What are some good ways to print DVDs for clients? (print on DVD+cover art)

C

commercialguy

Member
I got a commercial client that I shot a training video for and I need have it put into a nice DVD box with box art and have the DVD nicely labeled. I called Fedex Kinkos and they said they can't print on DVDs. I know a lot of you guys have experience with this who do weddings. Many wedding videographers seem to get them a nice DVD with cover art and everything looking professional.

So what are my options? What is a good printer to buy that prints on DVDs and can do professional looking cover art inserts?

It would be nice to have. I could also self distribute movies or even music CDs too. :Drogar-Shock(DBG):
 
DiscMakers will print blank DVD-Rs for you, and you can also purchase printed packaging to go with them. They also have a good selection of home-printing and duplication supplies.

The quicker way to get presentable on-disc printing is LightScribe, with which some DVD-R burners are equipped. It's single-color, but makes for a heck of a lot better image than Sharpie.
 
Interesting info, thanks for sharing. I looked into LightScribe and forgot I had it on my DVD drives. I always thought it required ink to be filled in it. But I am now learning all you do is put a lightscribe compatible disc in upside down and it etches the design on with the laser. Very cool, and some of the graphics I've seen done with it are amazing. The downside however is that it is light sensitive and if exposed to light too much, the cover design will fade over time. I think that rules it out as a legitimate option for clients. Thread on them fading..

http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/509687

I thought of going the DVD sticker label route, just print on the sticker and stick it on. But there is the risk of it messing up their DVD drive if the label peels off. So the only option seems to be to buy an inkjet printer with a DVD tray in it.
 
Don't ever put a sticker on a DVD. It'll throw the weight off at best, and could come off while playing at worst.

Inkjet-printable DVDs with Epson printers are definitely the best way to go. Done properly, they are beautiful. I have done many.
 
commercialguy said:
I thought of going the DVD sticker label route, just print on the sticker and stick it on. But there is the risk of it messing up their DVD drive if the label peels off. So the only option seems to be to buy an inkjet printer with a DVD tray in it.
Click to expand...

NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!! Never, never ever, never do this. Those stickers can and do cause playback issues and if you put one into a slot load laptop and play it for an hour so it gets warm, guess what happens to that label when you eject the disc? Yep, it's got a good chance of coming off when ejecting and getting sticky stuff on the optical receiver inside the computer. I don't think you want to be liable for repairing someone's laptop.

Inkjet printing on compatible discs can look decent, but be aware that it takes time. I've had to print a hundred discs of just really simple, small black text and it took forever, as in days. A four color full disc print? Better not plan on making more than a few at a time.
A lot of disc duplication houses (if they're still in business) have thermal transfer printers that look better than what you get from silk screening (industry standard on replicated discs) and they're waterproof. If you have to do volume, as in more than 50-100 go to the pros.
 
+1 on discmakers.com. I have used their online design program and was satisfied. Also, never had a compatiblity playback problem with their burned or blank DVD-Rs. Might not be worth it for a couple of DVDs, but it depends on what type of impression you want to leave with your customer.
 
Canon also makes printers/all in ones that print on DVDs. It's a tossup on print quality between Canon and Epson.
They both have separate ink cartridges for individual colors. My old Epson has 6, newer Canon printers I've seen use 5.
My ancient Epson printer had the famous "push/pull" problem with DVDs before that function stopped working entirely.
Not read of that particular problem with Canon.
Hope this helps.
Ken
 
I had an HP inkjet that did DVDs but it got broke (don't ask) and now have an Epson, but the Epson is more awkward to load = more time. Used to do ALL my own duplication and printing/packaging for years, including a 6-bay tower, inkjet printer for discs, and running across town to have full-color case inserts printed ($$), which I then had to trim and assemble. Did this for years. In hindsight, this was foolish for the larger jobs, huge waste of valuable time doing menial labor when I could be editing.

I now use Kunaki.com for anything more than a handful of DVDs. Upload finished DVD and artwork online and get packaged DVDs in a few days. Includes full-color printing of disc and case insert, optional color card insert inside case, all shrink-wrapped for $1.75, no minimum. A no-brainer for my needs.

Note that Kunaki's business model is for those that can read directions and do some things themselves. Basically a totally automated, self-serve robotic operation. If you want customer service to hold hands with you...there is none, and Kunaki is not for you, take it or leave it. What I find neat is that when uploading my artwork for disc and case, their interface provides a realtime 3D kind of preview, so you can see what the finished product will look like. If there are alignment issues with your graphics, you'll know it and can revise the graphic before committing for duplication. Also offers optional online web page for direct client ordering, fulfillment services, etc. so I don't have to touch product if I don't want/need to. For corporate re-orders, I direct them to Kunaki order page for THEIR disc, and they can order any quantity direct (at the price I set) and Kunaki mails me a check.

Off my soapbox ;-)

EDIT: Just checked and they are now offering volume discounts, used to be flat rate. Keeps getting better

Thanks

Jeff Pulera
Digital Vision
 
Thanks guys for all the great info! I ended up swinging by Fry's electronics yesterday. They have a Canon Pixma MG5420 on sale for $49.95, so I had to grab it. All the printers that print on DVDs tend to start around $150 in price. It's the cheapest printer out there I could find that prints on DVDs. Has a DVD tray you put a printable DVD on and can inkjet print right onto it. The printer retails for around $150 and when I searched online yesterday, some places were still selling it for around that price. So I had to grab it while I could. It comes with all the ink, but I bought an extra pack. The downside is it uses like 4-5 cartridges, black, yellow, magenta, etc. But supposedly if one goes out, you just replace that one at $11-$12 each, so it could save in the long run. I don't know. The cool thing is you can also print photos with it. And it even has a paper loading slide in tray inside it for 150 sheets or for envelopes. A very versatile printer for the price.

Added expenses that I picked up at Fry's with it were DVD cases, which ran around $5 for 10 cases. $15 for 50 glossy DVD case printable insert sheets. $20 for 50 Kodak printable DVDs. A backup pack of all the ink cartridges cost around $53 for it. Total out the door was around $154 with tax. Have yet to print a DVD yet, still working on finalizing them. Just thought I'd post an update incase someone is ever looking for something in this category and searches this thread in the future.
 
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I was tempted to pick up a small pack of light scribe DVDs just to try it out, but all they had were 50 packs of DVD-r. They had another called Label Flash that was like Light Scribe, but I never heard of that before. They had some 10 packs of DVD+r Light Scribe discs, but based on past tests I've done, some older DVD players won't play DVD+r video dvds, which is why I went with DVD-r on my printable DVDs for my inkjet printer.
 
If you can find them, the "frosted" silver printable discs produce a fantastic result. ( I'm using a batch of Taio Yuden discs that are about as good as it gets in high quality printable DVDs )
 
When I did event DVD's, I used Kunaki.com . Order volumes can be as many or as few as necessary at $1-2 per disc for truly professional product (I can't even match components for that price, let alone time). Still have to burn a master, disc upload can take a while, and AFAIK they don't do dual-layer DVD's, but all in all they were a life saver - no extra printer/duplicator to maintain and take up space, no coasters, and no wasting my life duping discs for hours on end.
 
While doing all my research, one of the best printers you can get is a thermal printer. They are supposed to be more heat/water resistant. I saw one that was highly rated on Newegg but it was out of my price range for now.
 
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