Cd labelling

[idobelieve]

I provide cd or dvd's to my clients and I need a more professional way of

labelling them. I've been using Avery stick on labels printed with a laser jet

and they look terrible. Do any of you use a thermal printer or have one of the

color printers that prints directly onto the cd? The thermals get really pricey

but I am looking at the U-Print Thermal CD/DVD Disc Printer which is very

cheap. I'm also looking at the Epson R260 and R380 Stylus Photo Inkjet CD/DVD

Printers which both go for under $200. Anyone have experience with these models

or have any other suggestions?

Thanks.

[rob_s___san_francisco_bay_]

Recently got an Epson RX580 for under $200. Works great. Also copies and scans (not

negs/slides though).

[meldell]

I have a Lightscribe DVD burner and I love it (as do my clients!)

 

Total cost: About $150

[amandalockphotography]

I have a Lightscribe DVD burner as well, and I really like it. Quick question though, it is only printing out in brown monotones. Does that have to do with the CD that I am printing on, or is there something that I need to change?

[aaron_lee___minneapolis__m]

Michelle, I am glad you are looking for a new way to label your media.

 

using sticky labels accelerates the degradation of the media because the glue eats the very thin plastic protection layer on the top of the disc. I've heard you can expect the discs to be destroyed inside of a year.

 

Aaron

[joann]

I use and really like this company.

 

http://www.mixonic.com/

 

I use them for each slideshow. The only problem I have is that I order too many "just in case" spares. However, I have loaned my spares out as examples of my work so it's really not so bad :)

 

Highly recommend if you want professional results, small qty, and don't want to invest in your own equipment.

[mendel_leisk]

Ask your clients?

 

Maybe some would prefer nothing, or just a rudimentary sharpy pen marking in the next to the hub, clear area. That would be my preference. I really don't care for something flashy, that may toast the disc a little down the road.

[ronaldo_r]

I think it doesn't matter much unless you can produce a factory-produced looking CD... I tend to agree with Mendel. Either do it full-on (factory printed CDs) or just use a sharpie - both approaches project a professional image. Anything in the middle may look desperate, wasteful and/or amateurish.

[james d.]

I use an Epson R200 and printable discs. They turn out well and they always get a

compliment. The software is not friendly, but not too difficult to work with.

[caseychappell]

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE the lightscribe burner! My clients can't belive when they get CD's with

their picture and the words burned onto it. It takes a little time to burn the image but it's

super easy to set up and do!

[stephen dohring]

I use the older Epson R300m which does a great job printing directly on the cd. The program is super easy just pick an image that has space for the hole in the middle. I am new to weddings but shoot on the beach a lot. I buy the double cd blank boxes. One cd on the left has the images and the DVD slide show is on the right side. I use the same picture with different text on the cd and on the DVD. I have a template jacket made in ps for the jacket that slides in the outside plastic. Looks awesome. One time I was handing to a client and her friend booked me on the spot looking at the box and three prints I dropped off.

[Ed_Ingold]

Primera makes several thermal printers in black-only or color. The cheapest one is less than $140. This is as close to silk-screening as you can get, and doesn't run when wet like inkjet labels. Production quality thermal printers cost $2000 to over $4000. Thermal printers require smooth discs for best results. Textured discs (e.g., MAM) are problematic and discs with embossed labels can't be used at all.

 

Paper labels do not ruin CDs in a year, nor twelve years in my experience. DVDs are even less at risk, since the dye/reflective layer is sandwiched between two layers or polycarbonate. CDs are protected by a thin layer of lacquer.

 

Pigmented inkjet printers, like the Epson R800 work best with CD labels. The discs themselves are expensive, and not available on the best media. Light-scribe discs are even more restricted, and the printing is much too slow for anything but occasional onesies.

[errol young]

I print out a label on my Canon i960 and paste it on using a plastic disk holder.

 

To format the label I use Quark because I am used to working in it. It can look pretty good though not pro.

 

Errol

[juanita_ramirez]

<p>Lightscribe.</p>

<p>And $150 for a Lightscribe drive is highway robbery. I got one (external drive lightscribe) at Officemax last year for 60 bucks. Watch for sales. I heartily disagree that you either take it to a shop or use a Sharpie. Lightscribe looks good, and doesn't force you to charge your clients an extra 50 bucks a wedding to cover the printing on their CD.</p>

<p>I've never done the print-directly-on-CD printers. Maybe I'll have to look at that.</p>