Good lightscribe label software

[neworldman]

Well I got a LG light scribe but no software to use for labeling. Is there a good freeware to use with it?

[aedipuss]

it doesn't really matter what you use to write ls labels. they are monochrome anyway. the free one from the ls site works or if you have it surething cd labeler is ok.

[neworldman]

Well I got a software to try and it says I need DVD's that are LightScribe capable. Now I have to buy new blank DVD's? I just got 100. What type of DVD is a good brand that works with LightScribe? Might just use the old Sharpy pin LOL

[fritzi93]

I get Verbatim lightscribe DVDRs from NewEgg. The free labeling software from the lightscribe site is fine.

http://www.lightscribe.com/downloadSection/index.aspx

I do text labels, and in settings have maximum contrast checked. I think you may be disappointed if you plan on labels with fancy graphics.

[neworldman]

I get Verbatim lightscribe DVDRs from NewEgg. The free labeling software from the lightscribe site is fine.

http://www.lightscribe.com/downloadSection/index.aspx

I do text labels, and in settings have maximum contrast checked. I think you may be disappointed if you plan on labels with fancy graphics.

Great thanks. What do you recommend for just backing up DVD's DVD+R or DVD-R? What about dual layer DVD's? They can't be LightScribed right?

[aedipuss]

like fritz said verbatim lightscribe blanks are good. if you could find dual layer lightscribe blanks they would work.

[fritzi93]

What do you recommend for just backing up DVD's DVD+R or DVD-R? What about dual layer DVD's? They can't be LightScribed right?

1) I use DVD+R booktyped to DVD-ROM, but which one you choose is not as big a deal as it once was.

2) Sure you can but they're expensive and not readily available. Here:

http://www.amazon.com/Verbatim-96689-8-5GB-LightScribe-Spindle/dp/B001JIHF0U

Some people have had bad experiences with lightscribe, i.e. fading labels and burners that go kaput too soon. I have LG and Samsung lightscribe burners that have been okay for me, the former about 2 years old, the latter 3 years old. But I don't burn nearly as much as some folks, maybe 200 or so burns on each of my lightscribe burners. YMMV.

[turk690]

Lightscribe, IMHO, is one overrated disc-labeling system. The idea of using the same laser that just wrote your data seems sexy and techno to the uninformed but doesn't quite live up to the hype. 1st, printing is monochrome. The label layer or material that coats the disc label side tweaked to darken when hit by the laser is not white, so not only is it monochrome but there is poor contrast as well. It takes forever to print one disc, especially if fancy graphics are involved (10-30 minutes), that writing the data previously at less than 5minutes for a filled up DVD seems comparatively lighting-fast. With that length of time that the writer laser is overworked, it's not surprising some reports of too-soon damaged DVD-writers. Note that, like direct-thermal printing that relies on a special heat-sensitive paper, Lightsribe printouts gradually become illegible or may darken and smudge if exposed continually to, say, the sun. Lastly, Lightscribe-ready CDs & DVDs are not easy to find and they're expensive.

[neworldman]

Lightscribe, IMHO, is one overrated disc-labeling system. The idea of using the same laser that just wrote your data seems sexy and techno to the uninformed but doesn't quite live up to the hype. 1st, printing is monochrome. The label layer or material that coats the disc label side tweaked to darken when hit by the laser is not white, so not only is it monochrome but there is poor contrast as well. It takes forever to print one disc, especially if fancy graphics are involved (10-30 minutes), that writing the data previously at less than 5minutes for a filled up DVD seems comparatively lighting-fast. With that length of time that the writer laser is overworked, it's not surprising some reports of too-soon damaged DVD-writers. Note that, like direct-thermal printing that relies on a special heat-sensitive paper, Lightsribe printouts gradually become illegible or may darken and smudge if exposed continually to, say, the sun. Lastly, Lightscribe-ready CDs & DVDs are not easy to find and they're expensive.

Thanks for the info. Is there any other DVD labeling system out there? I don't want to wait for Light Scribe.

[fritzi93]

I doubt using a different labeler is going to make much difference, speed-wise.

Doing text-only, it takes maybe 4 minutes at most on my machine. That's using the template labeler, clean background, text in two arced boxes following the curve of the disc, top and bottom, largest font that will fit.

Again, fancy labels aren't worth the trouble, they take a lot of time to do and look like crap. Give it a try and find out for yourself. [shrugs] Since I don't allow sunlight to fall on the labels, I haven't noticed any fading. Use highest contrast.

[turk690]

I've tried various disc-labeling systems and currently use two.
One is based on a Casio CW-100 disc thermal labeling system. It's fast, efficient, and the print-outs are permanent. Though they are monochrome, you can choose between black, red, green, blue, silver, and gold printouts. Most CD and DVD media with a smooth, clear area on the label side can be used. The drawbacks are the printing area is limited, and the ink cartridges are expensive. There is a method of rewinding them back after every print to be frugal, but it's complicated and time-consuming.
The other disc-labeling system I use is based on an Epson TX700W all-in-one. This is an inkjet printer that requires inkjet-printable CD and DVD media, which, unlike Lightscribe media, are easier to find and cheaper. Only your imagination is stopping you from putting whatever fantastic labels you want to print, and printing a disc is fast and zips by in seconds. The downside is ink cartridges are expensive (sigh, again), and there are six of them. The fantastic-looking discs are not color-fast, and water drops or perpetual handling with oily fingers will smudge your beautiful creations (but I clamp the disc down and spray it with clear acrylic, which makes it look completely professional and smudge-free for its lifetime).