This discussion forum has been closed. Starting new topics or replying to existing topics is no longer possible.
We welcome all users to use AfterDawn's discussion forums instead.
Is it safe to label dvds as you can with cds? Has anyone had any experience or problems with this?
drob003
Inactive
7 Jan 2003 12:40 AM
LionelS: I have read some warnings that say labeling DVDs can corrupt the data. however, I have labeled my back-ups without any issues. However, I would be very picky with any labels you choose to purchase. I have had particular success with the Avery 5931
DROB
njdev1
Inactive
7 Jan 2003 12:42 AM
I label all of my DVDs without any issues, though if not properly centered it most likely will affect the play.
There was another post recently addressing this issue, the best advice there was to play the disc before placing a label on it....if it works , go ahead and label it and if it has problems then you have your answer.
But like I said I label all of mine and have yet to experience a problem, whether played in my PC or set top DVD Players.
I have used Memorex and Avery labels and both are fine. Not sure if it matters but Memorex labels are thinner than Avery, yet Avery does apply much easier!
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 7 Jan 03 12:44 AM
SUNCR
Inactive
9 Jan 2003 9:12 AM
I'm using version 1.2.1. I label all my DVD's except the double side ones, and I've even labeled those when I've screwed up one side. I use Avery and some Jap Crap. I've even used sticky backed paper and cut them out with a knife. Labels DON'T cause problems.
321_Q/A
Inactive
9 Jan 2003 9:43 AM
In some cases it may be true that labels do not cause disk reading problems, but in other cases they do.
Some players are very touchy when it comes to the disks that it will play and how well it will play them.
Labels can cause problems if they are at all off center on the disk. The slightly changed balance of the disk can cause it to "wiggle" around inside the player, which can throw off the laser's reading effectiveness.
If you have a disk that you put a label on that doesn't work, we would suggest taking off the label and trying to play the disk again. There is a good chance that it will play.
Lawman
Senior Member
9 Jan 2003 10:09 AM
Better still get printable DVD's...
sbpstudio
Newbie
9 Jan 2003 12:09 PM
Since we are on the subject if anyone is interested in labels for double sided dvd's a company called Surething has a cd hub labeler kit:
I bought a new kit on Amazon.com for about $5 & Surething sells label refills pretty cheap on their website.
Hope this helps!
sbpstudios
csilkman
Junior Member
9 Jan 2003 12:31 PM
I have two Sony players, and have labels have caused some problems.
Most of the time my sticker labels with plain text on them works great.
If the lable is about 2 or 3 cm off center, then I get a "disk is dirty" error.
Also - when I put a graphic on the label I get more problems. Maybe the ink does something.
Rambo2000
Newbie
9 Jan 2003 5:26 PM
Just so you have a couple of different opinions
(your mileage may vary):
I label all of my backups and have no issues
with either my PC or my standalone Sony NSP 715
player.
I've been using the Memorex labels and I scan the DVD and use the jpeg to print a full color
reproduction on the backup.
Cheers.
puff2345
Member
9 Jan 2003 5:58 PM
rambo, when i tried scanning disc picture comes out egg shaped. looks likea space ship. or should i say it looks like a picture of a disc tilted slightly sideways.epson 1660 photo scanner
csilkman
Junior Member
9 Jan 2003 6:01 PM
Rambo-
Can you elaborate more on that process? You scan the CD and then print out the sticker label with the original picture?
I am trying to find a good way to do it. Right now I have a scanner, nice photo printer, and sticker labels but I'm not quite sure how to put it all together.
Once you get the CD scanned, I assume the jpg. is square. What's the next step?
Fusion
Inactive
9 Jan 2003 6:43 PM
I label all my disc's and I havent had a problem til the other day, I backed up Coyote Ugly, played them before labeling them and they worked fine, on disc one after labeling, picture stared to go blocky on chapter 11, then it stammered and got stuck, took the label off and it worked fine, disc 2 worked perfect with label on, re-did another label for disc 1 and the same thing happened again. The only thing i can put this down too, is that even though the disc looked fine, it must be thinner in one spot or have an imperfection on the disc that the naked eye cannot see. I could be talking complete rubbish, but its the only explanation i could come up with.
csilkman
Junior Member
9 Jan 2003 6:54 PM
Well my friends think I'm crazy but I think that the weight of the ink can play a role in this too.
If I put a graphic on the left side of the disk label and leave the other side plain, sometimes the "disk is dirty" error will come up.
If I take the same label and don't put a single thing on it then it works fine.
This does not happen all the time, but I am convinced that the weight of the ink plays a part in it.
drb
Inactive
9 Jan 2003 7:58 PM
There is plenty of good free software labeling programs that will take care of placing an image into the template correctly. Avery, Meremox, ect. Also here is a link that provides high quality jpegs of dvd's and covers that u can download. http://www.cdcovers.cc/search.php?group=dvd&
csilkman
Junior Member
10 Jan 2003 9:00 AM
DRB,
Thanks, what a great site. I was looking for something exactly like that. They have every one I needed so far.
