Printing CD Labels

[alvinpang]

Hi All,

What equipment do you use for CD labeling?
I heard printers can do direct labeling, lightscribe or DIY labels....

Which would you recommend? I am using it for clients for the finished shoots.

Appreciate your comments in advance.

Alvin.

[Neo]

Originally Posted by alvinpang Hi All, What equipment do you use for CD labeling? I heard printers can do direct labeling, lightscribe or DIY labels.... Which would you recommend? I am using it for clients for the finished shoots. Appreciate your comments in advance. Alvin.

Hi Alvin,

I've been using my Canon printer for printing labelled CDs for my clients. It comes with a CD LabelPrint software which is very easy to use, and the CD printing is also very fast. Highly recommended.

The problem with Lightscribe is that you're paying a premium for the Lightscribe drive (unless you already have it), and that you're restricted to monochrome results. Labels are tedious and messy... Trust me... once you tried direct printing on CDs, you'd wonder how you got by without it. I introduced direct CD printing to my friend's company when I saw them printing hundreds of labels (expensive and tedious), so I lent them my printer for a day. Two days later, they bought two PIXMA printer and started their own mass production.

[alvinpang]

Thanks for the advice.
I have bought a canon and agree with you totally with "Where was I?".

Thanks again!

[di0nysus]

can any type of CDs be printed? or only special kinds?

[Neo]

Originally Posted by di0nysus can any type of CDs be printed? or only special kinds?

You can buy "printable" CDs or DVDs, which are coated with a white layer of ink-absorbent material. The results are very good with these printable ones... and they cost only 10 cents to 20 cents more than the usual silver discs. Plus, a wide range of manufacturers make them, including Verbatim.

But if you already have a large collection of the normal discs, you can stick on the usual aftermarket labels and slot them into the printer for printing too. Just that the quality is usually not as good, and there is a tendency for air bubbles to be trapped under the labels. Sometimes, the labels peel and with today's high speed optical drives there are cases of discs exploding in thr drives due to the high rotating speed and the uneven distribution of inertia weight due to the peeling labels. But that's very very rare... dun let me scare you off labels!

[di0nysus]

oic.thanks for the reply...CDs are fine i feel..its dvd quality that i'm dodgy about, i only trust fujifilm TY DVDs, after numerous tests/complains in HWZ forums..hehe.and i haven't see printable Fujifilm DVDs yet..

btw, which printer(s) are you using at the moment?

[Neo]

Originally Posted by di0nysus oic.thanks for the reply...CDs are fine i feel..its dvd quality that i'm dodgy about, i only trust fujifilm TY DVDs, after numerous tests/complains in HWZ forums..hehe.and i haven't see printable Fujifilm DVDs yet.. btw, which printer(s) are you using at the moment?

I'm using the Canon i9950 printer... but for CD printing the new Canon PIXMA printers have better mechanisms... cuz I tried my friend's PIXMA iP4200 and the loading is less fussy.

[Slivester]

I am using Canon iP4000, and I have been using labels. Agree on the part of poor quality resulting from inefficient paper quality used for labels. I even tried a so-called "glossy paper labels" from a company I never heard from. Works amazingly for 1 day, the next day it peels off.

Anyway, as for the ink-absorbant kind of discs, where exactly can I purchase that? I saw some in neighbourhood electronic stores, but they come in batches, and are rather expensive like $12 for 10 pieces.

[jfoo]

Originally Posted by Slivester I am using Canon iP4000, and I have been using labels. Agree on the part of poor quality resulting from inefficient paper quality used for labels. I even tried a so-called "glossy paper labels" from a company I never heard from. Works amazingly for 1 day, the next day it peels off. Anyway, as for the ink-absorbant kind of discs, where exactly can I purchase that? I saw some in neighbourhood electronic stores, but they come in batches, and are rather expensive like $12 for 10 pieces.

You can try Znix at Level 6 SLS. Printable CDRs about fifty to sixty cents a piece and DVDs about a dollar a piece.

Buy small quantities (10pc packs) till you are comfortable with the brand and the result it gives you.

I am using the Canon iP4000 printer and have printed close to 200+ disc (both types) without any wastage.

Cheers,
jfoo

[Slivester]

Originally Posted by jfoo You can try Znix at Level 6 SLS. Printable CDRs about fifty to sixty cents a piece and DVDs about a dollar a piece. Buy small quantities (10pc packs) till you are comfortable with the brand and the result it gives you. I am using the Canon iP4000 printer and have printed close to 200+ disc (both types) without any wastage. Cheers, jfoo

Thank you bro,

[jeremyftk]

Personally, I use the TDK ones and am quite satisfied with the results...

[kietgnoel]

Originally Posted by Slivester I am using Canon iP4000, and I have been using labels. Agree on the part of poor quality resulting from inefficient paper quality used for labels. I even tried a so-called "glossy paper labels" from a company I never heard from. Works amazingly for 1 day, the next day it peels off. Anyway, as for the ink-absorbant kind of discs, where exactly can I purchase that? I saw some in neighbourhood electronic stores, but they come in batches, and are rather expensive like $12 for 10 pieces.

ATF Multimedia at Sim Lim Square is selling Imation printable DVDs at $43 for a 50 pc spindle pack. Works out to $0.86 per pc.

[judeseah]

take the escalator up from outside to funan.
walk out of is it harvey norman?
and on ur left,
there is a shop selling acc.
think its pk computer or something.
the imation dvd 50 stack is going at $37.
bought 4 spindles last week.

jude