What paper do you use for your DVD covers? at DVinfo.net

Stephen J. Williams · December 7th, 2008, 11:16 AM

At first I bought some premium high gloss photo paper.. It looked great before putting it into the DVD cover. Once inserted inside however all of the ink seems to stick to the plastic, and end up looking pretty bad. I've now switched to satin photo paper. It doesn't have much of a gloss. I know there is something better out there though. I use a Epson RX580 for print.

Vince Baker · December 7th, 2008, 11:55 AM

i use premium glossy with an Epson R265....once left to dry for 20 mins the ink never comes off.

Is it definately inkjet glossy?

Peter Dunphy · December 7th, 2008, 12:06 PM

I am on the verge of buying the below "EPSON A4 PREMIUM GLOSSY PHOTO PAPER" paper. Do you think it will suffice? Am a little worried after hearing your story about the ink sticking!

My main concern is that, once I fold the Photo-Page twice to accommodate the 14mm spine, the image could 'break', if you know what I mean. Like, the white paper beneath might show through a crack/seam in the inkjet-photo image where I've folded it...

Normal 'Blockbuster' DVD covers aren't printed on normal glossy photo paper, are they? I'm not sure myself, and totally new to this. Any suggestions appreciated.

Here is the paper I'm on the verge of buying for my DVD covers:

EPSON A4 PREMIUM GLOSSY PHOTO PAPER: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics & Photo

Peter Dunphy · December 7th, 2008, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vince Baker

i use premium glossy with an Epson R265....once left to dry for 20 mins the ink never comes off.

Is it definately inkjet glossy?

Hi Vince, Novatech are pretty expensive when it comes to shipping to Northern Ireland and cost nearly as much as the Epson paper, so I thought I'd just give the Epson stuff a go while I 'start out'. Thanks again for the Novatech tip though. By the way, if you order from them via the 'top cashback' site you'll get 3% cashback.

Tim Harjo · December 7th, 2008, 02:48 PM

I use HP Everyday Photo Paper

It's Semi gloss. This paper dries right away, so you can put it to use immediately - and without sticking. Try it.. you won't miss all that gloss stuff for a second. Since it goes under that plastic film (on the dvd case) it looks just as good as the glossy expensive paper, but without the cost and without the sticking.

Tim Harjo · December 7th, 2008, 04:08 PM

One more thing to add.. I use an epson R340, so the HP paper works great with my epson. I have not had good luck with Epson paper for the applications we use it for.

The HP Everyday Photo Paper to me is very similar to the paper in blockbuster DVD cases. Feels the same, looks the same, weighs the same. I'm sure they are not the exact same, but to me it's very close.

Darren Smith · December 7th, 2008, 07:26 PM

Peter

I used to fold the paper also for the spline, but there really is no need, just insert the cover in flat and when you close the DVD case, it does the folding for you.

Cheers
Darren

Tripp Woelfel · December 7th, 2008, 07:56 PM

I use these: Merit-Line | Glossy Insert for DVD Case - 50 Sheets | 161005

It's glossy and perforated the size of the case. The edges break of very cleanly. It can also be trimmed for the thinner cases, but no perf for that.

I can insert them into the case within a few minutes of them coming out of the printer and for over 100 cases I've never had one stick. This is all done with an Epson RX595.

I don't know what 50 pieces of photo paper cost, but I don't think these are much more expensive, if at all. It's definitely worth it for time saving it provides.

I use the Memorex Xpress It software (free) for printing. The graphics are created in Photoshop and the resulting TIFF file is dropped into Xpress It. Align it with the guides for the spine and edges and it's perfectly placed every time.

Stephen J. Williams · December 8th, 2008, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tripp Woelfel

I use these: Merit-Line | Glossy Insert for DVD Case - 50 Sheets | 161005

It's glossy and perforated the size of the case. The edges break of very cleanly. It can also be trimmed for the thinner cases, but no perf for that.

I can insert them into the case within a few minutes of them coming out of the printer and for over 100 cases I've never had one stick. This is all done with an Epson RX595.

I don't know what 50 pieces of photo paper cost, but I don't think these are much more expensive, if at all. It's definitely worth it for time saving it provides.

I use the Memorex Xpress It software (free) for printing. The graphics are created in Photoshop and the resulting TIFF file is dropped into Xpress It. Align it with the guides for the spine and edges and it's perfectly placed every time.

I'll give these a try... It sounds like they work well and are priced very well. thanks for the info.

