Photo DVD: labeling, packaging

<p>I've searched as well as I can but I'm not finding the kind of answers I'm looking for. Probably using the wrong search criteria but can't think of better ones. If somebody can give me a link I'll be grateful.</p>

<p>In the past, after a wedding, I usually burned the photo DVD for clients using a Lightscribe burner, put the DVD into a jewel case without a cover, and then put it into a nice little gift box before packaging and mailing.</p>

<p>But I was never crazy about Lightscribe for various reasons and right now I can't get it to work with my new iMac. Printing a paper CD label to glue on to the CD or DVD seems like a bad idea, too. So my first question is, how do you label your disks? Is everybody using ink jet printers and printing directly on the DVD?</p>

<p>The other question is, how in the world do you get a print that's sized precisely for the jewel case? I ordered some 5" x 5" prints from a local printer but they're just a wee bit too big.</p>

<p>Final question, do you give your brides a disk that is basically a data disk? Or do you make sure that the disk is ready to be popped into a DVR and viewed on a television?</p>

<p>Thanks,</p>

<p>Will</p>

<p>I deliver images online -- I don't deliver on DVD -- but my delivery is the equivalent of a data disc. It never occurred to me that clients would want to view my images on a TV. Even with my Animoto videos, I deliver in .mp4 format (viewable on computer), not as a DVD ISO. My view might be influenced by the fact that I still own and use a 27" CRT I bought in 1997 as my primary TV. :) I suppose with high-def TVs, it might not be too bad, but I just don't think TV is how many people view or display their images. </p>

<p>Ian, thanks for the quick reply. I've thought of delivering online myself. May I ask precisely how you do this? I'm not sure how you create "the equivalent of a data disc," at least if you're not sure what platform your client might be using. </p>

<p>Will</p>

<p>I give them a DVD that they can pop into their TV for viewing: contains music (licensed, of course) and a nice slide show. From the main menu, they can choose "Engagement" "Ceremony" or "Reception" for specific slideshows.<br>

I use an inkjet printer to print directly onto the CD, then enclose it in "<a href="http://www.renaissancealbums.com/new/index.html?p=cd">The CD Case</a>" from Renaissance Albums.</p>

<p>Makes for a beautiful presentation and something that the couple loves to pull out to show people.</p>

<p>We deliver both high and low resolutions discs in an avery style case. We print jacket covers for the cases using a wide format inkjet printer. We tried using standard 8.5x11 paper but this paper was too small for the bleed. We use a Primera disc printer to print on inkjet printable optical media. Prior to the Primera we used Epson Inkjet printers to print onto the optical media. I prefer the Primera by <strong><em>far! </em></strong> We have explored different deliver options but to date haven't found anything close. Delivering the media in an avery case with a designed graphic spread just has a certain impact. Most of our packages include 3-copies; one intended for the B&G, and one for each parent. How the B&G actual deliver them is up to them. We looked at doing thumb drives, but still too expensive (comparatively) and besides possibly doing a generic wedding/logo graphic, no way to personalize the drives. Uploading for downloading might work for some, but we have found our clients want something more tangible. I have looked at various dedicated CD cases, but again, too expensive and less personal than a designed sleeve insert.</strong></p>

<p>In terms of viewing images on a DVD player, that is largely dependent on the DVD player <em>unless</em> you are formating a DVD video disc (MPEG2). Many of todays current players will play JPEGs (data) as a slideshow. However, this can be a mixed bag. Technically, the DVD specification allows for 99 (maybe 100?) chapters. Some older players treat each image as a chapter so once you get over the mark, the rest aren't viewed. Some will treat a folder as a chapter. This can yield more images but some will still cut out at the 1000 image mark. And others will play everything on the disc. There really isn't a standard for a player to read data. Converting images to a slideshow MPEG2 format simply means there are no longer any image files. For us, we allow the client to pick anywhere from 50-150 (depending on package) and these are put to a DVD video slideshow.</p>

<p>Here is a picture of the case we would deliver:</p><div></div>

<p>John,</p>

<p>Thanks for sharing that info—and for the photo of your case. I misunderstood you when I was initially reading your answer and the photo helped. </p>

<p>I'm delivering low-to-medium res images. For my most recent wedding, I got all the images on a CD without any problem. My approach has been very un-fancy so far. I use Lightroom and DxO Optics Pro to process images but I used Picasa to create the CD and to create a little slideshow on the CD as well. It's cross-platform and while not gorgeous, it's not ugly. I put the CD into a jewel case and inserted a square (almost 5x5) print of the couple as a cover photo.</p>

