Decent direct to DVD printer + software

R

richmondfloyd

Active member
Hi,

Can anyone tell me of a good, affordable printer that will print directly to DVD and also good graphics software (for mac) to go with it?
 
Epson Stylus R200 is used by a lot of folks. I have had good luck with it. Avery has decent software and templates...enough to get you started at least. There's also a software called Print Explosion. Again it can get you started. Allows some flexibility by allow the importing of graphics, photos and text.

And there's always Photoshop. Create your own templates and designs.

Jim
 
It's okay. Not as good as professionally printed DVDs. You can go one of two ways. Get printable DVDs which have a matte white mask on the disc itself... or you can go with the stick on labels. There's really not that much difference in quality. It's just less tedious to print directly to the DVD.
Jim
 
stickon labels are not recommended, they can cause disk wobble. use white printable DVDs and and overcoat them with a light coat of clear lacquer. it will give them a glossy pro appearance and protect the ink. I use an R200 also.
 
I have been looking for the R200 and it has some good reviews. Unfortunately, it has been discontinued in the UK and the next model, R285, doesn't perform nearly as well.

How annoying. Any other suggestions?
 
You have Epson and you have Canon in the UK.

Which ever you can get is all that is available in inkjet.

Just about all the Epsons perform equally, so I don't know where you have learned that the R285 isn't as good.
 
I'll throw in my two cents on putting stuff on DVD's...the cheapest way if you're dealing in volume and not a single disc is to buy custom made stamps with a graphic, and just plant that on a printable DVD...costs a fraction of a penny per DVD if your dealing with making a bunch. I've personally used this technique on somewhere in the range of 10-15,000 DVD's. This is of course over a large period of time with promotional items....but even with constant product if you have a company logo or something, that one stamp can be used on each and every disc, then for a new title you just buy a new stamp with that title on it.
 
I surprised that it has worked for you Nick.

Putting any type of stick on label on a fast spinning and heat producing set up like a DVD player has the potential to ruin a client's hardware.

Sounds like what you've done has worked, but I've heard horror stories
 
I did.

Although I have to observe that there is a huge quality difference using high glossy hub printable DVD/CD blanks and a stamp.

The cost is more obviously, but our clients are delighted by the results.
 
It's definitely not a replacement for printing, but for certain projects it is an option...I thought I'd throw out my take on it, since I realize their are some film makers who can barely afford a camera, much less printing color DVD's at home, or getting it done professionally.

Using my numerous tricks I've helped to produce small runs of DVD's for literally under a dollar per unit, and promotional DVD's for under 30 cents per unit. The full release DVD's have nice cases with full color front covers, but then a stamped Logo/Title on the disc...It's quite amazing how much the price per unit drops when you duplicate yourself, get the color printing done locally, use stamps, and forgo the use of shrink wrap.....I know personally that I can't get runs of 50 DVD's with full color duplicated for under $4 a unit from anywhere

The one time investment of 2 or three burners, a stamp, ink, and a trip to the print shop are more then covered the first time you do 50 units(save $150)...I'm unsure how much a DVD printer costs, or how much the ink runs per unit, but I'm sure atleast a few people would love to use my method.

I get my media, sleeves, and DVD cases at supermediastore, stamps from simonstamp, and my color printing for the front of DVD's done locally.
 
I also buy from supermediastore.

Free shipping and great pricing on blanks, sleeves, etc.

One other thing is buy thermal printable and use an inexpensive Casio with VMWare Windows. Really clean printing, but no graphics.
 
I'm unsure what the thermals are capable of...but It seems to me you could have graphics...just not color ones.


Of course the last thermal printer I used was a receipt printer when I worked at McDonald's as a teenager....so my experience with them is quite minuscule.
 
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