Stupid DVD Labels

Cal Sharp · From: the farm in Kornfield Kounty, TN

Don't put labels on your DVD's. It causes playback problems in some settop/stand alone players, even thought they may play back OK on a computer. I found this out the hard way, through a lot of experimentation and research, and I've been up to my elbows in isopropyl alcohol and paint thinner getting them all off. This is a huge problem, and I'm surprised that it seems to be such a secret. Maybe I can save some of you guys some grief. Go to www.videohelp.com/forum/ if you want some more info.

C#

George Wixon · From: Waterbury, CT USA

This is the first I've ever heard of having trouble like that. I've made plenty of DVD's and have always put a label on them and have had no problems with my home unit which is a JVC model XV-S40. I do know that label material thickness will very depending on who the manufacturer is. Only thing I could ever see being a problem is if the label started to lift and then it would be a problem trying to get the thing back out of the unit.
George

Bobby Lee · From: Cloverdale, California, USA

I bought an ink jet printer that prints on CDs and DVDs. It's an Epson Stylus Photo R200. It was only $100 at Staples. I couldn't resist it.

I work for the biggest label company, but I don't think I'll ever use CD labels again. Not that they were a problem - Avery's CD/DVD labels are the best in the world - but why use a label when you can print directly on the disk?

------------------

Bobby Lee - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
Sierra SD-12 (Ext E9), Williams D-12 Crossover, Sierra S-12 (F Diatonic)
Sierra Laptop 8 (E6add9), Fender Stringmaster (E13, C6, A6)

Jim Smith · From: Midlothian, TX, USA

b0b, Epson's web site says that printer, "prints customized designs directly on ink jet printable CDs and DVDs". Are these special CDs and DVDs? I've never seen any labeled as such.

Cal Sharp · From: the farm in Kornfield Kounty, TN

I had about 25 DVD's that kept skipping and jerking, and after I took the labels off they all played fine. I had this problem on two different players. Funny thing, though, when I first burned and labeled them they played OK, but a couple weeks later they started having this problem.

I've been looking at that Epson R200, too, and wondering along with Jim what exactly constitutes a "printable DVD".

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

Like b0b, I use an Epson printer for CD/DVD labels. Most cars with in-dash CD players warn about using paper labels (my owners manual for a Mercury Mountaineer says 'DO NOT" paper labels). I hasve a friend with a new Chevy conversion van and he had a paper label partially come off inside the in-dash CD player and GM would not cover that under warranty and he had to buy a new unit as he couldn't find anyone to even attempt to fix it.

The only issue with the Epson printer is you have to use "Ink Jet Printable" CD/DVD blanks.

Dan Dowd · From: Paducah, KY, R.I.P.

Here is a link to a new CD label printer to print directly on the CD/DVD. It is made by Primera and sells for $139.95 from PC Connection. It is a thermal printer for just CD/DVD. Here is a link to more info from the manufacture. http://www.primera.com/signaturez1.html

Dickie Whitley · Posted 5 Dec 2004 4:06 pm

deleted

Cal Sharp · From: the farm in Kornfield Kounty, TN

Great link, Dickie. Here's what they say about labels:

(6) Will paper DVD labels hurt my recorded DVDs?

For many years, CD-R manufacturers recommended that users NOT apply paper labels to their newly recorded CDs. They felt that the labels' adhesive would harm the sensitive silver reflector by tarnishing it, or that off-center labels might cause the disc to wobble, making it unreadable.

These factors are much more important today for DVD recordable discs than they ever were for CD-Rs. On DVD-Rs, the tiny data bubbles that encode the video and audio data are 8-times closer together than on CDs. Even the slightest degradation of the edges of the bubbles due to UV or heat exposure can ruin a DVD-R. Also, even the slightest wobbling during playback can make video tracks unreadable, or produce "jitters" or blinking, horizontal lines, and so on. In some cases, the discs can become completely unplayable.

We recommend that if you wish to apply labels to your DVD recorded discs, you use our "no-wobble" discs, together with an appropriate full-face label applicator tool to help you center and prevent bubbles when applying the labels. See these products at... No-Wobble DVD Labels

The other solution is to print directly onto the disc itself with a high quality inkjet or thermal printer. We sell special inkjet surface DVD-R discs. See them at... Inkjet Printable DVDs

Dickie Whitley · Posted 5 Dec 2004 5:28 pm

Deleted

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

Epson provides a software package that does a good job with the CD/DVD printing. Also, the Label program in Roxio V7 will print to the Epson disc printers.

