Help with printing DVDs

[RickTheRed]

Dear inkjet dvd printer users (R200-300-I865-965)

Could you please suggest some tips on how to spray printed dvd's
to add that glossy look that I'm dying for.

Please do not tell me to search this forum. I did. Using "krylon" and other words.

I burn, print and let it relax for a day. Then I know I must apply a light coat at 12", always moving the can.

My question is: how do you "easily" prevent the stuff to destroy the burned side?
I have tried, only to have those disgusting red squares after a disk scan with cd/dvd speed (it should be green!)

Big thanks

[GizmoTheGremlin]

I cut out a piece of cardboard in the shape of a disc. I place the disc in the cardboard, then apply the spray. It's a tight fit.

[jimmalenko]

I always thought you buy the shiny top DVDs and this gives them a natural gloss, as opposed to the matte ones ?

[adam]

I've never done this personally, but you can use one of those label application devices that come with the stick on labels. Its got a lip around it which prevents the spray from going around the sides, and the disk rests on a post so there's no way for the spray to go through the hole. Other then that, you could try getting the same effect with a cakebox spindle. (you know, the spindles they come shipped in.)

[Fandim]

Hmmm....

Personally, a hand towel has always worked for me, or a big fluffy shower towel...(heh, my wife almost killed me for that one).

Just dont make the same dumbass mistake I did, lol.. Set up a row of 6 DVD's, sprayed them all at once...let dry...then, I put them back in their cases, and without even thinkin, started lining up another set of discs...ugh...instant coaster... heh heh. The krylon on the towel didnt get along with the bottom of my DVD's.. (Only one was salvageable..and barely.)

Seth

[jimmalenko]

Set up a row of 6 DVD's, sprayed them all at once...let dry...then, I put them back in their cases, and without even thinkin, started lining up another set of discs...ugh...instant coaster... heh heh.

Production line ?

[steveryan]

I use a disc spindle and one of those plastic spacer discs that you get at the top and bottom of a spindle. Take the spacer and simply cut out a circle the same size as the disc hub. Place your blank cd/dvd disc on the spindle then put the piece of plastic you have just made on top of the disc. Spray with Ghiant glossy spray, come back in 15 minutes and admire.

[venomva]

how in the world are you guys printing on the dvds without using the label things?

[jimmalenko]

they're called printable top DVDs

[RickTheRed]

Thanks all for your great tips.

I'm gonna try some this week-end (many disks are just sitting, waiting to be glossy).
I remember that I have recently cleaned my desk and trew away (aargh) the spindle spacers.

I guess I will try the cardboard one first.

btw, I will try with Krylon triple thick gloss.
I've read that it's suppose to give a super finish (with high odor level).

[p_l]

You could also just put your disc in an old CD jewel case when you spray it.

[RickTheRed]

You could also just put your disc in an old CD jewel case when you spray it.

p_I
Have you really tried this?
There is always a gap.

[p_l]

If it doesn't go down far enough not to leave a gap, you could always add the spacer disc underneath, as steveryan suggests, or even an old coaster.

[theiceman_84]

I was considering buying a new printer that allows you to print to cd`s. I was looking at the epson R200 @ £85 or R300 @ £105 and was wondering what are the differences between them?

I am going to use the printer just for cds as the ink is alot more expensive than my current printer.

Does anyone now a approx figure of how many cds you could print to with a full set of ink?

Also how much does the spray to make the discs glossy costs?

Thanks for any info

[Nexeh]

I was considering buying a new printer that allows you to print to cd`s. I was looking at the epson R200 @ £85 or R300 @ £105 and was wondering what are the differences between them?

R200 does not have the built in LCD that R300 has, besides that they are identical.

Does anyone now a approx figure of how many cds you could print to with a full set of ink?

I think I got close to 200 DVDs with mine.

Also how much does the spray to make the discs glossy costs?

I buy a can of glossy sealant from Michaels and it cost me about $6 I have sprayed about 60 or so DVDs and only used about a 1/4 of the can. I really dont like the glossy look. I trying to spray just enough to cover the DVD.

