSanghera]

Iv been printing discs ever since the Epson R350 came out never looked back better than using crappy sticky labels and that was about 5 years ago. I have always used Taiyo Yuden discs they are the best around.

Just a note I have got cds and dvd which I have written on with a ball point pen (couldnt find proper cd pen) and with proper cd pen and also a perm black marker and all my discs are still fine. These discs are probably about 7 years old.

 

[Wedding-Photos]

Look there's no point in arguing about it - try it for yourself - write on a cd like this: http://www.artsncrafts-ideas.com/img/invitation/_invitation_cd_autocollants_1.jpg and test it in a few weeks or months time - chances are it probably won't read consistently, and do you want to risk your data like that for the sake of writing on the media? That's all I'm saying.

That's not really a very good argument or a valid test, some disks degrade quickly whether you write on them or not, writing on the top surface isn't the key issue/cause here, its the dyes in the structure/reflective surface of the disk not being stable. Maybe if you had some disks that didn't have a very good reflective surface to start with then the darker patches where you had written on the top surface could effect the way the disk would read but this would happen from day one if that were the case not just several months down the line.

Either post some links to some articles you have read proving this or just accept that you have interpreted something wrongly or jumped to a flawed conclusion, stomping your feet and saying "there's no point arguing about it! proves nothing at all.

 

[Gigabyte]

It depends on how long the ink has been on, the type of pen used, how hard you press and the type of top surface too, but chances are in the long run the writing on the disc will mess up the reading of it by the drive.

Utter rubbish mate. Been writing on CD's DVD's with different make pens etc for years with no issues.

 

[david1701]

It depends on how long the ink has been on, the type of pen used, how hard you press and the type of top surface too, but chances are in the long run the writing on the disc will mess up the reading of it by the drive.

cd pens, sharpies and permanent markers and a few years is longer then I'd rate images on a disk for anyway

 

[pg333]

That's not really a very good argument or a valid test...
Either post some links to some articles you have read proving this or just accept that you have interpreted something wrongly or jumped to a flawed conclusion, stomping your feet and saying "there's no point arguing about it! proves nothing at all.

Look, less of the attitude please, I thought this was supposed to be one of the most friendly forums on the internet! I'm just trying to point out to somebody starting out in using CDs as a way of storing data that from a technical point of view, its not as simple as just writing or printing away on the surface of your CD however you like as you can end up with damaged data further down the line (will probably start off as harmless skipping and spinning in your drive).

As you have unreasonably in my opinion failed to see the point of testing something for yourself, if you'd like to read http://www.cdrfaq.org/faq07.html#S7-7-1 this will give you some basic info on the surface structure of a CD and will explain how and why pens can damage them. TDK CDs used to come with a label saying not to write on them with anything other than an oil-based pen. Others say to use an alcohol-based pen, I'd say just don't write on them at all, or just write on the circle before the data layer begins if you really have to.

As I have stated, its not worth writing on a CD/DVD/etc simply because pen inks and CD construction techniques change over time and you simply don't know how one is going to affect the other. We are effectively talking about chemicals reacting with each other over time and it is difficult to predict how this will happen under different conditions (for example, some CDs degrade in light and others, in paradox, in lack of light, according to the materials used).

Some people, as above have never noticed any of this as they will have probably used a good quality pen with a good quality CD marking layer on the CD and pressed lightly, etc, and so will simply not be aware that this is not always the case with all CDs.

Please note, the above link only considers CDs - DVDs and BlueRay discs, etc will be different again, as the manufacturing process will differ accordingly.

 

[Wedding-Photos]

Look, less of the attitude please, I thought this was supposed to be one of the most friendly forums on the internet! I'm just trying to point out to somebody starting out in using CDs as a way of storing data that from a technical point of view, its not as simple as just writing or printing away on the surface of your CD however you like as you can end up with damaged data further down the line (will probably start off as harmless skipping and spinning in your drive).

As you have unreasonably in my opinion failed to see the point of testing something for yourself, if you'd like to read http://www.cdrfaq.org/faq07.html#S7-7-1 this will give you some basic info on the surface structure of a CD and will explain how and why pens can damage them. TDK CDs used to come with a label saying not to write on them with anything other than an oil-based pen. Others say to use an alcohol-based pen, I'd say just don't write on them at all, or just write on the circle before the data layer begins if you really have to.

As I have stated, its not worth writing on a CD/DVD/etc simply because pen inks and CD construction techniques change over time and you simply don't know how one is going to affect the other. We are effectively talking about chemicals reacting with each other over time and it is difficult to predict how this will happen under different conditions (for example, some CDs degrade in light and others, in paradox, in lack of light, according to the materials used).

