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General discussion

Print to CD/DVD Printer Advice?

Oct 29, 2006 12:56AM PDT

I have a job where I would like to print directly to about 36 DVDs (12 films 3 or more copies ea.).

Can anyone give me the current wisdom about available, low cost printers that can do this? Before I decided to post here I ran across some horror stories on the web from people who'd purchased the Epson (and Cannon)series printers that print to DVD. Their printers often-to-always gave them error messages and failed to print to the media tray.

If the results are not certain, I might just try to find a service that would do this for a reasonable price. However, if the cost of printing a few costs as much as a printer, maybe I'll go that route.

What's your advice? Thanks.

Discussion is locked

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Tell a little more.
Oct 29, 2006 1:10AM PDT
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Thanks for the NIST report resource . . .
Oct 29, 2006 9:27AM PST

I read the sections on DVD media marking, affixing labels, and direct media printing and will read the rest of the report later. It looks like all three choices for putting titles on CD/DVDs are not suggested.

The disks I sometimes make for a client are his training films that are translated and redubbed into another language. Screen text is also edited into the second language and all the work is done in a film studio. Therefore, nothing looks more professional than a full-color label or, even better, a color, direct-printed disk.

Even though special, DVD marking pens with water-based inks seem to have the least potential for disk/data damage, they always look amateurish when finished. In fact, I've found that the more you try to write carefully on the disk - with only one chance to get it right - the greater the chance you'll make a mistake.

It's easy to start writing a title/film number on a disk and run out of space before the line is complete. Then the disk looks like it was labeled by a 1st grader (no offense to my most successful school year intended) <grin>.

These DVDs are directly rendered from the editing computer to disk, so they are "first-generation" copies. Each copy burned this way for, say, a 30-minute film can take 2+ hours.

The Lightscribe printing system is new to me. I just started reading about it now. In the first article I read it said that the Lightscribe system prints on gold-colored media in grayscale. Color printing will be "available in 2006". So I don't know yet if color is already available.

The cost for the burner/printer hardware seems the same as or even less than direct print-to-DVD printers. However, I don't yet know the price of the Lightscribe media. Also, because I live in Asia, getting the media here might be a problem. Even empty DVD media can be hit with a customs tax. So, unless the Lightscribe system is widely available locally, logistically it might not be easy to use. I'll check.

In the end, even I will admit that using a special, felt marking pen on DVD media and putting that inside a jewel case with a printed, full-color title insert may be the best way to go - technically. However, nothing beats the look of a color-printed DVD disk. The dilemma remains <g>.

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If long shelf life is a non-issue. Just hit it with big
Oct 29, 2006 9:34AM PST
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(NT) (NT) have you considered lightscribe?
Oct 29, 2006 1:05AM PDT
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(NT) (NT) Pls see reply above
Oct 29, 2006 9:38AM PST
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Re-Up Duplication Services
Oct 29, 2006 2:37AM PST

Do you need to burn those DVD's too?

I'm starting up a duplication service and would be glad to help you out.

---->Re-Up Duplication Services
---->708-216-9713
---->www.ReUp.biz

We can work something out if you only need the printing. As long as it's on a ''printable'' DVD.

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Thanks for the offer . . .
Oct 29, 2006 9:31AM PST

. . . however, as I wrote in my reply above, I live in Asia and the logistics might be a bit much for both of us <grin>. I did try to check out your web site, though. Good luck with your enterprise.