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Cd labels or marker pen?

Pghpooh

Senior member
Thought I would post here first.
What do you use?
I have been using a Sharpie Pen to mark my cd's. Is there anything better?

Labels. What do you use? I have a regular burner on both my laptop and desktop. My printer will not print on the cd.

What labels and software do your use?
 
I used to use labels, but over time, it is said they can come loose in the drive due to the high speeds. As such, the cd may not work over time. Labels I use are from Avery and I use their software to design and print them, as it also can do the case inserts and even mailing labels. Currently just a sharpie and either a clamshell (round type case) or regular jewel case with case insert. Or in some cases, a slim line case with no insert. CD keys on a label inside the case. Best method, since you don't have a cd printer (nor do I) is Lightscribe (my next burner will likely have it) . Too bad it does not yet do color.
 
I used labels years ago, but they can be bad if they are not kept in a cool dry place. I have had disks damaged due to glue weepiong through to the lacquered surface.

Sharpies are good - but not very professional. SO, I have been using Lightscribe for over 2 years now - agree with bruceb - too bad it is only sepiatone. But, now there are different colored Lightscribe blanks.

One of the best looking things now is a full color inkjet printed disk.

Here is a Lightscribe sample - my bootable Acronis TI-2010:

litescrib.jpg
 
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I used to print labels, but they just dry up and peel off over time and that's not good if it is while the DVD is spinning inside a drive. If you plan on printing many, just get an Epson (if they're still the only ones in the game) printer and some printable DVDs. Much better looking DVDs and much longer life.

That being said, ink costs eventually drove me to using a sharpie and just writing the title on the disk. I'll never use labels again.
 
I used to print labels, but they just dry up and peel off over time and that's not good if it is while the DVD is spinning inside a drive. If you plan on printing many, just get an Epson (if they're still the only ones in the game) printer and some printable DVDs. Much better looking DVDs and much longer life.

I use the Epson printers and have since about 2003 (I'm on number three and near 1000 labels printed)

However, they do require ink-jet discs. However, something like this may also work for you. Use current discs and do a quick and dirty label (at least nicer looking than a sharpie, especially if you handwriting is like mine 😉
 
Sharpies for daily stuff, labels for keepers.

For all those that are having pealing issues, buy a decent label. I have discs over 10 years old that are fine.
 
HI
Thanks for the info! Gonna buy a pack of new Sharpies to replace the dried out ones in my desk drawer!! LOLOL
I like the idea of Sharpie for day to day stuff and labels for special items.
Thanks
 
i use dvd labels from avery for movies but sharpie for any other purposes. Nero Desiger is easy to use for creating labels
 
Sharpies for daily stuff, labels for keepers.

For all those that are having pealing issues, buy a decent label. I have discs over 10 years old that are fine.

Leave one with a label in the Texas sun in your car's CD player for a few months and then try to eject...almost ruined my whole stereo.
 
Leave one with a label in the Texas sun in your car's CD player for a few months and then try to eject...almost ruined my whole stereo.

That is a no-no with any optical disk, label or no label - even commercial. The disks can warp from excessive heat.
 
I've used labels, Lightscribe and now acid free markers. I lost some discs due to the labels. I used the labels that came with the old CD Stomper. Then I tried Lightscribe. It was OK but it can fade after time making it look not so good and hard to read. I did use the HP burners but it was a while back so I don't know if they improved the longevity of it. Plus the discs were expensive. Now I use an acid free sharpie. Took a Photoshop seminar and the instructor said that it's possible for the acid to seep through the disc and make it unreadable. Don't know if it's true and it wasn't a big deal for me to find an acid free one and it didn't cost that much more. So I preferred to err on the safe side.
 
Sharpie are perfectly safe for labeling, even the manufacturers of the disc recommend them . Lightscribe has improved , different color disc are available though the lettering will still be black and it is now possible to burn some really dark images with the proper software that will not fade. If you do a lot of labeling then using injket printable disc and a printer is the way to go. A lot of printers can be converted to print on disc by just changing a setting in the printer and replacing the tray.
http://damnprinter.com/
 
I've used labels for years and sometime do but it seems silly if just used in-house.

Marker pen for most things now.

Sound familiar?
 
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