Lightscribe?

[s8langwo]

I understand the time it takes to burn an image is quite long, but what are your thoughts on the quality of lightscribe images on the DVD's you give your customers?

Evaluating labeling options and wanted to get your thoughts.

Thanks for your input,
Kevin

[thebrewer]

I currently ues lightscribe, but I ordered the tray to allow cd printing on my canon. LS is good, but a color photo loks better IMO. Also, the LS process is slow for a good high contrast imags (35 min)

[Banbert]

I use lightscribe at the moment with some leather look cases that hold a photo in the front panel and I think it looks nice as part of our package but i do like the look of some of the more modern options that people have posted recently, I have a concern about how robust they are though. How well do the printed CD's react to moisture ? does the image smudge easily ?

[morlia]

I use lightscribe for the cd's that I burn for personal archiving. For my clients I use a clear colour photo label

[trantz]

I personally think printing directly to disc looks the best. As for lightscribe, i don't think it looks that great considering you can't get more then then one color (the color of the disc)

[cdifoto]

Printing on Inkjet disks look better initially but people in general aren't careful. Lightscribe, in my opinion, is better for clients because it has that factory-stamped environment proof quality. They need to develop the technology more to make it burn both faster and darker though.

[tim]

I read somewhere you can burn a LightScribe disk twice to make the image come out more. I've never tried or seen Light Scribe, wasn't interested in mono printing, I print directly onto disks.

[Niraj]

excellent topic, i've been considering purchasing a Lightscribe drive... just need to know if the clients would appreciate this, or is it something they just take for granted?

I think a LS burnt disc is far more appealing than the white disc labels i currently use.

[nikonthree]

I really like the Lightscribe "look". Especially after I started the burn twice trick.

I am also looking to do direct to disc printing, once I upgrade my printer. I will decide then which I like better.

For now though I vote Lightscribe :)

[Phil V]

The lightscribe discs look good once you've got the 'extra contrast' software, however my next printer will print discs and I'll look at the option of using good jewel cases.

[nikonthree]

The lightscribe discs look good once you've got the 'extra contrast' software

Is that the Windows only software on the Lightscribe website or something different?

[spphoto]

I dunno, I've always thought LS looked a bit tacky, so I've always used colour laser printed lables until I got my inkjet that takes discs, now I use those. I've found that they are pretty environment proof, not perfect obviously, but pretty good.

[Atl-Fotos]

I offer both and let my customer make the choice...

[GertS]

LS takes ages for a high contrast image and it's not UV stable, the images fade out too.
My burner supports it but I don't use it. I see it more as a marketing gag.

[tbfoto]

I have used LS for some DVD slideshows I give to my clients. My only complaint is that I wished the contrast was a bit higher. The time isnt that big a deal if the finished image was darker...however its better than a plain disk.

[ktgiggle]

I use LS when I have 40 min or so (this is the amount it takes to print twice using "Best" option to get higher contrast, if I use the "Full content" format. You need to be careful not to move the disc after the first pass.)

I agree that the process is a bit long, but somehow I like the unique sepia look. Unfortunately the quality is not consistent (I'm happy w/ it about 90+ % of the times), and I wish that they do make discs / software which prints faster and higher contrast.

[karusel]

I had no idea of what exactly lightscribe is until I lightscribed my first DVD, and then I was disappointed... However, the burnt-on image is somewhat impressively decent (if you don't mind the lack of contrast). What I've found out most disturbing about this is that the printable surface is a scratch magnet or in other words, if there is a remote possibility that you will scratch it, you will and it will show. My Epson printer is capable of printing directly on the CD and it does so extremely well. The only complaint would be, that it's virtually impossible to center the image precisely. Still, I choose printing as best overall.

[katiet]

I love light scrib!!! I am the photographer and the videographer for a local race track and when they want a "keep sake" DVD of their win I offer their picture on the DVD for an extra charge, this is gold!!!!

[Niraj]

I love light scrib!!! I am the photographer and the videographer for a local race track and when they want a "keep sake" DVD of their win I offer their picture on the DVD for an extra charge, this is gold!!!!

excellent marketing tactic to make lightscribe pay for itself :)

(i've just ordered my LS drive, and a few LS discs) gonna be experimenting pretty soon :D

[Pebbs4]

I downloaded lightscribe.....but does it need anything special for the burner? It just didn't seem to be doing anything......or am I just being impatient?

[Niraj]

I downloaded lightscribe.....but does it need anything special for the burner? It just didn't seem to be doing anything......or am I just being impatient?

you will need a special Lightscribe drive, and special Lightscribe discs.
the surface of the discs are different to your normal discs, and the drive has a stronger laser, to be able to etch into these discs. :)

[Pebbs4]

you will need a special Lightscribe drive, and special Lightscribe discs.
the surface of the discs are different to your normal discs, and the drive has a stronger laser, to be able to etch into these discs. :)

Yikes....this isn't going to be as easy as I thought to try out. Thanks for not making me feel like a knob Niraj :)

[Niraj]

Yikes....this isn't going to be as easy as I thought to try out. Thanks for not making me feel like a knob Niraj :)

(sorry, internet makes it tought to decipher sarcasm) but i certainly didn't intend for you to feel anything like that if i did, my apologies :)

i ordered my lightscribe drive a few days ago... got a cheapy one from eBay to try it out... :)

[lil_miss]

We print directly on discs with our Canon MP600 :) Works a treat....

[Niraj]

We print directly on discs with our Canon MP600 :) Works a treat....

Yup :) the Epson R300 is blindingly good at it too :) been using it for a fair few years now... so thought to myself Lightscribe is something new, something different lets give it a go :D if it sucks... i still got my R300 :D hehe

[Pebbs4]

(sorry, internet makes it tought to decipher sarcasm) but i certainly didn't intend for you to feel anything like that if i did, my apologies :)

i ordered my lightscribe drive a few days ago... got a cheapy one from eBay to try it out... :)

Niraj......... you didn't make me feel like a dork....and that was a heartfelt "thankyou" .

Is this drive external ? or do you have to install in in your tower ? It looks like an awesome program, which I think , would add to the presentation.

[Niraj]

Niraj......... you didn't make me feel like a dork....and that was a heartfelt "thankyou" .

Is this drive external ? or do you have to install in in your tower ? It looks like an awesome program, which I think , would add to the presentation.

:)

You can get them in both styles. I think the external one is slightly dearer than the internal one, but the advantage would be you could add it to your laptop or move it from machine to machine.

The internal drive (like the one i've ordered) is your basic Optical IDE drive, and adds to or replaces your standard CD/DVD drives :D

[Niraj]

Is this drive external ? or do you have to install in in your tower ? It looks like an awesome program, which I think , would add to the presentation.

my thoughts precisely ^