[steveryan]

http://www.epson.co.uk/products/inkjet_printers/Stylus_Photo_R300.htm

http://www.epson.co.uk/products/inkjet_printers/Stylus_Photo_R200.htm

The Ghiant spray costs £4.99.

[theiceman_84]

Thanks for the info steveryan and nexeh.

What type of dvd media do you use and how much do they cost?

I have seen printable dvds with a white top on them, however i was wondering if you can get printable silver topped disc?

[Padre]

I use a disc spindle and one of those plastic spacer discs that you get at the top and bottom of a spindle. Take the spacer and simply cut out a circle the same size as the disc hub. Place your blank cd/dvd disc on the spindle then put the piece of plastic you have just made on top of the disc. Spray with Ghiant glossy spray, come back in 15 minutes and admire.

I spray mine using the disc spindle too, but a little different:

First, I put a little tape around the center of the spindle (keeps the plastic spacer from going all the way to the bottom of the spindle).

Then I place the plastic spacer on the spindle.

Next, I put the dvd on the spindle (lays on the plastic spacer).

I use some paper tape (masking tape) to bond the two together (run the tape around the end of the two discs (dvd and plastic spacer). This protects the data portion of the dvd from accidentally being spray on.

After it drys, just remove the paper tape, put another dvd on and spray.

Done a few thousand this way, and it works perfectly. No contamination of the data surface.

[theiceman_84]

Thanks for the info steveryan and nexeh.

What type of dvd media do you use and how much do they cost?

I have seen printable dvds with a white top on them, however i was wondering if you can get printable silver topped disc?

[RickTheRed]

If it doesn't go down far enough not to leave a gap, you could always add the spacer disc underneath, as steveryan suggests, or even an old coaster.

What a brilliant idea to reuse coasters

What type of dvd media do you use and how much do they cost?

I have seen printable dvds with a white top on them, however i was wondering if you can get printable silver topped disc?

Any inkjet printable (IJP) dvd's will do (just make sure they're not thermal if you have an inkjet printer: it will just do a mess)
I'm using prodisc (hub), ritek and TY (non-hub)
I prefer white, but I'have also tried TY silver IJP cd'r and I like it for home design text. But if you want to print a "real" looking dvd-video, then white IJP is your choice.
Printable medias are usually a few bucks more per 50 disks. Not to be worried about.

Verbatim and Maxell are supposed to give good results (In Canada these brands are not available at decent prices)

[jetfan]

I spray mine using an old jewel case like p_l does. I spray about 14 inches or so above the disc and always straight down, no problems with overspray so far, and don't anticipate any in the future. I also do 2 passes, one east to west and one north to south, so that I know that I covered the entire disc.

[jetfan]

Also, someone asked about how many cd/DVD's you get out of a set of inks, depending on what you print, you could expect between 90-150 discs



I used the white printables by Beall and am very happy with the quality, but I also use the silver discs and they give a iridescent effect,almost
holographic, so I don't use them as much. I also had good results with the Ridata's but only the white ones, the silver ones had horrible results, but they may have sent the wrong discs, I have not been able to prove it one way or another so I just use those discs for data backups.

[Blazey]

Ok, here's what I do...

Get a nice flat piece of 1" thick pine from Home Depot. 24"X36" will do nicely.

Sand and finish it with strong Marine grade varnish.

Take a router and a circle cutting jig and rout holes the size of a disc in the wood. Make sure to rout around the spindle hole because you will need this still intact to keep overspray from bleeding under the disc. Obviously, you can fit quite a few discs on this. Make sure it's a bit oversized. By a bit, I mean A HAIR! Depth should be 1/4"

Now, get some wood laminate edging that is 5/8" wide. This stuff is flexable and has adhesive on one side. Line the edge of each cutout and use Aquarium Sealant to hold it on tighter that the adhesive it came with. Aquarium Sealant is flexable and this is important.

Ok, if you've measured correctly, the disc will fit, but be VERY snug, thus no overspray on the data side.

20 discs in one spray session on this size board. It's not that difficult to construct and pine is SOOOOO cheap, you can screw up a few times like I did.

I will try and make a guide if anyone is interested.