Some people, as above have never noticed any of this as they will have probably used a good quality pen with a good quality CD marking layer on the CD and pressed lightly, etc, and so will simply not be aware that this is not always the case with all CDs.

Please note, the above link only considers CDs - DVDs and BlueRay discs, etc will be different again, as the manufacturing process will differ accordingly.

I think if you read back through the posts you will find me being completely reasonable, sorry but claiming I have been anything else is just a way of deflecting from your very poor argument and the consensus of opinion against you.

That article is grasping at straws tbh, it talks about not pressing hard on the surface and not writing on them with a ball point pen ..... is there really anyone out there that stupid :bonk:

Vast majority of people will use a pen that they bought specifically for writing on their CD/DVD's or a sharpie type marker as discussed in that same article you posted as being perfectly safe.

I have no need to test this myself, ive been writing disks for years and moved between disks marked with nothing, CDR pens, stick on labels, and printed on an epson printer and the biggest correlation with disks not being read is nothing to do with how they are marked its to do with the type of disks used and how they are stored.

Anyway whatever, Ive shared how I do things, hopefully some people will that find useful as I am sure some people will now know not to press down really hard witha ball point pen when writing on their disks .. peace out.

 

[missemanuel]

do they need to be different, for the cost of the printer you could buy a stack of printed dvds from a professional printers that will be less aggro and probably look better

Hi David

No they can all be the same, I would just put my logo on them, to be honest I looked at doing this but could only find suppliers who would print in bulk numbers so would cost a fortune, unless you know someone who does them?

cheers

Sara

 

[missemanuel]

Instead of using a printer, the other option is buy a Lightscribe-enabled optical drive** for your computer - then you can laser etch your label design onto the CD/DVD.

http://www.lightscribe.com/gettingstarted/index.aspx?id=95

http://www.lightscribe.com/gettingstarted/index.aspx?id=87

** A drive like this one will do it (on Blu-ray, DVD and CD) - http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/prods/components/opticaldrives/bluray/LG/BH10LS30.AUAR.html

Oooooooo fancy! never seen this before !

thanks!

 

[missemanuel]

Thanks, its just the print CD software that came with thee epson printer, nothing fancy but it allows me to put elements where I want on the DVD to get the look I want.

Thanks, they look great, which epsom do you have?


Cheers

S

 

[missemanuel]

Dear lovely people..

Thank you all for you responses and assistance, its been great! I think in the interest of not wanting to have set off WW3 I shall declare this thread closed lol........

But its been very helpfull, thank you all again!

Sara

 

[haggis]

++++1 to everything Nick (Boundless) has already said. God help us if some of the contributors on this thread were ever to put an image up for crit!

 

[Dman]

do they need to be different, for the cost of the printer you could buy a stack of printed dvds from a professional printers that will be less aggro and probably look better

I was quoted £40 for 20 discs a while back, but went with the print myself option because I wanted to have the option of customising each disc.

 

[david1701]

Hi David

No they can all be the same, I would just put my logo on them, to be honest I looked at doing this but could only find suppliers who would print in bulk numbers so would cost a fortune, unless you know someone who does them?

cheers

Sara

1-2 print were doing them for like 80 quid a hundred and I buy blank dvds in hundreds anyway so didn't see it as much of an issue

 

[AndrewA123]

I've used lightscribe, labels, pens and direct printing and can reccomend the canon ip5000 (i think it is) printer for direct printing. This is my preferred method. for the reasons below:

Marker pen: quite messy appearance (my handwriting is shocking)
Lightscribe: expensive media and takes an age to scribe the image/text
Stickers: next best but can peel if not pressed firmly enough, and alingment can be tricky even with the guide.

 

[neil_1980]

I went through some CD's I burnt back around 96-97 ish that were wrote on... all work fine???

Wouldn't want to rely on them for long term back ups or anything but writing on them with a proper CD pen has certainly not killed any discs that I've had

 

[jockwav]

Afraid not - have you tried reading any of your 3 year old CDs recently? The ink bleeds through to the data eventually. Writing on the clear plastic inner circle before the data is fine though, which is what I do. Better still, back it up somewhere else too, preferably to HD. I don't like CDs/DVDs any more as I find them quite unreliable after a few years...

Printing on the CD surface itself with the correct printable CDs and recommended printer inks should not permeate through the coating to the data layer of the disc, but as I say, most CDs end up degrading over time anyway!

I have discs that are donkey years old with felt tip writing on them,still working.

 

[hypnotic]

I think you'll find that I don't care who I upset ...

I have cd's and dvd's that I wrote on over 5 years ago and they are all working perfectly.