Adhesive labels - DVD Defects

[laspis59]

I have been reading this site:

http://www.digitalfaq.com/dvdguides/basics/dvdintro.htm

If you scroll down to STEP 7:PRESENTATION,it says "NEVER USE LABELS ON DVDs!!!"
I have read the same thing said on a thread at this site also.
I've bought about 600 glossy labels and it cost me a bomb.

Why not use labels on your DVD's,I cant see what it can do to damage them?Its not as if your sticking the label on the dye side of the disc.My labels also have a good adhesive,as it states on the packs.

Does anyone else use labels?I'm not buying another 500 DVD+R's just for inkjet printing and I like better presentation than using just pens.
What damage do labels cause to your DVD or CD media?

Thanks.

[steve2713]

Do a search, there's about 500 threads on the subject. Some people claim to have no problems, but the overall opinion of them is that they are bad.

[laspis59]

Did the search.I'm not going to use them.Too risky,although I've had no probs at all in the past with different brand labels on many different players.I cannot risk coasters and compatibility problems.
What a total waste of money
I wish I had of read about this subject a lot sooner

[Nelson37]

To me the critical piece of info was several users with disks which would not play, or had errors, then removed the label and no problems.

This is one of those areas where it is interesting, but not necessary, to know exactly how the problem is being caused. It definitely happens, and to lots of people. Most plausible theory so far is different rates of expansion causing curvature of the disk, particularly when heated.

CD's do not seem to suffer whatsoever from this problem.

[laspis59]

To me the critical piece of info was several users with disks which would not play, or had errors, then removed the label and no problems.

This is one of those areas where it is interesting, but not necessary, to know exactly how the problem is being caused. It definitely happens, and to lots of people. Most plausible theory so far is different rates of expansion causing curvature of the disk, particularly when heated.

CD's do not seem to suffer whatsoever from this problem.

Your right,from what I've read in my search,its hard to tell exactly what is causing the problem,it definitely isn't whether the labels are balanced correctly.
I agree with your theory.It could depend on how flimsy the DVD is.How hot the DVD Player gets.If the DVD Player can keep the DVD+\-R's spinning at the right balance.The label's paper and adhesive expanding and contracting(Causing warping\curvation thus hard for player to read outer edge of disc)
Anyway,I'm not risking it,but what a TOTAL waste of my money (600 GLOSSY labels) and I have'nt got money to waste either.
Ah well you sometimes have to learn the hard way in this game

[guns1inger]

I'm not convinced that CDs don't suffr the same physical effects, however with a lot less data on them, the error margin is greater so the effect doesn't have the sam eimpact.

[MOVIEGEEK]

I'm not convinced that CDs don't suffr the same physical effects, however with a lot less data on them, the error margin is greater so the effect doesn't have the sam eimpact.

Also the tracks are closer and laser wavelength are shorter on a DVD,it's best not to use labels on either.

[TooLFooL]

i've stuck a labal on practically every disc i've ever made. matte & glossy. never once had a playback problem. i prefer matte, glossies smear!

[dvdguy4]

Thats why I use a Sharpie

[laspis59]

I know this is going to sound absolutely stupid,but what the hell is a sharpie.
I typed sharpie pens into google and cant find any sites that say the sharpie pens have anything to do with writing on CD\DVD media.
Isn't it better to use pens that are specifically made for writing on blank media like the ones I own,found here:

http://www.cd-rmedia.co.uk/cgi-bin2/details.pl?id=vpens

[e404pnf]

I know this is going to sound absolutely stupid,but what the hell is a sharpie.

Just a brand of marker. Took me a while to figure that one out too!!

It's the norm in the US to use brand names (Xerox) rather than generic terms (photocopy).

- e404pnf

[Mister Flonk-Flonk]

Anyway,I'm not risking it,but what a TOTAL waste of my money (600 GLOSSY labels) and I have'nt got money to waste either.
Ah well you sometimes have to learn the hard way in this game

Maybe you can unload them on eBay and recover some of your loss and make it a little less painfull of a lesson?

[Shocker Milwaukee]

I know this is going to sound absolutely stupid,but what the hell is a sharpie?

[jntaylor63]

I always use hub/core labels. Its safe and cheap.

The only time I have seem a label cause a problem was with a used DVD I got at Block Buster. Played fine for 3 to 4 times, but then the label started to look faded and then the disk just stopped playing. I could rip it to my harddrive and burn a back-up.

Again, be safe. Print, write or use hub labels

[dvdguy4]

Never had a problem once. I would like to see some pics of dvds with the print on them though if it can be done. Maybe consider getting a printer that way. Thanks

[laspis59]

Anyway,I'm not risking it,but what a TOTAL waste of my money (600 GLOSSY labels) and I have'nt got money to waste either.
Ah well you sometimes have to learn the hard way in this game

Maybe you can unload them on eBay and recover some of your loss and make it a little less painfull of a lesson?

