Making your own printables, Anyone else tried this...?

[Fandim]

Heh...well. I got bored. Real bored. So, recently I thought I'd try being creative, and make my own printable discs...

LoL. For my first attempt, I just used white wall paint. Sat the disc flat on a paper towel, and applied an even layer of white paint. One coat wasnt 100% opaque. So, after it dried, I added another layer. This was sufficient.

After letting the disc dry for 24 hours, I burned a full 4.7GB disc. Disc successfully burned, verified, and read back 100% in DVD Decrypter, with no slow downs.

Printing on my Epson R200, well, it was interesting. The disc DID print successfully, however, the image was very light, and frosted.

Just thought I'd share with anyone else feeling creative. I'm thinking about trying white-out next, as it seems more suited for holding ink. (Going to try both the white out strips, and liquid white out...though I imagine the strips will be difficult to give it a professional look, with square edges on every strip, and all).

Has anyone else made their own printable DVD's from normal DVD's? And if so, has anyone found something that has a nice printing surface?

This isnt something I'm like advocating, so save your 'stupid idea' flames, please. LoL. I was just bored and messing around, and thought it'd be interesting to hear what other people think and/or tried.

Seth

[Webster]

H For my first attempt, I just used white wall paint

I would imagine instead of using paint, why don't you try primer instead? It is more porous than paint and may hold the ink more better. And if it work, it'll probably more cheaper than white-out.........hehehe........

[steve2713]

Interesting idea, worth a try. But whatever you 'paint' onto the disc, it'll need to be able to absorb the ink fairly well, correct? I'm not sure that using your typical paint will absorb ink like it needs to. Did the ink smear off, or did it dry as it should?

Also, I'd think that you wouldn't want to apply anything TOO heavily, as it could throw off the balance of the disc and give it playback issues similar to using labels, or worse yet, even damage your equipment. Just some things to consider...

edit: Webster beat me with the ink absorbing issues... :P

[Noahtuck]

DUDE!!!!! SERIOUSLY!!!! FIND A GIRLFRIEND NOW!!!!! :P :P :P :P

I would be worried as hell about the whiteout flaking and messing up the print heads, worse than wall paint for sure.

[Bodyslide]

Maybe someone can try covering a Blank with Whiteout. Then printing on it.

[dun4cheap]

You know all this is is a silk screening paint. But honestly the time and money it is not worth the investment. Especially since full faced bright white media is 100 disc for $32

Just my .02 woth


Lastly, for DVD inlets, don't bother buying the meritline stuff. Since the Epson R200 prints borderless, just get some bright white 27# laser paper and they come out really nice. Matter of fact if your doing a large project say like a 100+ inlets Office depot will cut them all at once for like $2.00

Or get a paper cutter.

[mikel]

A bit over a year ago I experimented with an old batch of disks.
Krylon white primer worked well. (I don't remember the paint #)
Be very careful not to apply too heavy of a coat.
And I'd advise placing it on a very flat surface to avoid getting
any overspray on the bottom.
Good luck.

[dmagic1]

Now I've heard it all.

But whats funny is I actually what to try it myself now. LOL

[Nelson37]

Damn, you were bored.

I would be extremely concerned about the paint flakes coming off inside the DVD player, perhaps the clear lacquer mentioned elsewhere?

Or my own wild-ass, late night idea, laminating just the label side? I have a laminating machine and have torn apart several laminated items. The underside only of the plastic melts slightly and bonds with the surface underneath. One of these days, when my wife needs a new iron, I'm gonna experiment with the old one and some cheap disks.

[Fandim]

DUDE!!!!! SERIOUSLY!!!! FIND A GIRLFRIEND NOW!!!!! :P :P :P :P

heh...My wife would kill me..

Interesting idea, worth a try. But whatever you 'paint' onto the disc, it'll need to be able to absorb the ink fairly well, correct? I'm not sure that using your typical paint will absorb ink like it needs to. Did the ink smear off, or did it dry as it should?

No, the ink did not dry well, at all. It was very smeary initially, but after about 24 hours, it was fine.

You know all this is is a silk screening paint. But honestly the time and money it is not worth the investment. Especially since full faced bright white media is 100 disc for $32

Not TY's, or Maxell's..

Seth

[dmagic1]

Why not just put a smooth layer of glue on the disc. Place it on a sheet of lazer paper, 24lb. Then using a exacto razor, cut around the disc and in the hole.

[Fandim]

dmagic - that would be effectively the same as labeling it with a normal paper label....paper labels screw up teh playback badly over time.