Also, I don't use a spray can. Buy Testors Gloss Coat at a hobby shop and spray if from an airbrush. Much smoother and if done right, airbrush spray is nearly dry when it hits the surface, thus minimizing the chance of overspray further.

[steveryan]

I use the Prodisc S03 printables, good discs and the printable surface is the best i've used.

@Blazey Good idea with the airbrush, think i'll give that a try.

[illgamma]

i dont know if its just that its not humid where i live (appalachian mtns) but i have never needed to do this, printed over 200 discs and none of them got smudged, even if i touch it minutes after the print, ive used ritek and prodisc inkjet printable on R200. anybody else skip this step other than me?

[steveryan]

TBH I just think the discs look better with a gloss coat, and it waterproofs them.

[anaboland]

old news paper a few sheets thick, put disc on news paper, apply slight pressure using something like a old ink refill bottle to centre of disc, and give an even light coat, after a couple of seconds when overspray has settled lift disc and put somewhere safe for 20mins or so. Use a new clean sheet of news paper for each disc to prevent the problem of spray getting on the readable surface of the next disc.

Matt spray looks more like retail discs especially on TY disc as they have a slight stippled surface.

[RickTheRed]

i dont know if its just that its not humid where i live (appalachian mtns) but i have never needed to do this, printed over 200 discs and none of them got smudged, even if i touch it minutes after the print, ive used ritek and prodisc inkjet printable on R200. anybody else skip this step other than me?

Wet your finger and rub a dried DVD, you'll understand why some people are spraying them. I know we're not supposed to do this but kids do not always handle DVD correctly.
I'm also using R200, OEM ink, ritek and prodisc.

old news paper a few sheets thick, put disc on news paper, apply slight pressure using something like a old ink refill bottle to centre of disc...

This is what I did to create my first coasters, but I must admit that I did not put something to create pressure. I might try this as well.

Thanks again.
You dudes are cool. Didn't expect so many good tips. I've started yesterday with what was available to me at the moment: cd jewel case. I've put a coaster under the dvd to make sure there was no gap.
It was too late when I remembered that I should have first spray the newspaper to get a nice spray before spraying the disc. The fist half of the disc got 1/16" of spray (in a fraction of second)!!!
My second attempt was much better. I did not have the time to scan them.

I'm trying with both Krylon triple thick and Krylon protective coat (designed to protect inkjet photos)
I do not have a scanner but I will post my final findings later.
However, after one coat the Krylon triple thick is better, more uniform finish than the Krylon for photos.

[seashadow]

I use the plastic tops that covers the cd spindle. I have saved five of these so i can do a few at a time. I set the cd on the center hub (outside top of course) and then spray. This has eliminate issues of getting spray on the underside, or having the cd stick the surface.

[JeeDub]

Just my 2 cents . . .

I have bought the Epson R200 for just that purpose, printing on CDs and DVDs for that "professional" look.
I found white inkjet printable CDs at my local Staples, there aren't much more then regular discs. I had to order the printable DVDs online, Staples and everybody else in town does not carry them.
I live in Canada and found a place called www.blankmedia.ca which carries many kinds of media. Great place to deal with and they have many ways to pay including PayPal. They also sell inkjet printer ink cartridges, though I haven't bought any there yet.
I also have started to dabble with spraying the surface to protect the printing on the DVD. I use an old jewel case bottom to hold the disc, and spray with Krylon matte. It works okay, I guess, it has a matte finish that is a little bumpier/rougher then I intended but it seems to work. I am still looking for better solutions . . .

I am very pleased with the printer, highly recomended. It is easy to use and produces great results with good source files. You may or may not know of good places for images, two of my favourites are www.cdcovers.cc and http://covers.to/. I also have a HP 970 which I use to print all my other stuff, but it can't do discs. I had heard (from here and other people) that stick-on labels were not a good idea, so I decided on this route. Keep posting your ideas and solutions guys, I have learned a lot from you.

Also, I read something here last week about "D-skins", does anyone know what they are? I got the impression that they were thin, clear stickers that you apply to a disc to protect them after burning/printing, but I haven't seen any more about them.