<p>Labeling the CD itself remains a problem, as I said in my initial post. Neither Lightscribe nor paper labels seem like very good options. I shall look into an ink-jet printer that can print directly on the disks.</p>

<p>But the more I deal with digital delivery, the more persuaded I become that the best way to give folks their photos is in a book. I think for future weddings I'm going to roll the cost of an inexpensive book into the basic contract, so a small book is something they will get for sure. </p>

<p>Will</p>

<p>Will, I just offer bulk-downloading straight from my online gallery. I use a Photoshelter site, which makes this easy, but SmugMug recently began offering a bulk download option for clients as well. </p>

<p>By "equivalent of a data disc," I just mean that the client just gets the jpeg files, and saves them to his or her hard drive -- not functionally different from a data disc, except that the online delivery makes the platform (Mac vs PC) irrelevant.</p>

<p>Ian,</p>

<p>I just checked and Zenfolio (which I use now) also makes it possible to download an entire gallery.</p>

<p>This option is certainly easier for me, well, at least it looks easier. I'd have to manage the online galleries more carefully. I don't want clients to download high res images so if I have uploaded highres versions (for printing, mainly) I'd have to make sure they were segregated somewhere else and not accessible. Perhaps in the future I'll offer direct download as an option for my cheapest package—no CD or DVD to hassle with.</p>

<p>On the other hand, I really do worry about how well my clients will take care of their digital files. I strongly suspect that many of my clients won't be able to view their wedding photos in ten years, perhaps sooner than that. (I've already had at least one client who simply erased all of her images, by accident, and lost her DVD as well.)</p>

<p>Will</p>

<p>We don't do weddings, but all our client files (bar and bat mitzvahs, portraits, montages) are delivered on DVDs with printable surfaces -- any of the Epson photo stylus or Artisan printers do a great job, IMHO -- and then enclosed in these tin cases that come in a couple of different configurations: http://www.american-digital.com/prodsite/product.asp?p=2107</p>

<p>People are generally impressed.</p>

<p>I use lightscribe and put my own spin on my packaging...<br>

In the pocketfolds is the printing release matted and then inside I put in 2-3 4x6 prints (so that they can see the difference between professional printing and walmart!) Oh, and a thank you card.</p><div></div>

<p>At Eva Photo Studio, we used to print DVD labels but were never satisfied with the way they looked. We bought an Epson Artisan 810 which prints onto the DVD and creates a beautiful DVD which we customize by using an image from the session that we are delivering. We love the results!<br>

Additionally, we deliver in packages with our studio logo on them or custom order press printed packages that have a session image printed on it. I will try to upload a photo of what the DVD and packaging looks like or you can see an example on our blog.</p>

<p> </p><div></div>

<p>@ Peter C: Those tin boxes look pretty durable, and I see they can hold multiple discs. Thanks for the link.</p>

<p>@ Bobbi P: Love your presentation. I don't know that I'm going to continue with Lightscribe but it sounds like it works for you. Like you, I include cards and a thank you, but your packaging looks much nicer than mine and I think that matters a lot. Thanks for the pic.</p>

<p>@ Mauricio P: I LOVE those little "books" for the DVDs. Looks like you spend a little more money on this than I have but it pays off. Thank you so much for the image, without which I would not have really understood what you do.</p>

<p>Thanks to everybody. Most informative (as always here).</p>

<p>Will</p>

<p>Rob,</p>

 

<blockquote>

<p>I give them a DVD that they can pop into their TV for viewing: contains music (licensed, of course) and a nice slide show. From the main menu, they can choose "Engagement" "Ceremony" or "Reception" for specific slideshows.<br />I use an inkjet printer to print directly onto the CD, then enclose it in "<a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.renaissancealbums.com/new/index.html?p=cd" target="_blank">The CD Case</a>" from Renaissance Albums.<br>

Makes for a beautiful presentation and something that the couple loves to pull out to show people.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>Is your CD just for the purposes of viewing on TV or is it one that they have the high resolution images on that they can print up themselves as they so choose. If it is in fact both, I'd love to know the software you use to do this. I just got the light scribe burner after I had asked this same question on the forum. I'm fairly satisfied. I got the LaCie one that has a firewire port. Even though my MacBook doesn't have a firewire port, you need the one that has that for it to work with a Mac. Additionally you need to go the LaCie website and download the updated firmware and drivers to make it work on the mac. It still seems to have problems verifying the disc when I burn the DVD with it as well, but each time after I check it, all the files look just fine. <br>

