Tony Bennett Posted December 5, 2005 Share Posted December 5, 2005 We are going to be recording some originals to sell at our gigs. I think it would be nice to logo the actual cds. I see you can purchase a desk jet that will do this, but the imprint would of course smear if it gets wet. I hear those paper stickers can cause malfunctions while playing...maybe some sort of clear decal printed? Ideas? How many cds do I have to burn before it's worth just hiring it done? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krakit Posted December 5, 2005 Share Posted December 5, 2005 I recently bought a printer that prints directly to the CD. As long as you buy a printable CD. Expensive. These printable CDs are like $1 ea. Carl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bridog6996 Posted December 5, 2005 Share Posted December 5, 2005 I would definitely go with printed stickers. They look pretty good, and the other options are probably too much of an investment for what it sounds like you want. I've never heard of the stickers causing malfunctions. I have some cds with printed stickers on them an they all work fine. My YouTube Channel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garrafon Posted December 5, 2005 Share Posted December 5, 2005 Printed stickers cause lots of headaches! They can "bubble" up and, worse, they get stuck in many front-loading drives. I'd go with professionally done CDs, direct print, or try lightscribe (which is only shades of gray, not color), in that order. I did the sticker route...and now I'm done with it. It doesn't look good to sell (or even give away) a CD that gets stuck in someone's player (that just pisses them off). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bridog6996 Posted December 5, 2005 Share Posted December 5, 2005 Well, I didn't think of that. I don't have any front-loading cd players, so the stickered cds work fine for me. My YouTube Channel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeronyne Posted December 5, 2005 Share Posted December 5, 2005 There is also a CD/DVD burner that will etch right on the surface with the laser. I think it's a Pioneer. "For instance" is not proof. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StillFightingIt Posted December 5, 2005 Share Posted December 5, 2005 I personally have never had a problem with printed stickers and I do have front loading cd players. I think they're ideal early stages of cds and demo's and are great for people on a budget... my 2c My Band: www.myspace.com/fergusband Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nursers Posted December 5, 2005 Share Posted December 5, 2005 Lacie make the lightscribe units as well The Keyboard Chronicles Podcast Check out your fellow forumites in an Apple Music playlist Check out your fellow forumites in a Spotify playlist My Music: Stainless Fields Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Byrdman Posted December 5, 2005 Share Posted December 5, 2005 Originally posted by Bridog6996: I would definitely go with printed stickers. They look pretty good, and the other options are probably too much of an investment for what it sounds like you want. I've never heard of the stickers causing malfunctions. I have some cds with printed stickers on them an they all work fine. Yeah they do - they come off in peoples drives. Not a good idea for promo CDs! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Bennett Posted December 6, 2005 Author Share Posted December 6, 2005 Hey, thanks for the replies. I looked into the laser, wow that's cool. We actually want like a 1000 cd's so it looks like we will hire that done. Funny story tonight, me and the singer are calling around looking for someone to record the music. We're chatting on the phone and I say "well I've got a digital 8 track" he says "YOU have a digital 8 track"? I'm like "yeah, but I don't want to figure out how to run it". He's like "YOU, have a digital 8 track"? I'm like "well yeah, I record piano with it". Hah, anyways he ran over to pick up the instruction manual. One of those funny conversations you wish you had recorded to put on a cd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoLights Posted December 6, 2005 Share Posted December 6, 2005 For 1000 CD's...go to a pro. But for short runs, I use a cheapo Epson Stylus Photo R200 ($100)... it has a tray that accepts a CD. I've had good luck getting CD's to look almost professional. And the printable CD's are only a few cents more than the non-printable kind. I think you'll get better results if you get white printable CD's (as opposed to the silver/gold foil type). Plus, the Epson does a fairly good job on regular print jobs. The labels don't always adhere well... and if they're not perfect, they can cause some wobble as the CD spins - which can occasionally cause the CD to skip. _______________________________________________ Kurzweil PC4; Yamaha P515; EV ZXA1s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StillFightingIt Posted December 6, 2005 Share Posted December 6, 2005 I agree with nolights, for 1000 definately go pro. Although I haven't had a problem with printable stickers, I do think the printable cds are well worth it for smaller jobs. Over here they're the same price for printables or non-printables both dvds and cds. My Band: www.myspace.com/fergusband Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Ward MP Hall of Fame Posted December 6, 2005 Share Posted December 6, 2005 I dunno guys, 1000 isn't that much, easy enough to do yourself. Depends on how you want them to look, most people won't buy CDs that are obviously home pressed. We use stickered CDs as flyers for upcoming shows, print the flyer right on the CD, so that if people like and keep the CD, they'll know about the show. We usually pass out 2-300 per upcoming show. Used to be more expensive but we got a buddy at Best Buy, so CD-Rs are cheap as hell! Seems to work out alright, but our CDs for sale are professionally pressed. "...Keytar in a heavy metal band is nothing more than window dressing" - Sven Golly Cursed Eternity - My Band Dick Ward - My Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackpine Posted December 6, 2005 Share Posted December 6, 2005 Why not just go buy a printer? For $140 bucks you can pick up a Signiture Z1 that will do lo rez logos and the like.... I own a Sig III, they are pretty expensive but do a fine job at 4 color hi rez. And by the 1000, Tayio Yuden inkjet printables can be had for as low as 30 some odd cents a piece. I www.relayerstudios.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garrafon Posted December 6, 2005 Share Posted December 6, 2005 Jackpine: the ZI looks interesting. I see you can buy different colored ink ribbons. Is it a pain to do multi-color (you have to keep switching inks?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krakit Posted December 6, 2005 Share Posted December 6, 2005 I've been pricing some of the lighscribe drivers. They're very affordable. I don't know that i would consider the Z1 over a lightscribe. Carl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garrafon Posted December 6, 2005 Share Posted December 6, 2005 The lightscribes are pretty cool, but you should look into the fact that they apparently take a VERY long time to label each CD. Also, they currently only operate in shades of gray (no colors). You might want to look into that a bit (esp. the timing thing). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krakit Posted December 6, 2005 Share Posted December 6, 2005 I know about the monochrome aspects, but I didn't know they take a long time to work. How long? Carl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krakit Posted December 6, 2005 Share Posted December 6, 2005 Nevermind, just learned it takes 20 minutes per disk. I think I'll stick with my Epson printer for CD printing. Carl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
resigned Posted December 7, 2005 Share Posted December 7, 2005 Best option is always to have the CD's done professionally... but if you're like me and still want to DIY then here's what I've found: * Absolutely never use stickers. They not only bubble but add weight to the CD and sometimes make it spin unevenly. They can destroy a CD player. * Those Epson printers don't last for long. I had two that messed up - they don't feed the CD's reliably and it's very time-consuming to hand print CD's. * Lightscribe not only takes 20 minutes or more per CD but it requires special CD's to print on. White printable CD's are cheaper and easy to buy in bulk. I use a Primera Bravo II CD printer/duplicator that I invested about $1500 in and it hasn't failed me yet after a year and a half of use. Very reliable and surprisingly efficient with ink (if you design your labels well). Nice to push a start button on the computer and come back later to a stack of finished CD's. Ink seems smearproof and looks great. The Primeras are not cheap but they turn out a nice product painlessly. BTW: I design my own jewel case inserts with Microsoft Publisher and have them printed at Staples. I've setup a "kitchen island" in the corner of my studio where I cut/score/fold the inserts, assemble the CD's, and shrinkwrap them with a heat gun. Shrinkwrapping kits and supplies are available at www.markertek.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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