Pros & cons of Light Scribe
- Thread starter Moffat Cafe
- Start date
- Mar 4, 2000
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It has some usefulness. The software generally comes with the drive. I use mine a lot for buring CDs and DVDs with labels to be mailed. It is less weight for postage than a paper label.
The downside is that it is very slow. Takes longer to burn the label than the DVD or CDR.
It is also monchromatic - sort of a pale brown burned onto a gold background. Color is coming down the road. Another downside for some is that the media is more expensive than the non-Lightscribe media.
My normal labelling software is Surething. My lightscribe burner came with Surething "light" with the basic Lightscribe templates.
LS
The downside is that it is very slow. Takes longer to burn the label than the DVD or CDR.
It is also monchromatic - sort of a pale brown burned onto a gold background. Color is coming down the road. Another downside for some is that the media is more expensive than the non-Lightscribe media.
My normal labelling software is Surething. My lightscribe burner came with Surething "light" with the basic Lightscribe templates.
LS
Kaido
Elite Member & Kitchen Overlord
- Feb 14, 2004
- 49,994
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Pros:
1. Looks really nice (professional; almost holographic at certain angles)
2. Remembers where it left off so you can re-burn later or add more text/graphics
3. Text and vector-style graphics (like logos) look great
Cons:
1. You have to do 2 burns to get it dark
2. It takes a long time (20 to 30 minutes per burn)
3. Photos look like crap
4. You have to buy special LightScribe discs (expensive compared to normal discs)
5. Monochrome (like black and white, but more of a sepia tint)
I only use LightScribe for special projects. When I do client's computers, I make a restore CD and create a personalized LightScribe recovery disc. Adds that extra "touch". I also use it for movie projects, like when doing people's family videos. They love seeing their name with a little graphic on the disc. Regarding software, SureThing is the best software to go with imo, like corkyg said. The CD/DVD Labeler Deluxe software is $25:
http://www.surething.com/ST/
If you're on a Mac, disclabel from SmileonmyMac is the way to go. It runs $30:
http://www.smileonmymac.com/disclabel/index.html
The alternative to LightScribe is printable discs. There are a couple inkjet printers out there that double as CD/DVD printers. You have to buy special printable discs, available in white or silver, but they cost a lot less than the LightScribe discs. Basically the white ones have a paper-like surface that you print on, which makes them look as good as photos would on matte photo paper. You can do any color you want instead of just monochrome like LightScribe is. I backup all of my software discs this way and print the keys on them for easy reference (it's so much nicer flipping through your software collection and having easy-to-read titles with the CD keys readily available). You can pick up a printer at Staples - the Epson R220 is the cheapest model at $99. It's your basic inkjet printer with the added capability of being able to print on printable discs (not normal discs).
I use both LightScribe and printable discs. Both have their uses. Normally I prefer printables, but when I want a disc to be really "special" I typically use LightScribe. The nice thing about having a LightScribe drive is that it doubles as a regular DVD burner. BenQ sells a great drive (currently the DW-1655, I think, for about $40 on Newegg). The nice thing about having a disc printer is that it doubles as a normal inkjet, so you can print out documents and photos and whatnot. Be warned that Epson doesn't have the best text quality on normal paper, so if you're planning on using it for polished school reports you may want to consider a different model like the Canon Pixma printers with the CD tray hack.
