Identifying Inkjet or Thermal Printable DVD

[lousk]

How can one tell the difference?
If I undrestand correctly, if I were to use thermal printable DVD on an inkjet printer I would have unpleasant results and vise versa - correct?
Is there a visual way, code no. on the rim of the DVD or software program to identify printability format?

I've been to computer shops where they carry spindles of Princo, Ritek and other, without any label on the spindles to identify the printing method
other that I can tell they're printable by the white matte surface -- even
the sales persons are unsure.
TIA

Lou

[BJ_M]

as far as i know -- they are the same -- a least ive used the same disks in both types of printers with no problems ..

check the big online shops product descriptions

[chaseru]

Most one or two color thermal printers, i.e., Primera Inscripta or the cheap Casio CW-50 will print to most unbranded discs. By unbranded I mean that there is no manufacturer's logo printed on the disc. You can print to a branded disc, but the printers can have trouble printing over the existing printing.

The Inscripta and other one pass printers require that the disc have no top stacking ring. If you have a disc with a top stacking ring you can still print to it but you have to print the top and bottom of the disc separately, e.g., print the top, take it out, flip the disc around, and print the bottom -- you do this by default with the Casio since it is not a one pass printer.

I've had both of the thermal printers mentioned above and I have never had a disc I couldn't print on.

In order for an InkJet printer to print to a disc the disc must be specifically made for InkJet printing. Typically these discs have a paperlike top coating.

[sk1086]

You can print on to unbranded media with no logo with a thermal printer, but not with an inkjet printer. For white printable media, inkjet printable - has a rougher surface, similar to construction paper. Thermal printable - completely smooth, like glass.

[lousk]

I have a better undrestanding now -- Thank you for your help/replies.