 L Priest |
PRINTING DIRECTLY ON THE SURFACE OF A CD WHAT EQUIPTMENT DO I NEED TO PRINT DIRECTLY ONTO THE SURFACE OF A CD?
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Christopher A. Vedros |
You need a printer that can print on CDs, and some printable CDs. I know many of Epson's Photo Printers can print on CDs. I haven't tried it myself. I like just printing on the labels.
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robert G. Fately |
LP, there is another alternative to buying specially prepared printable CDs and using inkjet to print them - Casio makes a couple of CD printers. I believe their product codes are CW-50 and CW75 or something like that. I got one at a major office supply store. Basically, they use small single-color ink ribbons (available in 4 colors, but used one at a time)and can only print various text typefaces in a variety of pre-configured layouts. Certainly the printable CD?inkjet aproach can make much prettier output, but if you don't need that level of fanciness then this Casio printer allows you to write permanently things like labels, perhaps some content data, etc. And they work on any CD, though you'll want to find CDs that don't have to much manufacturer's logos and printing on them. Just an alternative.
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L Priest |
Do you know how much the printable cds and printers run? Are the cds available at most stores or do I need to order online? Thanks for your quick response
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robert G. Fately |
You can check any conouter catalog to see the costs of generic CDs - most of the brand name manufacturers make a printable version (that will work with an inkjet or the Casio printer I described). The biggest issue is really longevity - if you are making CDs that will be sent to people for review but that do not need to last a long time, you can get pretty much any CD. But if you plan on doing long term backup/storage, then you are better off getting CDs made to last (because most generic or cheap ones do not last that long - they can go bad in as little as a few years). Mitsui makes a gold and silver line of CDs and DVDs - which use different dyes less prone to oxidation - and therefore will last tens of years or more. You can do a Google search to find Mitsui CDs - I think their US distribution arm has a name like MAM-A or something.
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L Priest |
Are you saying that the image on the cd or dvd will fade? Or are you referring to the cd itself. I want to make cd's and dvd's that last. It is important that the information and image on the cd or dvd last. Thanks again for your help
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robert G. Fately |
L, I am saying tha the CD itself - or rather, the ddta on the CD, can be lost with time if the CD in question is a cheaply made unit. Unlike the music you buy on CDs, which are pressed much like vinyl records were long ago, burnable CDs rely on special dyes that are ablated by the laser in your CD burner. The thing is, cheaper dyes can oxidize, and cheaply made CDs can get hariline cracks along the edges which only speeds the oxidation. Search enough photo sites and you will find plenty of photographers who assumed their precious images were permanently archived on CD, only to find 4 or 5 years later than the CD in question was little more than a coaster - the data was rendered unreadable. This is why I suggest to you to get CDs that, while more expensive, will last a long time. Again, go to the MAM-A website (you can google it to get the URL) and learn more, and then order from them. I have gotten their DVDs as well as their CDs.
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