For the light scribe I would say you ONLY would want to do it on the professional best setting. The other faster setting while faster, is basically worthless. The printing is SOOOOOOOOO light.<br>

Printing labels and sticking them on is a HORRIBLE idea for anyone who is going to use the disc on a Mac with a slot drive or a slot drive on a TV that many HD TVs come with these days. <br>

I'm not sure about the long term for lightscribe vs ink jet photo printers on the surface of DVDs. <br>

One thing that Daniel McGarrity does is use USBs with his logo on them and has found cool boxes to put them in. They are more reliable storage media than DVDs. I'm not quite at that level yet where I can afford to do that for my clients, but do think it's a GREAT idea.<br>

For what Ian was talking about having it online, at least with my Zenfolio account, they can "Download Original" for "This Photo" or "All Available". When you do All available it downloads it as a zip file. Depending on the number of photos you have in a collection and your internet speed, this can take a LONG time to download. If I was a bride and told I had to get my images this way, I would not be very pleased. I allow them to do both so if it's taking a bit longer to mail them the DVDs and they want the images ASAP, they can get whatever files they want, but I'd still want a disc or thumb drive if I was them.</p>

<p>I put each disc in a DVD case, either standard or slim line, usually 2 DVDs takes all the images from a wedding. Then on that disc I put on PDF the royalty free reprint agreement, on an 8.5" x 11" sheet of paper. On the front I put one of the images from the disc. On the back I put by Fucci's Photos, list our phone number and website. Unfortunately I no longer have a color laser printer or a nice color printer easily available to me, so for the time being the inserts are printed on my black and white laser printer, but it does the job and I think looks better than an empty DVD jacket. Inside I put a handwritten thank you note to the bride and groom with basic suggested instructions on storage of the DVD, making copies of the DVDs, and the importance of printing on archival grade media rather than just say snapfish or CVS where their images are much more likely to fade over a short amount of time.</p>

 

<p>I supply my clients with a DVD in a slim line case. I use one of their images with my logo on the bottom right hand corner and their names printed across the top. I have a template set up in Paint shop that I use to create a 7 x 5 print that I get printed with the photos on photographic paper at the photo lab, I then cut this down to fit the case.<br>

John</p>

<p>Clarification please: Are some of you actually giving clients images on a USB thumb or flash drive, like, say, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/HP-v100w-Flash-Drive-P-FD8GBHP100-EF/dp/B0018YN590/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1291926473&sr=8-1">this one</a>?</p>

<p>I don't doubt that, other things being equal, a flash drive may be more reliable than a burned disc. But I would worry about other problems. I know I've lost scads of these little buggers over the years. I'm not sure how you would customize the look of the thing; at least it sounds pricey. Can you LOCK the images on such a drive so they can't be overwritten by mistake?</p>

<p>And how confident are we that the USB standard will be common in the future? I cannot even remember all the I/O standards I've seen come and go: ADB, SCSI, Firewire.... I know that Firewire isn't dead, but it certainly isn't universal either.</p>

<p>Will</p>

Vail, I provide a slideshow and they can't print the images.

 

On occasion, I will include a CD of images that they can have printed as part of the package but I typically do not do that.

 

I use Pics2EXE to create the slideshow. It's powerful and cheap, which means that a decent user-experience/interface is what you give up in exchange for the low price.

 

It is, though, Windows only.

<p>You can purchase printed discs from One Disc More very reasonably. You can design them yourself and they are sold in spindles of 100, so not personalize to each client, but very easy. Another solution is a disc printer that Dymo makes.<br>

For packaging, try #174 from Neil Enterprises.</p>

<p>Check out <a href="http://www.duplication.ca">www.duplication.ca</a> for possibilities, we do CD/DVD duplication and professional replication, and sell packages with cases and covers as well as custom jobs.<br>

<img src="http://www.duplication.ca/shop/images/W/DVD-1-2-3-panels_200.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="200" /><br>

Thanks and happy holidays!<br>

Jerry<br>

<a href="http://www.duplication.ca">www.duplication.ca</a><br>

1 800 777-1927 ext. 114</p>