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Author Topic: DVD/CD printers Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 10-01-2004 02:46 PM                     I am looking for a printer that can print directly onto DVD and CDs. Does anyone have a recommendation, or something to stay away from? Also, I have to use the white top "inkjet printable" media according to everything I have read. I assume there is no way to use regular "shiny top" or "matte top" media? Thanks  |  IP: Logged Phil Hill I love my cootie bug Posts: 7595 From: Hollywood, CA USA Registered: Mar 2000 posted 10-01-2004 03:35 PM                  I've had good luck with dedicated thermal, multi-color printers using white-label media. The labels are brightly-colored, detailed, and permanent. Cost of the printer and ribbon varies depending on production volume (speed) and resolution. I'm not at home right now so I cannot say what mfgr makes my printer. >>> Phil  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 10-01-2004 04:23 PM                     I've seen one of your discs, Phil. They do look nice. Please let me know what you are using when you get back home.  |  IP: Logged Paul Mayer Oh get out of it Melvin, before it pulls you under! Posts: 3836 From: Albuquerque, NM Registered: Feb 2000 posted 10-01-2004 05:41 PM                        While you're waitin' for Coot to get back home, try a search on ALPS printers. They were the printer of choice a few years ago for inexpensive (about USD $500 for a new MD-1300 at the time) and permanent dye-sublimation printing (many after-market decal printers used these). ALPS discontinued production a couple of years ago, but someone may have picked up the technology. The ink cartridges are still in production and available.  |  IP: Logged Bobby Henderson "Ask me about Trajan." Posts: 10973 From: Lawton, OK, USA Registered: Apr 2001 posted 10-01-2004 05:47 PM                     Unless you need to print onto hundreds of CDs at once, I wouldn't spend the money for one of those specialized printers. At my work we use one of those "CD Stomper" things with the inkjet printable labels. It works pretty well. However, I didn't like the computer templates that came with the package. The CorelDRAW, Illustrator and MS Word templates didn't line up well, so I had to create my own templates that did the job properly.  |  IP: Logged John Lasher Master Film Handler Posts: 493 From: Newark, DE Registered: Aug 2001 posted 10-01-2004 09:15 PM                        Check these out. They also sell blank CDs (they can custom print them in high quantities, too).  |  IP: Logged Wayne Keyser Master Film Handler Posts: 272 From: Arlington, Virginia, USA Registered: May 2004 posted 10-01-2004 09:25 PM                     lso see http://www.wts-tape.com - I have been very happy with their products and service.  |  IP: Logged Randy Stankey Film God Posts: 6539 From: Erie, Pennsylvania Registered: Jun 99 posted 10-01-2004 10:51 PM                     quote: Bobby Henderson I didn't like the computer templates that came with the package.... I have the same thing. I like it. I have the same complaint as you do about the software. The application SUX and the templates aren't much better. I tossed it out the first time after I used it. My solution was to sacrifice one sheet of labels and peel off all the places where there is supposed to be printing. Then I laid it face down on my scanner bed and take a scan. I loaded the result into photoshop and did a bit of cleanup work. Once you have a nice set of thin, black outlines make it the background layer and save it. Copy and lock the original file. Now, when I need a label, I call up the scanned image and use Photoshop to draw whatever I want inside the outlines but in a layer ON TOP OF the background. When you have your pictures the way you want, print out a test page to be sure it aligns with your labels. When you are satisfied, turn off the background layer and print again onto a sheet of labels. It's easy to do. You don't have to learn new, sucky software. You can recall the designs, modify them and/or reprint them any time you want.  |  IP: Logged Brad Miller Administrator Posts: 17775 From: Plano, TX (36.2 miles NW of Rockwall) Registered: May 99 posted 10-01-2004 10:59 PM                     I am wanting to be able to use these for DVD labeling. Turns out there are a number of DVD players out there that do not like burned discs with a label attached.  |  IP: Logged Adam Wilbert Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 590 From: Bellingham, WA, USA Registered: Mar 2002 posted 10-02-2004 12:03 AM                        I've heard that the problem with labels and dvd players is that they can un-balance the DVD when its spinning. Getting the label a hair off center can cause it to wobble. Not that this post actually helps you any, but...  |  IP: Logged Mike Olpin Chop Chop! Posts: 1852 From: Dallas, TX Registered: Jan 2002 posted 10-02-2004 03:49 AM                     If your design has white at the top and darker colors at the bottom wouldn't the weight of the heavier inks cause the same unbalancing problem even on printed DVDs?  |  IP: Logged William Hooper Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1879 From: Mobile, AL USA Registered: Jun 99 posted 10-04-2004 03:04 AM                        http://lsv.uky.edu/cgi-bin/wa.exe?A2=ind0408&L=amia-l&P=R19674&I=-3 ">>2) Labels used on DVD-R can cause a high-speed wobble that produces >>errors in playback. The internal laser guide in a DVD-R is four times >>tighter than the laser guide on a CD-R; therefore any disc wobble can >>cause the laser to miss-track (4X, 8X & 16X will be most affected). >>Any alteration to the reflective layer will result in an unplayable >>DVD-R. Adhesive labels have been reported to affect the reflective >>layer after extended periods of time. Labeling a disc with a >>permanent marker (alcohol based-Sharpie) has also been reported to >>eat through the reflective layer on thermal discs over a period of >>time. This can create adverse affects on a master or copy. Printing >>directly onto the disc with an inkjet or thermal printer is the >>industry standard for DVD-R and will cause less playback problems in the future."  |  IP: Logged Jeff Taylor Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 601 From: Chatham, NJ/East Hampton, NY Registered: Apr 2000 posted 10-04-2004 02:46 PM                     Brad: Casio has two inexpensive DVD printers on their website. One (which I have and find great) has a keyboard as well as a PC interface, the cheaper one is only PC driven. They run $100-$125 and can handle graphics, colors, etc. I thoroughly recommend the CW-75 (keyboard) model. It even has internal memory for multiple discs with the same info.  |  IP: Logged John Pytlak Film God Posts: 9987 From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922 Registered: Jan 2000 posted 10-04-2004 03:17 PM                        Adhesive labels can have long-term keeping concerns as well. The adhesives can become brittle, powdery, or can ooze with age or poor storage conditions.  |  IP: Logged Jeff Taylor Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 601 From: Chatham, NJ/East Hampton, NY Registered: Apr 2000 posted 10-04-2004 03:50 PM                     Good points, John. In case my earlier post wasn't clear, the two Casio printers mentioned print directly on DVD's, and recommend against the "printable" discs with the painted finish. The printing is done with a thermal print head and ribbon and seems very durable, although it can be removed with solven if desired. I have had no problems with playback in almost 200 discs.  |  IP: Logged

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