printing on cds etc

[sobranie]

Have new printer with cd/dvd tray to print on to cd's etc.
Q. Can I print directly on to cd's etc or does the cd have to have a printable label affixed 1st?
Yeah, I know I'm thick!!

[Lance]

I think that you buy cds which have the printable surface, although a normal lable might do the same job...

edit: something like these... http://www.ebuyer.com/product/82404

[Rik]

You print direct to the CD, but you need to use printable CDs, they have a coating to take the ink. As an interim, you should be able to get away with pre-applying a label and then printing onto that.

[Philip]

something to bear in mind when applying labels, I have heard of occasions when CD's have shattered in the disk drive because the label was not dead centre.

[Rik]

It's one good reason for using printables, Philip. If I do use labels, I use an applicator tool to centre them. If only HP would improve the Lightscribe process so it didn't take longer to burn the label than the CD!

[Baz]

sorry everyone but am I missing something here, if you're going to pre-stick a label on then print to it, why not just use the sheets of labels you can buy, print it out first THEN stick it on the cd.

been doing it for years 

[Rik]

No reason at all, Baz. We're just offering a way to print directly to non-printable CDs, but it's probably easier to use label printing software and apply the labels after printing.

[Lance]

Or buy the printable CDs to start with!

[Baz]

thought I was falling behind the times there      my daughter has a CD print facility on her printer but dont think shes used it yet.


do they give good results does anyone know.

something to bear in mind when applying labels, I have heard of occasions when CD's have shattered in the disk drive because the label was not dead centre.

I had an ordinary CD shatter in a drive years ago, well it was a game and the kids were on it. It absolutely destroyed the drive, jammed it up  good and proper. went off with quite a racket too   when I looked at the bits after raking some out of the drive I saw that there were fine cracks from the center hole outwards so thats what must have started it off

[Rik]

thought I was falling behind the times there      my daughter has a CD print facility on her printer but dont think shes used it yet.


do they give good results does anyone know.

They give excellent results, Baz, but for some reason, all the coatings I have seen have been cream rather than white so they are not ideal for photographs (but good enough).

[Lance]

I just prefer to use CD/DVD pens myself, rather than have a picture!

[Baz]

and this just from ordinary lnkjets

[Rik]

I just prefer to use CD/DVD pens myself, rather than have a picture!

That's all I do normally, but if I'm doing a slide show, say, for someone else, the printed disc does look better.

[Rik]

and this just from ordinary lnkjets

Yes.

[Baz]

what printer you got Rik

[Rik]

Canon ip6700 (plus a few others, but that's the one I do CDs on).

[Baz]

off to investigate now 

[sobranie]

Thanks for all replies.
Reason I initially asked is that I have a fair few shovelware DVD's that appear to have been printed directly on to the media (normally in black and red colours). Not a trace of a label or special coating is evident.
I might just 'suck it and see' as I presume the worst that can happen is the ink running all over the place.

[Rik]

Commercial discs are screen printed. Inkjet inks are likely to just run and make a mess of the printer, and even the disc. Oy you may just get lucky...

[sobranie]

Chickening out now Rik, back to my felt tip pro tem I think!

[Rik]

It's safer. At best, the ink might never dry, at worst it might eat into the plastic and destroy the data on the disc.

[Malc]

You print direct to the CD, but you need to use printable CDs, they have a coating to take the ink. As an interim, you should be able to get away with pre-applying a label and then printing onto that.

But be very careful as some players, (especially slot ones like in cars) can peel of the labels and make a mess of the player.

I know. 

[Malc]

do they give good results does anyone know.

Yes, better it looks more professional than labels, but avoid shiny / glossy ones.