DVD full face labels

Ok--here's a dumb one, but I have to ask.

I enjoy printing full face labels for my DVDs. Are there any full-face label stampers out there?

 

Label line up tools are available, but I don't know about a "stamper". What does a stamper do? Labels can be a problem with balance and even if high quality, they're eventually going to start coming loose. I do case labels occasionally and use a marker on the discs. The DVD itself is supposed to be either in the player or case, so all that label work for discs shouldn't be seen very much unless you have clear cases and then one doesn't usually leave them laying around face up.

Lightscribe discs are one solution (with a lightscribe burner) and inkjet printable discs are another (have to have a printer that will print them).

 

NeatO and Memorex used to have full labels. I've not checked those recently. Many people advise against labels now because of the problems they can cause. I will say though that quality labels when applied properly and stored properly will last for a few years. I'm still waiting for mine to head south.

 

Personally have had a lot of headaches with labels so, would not recommend them. However if you must use them, apply the label BEFORE burning the disk. That way it is burnt and read at the same level…. This seems to work a little better. Not perfect, but better..

 

Great replies---thanks to all. Its just fun to make labels, but everyone's advice not to is well taken. Should I assume that "Sharpie" pen ink is ok to mark on the disks?

P.S. A label "stamper" is a gadget that allows you to put your labels face down and "stamp" the CD/DVD on it to get a wrinkle-free look.

 

2oldGeek
Just curious. As the transparent surface is the one through which the recordable disc is both burned and read, what does putting the label on the backside before or after have to do with playability and/or recordability? After all, the disc has a back label from the factory that protects the dye layer from the rear; unless it's a "flipper" in which case the opposing dye layers protect each other and there'd be no label anyway. How can the label make the DVD less (or more) readable or burnable since it goes on over a factory covering on the back of the disc? How can the strength of the laser or the transparency of the front disc surface be affected by the label on the rear; or the inner dye layer be affected on the transparent side of the disc?

 

mgrace47
I have a "stamper" as you call it on my desk that I rarely use anymore. I know Neato had them and the one I have came with an HP CD burner I got some years back. The label lays on the tool and the disc presses down onto the label. It doesn't guarantee a bubble free application though as the label will catch air if pressed hard all at once. I just lightly attached the label with the tool to line it up and then worked out from the center with a fine fiber cloth to finish pressing the label to the disc and remove any bubbles forming. That was another pain with labels, bubbles. When you get one, a needle solves the problem if you can't work it to the outside or inside.

 

I use to use a Memorex label "stamper", but gave up on it. TOO many headaches. I had alot of discs which I had to reburn because of the labels being out of position, causing the disc to be out of balence.

Then I went to just using a marker, but it's kind of ugly looking. Now I use a Epson R220, which cost me $79 new from Office Max. I could've got it online for about $20 cheaper, but I wanted it right away.

Here's a marker vs. inkjet, you be the judge:

 

Don't use a cd stamper...i had cd stomper & used to have hundreds of playback problems with dvd's & cd's....i switched to the epson printer and printable media...problem solved.

 

Sorry guys, I resized the pic to 25% of its original size, but it still comes up this big.

I need spanked. LADIES......

 

Imageshack sizes captures to fit to a webpage so the page doesn't have to be scrolled from side to side when trying to read it. I've not tried photobucket. If they don't, you may want to change hosting sites.

 

Hey Bro,
This is just a theory, to cover my tracks. LOL It would seem that the extra thickness of the label would throw the reading of the disc off when read back at a different level than burned at.. I have tried it and it seems to work, somewhat. Like I said “not perfect, but better”. I have no basis for this theory except experience and you Know what that can do… LOL
Besides, my first comment was that I don’t recommend them..Period.

Just built up a new computer and Love it! Still moving things from my old HD to the new one. HeHe

Oh, by the way, DVDDecrypter in the ISO Mode still works on everything except the new Puppet lock sh#T. LOL

Got to go to bed, just got off a 16 hr shift and am very tired… look for you later..
2OG

 

Can't say as I've had a problem with a disc label, except trying to get one off. With the lineup tool, I've never had a balance problem. Bubbles were the biggest pain when I got in a hurry. As I said, I found a needle solved that problem. I just found it was more useful if I liked the art to invest in case labels as they're the ones seen most often.

 

@ bro... and others.

Sorry bout the size. I've only loaded a few pics on Photobucket, and those were from my camera. Those turned up perfect for posting. This scan came up pretty big. I tried resizing but it stayed the same. This is all kinda still new to me. I'll try Imageshack if that's what you'd suggest. You know more... I'm still learning.

 

I was doing full size dvd cases and case labels for awhile, but my collection got to the size that it was taking up WAY too much space and I was using alot of ink. Now I'm using slim cases in numerical order with a Collectorz database to keep everything sorted. As least I'm keeping some of the art by printing the labels on the discs.

 

2oldGeek

LUK was clairvoyant I guess. But what works in ISO works in File Mode as well.

DVD Decrypter still does a lot of movies, but a person would have to have some way of knowing which DVDs have the Arccoss, Puppetlock, Ripguard encryption. Sony, Disney, and I think Columbia are the big culprits, but there may be others. So, if a person needs AnyDVD or something else to handle the newer copyright protection, why not use it on all the DVDs. I started using DVD Decrypter + AnyDVD before LUK had to stop support. The main reason being Slysoft was almost always the first to get the updates done first. Even LUK had to constantly update DVD Decrypter for newer copyright protection schemes. Remember all those PSL2(s) that were developed to make things work while LUK was updating?

That's an interesting theory you have there on label thickness throwing off the reading. The only problem is that the reading and writing are done from the transparent side. The laser is merely picking up the high and low spots in the dye layer that were pressed or burned onto the dye surface when reading or burning those highs and lows in the burn process. So, if the disc was manufactured properly, the laser isn't shooting through to the label. If the laser hit the label then we'd be seeing burn marks on the label when burning. That thickness of the label does have a bearing on recordability and playability if the label is off center, but that's a matter of balance.

 

bhetrick
Here is a link for a smaller version of that jpg file you posted. Microsoft Photo Editor can resize before you post and the imageshack site also sizes 320x240 for websites and email. Feel free to use this link in your post or I can leave this example up.

http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/8271/smalldisc0vv.png

 

LOL You didn't have to go that small. Like you said before, it takes practice.

 

You the man... fixed.