Putting Labels on the DVD before recording?

[clint 1]

Panasonic told me not to put labels on it at all. What do the videographers do. We did it at CSC after we recorder it.

Panasonic said:
"Thank you for your inquiries regarding the Panasonic DMRE60 DVD recorder. We recommend using Panasonic, Pioneer, and TDK 4.7 GB, general media DVD-R disc in the DMRE60. Please note that a finalized 4.7 GB General Media Panasonic DVD-R disc will play back in 85 % of DVD player manufactured after June 2001. DVD-R disc do not get formatted, then get finalized. You do not put labels on DVD disc, they spin very fast in a player and applying a label will cause the disc to be unbalanced. An unbalanced disc will wobble in the player, like a car tire that is not balanced, and it will not be read correctly. Label the DVD case, not the DVD."

Do you agree?

Clint MacBeth
Skydive Moab 435 259 JUMP
M.O.A.B. Mother Of All Boogies Sept 19 - 23, 2012

[quade 4]

You'd really like to put on a nice label so that it looks nice, but there are several very good reasons in favor of not doing it.

Unless you have a device for placing the labels on right, yes, balance is an issue. I think a slightly larger issue is the adhesive on the label breaking down over time, flaking and gunking up the works.

Further, some DVD devices don't like the extra thinkness of the DVD plus label. For instance, a slot loader instead of a tray loader.

The absolute safest is to lable the DVD (or CD) with a "Sharpie", but obviously, that's probably not going to be the most attractive. (Unless you're some kinda artist. )

I think if I was doing school videos, I'd try to find some sort of permanent ink stamping system for the actual DVD itself and make the jewel box art nice.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[clint 1]

Thanks for the input. I was thinking of using the paper sleeves for the DVD. They are really cheap.
.03 cents each.
I agree that over time it could ruin the DVD but it's so new that we don't really know.

I would really like to know what all the other people do for labels on the DVD's. It's pretty important.

HELP!

Clint MacBeth
Skydive Moab 435 259 JUMP
M.O.A.B. Mother Of All Boogies Sept 19 - 23, 2012

[sducoach 0]

Just purchased a new printer with cd/dvd printer adapters. I'll let you know how it works.

Blues,

J.E.

James 4:8

[skyfly 0]

Get printable DVD Rs, and either an epson or canon CD printer, and youre set to go - professional looking DVDs at a bargain price !!

Be Simple, Be Creative, Bee!
Sharon.

[Deuce 1]

Yeah, that's the way I'm doing the Mark II Mod 0 dz.holiday boogie DVD's. Printable media DVD-R 4X, but even in bulk, they're like $2.19, shipped to me.

They are, without question, the best looking, and you leave a nice white spot to write the customer's name in with a sharpie, but they are more expensive.

The sales job is to convince whoever the end user of the disc that the printable tops are of such added value that they are worth the added cost.

[bcpachair 0]

I put together a DVD towards the end of last year. Definitely a steep learning curve for the first attempt, but I learnt some good lessons from it!

Definitely burn the DVDs prior to any kind of labelling, and I understand DVD-R have the widest compatibility (for reference, I used Ritek DVD-Rs and have a Sony DVD rewriter, info on DVD-Rs http://www.cd-rmedia.co.uk/cgi-bin2/details.pl?id=satin4x - UK only). Unfortunately, the first batch were lower quality disks and even though the first few were fine, the latter disks didn't work particularly well (if at all). I'm not sure why, but my theory is that the DVD writer became hotter over time, and this heat affected the way the disk was burnt. For the second batch, I burnt one at a time (4x as well, so about 17 minutes for a full disk) with half hour or so break in between. Not the fastest way of doing it, but I don't think home DVD writers are designed for mass production runs!

I have labelled the disks, and the feedback so far with the new batch has been very positive. No-one has reported problems with the disks, and I think the label makes them look that much more professional. If you want to label DVDs, have a look at Avery (http://www.avery.com/afterburner/). The applicator works well, and with a bit of effort to line the labels up properly in the printer and the applicator itself they look perfect.

However, time will tell as to how the labels hold up. I guess the average disk is only going to be played every so often so it could be months or years before problems come to light. It's obviously no coincidence that DVDs you buy in the shops aren't labelled, the disc is physically marked. Disc printers still look quite expensive, and I've heard the quality of printable discs isn't that high.

For the meantime, I'll stick with labelling until the other available methods become more financially viable.

Blue Skies,

Iain

[jmfreefly 0]

ABSOLUTE safest is nothing at all.

Sharpies have been argued that they break down the medium over time. (I put up a link to degrading media a while ago). I have no conclusive evidence of it, and I have to think that it is such a small difference in lifespan.

Best solution is printable media and a DVD/CD printer.

For me, I just put labels on them.

[quade 4]

LINK to Sharpie FAQ.

I think it's an urban myth.

quade -
The World's Most Boring Skydiver

[jmfreefly 0]

Like I said, 'arguable'

I don't necessarily think it is an urban myth. If anything, it is marketing hype of competetive 'CD Pens' that are 'specifically made for CDs'.

Here is a link to my post earlier, talking about CDs that became unreadable, as the organic layer broke down..

http://www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=894382;search_string=DVD;#894382

[clint 1]

I've decide to put a VHS Face label on paper CD case.
Thanks for all your help everyone.

Clint MacBeth
Skydive Moab 435 259 JUMP
M.O.A.B. Mother Of All Boogies Sept 19 - 23, 2012