DVD labels? What do you do?

[Mavoz]

Hi,

I'm currently working on making a number of 'home burnt' dvd's look as professional as I can.

What do you do about DVD labels? (the round ones on the DVD's themselves).

Options Include:

1.) Pen

2.) Buying printed sticky labels

3.) Printing directly on special DVD's with either a low cost inkjet eg.
Epson R210 http://www.ausmedia.com.au/ij_epson.htm#210

or even

Bravo II AutoPrinter (lot more expensive.)

Can anyone comment on their experiences..will something like the lowcost inket do a good job?

I've even read that DVD labels can cause issues with playback..(maybe that's the stick on variety.)

Thanks!

[Barry_Green]

Never use stick-on labels.

I've been using the Epson R200 -- it does an amazing job for a $99 printer. Use Taiyo Yuden white ink-jet-printable DVD-R's.

[vidled]

Mavoz, there is another option also, and that is to use a CASIO Thermal printer, such as the CW-100 (about U$100 street price)
It is a thermal printer, so prints on "normal" CD/DVDs. It can only do one color, and can't print the whole surface of the disc, but it's an easy way to have a DVD/CD printed upon. Oh, and ink isn't that cheap on a per-disc use.

A link (http://www.casio.com/products/Label_%26_Disk_Title_Printers/Disk_Title_Printers/CW-100/)

[Noel Evans]

I use a canon ip7500. Few hundred bucks but great for many things I do including printing onto into ink jet printable dvd-rs.

[natdizzle]

Yeah I also Use the espon r200
Its Great, Looks professional, but i guess only as professional as you design...
definatly go get a printer

[Steve Strickland]

Another R200 user here. The printed DVDs look pro, and it is only $90. One of the best purchases I have made for my setup.

[natdizzle]

One of the best purchases I have made for my setup.

i agree, not over my dvx purchase that is:thumbsup:

[Jim Brennan]

I just got done doing a run with the r200 as well. Naturally it's a little slow (about2 minutes per disc) so if you have a couple hundred to do, it gets tedious. But the quality is great. But like Barry said, make sure you buy print on discs. I get the TDK ones at Costco for about 42 bucks for a hundred (They just a had a buy one get oone sale too :beer: )

It's great printer at twice the price.

[rook]

print right on the DVd with an epson. Looks great with the frosted DVDs.

Doing that right now actually. Funny you brought it up.

-rook

[Nerdninja]

I have both the casio printer and the epson R200. Both have their pros and cons, but the R200 looks much nicer. The casio printer is great for quick labeling and looks professional if you're looking for text only. You can print simple graphics with the casio. It is very picky about your media. It will only print on smooth surfaces, nothing textured. I use the generic discs with absolutely nothing on them in the casio and they look great, but not too jazzy.

I agree the R200 is great if you're good at designing the labels.

[dlang]

go with the R200. I just did a project that required 180 printed dvd's. I didn't have one problem....except the cost of ink of course..lol

[greg121]

Recently purchased an Epson R320 - much much better than my handwriting.

[Max R. Wilson]

Recently purchased an Epson R320 - much much better than my handwriting.

I have had this printer for over a year and its never let me down.. i love it.

[Unsomnambulist]

The R320 sounds great...

But, I need to pitch Lightscribe (http://www.lightscribe.com/) into the mix... I think this is also thermal based and uses special discs, but doesn't require you to ever buy a new ink cartridge. It has a unique "etched" look on your CD of any image you want. Not for everyone, but definitely looks pro. The burners cost a little more than $100.

[pastywhiteboy]

The R320 sounds great...

But, I need to pitch Lightscribe (http://www.lightscribe.com/) into the mix... I think this is also thermal based and uses special discs, but doesn't require you to ever buy a new ink cartridge. It has a unique "etched" look on your CD of any image you want. Not for everyone, but definitely looks pro. The burners cost a little more than $100.

Lightscribe technology is not up to par yet. What that does is etch the image onto your disc using a laser in the DVD drive. Unfortunately, the special material that consists of these lightscribe discs are very... well... light sensitive. The images fade after only a short period of time. Oh, and did I mention that it takes around half an hour to "print" on a full DVD using lightscribe technology?!

