LightScribe

[alhall]

I have a pioneer CD/DVD 111DL. If I use the right software, can I burn lightscribe disks? Labeling that is. Thx!

[Grain]

They are Labelflash (different media needed) only, some were T@2 capable, but good luck finding software for that unfortunately.

[SCDVD]

Before you search too far, keep in mind that burning Lightscribe media can significantly shorten the life of the laser in your burner. Besides, Lightscribe discs take forever to "print" (burn) and they are UUUUUGLY!

[zoobie]

I like 'em

[painkiller]

SCDVD

Can you explain how the Lightscribe technology shortens the life of the laser?

[Marvingj]

LightScribe was conceived by an HP engineer in Corvallis, Oregon, and brought to market through the joint design efforts of HP's imaging and optical storage divisions. LightScribe is a new technology that enables burner itself to print the user's custom label design directly on the disc. The whole process is done by the burner without the need to have any other kind of media printing equipment. So, you simply burn your data as you normally do onto the disc and when finished, flip the disc over to burn silkscreen-quality labels on the other side.

The technology requires three elements to work:

* LightScribe-enabled optical drive
* LightScribe-compatible media
* LightScribe-supported application software
There is nothing to indicated that it shortens the life of laser, But Lightscribe is super slow, thats the catch......

[jman98]

There are a lot of Lightscribe haters here in the forums. I've tangled with manono over this subject before. SCDVD is another hater. If you don't like it, don't buy it. Nobody's holding a gun to your head. I have one and I like it and the labels do NOT look ugly. You can actually do some really cool things with it, but it's always easier to criticize, isn't it?

The argument about Lightscribe drives wearing out sooner is that basically because the laser is used to burn the image on the disc, the wear and tear on the laser shortens its life. All burners eventually wear out, but whether or not Lightscribe drives have unusually short lifespans or not is a good question. I bought mine in December of 2005 and it still works fine.

[fatbloke88]

I think you'll find that the last versions of nero 6 will burn label flash disks(version 6.1.1.4)if you want to try it, one of my nec burners support it,can't knock the quality really but it takes about 20 minutes to burn a disk

[SCDVD]

There are a lot of Lightscribe haters here in the forums. I've tangled with manono over this subject before. SCDVD is another hater. If you don't like it, don't buy it. Nobody's holding a gun to your head. I have one and I like it and the labels do NOT look ugly. You can actually do some really cool things with it, but it's always easier to criticize, isn't it?

The argument about Lightscribe drives wearing out sooner is that basically because the laser is used to burn the image on the disc, the wear and tear on the laser shortens its life. All burners eventually wear out, but whether or not Lightscribe drives have unusually short lifespans or not is a good question. I bought mine in December of 2005 and it still works fine.

One of the things that I admire about people is their ability to cope no matter how dreary their circumstances are. To illustrate my point, I will use two of our forum members as examples - Happy_Camper and jman98.

First let me recount Happy_Camper's experience. He joined this forum to learn about media, burners, printers and recording techniques. He carefully studied the wealth of guides displayed on the left. He then read the many comments made by the forum members. Armed with his new knowledge, he bought a Pioneer 111 burner, some white printable Taiyo Yuden DVD-R media and an Epson 220 printer. Look at the beautiful disc that he printed of a red rose! The only thing that Happy_Camper doesn't understand is what stutter and skip means on a DVD. Since he uses a Pioneer 111 and Taiyo Yuden media, he hasn't experienced these things.



But alas, poor jman98 didn’t do these things. He bought a LightScribe burner that does to images what a $2.00 radio does to music. He then bought some HP LightScribe media, ignoring the warnings about HP’s media being 3rd class with a high percentage of bad burns. Look at the bottom picture shown of the same rose to see one of the “really cool things” he did with it. He loves to invite neighbors over to his house to watch a movie that he has burned on his “really cool” burner. The thing he particularly likes is when his player skips and stutters when it is trying so hard to play his 3rd class media. It gives him a chance to narrate the movie while the player tries to recover. But his crowning glory is near the end of the movie when the player finally locks up and can’t play any more. It gives him the opportunity to describe how the movie finishes. This allows him to get the attention that he craves so much.

[jman98]

SCDVD - When I bought a Lightscribe burner, printers that could print to DVD/CDs were over $300. Lightscribe was significantly cheaper. I don't use HP media, jackass. Only Verbatim. I don't have the kinds of problems you mention. I could show you some scans of things I've done with Lightscribe, but given your attitude, why bother?

[SCDVD]

jman98 - $300 huh? You said that you bought your Lightscribe burner in Dec. 2005. I bought my Epson R200 on Feb. 10, 2005 at Fry's for $99. What's this $300 price invention? Don't just cook up a number to match your little story. I truly don't care what type of drive you use. But I can do without the "Lightscribe hater" narration that you gave. The facts are as I said, They take a long time to print (burn). It does shorten the life of the laser to print. The fact that yours, which you bought less that a year and a half ago, apparently still works doesn't change that. And on the more subjective front, I personally think a disc that is baby-shit yellow and black is ugly.

The last time you started calling people names who differed with your opinion of Lightscribe media, the moderators had to tell you to stop it - twice. https://forum.videohelp.com/viewtopic.php?p=1569282#1569282 You can differ with me, make jokes, argue etc. But this name calling stuff stops now! Disagree with me? Fine. But do not call me a jackass or any other derogatory name.

[SCDVD]

SCDVD

Can you explain how the Lightscribe technology shortens the life of the laser?

It's pretty straightforward. When a laser is on, especially when on high power, it has a finite life. A print (burn) of a disc on a lightscribe drive has the laser on for twenty minutes or more, which is 2 or 3 times longer than it takes to record a disc. That is just that much more time off of the laser's life. At today's drive prices, it isn't a big deal if you have a preference for Lightscribe media. You may just have to replace your drive sooner - but they're cheap now.

[painkiller]

Sorry to say this, but I was specifically interested in getting some scientific facts as a result of my earlier question. Not speculative generalities. I know the essentials of how these work, I am after more information.

The engineer in me has found that recent blue led semiconductor lasers have recently achieved rated lifetime specs just passing 10,000 hours.

What I haven't located (yet) are the specs detailing the red semiconductor lasers for cd and dvd burners.

I have several Lightscribe writers/burners. While I use them infrequently, due to time and expense issues, I would like to know if anyone came across such details.

The HP site for describing this technology merely gives it in simple layman's terms. For me, this isn't enough information.

I want to know, in engineering/design/reliability specs, just long use of the label-side burning affects the rated lifetime of the laser.

For one calendar year with a device powered on 24/7 - that means around 8,760 onhours.
For the new blue lasers (I refered to above) theoretically reaching just beyond 10,000 hours of operation lifetime - that means those lasers would last over a solid year of continuous use.

If anyone knows, I'd appreciate hearing. Thanks.

[SCDVD]

I suspect there is also another aspect with the lasers used in burners. That is useful life. A laser that is used simply to generate light has a rated life during which it can be expected to generate light within some + or - variance. However the laser used in a burner has more specific and tightly controlled application requirements. When a laser fails in a burner, it still generates light but it is out of spec with respect to how it actually performs. This defines some sort of useful life during which it meets the functional specs required of it. After this useful life, it still generates red light when you look at it but it doesn't successfully burn a disc.