Chris
Rambo2000
Newbie
10 Jan 2003 9:38 AM
csilkman,
I'm using a Microtek 4900 scanner and I crank up the dpi to around 600 (since the DVD has such a small surface area) and I resize the scan so that I'm only scanning a square area around the disk. Once the scan is saved as a jpeg, I use the free software that came with the Memorex label system I bought at Bestbuys (here's a link to their web site for the package I bought): http://www.bestbuy.com/Detail.asp?m=1&cat=787&scat=&e=11001309. You might find better pricing but I was in a local outlet and picked the system up over the holidays when they had a mail in rebate for $10.
Once I'm in the software, I select the template that matches the labels I have. Once the template is onsceen, I pull in the jpeg I created with the scanner. I resize/position the jpeg so that it lines up corretly with the label template. You just have to maek sure that when you resize/center the scan on the template that you don't change the aspect ratio (resize both horizontal and verticle at the same time). I even go in and add text to the label (disk 1 / disk 2) so that I know which disk is which. The memorex lables are 2 / page so it works out really well.
Once the templates done, I print it out on my Canon s900 printer (I set the paper type in the printer driver to plain paper and turn on the driver option for enhanced photo printing). I let the ink dry a few minutes before putting the label on the disk (tried it once when the label first came out of the printer which was a really bad idea!).
I haven't had any issues yet (but then again, I've probably only backed up 20 or so DVD's).
Good luck!
Rambo2000
prowler19
Member
11 Jan 2003 2:33 AM
I noticed when I wrote on my TDK labels, then applied them to backups. Even though they were about as centered as possible, they would skip and lockup in my xbox. The same discs would skip and just not play correctly in my Pioneer 104.
I just pulled the labels off and they played perfectly from start to end.
So, labels don't work for me. At least I use white top Princo DVD-R's for appearance.
VISCH1
Newbie
11 Jan 2003 5:35 AM
I’m extra careful what I put on what I consider valuable on to DVDs and CDs. I’ve been reading about the good possibility of adhesives and the wrong inks can do damage to the dyes in the disk rendering it useless. In tests I’ve read there are a lot of disks we use today just don’t take the test of time either. Unfortunately the longer lasting ones are the more costly ones, though not always. Good luck, as I try to figure out what I’m trying to do.
drb
Inactive
11 Jan 2003 1:27 PM
Prowler, I have 1 ? How do u "just pull the labels off." I have a sony player that does not like labels, I get dirty disc error, and I can not peal the labels off at all. DRB.
scootchu
Inactive
14 Jan 2003 11:51 AM
I use Fellowes Neato CD Labels and the little device that came with another software package called CD STOMPER. The label lays adhesive side up centered on a hub and the disc is then placed on the hub and pressed down to perfectly center them. I haven't had any unplayable discs.
Rambo2000
Newbie
14 Jan 2003 11:57 AM
Good point scootchu,
The memorex kit I used also came with a CD stomper device to properly center the label (oops, kind of left that out of my steps).
Maybe using the device to exactly center the label keeps the DVD in balance?
R2K
scootchu
Inactive
14 Jan 2003 9:42 PM
I also failed to mention that I use Mediaface 4. I came bundled with the fellowes CD/DVD labels and makes it easy to import and center your .jpg pictures. It also calibrates the printer to center them exactly on the blank.
sleepy
Junior Member
15 Jan 2003 9:44 PM
I've been using Avery 5931 Labels with Surething CD Label creator with great success.
I just download the cover or scan the DVD, then insert the .jpg into the background. Works like a charm. And the Avery labels will easily "peel" off without any problem.
Sleepy
chris24
Newbie
15 Jan 2003 11:41 PM
I also use Fellows Neato CD Labels for DVD media. The best ones I've found are the High-Gloss White CD Labels. You can download Photoshop and MS Word Templates from their website. I use an HP 1220C InkJet printer.
Some suggestions:
1) Make sure your newly printed label is dry before attempting to remove it from the sheet.
2) When removing the label, use a flat surface and turn the sheet face down. Carefully peel away a bit of the label with you fingers -- pressing down on the flat surface. While holding the label to the flat surface, use you other hand to pull the sheet from the label in a straight-horizontal motion (i.e., close to the surface -- not up and away). The whole purpose of this is to remove the label from the sheet 'without' the label curling. This makes it much easier to apply the label to the DVD. It may take some pratice at first to get this down.
3) Always use the CD label applicator tool to attach the label to the DVD. Correct centering is very important.
4) Once the label is attached, use your thumb to press the label to the surface of the DVD -- always working from the center outwards. Make sure there are no bubbles/creases. Then as a final touch, I work my finger over the inner and outer edges of the label to make sure there is a good seal. BTW, the Neato labels reach the very edge of the CD/DVD.
My 2 cents
P.S. I have not used the Neato Core labels yet. These may be required when double sided recordable DVD media is available. However, the Neato Core labels only come in Matte version (I hope it's thin!).
prowler19
Member
16 Jan 2003 5:34 AM
DRB, all I did was just take my fingernail got a big enough piece to pop up, then pulled them off being careful enough to keep them from ripping, no residue left. If the label is on there for a few days they are harder to pull off. I was lucky and had only labeled a few before I found out the problem was the labels and not the discs.
It is already over 90 days since last post to this thread, you're not allowed to post here anymore.