I use the Epson R200 as well as a Rimage system with the Rimage Liberty inkjet printer and have also used a Primera system with the Signature IV inkjet printer. The Epson provides the best quality of all of those. Funny enough, it can also be the most economical when you use aftermarket inks. (http://www.1800emart.com/) Of course the automated systems are far more convenient for larger scale outputs.

The only real jump up in quality right now is full color thermal printers which the good ones start at around $4000.

-pastywhiteboy

[UnlimitedThought]

I use the Bravo II, but that is because I mass produce hundreds of DVD's. The epson should do just fine. However, I really sugguest that you go with Verbatim 4x DVD-R Matte. Basically they are the best DVD and they with a Black White Matte surface for printing on.

[Cryogenic Filmworks]

Epson R300. I quit using labels for both cd and dvd. All print to disk now.

[scharky]

I have an older R300 that I absolulty love. I just got some of the Taiyo Yuden silver inkjet printable, and I have to say, these are some sweet looking disks. I'll never go back to white inkjet printable, it's just so, shiiiiiiineeeey:)

[Unsomnambulist]

Lightscribe technology is not up to par yet. What that does is etch the image onto your disc using a laser in the DVD drive. Unfortunately, the special material that consists of these lightscribe discs are very... well... light sensitive. The images fade after only a short period of time. Oh, and did I mention that it takes around half an hour to "print" on a full DVD using lightscribe technology?!

Thanks for this info - otherwise, I may have actually dropped money on the system.

[Mavoz]

Thanks for all the great responses...I think I'll go with the Epson 210...

I finished a draft design for the cover and DVD itself I'm working on...

http://www.pbase.com/mavoz/sample_dvd

Can you print right to the edges of the disc..or does one need to allow room on the outer edge?


Anyway the Epson is a great price...and the main use will be for the DVD discs.

(My Fuji C525 is a great little colour laser ..its just putting a DVD disc through it wouldn't be real great for the digestion ;)

[pmark23]

Also R200 here. If you make your own template, you can print right to the edges.

For large batches (more than 30), I go to my local service bureau and get them to print 'em on their Bravo -- a lot cheaper!

[chris f]

besides making your own template, you can also make slight adjustments in the software (and print settings) it comes with so it will print to the edge (be prepared to "waste" alot of discs to get everything aligned and sized perfectly). i've used the r300 since about 2 weeks after its release and love it. i've always used white injket dvd-r's (usually ridata), i'd like to see what the silver looks like

[Trent]

I have the R200 and love the way it prints... but it is inkjet and can run/bleed so you might want to coat the Disk afterwards...

[ecking]

Wow after reading this thread I'm gonna buy the Epson R220 I saw on sale today!

[chris f]

what do you coat it with?

[Jim Brennan]

For anyone interested, the Best Buy website says that the R220 is $99.95 and it has a $50 mail in rebate. That makes your out of pocket cost 50 bucks. A sound investment.

[petelms]

I'm also definately getting one of these Epsons as soon as possible...:beer:

[mcgeedigital]

Another Epson R200 user here.

It rocks!

[mcgeedigital]

Thanks for all the great responses...I think I'll go with the Epson 210...

I finished a draft design for the cover and DVD itself I'm working on...

http://www.pbase.com/mavoz/sample_dvd

Can you print right to the edges of the disc..or does one need to allow room on the outer edge?


Anyway the Epson is a great price...and the main use will be for the DVD discs.

(My Fuji C525 is a great little colour laser ..its just putting a DVD disc through it wouldn't be real great for the digestion ;)

Looks good, BUT be aware that you are NOT supposed to use the DVD logo you have on that disc because it connotates that the DVD adheres to a rigid spec that dvd-r's do NOT.

I usually use "DVD|Video" instead.

[Mavoz]

Looks good, BUT be aware that you are NOT supposed to use the DVD logo you have on that disc because it connotates that the DVD adheres to a rigid spec that dvd-r's do NOT.

I usually use "DVD|Video" instead.
Thanks for that..is there any issue with copyright with using any of the DVD logos? ie. am I free to use them...or are you meant to pay some form of DVD logo licence?

[DCERVENKA]

If you guys need the DVD Disc template here's the one that I use on the Epson R300:

http://www.dpcfilms.com/misc/dvxuser/DISC-HubPrintableTemplate.zip

[Karl151k]

Awesome!