DVD Labels

Good Evening,

What label method do you use for your DVD's? I've been using the stick
on ones, but located an Epson printer that will print on printable
media. While looking for the media, I came across a device that will
burn the label on. Just wondering what works for you.

Thanks,
Mary

 

Mary,

Do not use stick on labels on DVD. There is a high risk that the label will
come loose or cause unbalance that might damage the recorder. It is OK for a
CD but never for a DVD. Instead use an inkjet printer to print on white
surface DVDs. There are other methods as well but think the inkjet way is
the cheapest for small quantities.

Peter

 

I use the Casio cw-75. It produces nice clean simple labels on regular
DVDs. Kinda of expensive ($80 or so) unless you do lots of disks.
Luckily I got it as a gift & it's a luxury I really like.

 

I found mine to be rather spotty unless printing on absolutely
mirror-finish disc surfaces. The "matte finish" that most discs
have produces relatively poor results.

 

That little epson will do a decent job. Good little consumer entry level
unit for under $100.

 

And for discs I use TY Silver top printables. In my opinion a little better
appearance than flat white topped.

rtr

 

Is there much of a price bump to get those disks?

 

You can get an Epson R200 printer for well under $100.
They often have refurbs on Epson's website. Last one I saw
there was $77 with free shipping.

Set of new ink carts is ~$50 at Costco, but I bought a
continuous ink supply retrofit kit on eBay which makes it
very economical to print full color across the disc (and make
very nice looking Amray case liners also).

I avoid stick-on labels on DVDs. To much to go wrong.

Now that I have my Epson printer, I use printable discs for
CDRs also. So much easier and more professional looking
than stick-on labels.

Limited supply (=higher prices), and monochrome make it
look not particularly attractive. And remember that you must
have a drive that supports that function too (=higher cost and
limited selection)

I buy exclusively Taiyo-Yuden DVD+R inkjet-printable discs.
I am very happy with them. Excelent quality and reputation, etc.

Good prices at supermediastore.com and according to digitalFAQ,
they have the best reputation for not selling "forgeries" (other
brands labeled as T-Y, etc.

http://www.supermediastore.com/
http://www.digitalfaq.com/media/dvdmedia.htm
http://www.digitalfaq.com/dvdguides/buyerguides/buymedia.htm
http://www.rcrowley.com/VideoBKM.htm

 

They are frequently less expensive than the white ones.

 

Here's where I get mine

http://www.rima.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=R&Category_Code=TY

rtr

 

Black Sharpie.

 

I picked up an Epson Stylus Photo R200 at Sam's club for $80 about two
months ago. It is great. Thanks to Ken Maltby for recommending on
this group in the past. I am having more fun with it... I buy the
Verbatum printable DVDs there as well.

Very few recommend using stick on labels. Too many problem reports.
DVDs spin at a much higher rate than CDs.

Cheers...

 

Have been using Neato labels for a few years now without problems. I
make 5 to 10 DVDs per month for myself and friends... never been a
problem. They're great too if you are in a hurry and don't have time for
inkjet ink to dry.

George

 

There are many who report your experience. Just as many have reported
bad experience with stick on labels. Many just with playback problems.
Could be labels, could be something else. Counter intuitive to me.
Faster that it spins, the more stable that it should be, to my
thinking.

But... I just believe it to be wise to fall on the conservative side
here.

There is virtually no dry time with my Epson. I print, stick in jewel
case. Haven't smeared one yet. Much easier too, imho.

If I were to use stick on labels, then I would only label a copy, not
the master.

Cheers...

 

One little precaution to keep in mind, the ink only
sticks to the "Printable" area of the disk. If you are
pushing the limits of that area, it's possible to have
some overspray land on a part where the ink will
never stick or dry. This could be a problem as the
printer ages, when switching disk make/models, or
anything else that effects exact alignment.

To avoid this remote problem I just wipe the
non-printable areas, the rim and the inner circle,
after I've printed a disk. The Epson's printing is
so Photo like and uses so little ink that overspray
is really unlikely, and the disks dry very quickly.

Luck;
Ken

 

The discs I print are dry as they come out of the printer.
I insert them directly into the box and have never had a
problem with smearing etc. Epson R300 with standard
dye-based ink.

 

George,
The few times I ever used a label on a cd or dvd, years later, I see the
label wrinkles or peeling from humidity.
So that's why i also went to using the epson r200 for direct disc printing,
and love it.

The ink dries the same speed as it would on a paper label, the inkjet
printable dvd's are not smooth and shiny like regular dvd's but rather have
an absorbent paper like label on the top of the disc permanently adhered at
the factory so there is no chance of rippling from humidity or peeling off
cause the glue got old or moist.

Also if I really want resilant water proof and washable dvd's, I spray a
light coat of clear enamel on top and then it takes a few hours to dry (if
even that)
and then the ink is washable with no water damage to the printing at all, so
the dvd can be cleaned in the future like a commercial dvd can.

I highly recommend the epsonR200 and R300 for direct to dvd printing. Sure
dye sublimation and wax printing would be better, since they are water-proof
right away but the price on those printers and supplies just hasn't reached
consumer levels yet.
There are places that will burn and print your dvd's with wax printers for
as low as $5 a disc, minimum 3 dvd's, so that's an option, I seen one in a
trade show offerring that service. Not a bad deal considering you get the
dvd and printing cost plus their labor for only $5 each.

AnthonyR.

 

I used "Varathane" on a crossword puzzle that I epoxied to a
TV tray, many years ago and it's still smooth and washable.

That last might work if you could upload the DVD contents and
the label artwork to their system somehow. Is the 3 disk minimum
3 copies of the same DVD, or can you provide three ISO images
and three label art files? For the archiving/collecting of TV series
or most other situations that I can think of, you would want unique
information on each disk.

I use the free Gimp2 to resize, cleanup, title and composite
graphic files ( Love their Smudge tool. ) for use with the CD
Print program. Examples of some of my first:
http://photos.yahoo.com/

Luck;
Ken

 

If your Epson works for you, thats great. The OP wanted to know what
type labeling people are using on DVDs. I don't think it is accurate to
say there are many problems reported with labels. I use a dye-sub
printer, in wax mode with finish overcoat, to print my DVD labels and
folks tell me they look like professional DVDs. And, of course, they
will not fade. Never had a problem like those you mention. One of my
friends had a problem with one not playing right that her kids used a
lot; it was skipping. I cleaned the peanut butter off of it with some
water and it played fine after that <grin>.

George

 

Ken,
I believe it was 3 disc of the same art and sme content minimum and not sure
about don't loading the data, but that would be nice.
I like your labels, I noticed however you still aren't using the full face,
hub free inkjet printable dvd's.
Once i switched to them, I loved how much nicer the dvd looks with so much
more room for titles and artwork that hated making dvd's
on the few remaining non hub printable dvd's I had left.
Nice work,
AnthonyR.