LightScribe Discs (Burned Appearance)

[Big Jake]

I am considering using LightScribe discs to burn my content. I understand that if you use insert the disc upside-down, and use special (appropriate) software, that you can write an image on the "top" of the disc. I don't believe I've ever seen one. What does one look like? Does the image appear in several shades of silver (or whatever color), or what? I've tried several Internet searches for images of burned discs so I could see what they look like, but to no avail. So, I'm appealing to the forum to see if anyone can direct me to an on-line image showing what the image burned into the top of a LightScribe disc might look like, or if they can post such an image for all to see.

[redwudz]

Here's a demo of the process with some images of burned discs: http://www.lightscribe.com/flash/LightScribe_Demo_Web.html

It takes a few minutes for simple lettering, but closer to a half hour for a full image.

And welcome to our forums.

[Big Jake]

Thank you. The images (shades of gray) was pretty much what I was expecting.

[johns0]

Not quite gray but like older newspaper tone.

[Noahtuck]

Just an FYI, you do realize that besides lightscribe disc's and the lightscribe software you also need a lightscribe capable burner as not just nay burner will work.

[Big Jake]

Yes, thank you. I did just learn/realize that yesterday during my research.

By the way, I am looking for an external, Dual Layer, USB LightScribe drive for use with my Windows 7 laptop. Any recommendations?

[lowellriggsiam]

....and then there is the lesser used Labelflash that uses blue topped discs.

[jman98]

Yes, thank you. I did just learn/realize that yesterday during my research.

By the way, I am looking for an external, Dual Layer, USB LightScribe drive for use with my Windows 7 laptop. Any recommendations?

Yes - do NOT do it!

I am someone who supported Lightscribe early on. It was much cheaper to do Lightscribe when it came out than to print directly on discs. Now the costs of printers and discs (such as Taiyo Yuden's excellent WaterShield line) is so cheap and the quality so much better than Lightscribe that there really is no justification for Lightscribe in my opinion.

What you don't know but need to know should you still want to do this:
1) EVERY burner I ever used that could do Lightscribe would lose functionality in less than 1 year after buying it. Two lost the ability to burn DL discs. The other lost the ability to burn CDs. This sucks. Others have reported similar problems here.
2) No matter what I did, the burned image was never really as dark as I would have liked. One time I burned an image twice and while it did get dark enough, my burner was never the same after that.
3) It takes 20+ minutes to burn a disc in the darkest settings. You can print to a label in full color in maybe 15-20 seconds.
4) The burned image may fade over time, even when stored properly.

If you must do this, at least buy Verbatim discs.

All the drives are pretty much the same in my experience. They'll all eventually stop working on some kind of disc burning after you do a lot of Lightscribe burns.

[redwudz]

A few from NewEgg: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007595+600029981&QksAut...pe=&srchInDesc=

I would probably stay away from the slim line burners as LightScribe does generate a fair amount of heat and the larger drives can probably handle that better. Definitely need external power as the 5V USB would be limited.

If you can't find exactly what you want, don't be afraid to buy a burner and a separate enclosure and put them together yourself. Only takes a few minutes and you can get the setup that works best for you. A few places to look:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007705+600006253+600006...pe=&srchInDesc=

http://www.cooldrives.com/index.php/hddenclosures/5-25-enclosures.html

http://www.xpcgear.com/525satacase.html

[ranchhand]

I have been using Lightscribe for three years and really like it. I have never had a problem with any of my Lightscribe DVD burners failing early, and I always have two in all my builds. Lightscribe produces what is termed a "sepia" image, although I understand that different colors are now available. To use it, you must first install the HP drivers for Lightscribe to run the burner that you have, and then you need a GUI program to set up your artwork. The best one I ever found and still use is Droppix. Link: http://www.droppix.com/index2.php?goto=essai_produits&produit=10
IMHO it has the most intuitive interface, is easy to use and the text manipulation is great. Priced around $25 and you can download it. Droppix also has software to deepen the burn and produce the most contrast of any utility I have tried. If you want it even deeper, here is what I do and it gives spectacular results, trust me. Take your image into a good photo editor (I use Photoshop but there are many other good ones out there). Open your Brightness and Contrast adjuster; darken the overall graphic slightly, then really boost the contrast high. The photo will look awful, like a circus sideshow, with the extremes of contrast. However, when you burn it in Lightscribe the color tones will convert to Sepia tones and the results are really great. Believe me, after a few burns you will have it perfect. You can do this with pictures, text, patterns, anything.
Just a thought... (sorry for being a bit long-winded).

[Big Jake]

Thank you both. This is really a great forum. I give it (you all) five stars.

[fritzi93]

One more opinion:

I use lightscribe, but (large) text only, as I don't think tinkering with images and cranking up the contrast is worth the trouble. I say that with respect, as you can produce a passable label if you know what you're doing, but only passable. Plain text is okay for my purposes. Also, I currently have two lightscribe burners that have both lasted a couple years, an LG and a Samsung.

Good luck.

[Really, I think I'd rather go to printable discs, but I can't bear to throw away a functioning printer to get one capable of printing discs. When our current printer dies, maybe. Not to hi-jack the thread, but printers that can do discs are rather pricey. Can Anyone recommend a specific model?]

[turk690]

I've used lightscribe in the past and my observations about this overrated disc-printing technology are largely the same as jman98's above, in previous threads about this topic in this forum.