Best Printer to Print Directly on CD Face

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

12/27/2007 03:00:35 PM · #1

I searched the forums for some information on this topic, and came up with a few Epson, Canon and HP printers that people suggested. But on the respective company's websites, I am having trouble figuring out which models have the ability to print directly on the face of a CD (I just got some inkjet printable CDs for Christmas). I figure I would work up a couple templates and change the titles and background pictures to match what is on the CD.

I figure a lot of you folks out there are printing directly on the CDs/DVDs instead of writing with a marker, right?
Which printer do you have, does it work well with photos and text, and is the software easy to use or interface with Photoshop?

If you could list your printer's make and model I will do some price shopping...not a lot of cash to spend, but some if the product is worth it. I will have to swing into BestBuy or somewhere this weekend to have a hands-on look at printers.

Thanks!
-drew

Message edited by author 2007-12-27 15:00:47.

Creature

Nikon D70s

12/27/2007 03:33:25 PM · #2

My Epson R220 prints directly on CD/DVD and does a wonderful job at it using the supplied Epson software. You'll want to tweak the output settings a bit (print position and darkness) as you do your first few CDs -- I ended up at -0.1" on both X and Y axes to get the printing perfectly within the printable area, and +2 on print darkness to get fully saturated, photo quality color on the discs. Now it's just plug and play.

The supplied software ("PrintCD" I think it's called) is pretty good -- you can add backgrounds from photos or textures and adjust the brightness (i.e. wash them out so that text stands out better), add text blows and arched text with any font, drop shadow, etc.

Turns out the R220 is discontinued, although I recently saw it in Ritz and Penn Camera stores. The R280 is the new model, and is on sale at Amazon for $70 (I paid $90 for my R220). The R380 is a nice step up, and is on sale at the Epson store for $130 but is out of stock ($155 at Amazon).

12/27/2007 04:09:11 PM · #3

Thanks Creature!

I will look into the Epsons. Is there anyway to import fonts in the supplied software (I have kind of decided on a signature font that I like to be my logo)? Or would I have to design something in photoshop, save as a jpeg, then set it as my background in the PrintCD software?

-drew

dwterry

Canon EOS-1D Mark III

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

12/27/2007 05:54:32 PM · #4

I use an Epson 3800 for my regular printing needs (up to 16x24" prints). But it doesn't have a direct-to-CD print capability. Instead, I've been using an HP drive with Lightscribe technology to burn an image onto the top of my CDs and DVDs.

However, I was growing tired of that. It takes 20 minutes to burn an image onto the top of a CD/DVD using Lightscribe. So I recently ran out and bought an HP C5280 printer so that I could print onto my CDs and DVDs.

Well... I did one the other day (my first one with the new printer) and I hated the quality. It was just too saturated (the ink was put on too thick). I was so frustrated I went back to using the Lightscribe after that. I'm going to try again when I have time to experiment. I'm still hoping it'll work out. I'm hoping maybe there was a setting, such as the type of paper being used, which needed to be adjusted.

Anyway ... I do like what I get from Lightscribe. It's just the amount of time it takes that I don't like.

Dr.Confuser

Nikon D800

12/27/2007 06:18:17 PM · #5

Dymo has a printer dedicated to printing CD/DVDs. You put the unprinted CD in and it spins the CD while the inkjet head moves. Software included.

I don't own it, but if I were going to buy a disk printer, this would intrigue me.

ETA: It's called Dymo DiscPainter and prints a CD/DVD @ 600 dpi in a minute. Here's the link.

Message edited by author 2007-12-27 18:50:49.

Kaveran

Canon EOS-50D

Tamron AF 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di LD Aspherical IF for Canon

12/27/2007 06:37:17 PM · #6

After the new year I will be buying a canon ip4500. Its about $120 USD. The only gotcha with this printer in the US is that it does not come ready to print on CD's, my understanding is there is some sort of legal issue between them and epson.

To get the US printer to print on CD's you can get the CD tray off ebay for like $12. Change the bios on the printer and download drivers from the UK website and you should be good to go.

dsray

Canon EOS-550D Rebel T2i

12/27/2007 07:02:24 PM · #7

Originally posted by Dr.Confuser:

Hey, that's sweet. I'm going to get one of those for sure! Thanks.

BeeCee

Nikon D40

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

12/27/2007 07:11:07 PM · #8

My Canon Pixma iP6600D prints directly on discs, but I haven't tried it yet. Card readers, 6 colour-printing are the things that sold me (besides it being on sale from $250 to $99!)

Creature

Nikon D70s

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G IF-ED

12/28/2007 11:40:07 AM · #9

Originally posted by drewbixcube:

You have access to any font that you have added within Windows.

The Dymo thing looks nice and compact if you don't need "the rest" of a standard printer, but for $280 (list) it seems really expensive. My Epson prints a disc in about a minute as well at maximum resolution, and can print borderless photos and anything else, all for 1/3 the Dymo's price.

12/28/2007 12:28:58 PM · #10

Originally posted by dwterry:

Instead, I've been using an HP drive with Lightscribe technology to burn an image onto the top of my CDs and DVDs.

I have heard about the lightscribe drives...that is one that will burn the data to the disc, then you can flip the disc over and design a cover and it will burn it on the top...right? How does it work (on the cover part)? Does it engrave, color, burn? Do you need special discs, or just ones with a plain color on top? I wouldn't mind waiting the 20 minutes...if I only had a few to do and could walk away to let it work. Overall, are you pleased with the results?

I will look up the HP drive and see if I can find examples and other info.

Thanks everyone for their printer suggestions, and keep them coming if you have a better one!
-drew

12/28/2007 12:30:39 PM · #11

Originally posted by Creature:

The Dymo thing looks nice and compact if you don't need "the rest" of a standard printer, but for $280 (list) it seems really expensive. My Epson prints a disc in about a minute as well at maximum resolution, and can print borderless photos and anything else, all for 1/3 the Dymo's price.

I saw the Dymo printer in another thread and thought it would work well to have a dedicated printer for CDs, but it is a little pricey and I could probably use a decent photo printer around the house anyway...my current one is pretty junky!
-drew

Kaveran

Canon EOS-50D

12/28/2007 01:08:00 PM · #12

Originally posted by drewbixcube:

Yep, thats lightscribe, I have one as well and the results are OK, but it depends on what your looking for and expect. It dos require the use of special disks and it burns the image into a special layer on the back side of the disk. Beause of this its basically a monochromatic image and as eluded to its pretty slow.

I think a full color image is much more professional looking.

12/28/2007 01:51:21 PM · #13

So the lightscribe could be compaired to the laser burning/engraving done on wooden plaques? The part of the cover is either burned or left untouched?

Message edited by author 2007-12-28 13:59:24.

12/28/2007 02:07:59 PM · #14

I checked out Lightscribe.com and looked around a bit. The designs look cool, but they say you need to use "lightscribe" discs. I am guessing regular CDs have a silver layer underneath the color layer, whereas the lightscribe discs have black.

I can see uses for the lightscribe, but I agree that the ability to do full color if I wanted would be better. HP has an external lightscribe drive for ~$100...decisions, decisions!

-drew

12/28/2007 02:14:01 PM · #15

One question for those with the lightscribe:

Is the disc still smooth to the touch on the top layer (does the process just change the color to black, or does it actually remove/melt the top layer)?

Thanks!
-drew

Kaveran

Canon EOS-50D