1. Looks really nice (professional; almost holographic at certain angles)
2. Remembers where it left off so you can re-burn later or add more text/graphics
3. Text and vector-style graphics (like logos) look great
Cons:
1. You have to do 2 burns to get it dark
2. It takes a long time (20 to 30 minutes per burn)
3. Photos look like crap
4. You have to buy special LightScribe discs (expensive compared to normal discs)
5. Monochrome (like black and white, but more of a sepia tint)
I only use LightScribe for special projects. When I do client's computers, I make a restore CD and create a personalized LightScribe recovery disc. Adds that extra "touch". I also use it for movie projects, like when doing people's family videos. They love seeing their name with a little graphic on the disc. Regarding software, SureThing is the best software to go with imo, like corkyg said. The CD/DVD Labeler Deluxe software is $25:
http://www.surething.com/ST/
If you're on a Mac, disclabel from SmileonmyMac is the way to go. It runs $30:
http://www.smileonmymac.com/disclabel/index.html
The alternative to LightScribe is printable discs. There are a couple inkjet printers out there that double as CD/DVD printers. You have to buy special printable discs, available in white or silver, but they cost a lot less than the LightScribe discs. Basically the white ones have a paper-like surface that you print on, which makes them look as good as photos would on matte photo paper. You can do any color you want instead of just monochrome like LightScribe is. I backup all of my software discs this way and print the keys on them for easy reference (it's so much nicer flipping through your software collection and having easy-to-read titles with the CD keys readily available). You can pick up a printer at Staples - the Epson R220 is the cheapest model at $99. It's your basic inkjet printer with the added capability of being able to print on printable discs (not normal discs).
I use both LightScribe and printable discs. Both have their uses. Normally I prefer printables, but when I want a disc to be really "special" I typically use LightScribe. The nice thing about having a LightScribe drive is that it doubles as a regular DVD burner. BenQ sells a great drive (currently the DW-1655, I think, for about $40 on Newegg). The nice thing about having a disc printer is that it doubles as a normal inkjet, so you can print out documents and photos and whatnot. Be warned that Epson doesn't have the best text quality on normal paper, so if you're planning on using it for polished school reports you may want to consider a different model like the Canon Pixma printers with the CD tray hack.
- Mar 4, 2000
- 27,370
- 239
- 106
Thanks for that tip, Kaido. I did not know that. Like you, I only use it for certain jobs where I provide a finished product to someone by mail.
I have two other DVD burners that are faster and more convenient. I burn the data side on them and let Lightscribe do its thing on another machine. So, speed is not a big deal.
For normal work I use SureThing full face glossies. Haven't had any trouble with them bleeding through, etc.
Thanks again for that burn twice tip.
If you don't mind wearing your drive out on a gimmick and paying extra for the privilege, no...
.bh.
.bh.
You burn the disk and then do the lightscribe after. Is an extra 30 or 45 minutes of burning (depending on the intricacy of your image) likely to wear out a drive faster? You tell me...
But most of the Lightscribe drives are so cheap, I guess it doesn't matter to some. I buy Plextor burners - my first one lasted over 6 years (and still works just fine, but slowly). I don't like having to replace them that often - I'm part Scottish. So I guess that explains my hard mindedness on such gimmicks too.
.bh.
But most of the Lightscribe drives are so cheap, I guess it doesn't matter to some. I buy Plextor burners - my first one lasted over 6 years (and still works just fine, but slowly). I don't like having to replace them that often - I'm part Scottish. So I guess that explains my hard mindedness on such gimmicks too.
.bh.
- Mar 4, 2000
- 27,370
- 239
- 106
I don't usually do it that way, Zep. I burn ther disk on one of two Plextors. Then use the L/S biurner to do the label side. Takes about 21 minutes per disk.
Like I said before - mt L/S is only for limited use and specific purposes. When I am on a photo trip, I have no printer with me - so the little L/S drive gets the job done - archiving digital photos on CDR or DVD+R.
The alternative was a portable printer - but that is more fuss and feathers than the L/S drive when travelling 2-3 weeks at a time.
Like I said before - mt L/S is only for limited use and specific purposes. When I am on a photo trip, I have no printer with me - so the little L/S drive gets the job done - archiving digital photos on CDR or DVD+R.
The alternative was a portable printer - but that is more fuss and feathers than the L/S drive when travelling 2-3 weeks at a time.
Well, if you buy a cheap lightscribe drive just for burning the label, then what the hey... I don't see a spec for MTBF on my Plextor's data sheet. But I'm sure that it's more hours than could be accumulated within their one or two year (You-rope) warranty period.
.bh.
.bh.
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