Epson R200 and Print Quality of Various Discs

[nickelzy]

The media that you use CAN make a noticeable difference in the quality. I'm not sure if anyone has done any comparisons, but I've done two. I've printed some Memorex DVD+R's along side some Ritek G04's and compared the quality. Although there isn't a big difference, I definitely prefer the prints that come off of the riteks, for two reasons. For one, the disc surface is smoother, very much like what the surface of an original disc feels like. Therefore the disc comes out looking and feeling just like an original.

The Memorex discs (and again, this is just a slight difference) are a little rougher and not as smooth. It doesn't give you the feel that it would if you had a paper label affixed to the disc, but it's not the smooth, polished feel that original discs (or Ritek discs) have. The other thing is that although the Memorex discs tend to be a little brighter (and text stands out more), images aren't nearly as good as the Ritek G04's. With the Ritek discs, you can look at flesh tones, or black backgrounds, and it's very smooth looking without any pixels or lines. With the Memorex, you can see (very slightly) pixels and lines. The Ritek discs just look like the images are burned into the disc (giving it a very professional look, one that I REALLY like and prefer).

The bottom line is that with the Riteks, you could give someone a disc and as long as you printed a professional image on the disc, the person wouldn't know that it was a copy. With the Memorex, this is true with some discs, but others, not quite so (if you look really hard). And keep in mind, I probably wouldn't have as many issues had I not compared the Memorex to the Ritek.

Unfortunately for me, I can't use Riteks with my drive. I burned over 30 discs and only 5 worked. After 50 copies, the Memorex DVD+R's (Ricoh), haven't failed me yet. I don't want to paint the picture that Memorex doesn't provide you with good quality prints - I'm still VERY happy with my discs that come out of the R200 and they look amazing. However, after using (and seeing) the Ritek discs, I wish I could use those! But for me, I'll take reliability over a slight difference in quality. And again, I'm comparing and A to an A- (both are great, but the Riteks are just a little more to my liking)

It would be interesting to hear if anyone has any thoughts on other printable discs that are good to use.

[jaxxboss]

Yea but what about price difference? You get what you pay for. I cant see having the added expense of the riteks justified simply by a slightly better print image.

Now, if I could get some +R riteks at a dollar a disc, with free shipping(like the amazon deal), then I'll bite.

I can also write on -R, but ya know, I just dont like em,,,,and I dont wanna start a war here, just my personal preference.

[nickelzy]

Well, the Ritek G04's were about 97 cents a disc, after tax/shipping (so they are actually slightly cheaper than the Memorex). As for not wanting to use DVD-R, I guess I've missed your previous threads about why you don't like that format. I'm fairly new to the game, so I don't really know too much about the difference between the two. All I know is that I've had great success with Memorex DVD+Rs (Ricoh and CMC), and the only -R media that I've tried were the Ritek discs that my burner hated. I'd like to try some other -R media, because I think this was more of a brand thing that a -R media issue.

[Hawseman]

The Riteks have a kind of translucent look...least my Ridata G04's do. It works well for some prints...crappy for others. True pictures, like people's faces, I thought looked washed and cartoony (holes & secondhand lions). Some others looked better than the originals.

I'm still trying to make up my mind which I like best...sort of depends on your taste.

[jaxxboss]

Well, I dont like the -R media because I cant burn at 8x like I can a +R, I can only burn at 4x , also Im just used to using +R and I go with what works for me and what Ifeel comfy with. If it aint broke then dont F$#K with it.

[bdgriff]

Same situation here, I prefer to burn at 8X with my NEC2500 and Memorex +R's and have a slightly lower quality print, besides I am only printing them as backups for me and my family anyway right? ...I just finished Brother bear, and it looks fab...However, I give up on the whole spraying thing...Too much of a pain in the arse...

[quasar1963]

Has anyone had any luck with the silver printables using the Epson? If so, is there a good quality hub-printable version? I see the TY's, Prodisc, and Princo have them but are any of them truly hub-printable : smooth with no circular ring visible and no writing around the center?

[Chargerdan]

Quasar1963, You may want to look at this link: https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=211803

Tonyk23 printed a disk and posted a picture there. Don't know the printer he used. You may want to contact him. Let us know what you find out.

[tonyk23]

FYI: I used the Epson 900 Stylus Photo.

They print great depending on what you print. They have a bit of a 3D effect that you can't really see on the scan. The printing to the hub looks differnt than the white disks mostly because the area between the hub and the data is almost clear (you can see through it). Some look fantastic others not so good.

Good luck.

[SunMaster]

Here's a photo (my scanner sucks so badly) of a Datasafe (Ritek R03 DVD+R) print using an Epson R800. Not a perect photo either, I had to use a flash. No idea if the R200/R300 differs much print quality wise.

I think the disc itself looks very good, the only thing I miss is a little bit of "glossyness".