Thanks,good idea.Their good quality glossy labels,so I'm sure someone will buy them.
Hope they haven't read this thread though.

[fritzi93]

I always use hub/core labels. Its safe and cheap.

Yeah, me too. Safe? No problems yet, I guess so.

[pepegot1]

Never had a problem with hundreds of labels. Make sure you get good labels, not junk.

[Wile_E]

The problem with labels, is that bubbles of air can get trapped underneath. Then the label can cause problems over time. But if you do it right, and place it on completely flat, it should be okay. I have about 100 CD-R's I made, all with laser labels on them. Never a problem. I've seen new labels called made out of Film instead of paper. Supposedly those are better, and won't absorb moisture.

Don't hub labels wear out over time? CD/DVD players have a mounting mechanism that holds the disc at the hub. I would think that the label on the hub area would interfere.

[labelerdude]

I have also tried putting a mini cd label onto a dvd. It plays properly and the mini cd label is bigger so you can put a picture on it. I put the opening screen from Animal House on the mini cd label and applied it to the dvd. It plays with no problem. It kind of makes ithe dvd look like an old 45 record.

[John Shumate]

I remember when I was tranferring some video over to DVD for a customer that I put on labels. I never had any playback problems with them but, he came back the next day saying the discs would skip in his player. I gave him 2 new DVDs just without the labels on them and he was greatly satisfied since they worked now.

Since then. I don't even put labels on my discs. Now when I put them in a case, I jyst buy some Avery labels for evenelopes and print out a label with the title, year, and if applicable rating and place it on the front of the case.

I've noticed that most of the newer players don't take Discs with labels too well..unless they're printed directly onto the Disc or use lightscribe.

[MarkTwo]

Labels are for life!!

Hi Guys

I have been using Avery CD/DVD lables for the past 4 years, and have noticed that its virtually impossible to get those labels off if you have put them on the wrong disc,
I once tried soakig a disk in warm soapy water, thinking that the paper would disolve after a few hours. NUP!!! Those labels are there for life....


Mark

[rumplestiltskin]

Slot-loading DVD drives can generate a lot of heat (PowerBooks, for example). Leave a disc with a label in there long enough (using MacTheRipper, for example), and the heat may soften the glue enough to permit a label edge to peel up. Then, when you eject the disc, the label peels off and remains inside the drive. Sayonara.

This is not urban legend. I've seen it happen and, in one case, managed to get the label out (although I had to replace the "lip" of the drive which had become sticky).

Sharpie - yes, use it outside of the burned area (or on the hub).

[leebo]

CD's are made differently than DVD's.

Just try peeling a label from a CD and you'll find out the hard way.

To remove a label from a DVD, you need something to melt the glue, like WD40 - Soap wont work.


To everyone who swears they don't have problems with labels, try taking a labeled DVD that you made at least a year ago and play it in several players - after leaving it in the player for a while (time to let it get hot).

[TooLFooL]

lighter fluid folks (like zippo brand)!
will remove any adhesive and will damage pracically NO surface. Trust me!

[Wile_E]

The main problem with all CD-R and DVD-R discs, is the aluminum layer. It is used for reflectability only, and is on the outside of the protective plastic on top of the disc. Basically glued to the top of the disc. Now on pressed discs, the aluminum layer is sandwiched between plastic, and is actually pressed with pits. If you were to damage the aluminum top of a CD-R/DVD-R, the disc would be damaged too. On a pressed disc, it's much harder to damage since the aluminum is protected. But I still say sharpies are safe to use on aluminum top of discs. It won't eat through it.

If you really want to remove glue, you could use Naptha solvent. That stuff is harsh and will eat through anything! Not sure if it's even legal anymore to buy.

[delius]

used to use stickons rarely a problem
howevever add up the cost now use printable dvd/cds
with cheap epson r200 cd/dvd photo printer under 100$

[sejac3]

The problem I have found with stick-ons is that it is impossible to get them centered and as such they throw the dvd off balance. At the beginning of the dvd it is not noticeable, but has the read head moves farther out and the dvd picks up speed to compensate for the further distance, balance becomes and important issue. I don't use them anymore and no more problems.

[jdizzy40]

Man this post was good reading for a Sunday night. I couldn't stop laughing after the part about the Google search for "Sharpie's". I lived in East Angila (Cambridge) UK for 5 years and wished I had run into this guy.

[rumplestiltskin]

Just to add some gasoline to the fire...

I've used the 3/8" and 1/2" labels from a Brother P-touch label printer (on discs I make for -other than- slot loading drives). I keep the name short (or split it between two labels) and stick the labels as close to the hub as possible. I've never had any issues with these labels. Brother even makes a label stock with an "industrial" sticky adhesive. Note you'll need to use pretty smooth discs for the labels to stick. Labels just pop right off printable discs in a few seconds.