Paul Cascio · December 8th, 2008, 07:46 PM

Wow, those covers are almost as expensive as a DVD blank. I use 24# bond for my covers. I trim it with a paper cutter, but anything that's placed under the clear plastic takes on a glossy appearence, so I'm not sure a glossy paper is need. I'm going to go back and experiment with some glossy or semi-glossy stock.

Gabriel Gordillo · December 8th, 2008, 09:28 PM

Just wondering if anyone using the Discus software for the Mac, I have had the most difficult time finding the right preset for a dvd cover. What do you guys use or have you designed a preset for it to share?

Kevin Spahr · January 10th, 2009, 08:35 AM

For you Mac guys:
I've been using Disc Cover 2 from Belight. This software has made creating the cover art and disc art a breeze. It will assist you in creating art for just about any type of media - even those disc "business cards" that I would never put in any of my players. I can print directly to my Primera publisher as a one-off or save the art as a pdf and use that to print the discs when doing a large order. Everything I used before was a pain in the butt.

Belight also has an App for business cards that I would never be without. Flawless alignment every time.

I just wish I could find a printer that I would be happy with - I've been through a bunch of them and they all have reliability issues. From clogging heads on this model to paper jams on that model, or lack of driver support for models they don't sell currently. I guess you just have to buy a new one every year or so...

And don't get me started on the price of ink!

Also you would think they would standardize the cartridges for their entire line so instead of selling 100 different cartridges they would use one for each color that would be used in all their printers. I bet the stores that have to stock them would love to have to only have stock 6 to 8 different cartridges per manufacturer. That would have to save a bundle on design, manufacturing, stocking and shipping costs.

Sorry for the rant but I get so P.O.'d with printers.

Kelsey Emuss · January 10th, 2009, 03:05 PM

I use this product: Jewelboxing - Super Jewel Box Packaging System - CD and DVD Cases

The paper is thick and soft like cotton.

Harry Settle · January 10th, 2009, 05:54 PM

I use premium glossy with my Epson 1800-R, no drying times and no sticking.

Asvaldur Kristjansson · January 10th, 2009, 07:01 PM

I use Canon High Resolution Paper HR-101N. It is easy to fold as it is 106g/m2 and 122 um thick. It's non glossy but it will give the same resault when it goes under the DVD plastic. I let it dry for about 10 min before putting it in the cover. I have tried an expensive thick high gloss paper and while it look better right from the printer than the thin non glossy paper there is no visible difference when it is under the plastic.

December 7th, 2008, 11:16 AM	#1
Stephen J. Williams Major Player Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 768	What paper do you use for your DVD covers? At first I bought some premium high gloss photo paper.. It looked great before putting it into the DVD cover. Once inserted inside however all of the ink seems to stick to the plastic, and end up looking pretty bad. I've now switched to satin photo paper. It doesn't have much of a gloss. I know there is something better out there though. I use a Epson RX580 for print.

December 8th, 2008, 07:46 PM	#10
Paul Cascio Trustee Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bristol, CT (Home of EPSN) Posts: 1,192	Wow, those covers are almost as expensive as a DVD blank. I use 24# bond for my covers. I trim it with a paper cutter, but anything that's placed under the clear plastic takes on a glossy appearence, so I'm not sure a glossy paper is need. I'm going to go back and experiment with some glossy or semi-glossy stock. __________________ Paul Cascio www.pictureframingschool.com

December 8th, 2008, 09:28 PM	#11
Gabriel Gordillo Tourist Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Union City, NJ Posts: 4	DVD paper Just wondering if anyone using the Discus software for the Mac, I have had the most difficult time finding the right preset for a dvd cover. What do you guys use or have you designed a preset for it to share?

January 10th, 2009, 05:54 PM	#14
Harry Settle Major Player Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bemidji, MN Posts: 276	I use premium glossy with my Epson 1800-R, no drying times and no sticking. __________________ "DOH"!!!

December 7th, 2008, 11:55 AM	#2
Vince Baker Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Portsmouth, UK Posts: 118	i use premium glossy with an Epson R265....once left to dry for 20 mins the ink never comes off. Is it definately inkjet glossy?