I also have a Casio CW-50 thermal CD printer. It will only print on certain areas of the disc but I used it for about a year, until I got the Epson and still use it for some applications. I've bought "cheapie generic" CD-R's at Office Max (on sale) that work with thermal printers.

Ray Minich · From: Bradford, Pa. Frozen Tundra

If anything can go wrong it will. I've had some CD labels curl up and wrinkle long after they were applied. Not good for disk or player. They were from a Fellowes Neato system. I avoid any and all adhesive label now.

Richard Bass · From: Sabang Beach, Philippines

Epson R200, $89.64 at Sam's Club here in Nashville. Sounds like a deal.
Richard

Herb Steiner · From: Briarcliff TX 78669, pop. 2,064

I got the same price as Mr. Bass at the Sam's Club here in Austin. At Fry's electronics I found printable CD-R's in a 100 stack for $24.95, basically 25 cents each (there may be cheaper sources out there). I'm now doing my own duplication of course material since I also bought,at Fry's Electronics, an EZ Dupe 1-3 CD duplicator for $495. I duplicated 24 copies of my Dobro Course in 30 minutes, took about 1 minute each to print them on the Epson. Very cool.

------------------
Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

You have to be careful with the CD-R duplicators. Many tend to burn the CD-R's at a high speed. Many car and older CD players have problems playing CD-R's burned at "High" speeds (they will skip or not play at all).

I use 8X as my burning "atandard" for all audio CD's that I sell. I used to use 12X but ran into one compatibility problem so I reduced the speed to 8X.

Greg Cutshaw · From: Corry, PA, USA

We have about 350 CD-R's here and easily over 200 of them have labels. ALL of the CD-R's with paper labels have warped. None of the non-paper labeled (mostly written with a marker by hand)CD-R's have warped at all. The labels I've used are Neato, Avery and CD Stomper. The Cd's range from Memorex to Sony to No-Names. They all still play in the house but many of them no longer play in the car. The car deck's tend to run very hot which seems to dry the labels out and they shrink. The car Cd players also seem to have less clearance to tolerate warped CDs. As they shrink, they pull warping the CD, making it into a convex shape. The warpage is easy to see by laying them flat on a counter and observing their flatness. Quite a few have warped to 3 times the thickness of a single CD. When they fail to play in the car, you can put your ear up close and hear that they are hitting or rubbing against something as they skip are just fail to start.

As I said above, the warpage runs across many brands of label and CD'R's. In fact I did an experiment with Avery and CD Stomper labels using both Sony and Memorex CD's. I burned a cd with Sony/no label, Sony/Avery, Sony/Stomper, Memorex/no label, Memorex/Avery and Memorex/Stomper. After a few hours of playing in the cars (Alpine and Pioneer decks) all the CD's were warped to at least 2 CD thicknesses and were making slight thumping noises in the car. None of the non-labeled Cd's warped measurably.

After the CD's get so warped that they won't play in the car, you can bend them in the reverse direction and get them to stay flat long enough to make a fresh copy.

I have started using just CD markers. It's pretty well documented that the adhesive in the self stick labels is not compatible with the CD-R's.

I can't believe they get away with the quality of paper labels that are out there today. The Epson R200 seems like a great printer so thanks for the tip!

Greg

Louie Hallford · From: denison tx

Have not had problem with the horizontal players but got a quick lesson in the vertically mounted player in my wife's new Lincoln. I think heat must soften the glue. The labels appeared to have tried to roll up.
Luckily the dealership either got to it before ruined or else they replaced the player. Don't remember which.

Herb Steiner · From: Briarcliff TX 78669, pop. 2,064

I have used paper labels on some of my steel guitar courses and rhythm tracks. If any of these labels cause the CD to fail, I will replace them with label-less CDs at no charge to the customer. I now have a CD printer and duplicating machine.

------------------
Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association

Mark Sonnabaum · From: Denton, Texas, USA

I'm a very happy Epson R300 owner and I just started printing cds with it. It blew me away how good they looked. Either the R200, R300, and the newer R320 all print cds as well as being some of the best photo printers on the market. Here's the R200 for $79.
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=28-103-160&depa=0

The printable cd's come in silver and white surfaces. You can find the memorex ones pretty much anywhere but they are way cheaper if you buy them online. I've heard really good things about the ritek printables.

Mark

Bill Crook · From: Goodlettsville, TN , Spending my kid's inheritance

b0b............

you said:

Mark Sonnabaum · From: Denton, Texas, USA

You have to have one of those Epson printers. The ones you can buy now are the ones I mentioned, R200, R320. They have a little tray that you put the cd in and it sucks it in through the front.

Mark

Forum Index > Computers		Next oldest topic :: Next newest topic