CD Printer's Anyone?

[christig]

Just was curious about what others were doing re: printing onto CD's.I'm considering purchasing a printer that prints onto CD's, DVD's etc. I'm not really looking for large batch printer- at least not at the moment, but something to do a modest amount say 25 or less at a time. (I am Mac based).The cost factor for the ink is always a concern of mine and of course the cost of the printer must be considered as well.I know there are the labels you can affix but I was told that these can cause problems in some CD players and jam up the player. Although I have used these in the past and haven't personally had a problem, I want to stay away from this option.Any thoughts?

[flood]

I have two Bravo printers, made by primera. They cost around 1500 each, I think, but it was a couple years ago.A couple considerations, if you go with one of these units.The ink CAN be costly. 20 bucks apiece for black, around 36 for color, at the time I bought my last batch. I buy a hundred or more at a time and get a discount for the bulk as well.Full color, high quality printing will burn through ink cartridges about every 100 discs.I don't recommend that level of quality though, for two reasons. You will spend a fortune on ink of course, but the other reason is more practical. Inkject coated discs do NOT absorb all the ink. They retain a very tacky feeling and I have had ink stain my fingers months after they were printed. The lowest quality settings use far less ink and don't have the same problem. If they get wet or are touched by someone with moist fingers it will occur, though.The lowest quality settings look just fine anyway.You can also buy a special disc laminating machine. The cheapest I have found are also around $1400. And then you need rolls of laminate, of course, which is even more money.There is another process called Lightscribe from HP. I don't know much about it, except that it is not as pretty (limited to 1-2 colors, I think). However, it requires no ink and wont stick to your fans or clients fingers, even if moist.All thinks considered, I would have chosen lightscribe, now that I know how touchy the inkjet discs can be.Ink jet looks beautiful, though, and if you can afford the laminating machine, it is easily the best presentation.Hope that helps some.Best wishes,Leon

[christig]

Wow! Thanks Leon. I was thinking the lower ink jet product basically for small runs. I know the printer/duplicator combos are out there too. ( I don't own a multiple duplicator).I didn't thinks of lamination either. I haven't checked into this enough to see what the break even point is price wise on hiring it out or doing it in house.Thanks for the input.

[weslong]

Try the Canon ip 4300. I have the 4200. You can print direct-to-disc. It's a bubble-jet printer. You'll need five cartridges for it but you can print a lot of CDs with them before changing. It comes with starter cartridges. I don't know the exact price but I think it's around a few hundred. Check to make sure that the version they sell in U.S. has the cd printing feature. I know the 4200 didn't for the U.S. market.

[slideboardouts]

I'm using an Epson Photo R280 that I got for free on black friday last year and it does a good job (especially for free ). It comes with some software that isn't all that great, but it does a decent enough job. Works fine with my Mac.Labels are definitely a problem in my car CD player. I have to pull them out with tweezers usually. Also, they don't look nearly as professional as the cheapest of CD printers (which mine probably falls under). I'm not sure what the cartridges cost yet as I haven't had to replace one yet, but overall I'm happy with the R280.-Steve

[rld]

Like Steve, I have an Epson. Mine's an R320.I've printed probably 300 or so in the last couple years.Works and looks great, but will smudge if your finger is wet.Normally people don't handle CD's with wet hands so I think we're fairly safe. The Epson CD software is adequate allowing you to import pictures and all sorts of lettering etc.You can make a very good looking product and the printers are inexpensive.Prices at the CD dupe houses are dropping all the time so it might be worth it to go that way depending on your need.

[matthoggard]

Ive seen the lightscribe stuff. For pitching songs its great. Simple but can be professinonal looking.If your printing for sale of your music. Most mass duplication companies offer package deals with fully printed CD's with laminate veneer to protect the printing. By the time you invest in printers, ink, cd's and then the time incolved, I personally think it worth it to let someone else do the "dirty work". This leaves more time for creation of product instead of selling the product.Matt

[billg]

I also have an Epson, a Photo R220. It's only a one- at- a- time printer. I have used it for maybe a thousand discs for clients without any problems. Ink can be costly but I've found that the cheap "generic" ink from refill places works fine. Printing one at a time can be timely but I rarely have to do more than 25 at a pop. I think it cost a couple hundred bucks.

[mojobone]

I definitely prefer printers with multiple tanks; run out of cyan, jes' replace the cyan, instead of wasting what's left of the other colors.

[weslong]

Sept 14, 2008, 8:06pm, mojobone wrote:I definitely prefer printers with multiple tanks; run out of cyan, jes' replace the cyan, instead of wasting what's left of the other colors. Yup, go for the Canon then. By the way, we used those Epson R-Series printers at a place I worked recently and those things just about fell apart within weeks. Really shoddy stuff, IMHO. I don't think we ever printed off any CDs with them however so I can't say on that aspect of their performance.