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November 27th, 2006, 12:47 PM
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#1 |
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Regular Crew
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Wilmington, NC
Posts: 72
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DVD Labeling Systems
What is the best labeling system for a MAC? I do not want to spend a chunk load of money to buy a printer that prints directly onto the DVDs, although that would be nice. I've used some in the past that have caused the DVDs to be unbalanced, therefore causing the playback to be jittery or not function at all. I quit for awhile, but I want to try again. Can anyone recommend a product? I just looked into this Neo labeling system and the review was terrible. Thanks a bunch.
Josh |
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November 27th, 2006, 12:59 PM
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#2 |
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Inner Circle
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Richmond, VA
Posts: 3,065
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I'm not sure what you mean by a 'print to DVD becoming unbalanced' unless you are referring to the stick on labels. If so, yeah stick on labels are not the way to go. IMO, it more economical to print to DVD than to spend the money for labels, then ink on top of that.
The Epson 220 is a decent solution for printing to disk. It's less than 100 bucks now a days. The Epson comes with your basic disk layout software. There are lightscribe solutions, just google lightscribe and you'll see a bunch. (clarified, this is a way to label a disk, but you have to have a lightscribe drive)
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What happens if I push the 'Red' button? Last edited by Steven Davis; November 27th, 2006 at 01:48 PM. |
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November 27th, 2006, 01:32 PM
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#3 | |
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Inner Circle
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Elk Grove CA
Posts: 6,838
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Quote:
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Chris J. Barcellos |
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November 27th, 2006, 03:26 PM
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#4 |
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Inner Circle
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 6,609
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Yep, the (now) 220 works great. I run 2 of the 200 units and have run about 2000 thru them and they still work just fine. If 1 breaks so what, for about $100 I can get another and as was mentioned they print out quite well.
Don |
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November 27th, 2006, 06:20 PM
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#5 |
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Regular Crew
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Baltimore, MD
Posts: 161
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For those of you who have used the Epson 200 series extensively -- what is your ink cost / DVD to print edge-to-edge photo labels? And are you using generic ink (if so, what source) or genuine Epson?
I recall Consumer Reports saying that the generic inks tended not to save any money in the end (I guess the cartridges didn't last as long in their tests). I've also had problems with off-brand inks in the past in my Canon printer (bad color, clogged heads), but if you've got a source of good, cheap ink, I'd love to hear it. -Terence |
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November 27th, 2006, 06:28 PM
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#6 |
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Inner Circle
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 6,609
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You know, I've never really counted how many I get with the carts but its quite a few even with a full face print. As for ink, i used to buy the genuine epson thru 1 of the office suppl places but now I get it at a place called Cartridge World and it's about 60% of what the office supply places charge so I know my cost per unit is down but honestly I've never taken the time to actually figure it out. I know I should and I promise that next year i will (maybe ;-O)
Don |
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December 2nd, 2006, 12:36 AM
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#7 |
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Regular Crew
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Wilmington, NC
Posts: 72
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This Epson printer, do you design the labels within photoshop and then print directly to DVD? Therefore, buying DVD-R's with print directly to DVD capability?
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December 2nd, 2006, 07:18 AM
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#8 |
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Inner Circle
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 6,609
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Epson has a basic printing program with design elements that you can bring BMPs or JPEGS into as backgrounds, photos, text-it's actually not a bad little program. I have also done some stuff in photoshop and then imported into the Epson program. Yes buy printable DVDs, use the supplied tray from Epson and fire away.
Don |
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December 3rd, 2006, 10:56 PM
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#9 |
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Major Player
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Burlingame, CA USA
Posts: 285
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I use my Epson 220 to print to both CDs and DVDs (make sure to buy the printable ones!). However, there is one serious "gotcha". I use a Photoshop template customized for both, and it has clipping masks perfectly matched to the printable surfaces of both CDs and DVDs. This is important because you don't want the print heads to "overspray" the areas of the media. It makes a real mess and wastes ink, too.
The quality is quite good (nowhere near "photo" quality, though) and my clients are always surprised and delighted to see their discs.
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me@facebook: http://facebook.com/stevemallerphotography |
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December 4th, 2006, 12:37 PM
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#10 |
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Major Player
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: NYC Metro area
Posts: 579
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Do you use a clear coat on printed media?
I've talked with a couple of folks who print their (white-faced) DVDs/CDs, then spray them with a clear coat after the ink dries. I've been told it preserves the printed labels. I've tried it a couple of times using Rustoleum Crystal Clear spray paint, but after drying, the spray seems to leave tiny little "bumps" in the clear coat, kinda like polyurethane applied to wood but before it's been sanded between coats.
Does anyone else have experience and/or recommendations with this? The benefit of your experience and wisdom would be appreciated.
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Denis ------------ Our actions are based on our own experience and knowledge. Thus, no one is ever totally right, nor totally wrong. We simply act from what we "know" to be true, based on that experience and knowledge. Beyond that, we pose questions to others. |
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December 4th, 2006, 01:32 PM
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#11 |
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Inner Circle
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 6,609
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Krylon has a clear glossy or satin finish spray that works very well on the faces of DVDs. Thats the stuff art and graphics houses use. Also shake the can every couple of minutes to make sure there is no air in the nozzel.
Don |
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December 4th, 2006, 10:32 PM
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#12 | |
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Inner Circle
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: San Jose, CA
Posts: 2,222
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Quote:
I fell for the LightScribe promise. First of all, the contrast is so bad that it's hard to read text. There are some contrast tweaks, but they really don't improve the situation that much. Burning a LightScribe disc takes over a half an hour. According to one fellow that uses a lot of DVD burners and prints on Epson printers, your DVD burner has a life span of about 300 disc burns. LightScribe reduces the lifespan of your burner. Text is ok, but pictures are just horrible. I wouldn't recommend LightScribe to anyone. |
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December 5th, 2006, 04:00 PM
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#13 | |
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Regular Crew
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 52
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Quote:
I am planning on getting the 220 also. Do you print the DVD before you burn it, or after, or does it not matter? I'd be tempted to print first so that I know the DVD works after burning, but does the ink mess up the burning process? |
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December 5th, 2006, 04:16 PM
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#14 |
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Inner Circle
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Elk Grove CA
Posts: 6,838
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Josh: Yes, you have to buy printable CD or DVDs. I have seen them in Silver and White so far.
Nick: I print after burning, with no effect to the burns. I would not print before.
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Chris J. Barcellos |
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December 5th, 2006, 04:25 PM
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#15 |
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Wrangler
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The original poster asked about labeling systems for the MAC. The software that came with my R200 is Windows only and I used it once or twice.
I've been using a demo of a MAC application called Disc Label. It seems to be a nice application. The demo is fully functional but watermarks the printouts until you buy a registration key. -gb- |
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