DVD Labels

[dab1968]

I got some discs from a guy once and he had put these satin labels on them that made them look just like store-bought DVD's. I have checked out every manufacturer of Disc labels I can find and none of them look even close to the quality of these. He assured me that he bought them in a regular retail store, but he bought them in bulk or something and he couldn't remember the brand. Has anyone else seen labels of this quality, any idea where I can get them. Any clues would be appreciated.

[GeorgeW]

Hi,

General consensus is to avoid using sticky labels on DVD's. They can cause playback problems...

George

[dab1968]

Either way, I still want to find them.

[Board Room]

If you find it next to impossible to find the labels you're after then the next option is getting printable discs. Of course the print quality is VERY dependant on the printer and the discs.

Ive had excellent results with Verbatim (ink jet printable) and my Epson R800.

FWIW Ive read countless nessages from people having playback problems after fitting labels on DVD's. YMMV.

HTH

B R

[DVDDoug]

http://www.tapeplus.com/labels-cd.html has clear labels. I haven't tried the clear ones. The bulk white labels I got from them didn't seem to be as "photo quality" as the real "Neato" labels.

I've burned a spindle of 50 DVDs, and I've put labels on all fo them with no problems. I've been putting labels on CDs since the early days of CD burning.

Doug

[david reece]

i had the neato labels and they made the disc wobble and got spit out each time i played it. The sound it producd in the player and PC was like a lawnmower at full throttle!

Also bear in mind DVD rot. This phenomenia has raised it head again.

A cheap brand of DVD wil not have a strong laquer surface on it. In turn the glue is able to break down this surface and rust the reflective surface rendering the disc unplayable.

Verbatim have printable surfaces.

Caution here as well! none of these items have been tested to see what the effects of glue or ink doesto the disc.

Also a DVD gets heated when plyed they labke may peel off in your DVD player.

Do you wnat this!

[rad]

I get my cdr/dvdr label from Neato.

I have yet to experience playback problems do to putting a label on the disc.
and my player is 5 years old!

[DVDDoug]

I learned something new last night... You cannot damage a DVD from the top !!!

RESEARCH FACTS:
Reading DVD Demystified, by Jim Taylor, I learned that the data layer is in the middle of the DVD, sandwiched between two layers of polycarbonate.

CDs are vulnerable from the top.

I was in Office Depot about a week ago, and I saw the Fellows-Neato clear CD/DVD labels.

EXPERIENCE:
As noted above, no "real" problems with labels. I do seem to have a vague memory of label starting to peel-off... once. I've had lots of jewel cases melt in the car, but the labeled CD-Rs always come out fine. Also, the CD player in my old car had a little trouble ejecting CDs with slick-glossy labels. They wouldn't come out all the way... but I never had one stuck in there.

I've never had wobble problems. 99 percent of the time my CDs and DVDs are being played-back at 1X speed. I suppose this could be more of a problem at higher speeds.

I used course sandpaper to scratch-up the top of one of my DVD-Rs. It played-back perfectly.

OPINION:
You'd have to use power tools to damage the DVD from the top!

A label on a CD will protect the data-layer from physical damage, so with normal use it's better to have a label. If the CD is being used for long-term archival storage, where there is little danger of physical damage, leave the label off to avoid the risk of chemical damage from the adhesive.

[maddrummer3301]

I have a hole in every one of my dvd's and they play fine.

MD

[David Latta]

I also have holes discs, and labels, and they play just fine.

My Neato labelled discs play okay and show no signs of problems. Have just purchased an Epson R310 printer and can't wait to shove a disc in that.

David

[mbelli]

Kidding aside, the general opinion is that labels should not be placed on DVD-R/+R discs.

Printable DVD-R's are easy to find and there's inexpensive printers from Epson and Canon that can print on these easily. Or you can get a cheap thermal printer like the Primera Z1 which works nicely on regular silver surfaces.

There's enough hassles with DVD-R's, why add another by using adhesive labels. If there's a problem with your DVD-R and you have to trouble shoot, it's just one less thing to rule out. As well, it's a problem that can creep up over time.



MB

[maddrummer3301]

Hi,
Yes, all kidding aside the biggest problem with labels is the speed at
which the reader spins them. A label does throw them off balance.

CD Players usually spin the disk at a slow rpm.
Some computers ready revolve the disk at such a high rpm
they have been known to dislodge internally.
Yamaha burners had this problem and have a firmware update
to correct it. They were spinning the disks at a very high rpm.

I've always used labels (Neato) on CD's but not DVD's (yet).

Been looking at the Casio unit which isn't using inkjet dyes.
Just wondering how much the replacement cartridges are for
those units and the availability.

I guess the common sense thing to do is keep a backup of the
original dvd (no label) in case the labels do give a problem.

MD

[mbelli]

I wouldn't consider labels on DVD's -- period!!

They're a time bomb. They might work now, but peel off a year from now. In regards to archival storage, it's one more thing that effects the DVD, so 8-years from now when you play the labeled DVD -- you might get DVD rot introduced by the label adhesive and contact to the disc.

Really, why take the chance?

Also, some DVD players are kinder to discs with labels than others. So, you have your nice labeled DVD disc at home, plays great, you take it to your friends to view, and on their player the labels cause the DVD to skip.

The cartridges for inexpensive thermal printers are expensive, but cheaper then ink cartridges which cost a fortune. My Primera Z1 printer's are I think around $20.00. Of course you can do 400 DVD's on one corner of the disc with one cartridge (top, bottom, left or right) or 100 DVD's if you print all four corners.

MB

[cgman]

I have been producing videos over the last few years with labeled DVDs and the only complaint I have had is a VHS copy was bad and my supplier later recalled them.

No complaints, to date, with a labeled DVD. Only DVD +\-R format compatibilites.

I use Neato cd/dvd labels with a label placement press and they go on without a hitch each time and centered perfectly... Thank GOD for dvd/cd standards


Cgman