Question about which labeling system to go with

[absinthecarolinas]

I'm going out and buying a new printer today. Think I'm going with the Canon i560, on sale at my local Sam's for $79 plus change. My primary motivator is el-cheapo replacement cartridges. Heck, it would cost me almost that much to replace the color and black cartridges in my Lexmark.

In the past, I've always been a "Sharpie" guy. But now that I've upgraded from CD to DVD burning, these discs are really going to proliferate around the house and they all look the damn same

To the point: I want to label them in some way. Software-wise, I know there's all kinds of freeware out there. Not to mention I have Nero, so I can use that. But my question is about the paper.

Specifically, what paper works with what? In other words, it seems that the labels are perforated on the sticky paper in a certain layout (say, covers at the top and disc labels at the bottom, or any other number of arrangements). What if I want to use Nero and Nero only prints a certain way?

What I'm getting at is (I think), if I pick a software, will I absolutely, positively have to buy a very specific paper/refill pack to use it?

I'm looking for broad cross-compatability here.

Sub-question A: I gather from reading in this forum that "thin" labels are best for DVDs? What are some brands and where can they be acquired?

Sub-question B: Do you know of a store/source where I can just buy a good applicator by itself (no paper/software/package)? I ran across one at some point, but after extensive web search I can't find it again.

Thanks!

=abs

[andyp1]

Why not go for a printer that prints directly to cds like Epson r200 or 900 , plenty of cheap ink knocking around for these.

I don't label discs now I had too many problem of discs jumping and sticking near the end.

Labelling software BTW usually has templates in for just about every kind of labels out there.

[jimmalenko]

I concur with andyp1. Get a printer that prints directly to the DVD or CD and use printable media. Sticky labels are just asking for trouble.

[andkiich]

Either get a printer that printers directly to printable DVDs(see Andyp1 post) or stick with markers and stencils.

Paper/plastic labels are just one more thing to add to a number of items that can affect the DVDs performance.

Also, you are adding an extra cost by purchasing ink for the printer, labels(constant purchases). Markers last a long time and stencils never wear out(one time stencil purchase and markers are cheap).

[Mr. Orange Pants]

I can give you my similar situation so you can see what its like. I have the Canon i550 and make a lot of DVDs and agree, having the cartridge replacements cheap help a lot. I get Neato cd labels which I print onto, get dvd cases, and use regular glossy paper for the dvd case inserts (you don't need glossy paper, I've found a heavier stock of regular paper can work fine as well). If you buy your materials (dvds, cases, paper, labels) in bulk or at decent prices, making a full dvd with case and labels can be as low as $1.00 (usually more around the $1.50 mark).

Quality is superb as that printer does photo quality printouts and with all the cases I usually have lying around my room mixed in the real dvds, I have to look hard sometimes to figure out what is fo rizzle (pardon me, I couldn't resist). I get the dvd cases off of ebay or you can do web sites like supermediastore.com, meritonline.com, etc. DVDrs I get from wherever I'm finding my good deals, lately, Office Depot. I get cd glossy labels off Ebay as well, but you can look around and find them anywhere, even at regular stores so you can get some and see if you like it. I use the neato mediaface software to print with, but you can use most graphical programs out there as you can either find templates to use or they already have the printing preferences in them for widely used stuff like the Neato labels. There's also plenty of freeware programs out there too you can use (mediaface is free and designed for the labels, so why not).

I have made at least 200 DVDs, I'm sure its more like double that, and have never had problems caused by labels. The only time I've ever had dvds I've burned not work or have problems is due to bad dvdrs which I can trace. The Canon printer has never given me problems and like I said before, print quality is great. In all honesty, if you already have the graphics you want, the entire process of making a dvd can be 20-30 mins, which includes burning the dvd.

If you have anymore questions or want advice, feel free to pm or email me.

[absinthecarolinas]

Yes, I've looked at the Epson r200, and I've considered the idea of printing directly on the discs. It sounds great, except I'm not sure I want to base a whole "printer-buy" on disc printing (even though, don't tell the wife, that's basically what I'm doing )

But seriously, I'm thinking along the lines of maybe just printing jacket/case inserts and then just using a Sharpie on the discs themselves. I doubt that I will make DVDs in that great a volume (I say that now . . . ). But in the case of audio CDs, I think I would indeed want a printed label on the disc. Labels causing problems isn't quite that much of an issue for audio CD's is it?

And besides, what a deal I can get on this Canon. And wow, what cheap ink!

Thanks for your post, Mr. Orange Pants. I'll probably pick up some Neato or Fellowes labels at my local Wal-Mart to get started with. I'm honestly thinking of using the thin-line CD-type cases as I've got so many damn DVDs and CDs around here that s p a c e is becoming an issue.

I swear I recently came across a web page that had a wide variety of applicators, even in assorted colors, for 5 bucks a pop. Wish I could find it again. Ah well, I'll probably just get a starter kit from Wally World.

Thanks everyone!

=abs

[ClayBuster]

I was just at microcenter and the R200 was only $79

[andyp1]

Labels causing problems isn't quite that much of an issue for audio CD's is it?

Don't kid yourself. I thought that until the last track on a bunch of cds I did jumped about for fun.

[absinthecarolinas]

Hmmm . . . $79 at Microcenter. Actually, with shipping it'll be more like $97. But still, I'd only pay $92 for the R200 at Newegg, and considering the tax I'd pay at my local Sam's for the i560, I could get the R200 for only about $6 or 7 bucks more.

Now I'm starting to reconsider . . .

(six ink tanks . . . seems like a lot . . . )

=abs

[Tiny71]

Six is actually better, since you only replace cyan when you run out of cyan....not the entire color cartridge when you run out of a single color. Also, the output is fantastic.

I just replaced my Epson brand ink with some generic stuff from www.inkgrabber.com and it is outputting the same so far. And all six will not cost more than 30 I think....vs 60+ in the retail stores.

I have the Epson R300....the R200 is the same just minus the cardslots and b/w lcd.

I can honestly say that you will not be disapointed.

[rixware]

No sticky labels! No sticky labels! No sticky labels!

I've been down that road and back (I make discs by the hundreds for paying customers -- mostly schools, churches, and businesses). I cannot state it strongly enough: NO STICKY LABELS!

It's a HUGE issue. A sticky label can render a DVD immediately unplayable on certain players. Remove the label and the disc plays fine. It doesn't happen on every disc, but happens enough to be a very real risk. And no one knows for sure why they cause a problem. Label companies maintain that it's a myth, but I can tell you from first-hand experience, it is very real. And it gets worse as the adhesive on the label dries. A disc that played fine right after it finished burning, may not play at all after a couple of months on the shelf -- until you soak the label off!

That should be enough for anyone to run screaming from the sticky label aisle.

The R200 is an amazing printer for discs and for everything else. Inks are dirt cheap. Ritek printable DVD-R discs can be purchased online for $0.74 each (in batches of 100). This is the best solution.

Sharpie is the second best.

Everyone, altogether, repeat after me: NO STICKY LABELS!

+

[dxj40c]

Best choice is prinable disks. Before that i used CD Stomper Labels. The labels are thin, in fact, too thin to cover logos printed on the disk. However, I have had no problems with 'lifting' or comeing unstuck. I can't see any loss of performance of the disks. Disks I labeled 5 years ago still play fine, but I store them in a container that keeps out humidity so that may have an effect.