[dmagic1]

It seems to me that printable dvdrs are the same thing. They're just professionally done in a way different than I suggested. I've even seen the paper part come up on a printable before.

Most people say its the labels being placed off center that creates the problems. If labels come up then thats also a problem.
I don't see how paint would be any less of a problem. Paint crackes, peels, and flakes off with time.

I really wouldn't try either method.

[Fandim]

The labels on a printable DVD arent really paper though. Yes, it can come off...but it's much thinner than paper. It's more like a painted surface. Here, look at this.

[dmagic1]

Hmm looks a little different than the one I saw but ok.

[Noahtuck]

Yeah... i was gonna say, any of the printable dvdr's i ever saw were definately not covered by any kind of "paper"
printable cd-r's either.....

[Sabro]

Here's an idea....

Paint em up with your idea (however so it the disc works without being un-balanced) then add one of those clear disc covers over it to contain any flaking paint or whatever that may come loose.

I forget the brand / name etc on those disc covers but they fit over the disc and allow you to still play them in your dvd player / ps2 / xbox or whatever.

That way if your 'idea' fails atleast it won't be a total disaster.

Sabro

[lordsmurf]

The only "paper" looking printables I ever saw were early EARLY generation 2001 LeadData. Those did not last long, but the media did work quite well. The surface had grains, almost like recycled paper.

Never saw anything before or since. The next stack of LD media was not the same.

It all burned about 50-60% successful, back when the Pioneer 103 was really the only burner. Maybe a Panasonic too, but the 104 had not yet appeared.

[dmagic1]

I see what you mean now. I scraped up one of mine to take a look at it.

[Fandim]

Heh...Going to try the whiteout idea later tonight I think if I can find some time.

[BJ_M]

Whiteout would cost more than buying a printable disk ..

anyway - printable disks (either silver or white) use the same silver or white as non printable but add a water soluble coating (you can wash it off even) ..

it is quite similar
to silk screen clear coating (sans dyes) and you can make your own ...



Linit starch (not instant) 115 ml (1/2 cup)
Boiling water 345ml (1 1/2 cup)
Soap flakes 115ml (1/2 cup)

Mix starch with enough cold water to make a smooth paste. Add boiling water
and cool until glossy. Stir in soap flakes while mixture is warm. cool and spray on ...


you can also buy a spray like this in art stores ..

the idea is that it will absorb the ink .....


note - for ink just type printers ...

[dmagic1]

Wow, thanks for info. What exactly would you ask for at the art store?

[BJ_M]

not sure - try a water based lacquer spray or spray starch I guess ...


if you wash off the coating on a printable - you will see it is quite gel like and very starchy feeling ..

[Fandim]

Whiteout would cost more than buying a printable disk ..

Maybe, heh....But I'm not really doing it to be practical..just doing it to see what works etc, and to mess around. Heh heh...I'd never apply any sort of label on a DVD that it didnt already come with, that had anything remotely important on it. ; )

[tearsofthemandrake]

Hey if someone has successfully done this science experiment, it might be useful. As far as I know, there are no purchasable DVD+R Dual Layer disks that are also printable. If someone was to figure this process out, we could all make printables of our expensive DVD+R DLs. What do you guys think?

[Noahtuck]

Well.... if i spend the kind of money that good DL dvdr's are going for i sure aint gonna screw with them by painting on them
Now, .40 plain jane dvdr's... well.... i throw them away all the time doing video test's on but there is a big diff. between 50 dvdr's for 20.00 and 3 DL's for 30.00

[tearsofthemandrake]

Test and perfect the technique on plain DVD-rs before you apply it to DVD-DLs. That only makes sense.

[Fandim]

BJ_M, I think I'm going to try your method. What kind of soap flakes, though...? Could you be a bit more specific please?

Also, the application process, what exactly do you use to spray it on? Just a normal spray bottle? And how much do you recomend? Do you use anything to even it out, etc?

Seth

[tearsofthemandrake]

If you get something working plz post your methods!

[BJ_M]

BJ_M, I think I'm going to try your method. What kind of soap flakes, though...? Could you be a bit more specific please?

Also, the application process, what exactly do you use to spray it on? Just a normal spray bottle? And how much do you recomend? Do you use anything to even it out, etc?

Seth

the best way to apply anything to a dvd is to use the spin method (same as the factory) or a good spray method ..

you spin a disk at a good speed and dab somethign near the middle and the force will push it out to the edge nice and even ...