Disc Cover — The Ways of Labeling Discs. Once you have recorded something to a disc or tape, you will then need to distinguish it from other similar media. How can this be done? Of course, by labeling — either with a pen or by applying some sort of label. This article covers mainly labeling of optical discs as the most popular media at present. History. Optical discs have already taken their place in our life.

There are music CDs, DVD or Blue- Ray discs with movies, data CDs or DVDs used for storing photos or data backups. The CD as we know it was developed by Philips in cooperation with Sony in 1. Originally the CD was intended for music only, but later has grown to encompass other applications, such as the storage of general data. Factory- produced CDs already had a screen- printed label on them. In the end of the 1. CDs became increasingly popular, bringing along the need for identification of the recorded content.

Discs bought in individual cases have a card insert which can be used to describe its content, which is okay as long as the disc is stored inside the box. But if you purchase bulk discs on a spindle, and then buy the cases separately, there will be no inserts. And still, the disc itself has to be labeled to be recognizable when stored outside the box. The first way of labeling a disc is probably a felt marker pen. Such pens are cheap, always at hand and are fast to use. There are special pens on the market, which are not alcohol or solvent- based and are safe to use on a CD or DVD (thought there is some controversy on this matter). Self- adhesive paper labels are another popular labeling method.

They were introduced by Avery in 1. The first CD and DVD labels appeared about 2.

MS Word templates) for printing on them. Once printed with a inkjet or laser printer, a label is applied to a disc either manually or with the help of a special applicator. In the beginning of this century consumer direct- on- cd printers were introduced, capable of printing directly on the label side of a CD or DVD with printable coating, using a special tray.

This method delivers rather high quality, but requires a special printer and discs. Disc Cover. CD and DVD labeling software for Mac. Disc Cover is your one- stop application for designing and printing CD and DVD labels, multipage booklets, covers, inserts, spines, and more.

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The Ways of Labeling Discs. Once you have recorded something to a disc or tape, you will then need to distinguish it from other similar media. How can this be done?

Thermal transfer printers can also be used to print directly on discs. They transfer solid pigment from a coated ribbon onto the disc's surface, using a combination of heat and pressure.

Models are available from under $1. The lower- end models are normally limited to monochrome text and very basic graphics, at low resolutions.

One more labeling technology is burning the label on the top of a supported disc by the optical drive itself. There are two rivaling technologies on the market — Light. Scribe from Hewlett- Packard and Labelflash from Yamaha Corporation. They share a similar principle, but the drives and media are not cross- compatible.

The reflective layer is protected by a layer of lacquer. On the top, a label is printed. The DVD and Blue- Ray discs share the same physical dimensions with the CD.

Interestingly, at first the CD was aimed at playing 6. Shaped CDs are are sometimes used, especially for marketing. They are mostly based on the 8. The double- sided discs sacrifice their label in favor of the second data side, and are quite rare. They store double the data compared to their single- sided counterparts.

Such discs can be used in a standard DVD drive, and have to be flipped for the other side to be read. As both sides contain data, they can't be labeled.

Read more about Compact Discs in Wikipedia. Ways of Labeling.

There are many methods for labeling your optical discs. Each has its advantages and disadvantages, so it's up to you to choose a method most suitable to you, depending on the situation. Marker Pens. The fastest and easiest way of labeling a disc is writing on it with a marker. Indeed, it's fast, cheap and it works.

However, there are limitations — you can't write a lot with the marker (imagine squeezing a list of 1. CD top), you have to have legible handwriting, and such labels look unprofessional at best. So, if the disc is intended for giving away, it's not a good idea. Whether it is safe to write on the top of a CD has long been subject to controversy. Indeed, some markers use solvent or alcohol- based ink, which may eat into the disc's surface and damage the lacquer and dye, causing read errors.

The manufacturers of the pens and discs change their technology all the time, so it's hard to guarantee that the marker and the disc you are using will get along well. As a rule of thumb, never use sharp- tipped pens, such as a ball- point pen — use only soft- tipped felt pens marked as suitable for CD and DVD. Also, where possible, write on the hub area as there are no data recorded beneath. Inkjet printable discs are safer to write on due to an additional layer which absorbs ink. Adhesive Labels. A more attractive way to label a disc is to print a label on special paper with a printer and apply it to the disc. A label paper sheet consists of two layers: the top adhesive layer and the underlying base. As the labels are designed on a computer, it opens endless possibilities for creativity.

You can add custom graphics, import tracks lists, easily print multiple copies of the same label. Plus, no special hardware is required — there is plenty of label paper available in shops, compatible with almost any consumer inkjet or laser printer.

First you need to pick up the label paper (see Manufacturers below). Prices vary between 5- 2. The most common page sizes are US Letter (8.

A4 (2. 1x. 29. 7 cm). Other paper sizes also exist, so make sure such paper is supported by your printer. Use only round labels, specified as CD/DVD, with your discs — this will ensure that your disc is correctly balanced in the drive and the adhesive used on such labels is not harmful to the disc's data layer. Once applied, labels should never be removed or repositioned, as this may delaminate the disc. To be able to print your designs on the label stock, you will need software supporting this stock. The software must know, how the elements are positioned on the layout of the paper sheet, so that your printed content fits correctly on the labels. Label design applications often come with printers supporting direct- to- disc printing.

Retail CD/DVD burners usually come with the burning software, sometimes featuring label design functionality. For the best results, however, use dedicated label design software, such as Disc Cover. Once you have printed your label, it must be applied to the disc.

It's an important step, you'll have to take care to apply the label evenly and smoothly, without air bubbles. Otherwise the balance of the disc in the drive might be upset, causing excessive noise, vibration, read errors. You may apply the label manually, which will require some practice before you get suitable results, or use a special applicator which helps with centering. Such applicators are often sold as part of label kits along with label paper by many manufactures, such as Avery, Memorex, Neato and other, priced around $2. HP Tattoo. An interesting variety of labels are Hewlett- Packard Tattoo labels.

These are 5x. 7 in sheets with a semi- transparent label in the center. You print the mirrored image of your label on the back side of the sheet with any inject printer. Angels In The Outfield Ita Download Adobe there.

Then peel the label off, apply to the disc using the supplied applicator, press down, and the label sticks to the disc (due to adhesive rings in the hub area and around the outer edge). Such labels are glossy, smear- resistant and bubble- free.

For best results use them with light- colored or white discs. A box of 1. 5 costs $9. Labels on Rolls. Labels printers such as Dymo, Seiko, Brother, Zebra and similar are normally associated with barcodes, mailing and other general- purpose labels.

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