Can you write with a Sharpie on printable DVDs?

[TWLreal]

I have recently bought two 100 pack of TDK DVD-Rs, which are supposed to be TTH02 media of good quality according to VideoHelp and DigitalFAQ.

The deal was 47$CAD for one 100 pack, but you get the second 100 for free. Sounded good to me.

However, I've noticed that the shrink wrap said "PrintOn white discs." Obviously, that means they can be used with printers.

But, is it safe to use a Sharpie marker on the surface to label things by hand?

[Sifaga]

Yes

[TWLreal]

Good to know.

I was worried that since the surface needs to accept the bubble jet ink of a printer, it might not take to the regular ink of a Sharpie marker.

Guess I won't have to return these now.

[Sifaga]

theres been a few discussions on this subject

you can read one of them here https://forum.videohelp.com/viewtopic.php?t=201010&highlight=sharpie

[TWLreal]

Nice thread to read.

I'm now convinced a Sharpie will hardly do any damage.

[888888]

I would use a Sharpie on all but the most important media I burn. For those I would use a special water-based marker.

[SLK001]

I would use a Sharpie on all but the most important media I burn. For those I would use a special water-based marker.

This response implies that the Sharpie is capabale of doing some damage. It cannot. The actual "write" layer of a DVD+-R is pretty much in the center of two plastic laminates. Unless your marker can melt its way through 0.035" of plastic, pretty much anything that you write with will do no damage.

CD-Rs are a different story, but even here a Sharpie is going to be okay.

[smearbrick1]

I realize I'm a bit late on this topic, but I would like to chime in. I was involved in the huge thread(s) concerning this topic. This topic is raised annually I believe and used to become a huge deal.

SHARPIES DO NOT AFFECT THE PLAYBACK/RELIABILITY OF YOUR DISCS.

IF YOU ARE HAVING AN ISSUE WITH A DISC THAT YOU HAVE JUST SHARPIED, OR YOU ARE HAVING ISSUES WITH A DISC THAT YOU SHARPIED 6 MONTHS AGO, CHANCES ARE THAT YOU HAVE CRAP MEDIA.

Sorry for the capital letters, but this topic has beaten like the dead horse that it is. Next to "How do I back up my DVDs to a DVD-R when the disc is 4.7GB?" it may be on the list of top questions asked and then argued over.

[lordsmurf]

The marker tends to dry out faster with inkjet discs. And because of this, it's harder to write with the EXTRA FINE or ULTRA FINE markers. That's about the only problem you'll face.