CD Labels

jandanjan

I read another thread on suitable printers to print CD labels for CDs this morning (and cannot find it now which is typical :-)).

People recommended Epson R360 and another make and I have looked at their details.

What I really want to know is how they work ? Do you just put the cd into the printer with a blank label on top and the printer prints onto it or do you put the labels in and then you need to line up the sticky label onto the cd?

I have also seen the Brother P touch 550 which seems to print onto labels but only in black and white and then you have to fiddle to get the sticky label onto the cd itself.

I would like to make my own CD's and put decent labels onto them but I am not good with fiddly things etc and dont really know what is the easiest and best way to do this?

Thanks a lot

BillScarab

No idea about which printer to get but another option is to replace your CD/DVD burner with a lightscribe one. You then need special CDs or DVDs and when you burn one the burner puts an image on the CD directly.

see here for some more info

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightscribe

krishna

Instead of printing directly onto the CDs you can buy labels for CDs. Avery do them and so do others. With Avery and some other companies you can even buy a kit to make the job of placing the label on the CD easier. And you get software that allows you do design your label too. I've used the Avery ones (got them free with some CDs I bought off ebay) but not the label placing tool. I found it easy enough to place them by hand. I reckon you should be able to use generic CD labels with the avery applicator tool. And you can probably get a few free samples from avery to try all this out too.

http://www.avery.co.uk/uk1/main.jsp?action=product.Hierarchy&bct=2&bcn=afterBURNER&node=9

marleyboy

I have an epson R320 and an R220. they come with a tray that you put the disks onto, and slot it into the printer. The same will apply to the R360.

snax

Been mucking about with this sort of thing for a while now - I have an Epson R 800 and an R 300 ... no real difference in quality.
options are:

1. blank labels ... usually 2 to a sheet ... printable in any inkjet printer using label designer software -then peel off and stick to surface of disc [a bit fiddly]

2. Printable discs ... better ... disc slips into a 'holder' which inserts into the front of the printer ... the printer software includes 'Print CD' software [relatively easy to use]

3. Use normal CD-R discs and apply sticky labels as in 1. above ..... then print as in 2. above [probably the cheapest option]

4. Lightscribe is more expensive all round [lightscribe drive + discs and doesn't print in colour - I think!]

PC World had a TDK disc printer like this ... http://cavuk.com/product.php?productid=1634
Needs printable discs and looked a bit pants to be honest ... can't comment any further.

hope it helps

marleyboy

My freind has just purchased a Lightscribe. It doesnt print in colour, but for the cost of the disks, its not worth it, at least until the disks get cheaper.

John_Gray

Personally I'd avoid sticking anything onto the surface of the CD, because unless it's absolutely central you are going to get vibration and difficulty with the drive running at the maximum speed. Similarly if one section become slightly unstuck.

John

PeteHerts

The Epson Stylus R265 is @ Amazon for £52 delivered and that prints directly onto printable CD's and DVD's

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Epson-Stylus-Photo-R265-Printer/dp/B000HVC0BO?tag2=hotukdeals-21

murphy61

Personally I'd avoid sticking anything onto the surface of the CD, because unless it's absolutely central you are going to get vibration and difficulty with the drive running at the maximum speed. Similarly if one section become slightly unstuck.

John

Couldn't agree more! Sooner or later, a label will bubble or peel and it will wreck your drive. Go for printable cds or dvds and an epson printer with a tray. Looks far more professional too!

marleyboy

I hear rumour that Epson are stopping production of the print cd option, that worries me, I have an R300 stuck in my shed as I cant get it to print anymore. Once this happens to my other printers, I'm not sure what I will do next, I have only ever seen Epson printers with this feature, unless someone knows different.

coolagarry

Ive stuck many hundreds of labels onto cd's and dvd's and have not yet had one coming unstuck. I bought an expressit labelling kit at a PC fair many years ago and I buy my labels from SVP for a few quid. It means I can have any design or picture on the cd and it looks really professional.
It also means that I can use most cd/dvd's and dont have to look for ones with printable surfaces.