December 7th, 2008, 12:06 PM	#3
Peter Dunphy Major Player Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Belfast Northern Ireland Posts: 261	I am on the verge of buying the below "EPSON A4 PREMIUM GLOSSY PHOTO PAPER" paper. Do you think it will suffice? Am a little worried after hearing your story about the ink sticking! My main concern is that, once I fold the Photo-Page twice to accommodate the 14mm spine, the image could 'break', if you know what I mean. Like, the white paper beneath might show through a crack/seam in the inkjet-photo image where I've folded it... Normal 'Blockbuster' DVD covers aren't printed on normal glossy photo paper, are they? I'm not sure myself, and totally new to this. Any suggestions appreciated. Here is the paper I'm on the verge of buying for my DVD covers: EPSON A4 PREMIUM GLOSSY PHOTO PAPER: Amazon.co.uk: Electronics & Photo

December 7th, 2008, 02:48 PM	#5
Tim Harjo Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Sacramento, California Posts: 195	I use HP Everyday Photo Paper It's Semi gloss. This paper dries right away, so you can put it to use immediately - and without sticking. Try it.. you won't miss all that gloss stuff for a second. Since it goes under that plastic film (on the dvd case) it looks just as good as the glossy expensive paper, but without the cost and without the sticking.

December 7th, 2008, 04:08 PM	#6
Tim Harjo Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Sacramento, California Posts: 195	One more thing to add.. I use an epson R340, so the HP paper works great with my epson. I have not had good luck with Epson paper for the applications we use it for. The HP Everyday Photo Paper to me is very similar to the paper in blockbuster DVD cases. Feels the same, looks the same, weighs the same. I'm sure they are not the exact same, but to me it's very close.

December 7th, 2008, 07:26 PM	#7
Darren Smith Regular Crew Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Bli Bli Qld Australia Posts: 93	Peter I used to fold the paper also for the spline, but there really is no need, just insert the cover in flat and when you close the DVD case, it does the folding for you. Cheers Darren

December 7th, 2008, 07:56 PM	#8
Tripp Woelfel Trustee Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: North Conway, NH Posts: 1,745	I use these: Merit-Line \| Glossy Insert for DVD Case - 50 Sheets \| 161005 It's glossy and perforated the size of the case. The edges break of very cleanly. It can also be trimmed for the thinner cases, but no perf for that. I can insert them into the case within a few minutes of them coming out of the printer and for over 100 cases I've never had one stick. This is all done with an Epson RX595. I don't know what 50 pieces of photo paper cost, but I don't think these are much more expensive, if at all. It's definitely worth it for time saving it provides. I use the Memorex Xpress It software (free) for printing. The graphics are created in Photoshop and the resulting TIFF file is dropped into Xpress It. Align it with the guides for the spine and edges and it's perfectly placed every time.

January 10th, 2009, 08:35 AM	#12
Kevin Spahr Major Player Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Carlisle, PA Posts: 451	For you Mac guys: I've been using Disc Cover 2 from Belight. This software has made creating the cover art and disc art a breeze. It will assist you in creating art for just about any type of media - even those disc "business cards" that I would never put in any of my players. I can print directly to my Primera publisher as a one-off or save the art as a pdf and use that to print the discs when doing a large order. Everything I used before was a pain in the butt. Belight also has an App for business cards that I would never be without. Flawless alignment every time. I just wish I could find a printer that I would be happy with - I've been through a bunch of them and they all have reliability issues. From clogging heads on this model to paper jams on that model, or lack of driver support for models they don't sell currently. I guess you just have to buy a new one every year or so... And don't get me started on the price of ink! Also you would think they would standardize the cartridges for their entire line so instead of selling 100 different cartridges they would use one for each color that would be used in all their printers. I bet the stores that have to stock them would love to have to only have stock 6 to 8 different cartridges per manufacturer. That would have to save a bundle on design, manufacturing, stocking and shipping costs. Sorry for the rant but I get so P.O.'d with printers.

January 10th, 2009, 03:05 PM	#13
Kelsey Emuss Major Player Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Burlington, Ontario, Canada Posts: 259	I use this product: Jewelboxing - Super Jewel Box Packaging System - CD and DVD Cases The paper is thick and soft like cotton.

January 10th, 2009, 07:01 PM	#15
Asvaldur Kristjansson Regular Crew Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Reykjavik, Iceland Posts: 95	I use Canon High Resolution Paper HR-101N. It is easy to fold as it is 106g/m2 and 122 um thick. It's non glossy but it will give the same resault when it goes under the DVD plastic. I let it dry for about 10 min before putting it in the cover. I have tried an expensive thick high gloss paper and while it look better right from the printer than the thin non glossy paper there is no visible difference when it is under the plastic.