Inkjet printable media, lightscribe, labels. Who uses these and how good?

[tmh]

I've read many threads here about DVD media. Many say labels can cause a problem. Some like this, some like that. I have used Lightscribe discs for a while with mixed results. Depending on what you want to put on the disc, some look pretty cool, some absolutely suck.

I know some discs are "inkjet printable". Does that mean I can just run them through my normal inkjet printer? or can I only use a printer made just for printing on media? Is the image pretty good as compared to the same image printed on paper?

Labels. Anyone have continued success with them? What application method/tool works best? Are certain brands better than others?

For my own discs, a marker is fine for me. However, whaen doing a video project for others, the "look" is half the results. I want them to look professional, or as close to it as I can withoutbreaking the bank.

[KBeee]

No, you can't run an "Inkjet Printable" DVD or CD through a standard printer. You need a printer that prints to DVD.
Though if you're adventurous and can find DVD's that are flexible enough to follow the paper guides through your printer I guess you could try...

[wayne421]

Epson R220 (much improved over the old R200):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16828103180

Epson R320:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16828103168R

I use both of these regularly and they kick butt.

[MJA]

I think I saw the Epson R220 yesterday at Walmart for $49

[xxiangg]

My first printer for printing DVD was an Espon R200. Becuase its ink
is too difficult to refill and without refill it is too expensive
to own, I switched to a Canon printer after the original ink for
Espon ran out. Since then the Canon printer has worked wonderfully.
Frankly, I do not know if the recent legel problem for Espon related
to their printer will lead to some changes in their way to design
the ink cartridge. If it will make the printer cheaper to own in the
future, I may consider it next time.

[videobread]

I use an Epson Stylus Photo 900. Bought one new when they first came out in summer of 2003. Then I bougth a remanufactured one on e-bay for under $100 delivered. Do all my graphics in Photoshop then tranfer files over to Epson supplied printing software. I was up and printing on the Epson software within hours. Really easy to use. Nice thing is the printing cost is really cheap. It takes two cartridges - one black and one color. I get them for $5.10 black and $5.25 color. They are so cheap that I have never even considered refilling or CIS. The LightScribe is too new for me. Sounds really neat though.

[tmh]

OK, but those aren't called "DVD printers" or "Disc Printers". How does one know they handle Discs? Also, any damage to the burn surface? Do you print or burn first?

Are there templates to design the image to fit on a round disc?

Thanks.

[Sifaga]

they come with a disc tray

no damage to burn surface

burn first then print

you usually get software with the printer or use label software like surething

[Geocaris]

Anyone know if you can run 2 R220 on the same computer at the same time? Not in sync.

[videobread]

Don't know, but something you might want to try is running the task manager in windows while printing a DVD. I was supprised how processing power it took. 25%-30% with spikes much higher on my 2.8P4. On the other hand burning 2 DVD's at once took only 2% of processing power. Really suprized how much resource printing takes.

[Professor HD]

If you get the chance you should check out the new HP CD/DVD Tattoos. They work in your existing inkjet printer and can be applied to any disc. They can be purchased at www.hp.com/go/tattoos.

[CogoSWSDS]

Back in my VCD days (pre-2005) I tried paper labels on some of my VCDs. They played OK at first but after a few months would no longer play in my DVD player. Discs without the paper labels played OK. For a long time I've used the old stand-by sharpie to label discs as I do not have an inkjet capable of printing directly onto the disk.

In February I got a new computer that came with a lightscribe-enabled drive. My wife was with me when we got it and she thought it would be cool to try the lightscribe discs.

The original lightscribe discs take about 30 minutes to burn a full-width disc image, and the contrast leaves a bit to be desired. Recently "Lightscribe 1.2" has come out with a bit better contrast, and the local Wal-Mart carries a 10-pack Verbatim brand Lightscribe 1.2 discs for about $10 (on a spindle), same price as for the old original lightscribe discs. Burning a full-width disc image on these discs takes about 20 minutes.

So far I am pleased with the lightscribe technology although as I said the Lightscribe 1.2 discs perform better than the original discs. The contrast is better and they burn slightly faster.

Note to those who do not know: Lightscribe requires both a lightscribe-enabled drive and lightscribe discs.

CogoswSDS

[beric3236]

Another problem with light scribe it is black and the color of the disk only. There are rumors about color Lightscribe but, what I have found is that they are changing the color of the disk so it will be black on the color of disk that you choose. If the label you print does not come out clear or not to your liking, you can print the label on the light scribe more than once because the Lightscribe printing engine uses "polar coordinates". The starting point is always the same, which allows you to print the same design multiple times. There's a good article on this here: http://www.cdrinfo.com/Sections/Reviews/Specific.aspx?ArticleId=13449&PageId=5

[jlbooth]

I have used a Canon i865 for several years now and it is great. Love the on disc printed label altho it is matt finish. Do not know if you can get shiny finish. Think you would have to have matt or shiny at time of purchase of blank media, but have not seen shiny blank media for sale.
Need to be careful thou, once printed, do not get wet altho as time passes, the ink seems to become more imprevious to a slight amount of moisture, but after first printing is very susceptible to smudging with just a spittle amount of water.

Have bought a can of spray of "Sprayfix" to apply to discs after printing - will be interesting to see how it performs, supposed to give added protection to disc.
Can says "Protect your printed CD's, CD-labels, Photos, Designs and colour prints against moisture, water, scratch and fading."
Wonder if it will also put a shine on those matt discs.

Stick on labels where I have done it going back a few years, now show signs of not so flat application even thou at time I used a label applicator.

While Lightscribe seems useful, the time it takes to burn the image to the disc is overwhelming, while my Canon takes the same time to print to disc as it would to print at High res on paper.

I would definitely recommend using a printer that prints on discs and Canon would be my preferred option due to replacement of inks. (And not Epson because of their ink issues)Currently I replace 5 tanks for around $25.