Here is a quick summary of printing basics when it comes to the on-disc face label printing of your CD or DVD orders:

For CD or DVD disc “duplication” done at Video Labs, (for more details about disc “duplication” vs. “replication,” refer to http://tinyurl.com/2ox2rk ) we use a thermal transfer on-disc printing prcoess.

This thermal printing involves a film of colored ink passing by a heating element which slightly “melts” the ink on to the disc face, producing quite remarkable results.  And unlike ink-jet printing, the image does not run if water gets on it.

Artwork for thermal printed face labeling should be done at 300+ dpi and in RGB.  Click here for a template.

For “replication” of discs, (again refer to http://tinyurl.com/2ox2rk ), faster high-quality printing processes are required.

Traditionally, silk-screen has been the method of choice.  This process entails utilizing a combiniaton of stencils and porous screens (originally made in silk, but today usually from other materials).  It is ideal for when large blocks of colors are used in the design.  Artwork for this should be designed in CYMK.  There is the added potential of utilizing Pantone colors, which allows for exact matching of a particular color.  (The use of Pantone colors usually involves a surcharge.)

Silk-screen printing is less advantageous when there is a photograph or gradations present in the artwork.  That’s where offset printing steps in.  Involving etched plates along with the principle of “oil and water don’t mix” and a flexible rubber transfer blanket, this process can often produce higher resolution results.  It also traditionally has cost more.

But for awhile now, I haven’t been charging more for offset.  Here’s my deal: once I receive your artwork design for a disc replication order, I confer with the graphics and press staff as to what will give you the best result.  If your disc faces will look better with offset printing, then we’ll go that way, at no extra cost.

I’ll send you the disc face template once you  place your disc replication order.

For further specific info on the various printing processes, check out:

http://tinyurl.com/6t5s66 for “thermal transfer” printing

http://tinyurl.com/7c4t6m “silk-screen”

http://tinyurl.com/2egl6v “offset” printing

As always, feel free to leave a comment below or contact me at dryan@videolabs.net or 240-268-3504.

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