It might be the way you are putting the image on. I found it doing that for me when i first used it. If you set the image as background, it comes out sharper than if you insert an image. Sounds confusing. Let me see if i can describe it with pictures. Im using the nero lightscribe stuff found in EXTRAS tab on nero startsmart;
Clicking on that will open up another screen:
at first i was using the insert image part, and the stuff would come out like it was out of focus. Once i started using it as background it came out better. You can also change the default settings in the cover designer to always use the best quality or highest dpi, but i cant find that default setting. If you click on the lightscribe symbol in coverdesigner it pops up with this screen, and you can change it there before print. I dont have one set up right now, but i think you have to click on a more or options tab before burning and it will let you select the print dpi, and i use 800 dpi, but i think it goes higher.
and i too have heard of ppl putting the disc back in for another burn of the image. Ive never tried it as the imgage comes out ok for me.
Here is where the dpi selection was in an older version of cover designer with lightscribe.
If you are already using the background properties part, then your only other hope is to burn it twice, or wait until the higher contrast media comes out. Im guessing on the image insert part, but thats all i could think of as it happened to me.
Also if you use text, it comes out hollow and faded unless you use paintfill on the text. Heres what i mean with a text filled to black paint.
Its the overturned paint bucket symbol) If i would have burned it without textfill, you would have a hard time seeing it. If you look closely, the date it was burned is in the unfilled text way.
if that pic is too small, ill link you to the full size scan.
(its too big to fit on this forum, without throwing the whole thread text off.) The date is upside down and right below MIX. Took me awhile to figure that one out too. Maybe it would help if i read the manuals, LOL, but i like to figure it out for myself most of the time on new programs. To me, using the manual is like "crying uncle", or they win, its too complex to figure out without being guided. :) I shouldnt say that, as guides are the smart way to go, and much easier than trying to figure it out on your own.
Also the help files are not included in the Nero downloads, and you have to go find them somewhere else in the wonderful webpage of nero. I get lost in there, and ive searched that site many times, probably more than any other website (other than the firmware page). The info is in there,, somewhere..
Here is the image contrast utility:
http://lightscribe.com/support/index.aspx?id=306it looks like it gets rid of the draft mode, but maybe it works better?
So, i dl'd the contrast enhancement program, and installed it.
It looks like it added 13.5 minutes to the normal time for a best quality print. The total time for this one was 43.35 minutes and it used to be around 30 minutes before the contrast update.
Here is what the disc image looked like before the coversion to greyscale. I got my cd image from
http://www.cdcovers.cc under the DVD section. (they call the disc art CDs)
and here is a scan of the resulting disc (i have an LG burner 4166B.)
Its ok, but greyscale will never look as good as a full color image would.
