Home audio & video: Basics of DVD Title Printers and DVD Blank Media
Basics of DVD Title Printers and DVD Blank Media
by TechTutor - 11/6/06 11:42 AMHi there. I'm interested in an inexpensive way to print titles onto my DVDs and CDs. Right now I use sharpies, but sometimes I'd like something a little more professional looking. I'm transferring a lot of old VHS tapes to DVD and I do a lot of home video editing, so although I don't need a professional system, I do need something that will label a lot of DVDs and be efficient. Preferably color and with the ability to add simple graphics or logos. I already have an Epson printer, so I'm not interested in buying another one that will print on DVDs, but I was looking at one of the Casio DVD title printers. What have you heard about those? Do I have to have special DVDs to use these printers, or can I use the brand named blank DVDs that I already own? I would be using this printer with my Dell Inspiron 9100 Laptop with Windows XP Pro.
And one another general DVD question. My laptop DVD burner is 8X and my new VHS to DVD recorder is 16X. I recently bought some 1-16X blank DVDs. Does that mean I can use those in my laptop burner and my VHS to DVD recorder? What's the difference between a 1-8X or 1-16X blank DVD as opposed to an 8X or 16X DVD? Are the 8X's starting to become hard to find or do you think they'll be available for quite a while to come? Thanks for your help.
NIST CD and DVD Care and Handling Guides
by R. Proffitt
- 11/6/06 11:47 AM
In reply to: Basics of DVD Title Printers and DVD Blank Media by TechTutor
NIST CD and DVD Care and Handling Guides
http://www.itl.nist.gov/div895/carefordisc/index.html
Read with this in mind. The documents are for long term reliability. Some items I wince at, but for the length of time they are shooting for, they are right.
Those HP LightScribe drives and media may be one answer but if we look at the history of media the drives to read media usually become unavailable and expire long before the media expires.
The casio docs tell what you can use so I won't repeate web content.
Bob
DVD printing info
by TechTutor - 11/7/06 6:55 AM In reply to: NIST CD and DVD Care and Handling Guides by R. Proffitt
Thanks for the link and your help.
DVD printing
by Dan Filice - 11/6/06 1:01 PM In reply to: Basics of DVD Title Printers and DVD Blank Media by TechTutorTo get professional results when printing on blank DVDs, buy white printable DVDs. There are many brands. I use my Epson printer (model 340 I think) that has the tray to print DVDs and CDs. The printer came with separate softare to print on discs, and it is easy and brilliant at the same time. It may do the same as the Casio printer you mentioned, but I don't know anythng about the Casio unit. Anyways, buy white blank media. If you print on silver discs, the ink will smear and it doesn't show up very well.
DVD printing info
by TechTutor - 11/7/06 6:56 AM In reply to: DVD printing by Dan FiliceThanks Dan for the info.
DVD Title/label printing
by Jason 212 - 2/11/08 12:21 PM In reply to: Basics of DVD Title Printers and DVD Blank Media by TechTutorI would be very careful at what titling/labeling method you choose. Other discussions here at cnet and on other forums are replete with horror stories of solvent and chemical based inks reacting to and corrupting data on discs. Granted, many commenters have not suffered such problems, enough have to warrant caution.
The Epson printer is good for making labels and there is no evidence to suggest that its ink will cause data corruption. It has some use issues such as disc feed rejection problems and ink jet gumming issues (for which Epson suggests keeping the power to the printed off when not printing). Some experience these problems and others do not. If your Epson works well printing discs then print away!
I have switched to the DiscPainter for my disc labeling needs. It is fast,easy and works flawlessly every time. It prints on printable discs so there is an extra layer of protection for longer term storage and data stability.
Govt Report on safe disc labeling.
by Jason 212 - 4/14/08 3:07 PM In reply to: Basics of DVD Title Printers and DVD Blank Media by TechTutorI just ran across this US government report on how best to label discs for long term storage without damaging data. Bottom line: Markers and stickers are bad, use printable media (such as what the DiscPainter uses)for safest labeling method.
http://www.itl.nist.gov/iad/894.05/docs/CDandDVDCareandHandlingGuide.pdf
| Forum legend: | |
 |
Locked thread |
 |
Moderator |
 |
CNET staff |
 |
Samsung staff |
 |
Norton Authorized Support team |
 |
AVG staff |
 |
Windows Outreach team |
 |
Dell staff |
 |
Intel staff |
