What does it mean? printable

[gadfly]

I'm new to all this - having just got a DVD a month ago. I thought a DVD was a DVD was a DVD until my burner started kicking out 'Verbatim" coasters tonight - at a rate of about 1to4. Then I started doing some research and discover that I have a LOT to learn about DVD manufacturing etc.

I was checking one of the on line sites recommended in this forum - and came across options I don't understand - like what does "printable" mean? What's the difference between white and silver? What in heavens name would I order?

Also - is there anyone out there who knows of Canadian Suppliers/stores where I could get Taiyo Yuden, or Ritek.

One more question - I'm burning Video DVD's - is there a preferred type of DVD. I've been using DVD -R as I was told at the store that these where the best for video? Is this so?

Any info/advice greatly appreciated.

Gadfly

[Tommyknocker]

"Printable" means the DVD has a blank, paper label attached to the disk already. You only need a DVD printer to print a label to it.

Next, Riteks seem to be one most mentioned around here. It is best to look in the DVD Media database at left to make sure your DVDs are compatible with your writer.

As for preferred type of DVD format. Here is the latest data on compatibility:

DVD-R and DVD-RW
DVD-R/W was the first DVD recording format released that was compatible with standalone DVD Players.
DVD-R is a non-rewriteable format and it is compatible with about 92% of all DVD Players and most DVD-ROMs.
DVD-RW is a rewriteable format and it is compatible with about 75% of all DVD Players and most DVD-ROMs.
DVD-R/W supports single side 4.7 GB* DVDs(called DVD-5) and double side 9.4 GB* DVDs(called DVD-10).
These formats are supported by DVDForum.

DVD+R and DVD+RW
DVD+R/W has some "better" features than DVD-R/W such as lossless linking and both CAV and CLV writing.
DVD+R is a non-rewritable format and it is compatible with about 86% of all DVD Players and most DVD-ROMs.
DVD+RW is a rewritable format and is compatible with about 75% of all DVD Players and most DVD-ROMs.
DVD+R/W supports single side 4.7 GB* DVDs(called DVD-5) and double side 9.4 GB* DVDs(called DVD-10).
These formats are supported by the DVD+RW Alliance.

As for Canadian suppliers, you may to go ahead and do a search for your favorite brand, along with ".ca", and see what returns you get.

[gadfly]

Thanks for the info.

Gadfly

[The village idiot]

"Printable" means the DVD has a blank, paper label attached to the disk already. You only need a DVD printer to print a label to it.

Close, but not exactly correct.

First, it is not a label already stuck to the disk! It is a coating similar to paint applied to the top of the disk which (in theory) maintains a uniform thickness over the entire disk so that you don't have the balance issues like with a label.

Printable means you can print onto it with a THERMAL disk printer, generally meaning that it doesn't have a large brand label across the disk. Inkjet printable means you can print onto it with an inkjet printer, and possibly a thermal printer. There is a very big difference between the 2 coatings. Thermal printer can print onto any disks, coated or uncoated (e.g. shiny silver tops). The Casio disk printer is an example of a thermal printer, and the Epson 900, 960, R300 examples of inkjet printers. Do not confuse the 2 types of inkjet printers with a thermal printer. A thermal printer uses hot wires to melt the ink from a ribbon onto the printing surface. Inkjets have 2 types of printheads. Type 1 is the piezo printhead where an eletric current is used to flex a piezo element which then squirts the ink out of the head (eg Epson). Type 2 is a thermal inkjet printhead which uses an electric charge to heat the ink until it expands enough to squirt out of the printhead (eg Canon, HP, Lexmark). DO NOT confuse a thermal INKJET with a THERMAL printer.

Not all "White top" printable disks are meant for inkjet printing! Be careful what you buy! Most of the good retailers will cleary state whether the disks are thermal printable or inkjet printable, some of the not so good dealers do not make the clarification. My general rule (which applies only to me, your mileage may vary) is that if it doesn't specifically say that the disk is inkjet printable, then it most likely will not work properly in an inkjet printer! As I said, your mileage may vary, buy sample packs and do some testing!

True inkjet printable disks should be dry and smudge free by the time the disk exits the printer! There are others that seem to work if you let them dry long enough, but to me, this seems wrong, The disks I have used will support about 1200 percent ink take up. That is CMY black (equal parts of C, M, & Y ink that make black --- about 300% ink) printed to a disk 4 different times in short succession. Only after the fourth time did the black printing feel a little tacky, and smudge when I touched it. 1200% is a lot of ink!

[gadfly]

Thanks for that info - it's very helpful - as when ordering on line I want to make sure I know what to order/not order according to my needs.

Gadfly

[ZippyP.]

Also - is there anyone out there who knows of Canadian Suppliers/stores where I could get Taiyo Yuden, or Ritek.

Try here. Out of stock on riteks right now.

And here. In stock.

[gadfly]

Thanks for all the input guys.

In response to the question about scanning for bad frames - I burned the same movies using a rewritable (I've learned to always do a run through with a rewritable first) and they worked just fine - both on my comp and in my standalone. Plus - after kicking out one (or two!!) discs with errors - I'd insert another and it would burn fine. From that I concluded the problem with with the disc's rather than the actuall movie. Plus these were authored with Scenarist - which seems to be pretty good at warning you if the 'movie' has any errors.

anyway - I am going to track down some alternatives to Verbatim - as their reputation is getting rather poor.

Catch ya later

Gadfly

[chaseru]

Printable means you can print onto it with a THERMAL disk printer, generally meaning that it doesn't have a large brand label across the disk.

Is this the same as unbranded media?

[The village idiot]

With a thermal printer, probably. Some of the "textured" surfaces may not work very well, and those may also be unbranded. If you are just printing text, like with the TDK/Casio thermal printers, then you should be able to use nearly any disks.