Hey gang,

Just booked my first wedding. Excited? Yup.

Anyway, I've been doing recitals and productions for the past 15 months and I'm using Taiyo Yuden hub-printable DVDs using an Epson R200 inkjet printer.

It's a nice setup but the printed discs do have the vulnerability of ink smear when moisture is introduced.

So how about these options?

There is the Signature Z1 CD/DVD (http://www.blankmedia.ca/proddetail3.asp?id=714) printer that uses thermal transfer and is marketed as waterproof.

Has anyone here used this machine?
Is the printed product truly waterproof?
What's the quality of the printing?

Having said that there is also a product being marketed called "SUREGUARD ARCHIVAL UV GLOSSY PRINT SPRAY" (http://www.blankmedia.ca/proddetail3.asp?id=1033) that is being offered as an option to spray on your printable DVDs to preserve and protect the printed surface. Is this effective and is there any problem with overspray on the read side of the disc?

Any help is appreciated.

sincerely,


ian

Ian, if you are going to spray the disks, you would probably want to make a cardboard template. Then the backside will be safe from overspray. Just be careful not to lay it on too heavy.

By the way, that spray was looking interesting to me, until I noticed the disclaimer at the bottom- Only available to residents of Ontario and Quebec. Bummer.

Good idea about the template, Keith.

FYI, I think that spray is available from Amazon.com, Adorama.com and other online merchants on your side of the border.

I'd like to know what sort of coverage a can of the Sureguard will give. If it's, say, 50 discs then it could be a viable purchase.

Perhaps it's time to experiment. ;)

sincerely,


ian

Some folks think Krylon clear laquer does the same thing. You really only need a quick light mist to get decent waterproofing for inkjet prints. The thermal printer however is waterproof and sometimes applies its own clear protective finish after the CMY passes are completed. That's how the Kodak Easy Share thermal printers work.

-gb-

The thermal printer mentioned looks like a fancy version of a Casio printer I bought a while back, which mainly does text and limited graphics. I've stopped using that in favor of full-color printing (Epson inkjet) and haven't worried too much about the ink smearing, although the Krylon spray sounds like it might be worth investigating.

I would personally use PremierArt spray.

http://www.inkjetart.com/premier/print_shield.html

It is the same stuff and 1/2 the price. I know for a fact that most inkjet sprays are made by the same company that makes this stuff. I worked in the industry and can assure you that you can only make the disc more resistant to water. You can't waterproof it unless you laminated it with a plastic laminate.

I tried the krylon clear method before buying my Epson R800 photo printer a long while ago and it was a pain and the results were mixed. You really have to protect from excess spray on the outer and inner edges AND the back. And it stinks and you get it on your hands, etc.

The Epson R800 uses pigmented inks which are water resistent. Have not had any problems with the printed discs (like the image smearing if you have wet or sweaty fingers).

The epson inks are expensive, but you can purchase 3rd-party carts. via the internet and they seem to work fine at a very good savings over the Epson carts.

Dust is your enemy!

As soon as you stop spraying, dust particles start to "land" on it. That's why I abandoned spraying printable DVDs. If in the future I can create a "dust free room/enclosure, than I'll consider spraying again.

Bset regards,
Arnaldo