DVD Slideshows - Do you use printable DVD's, Lightscribe, or ???

Mainly from a wedding standpoint, I offer DVD slideshows set to music. I was thinking about going with a new Lightscribe burner and discs, but I was wondering what others use here.

I also may offer sports slideshows of an entire team during a game.

Is lightscribe the way to go or something else? Also, what packaging (sleeve, clamshell, etc.) do you offer with your discs?

I'd really appreciate photos and links if you can give them.

Thank you!!!
Danny

My wedding DVD has a lightscribe face. Its OK, but looks a bit amateur. The DVD itself came in a standard black DVD case with custom artwork. It looked boring and generic though. If I were going to do it, I would offer it with a custom printed/designed label, in a slim clear or back case with custom artwork.

You could also have bulk disks ordered with your company name, info, and art on the cover. Then you can just burn it as you go without worrying, only problem is that it would be a bit generic.

I've used lightscribe in the past. With some experimentation the image burned on the DVD can be passable. However, I now use my custom designs on printable DVD's. Lightscribe takes too long burning some images depending on the complexity of the design. I sometimes print 50 or more of a particular Slideshow I've produced and the printable DVD's on my Epson is much faster and more efficient workflow. The covers do have to sit for a while prior to placing them in the covers for mailing though. I'll often use a typical clear plastic case placed in a padded envelope for mailing. The clear plastic lets the printed DVD image to show through so another printed paper insert is often unnecessary.

Another note: I use only Taiyo Yuden DVD's.

Much like seaside, I use Taiyo Yuden printable CD and DVDs in an Epson printer (currently an Artisan 810, but I've also used 280 and 260 printers).

I use the silver inkjet printable discs because it gives the image a 3D luminescence. I use discs for several different purposes, including the sales preview slideshow--in those uses, I put the discs in clear plastic covers. The final delivery is in leatherette covers imprinted with my studio logo.

I heartily recommend using a 3rd party disc printing software rather than the printer software. Printer company software is more like "afterthougthware." It's usually very limited, inconvenient to configure, and only good for that particular model printer. When you go to a new printer, your old files are orphaned.

I recommend Acoustica CD Label printer (acoustica.com). It's very frequently updated to cover the very latest printers (including Lightscribe burners) so you can move the Acoustica files from printer to printer. It's powerful and intuitive to use and very easy to configure the printing parameters down to a hundredth of a millimeter. And it only costs about $29 USD.

Ok, so printable DVDs offer higher quality labeling? Can someone advise a good printer? Maximum bang for buck please. Artisan 50?? Thanks!

snyper77 wrote in post #9790286
Ok, so printable DVDs offer higher quality labeling? Can someone advise a good printer for printing DVD's? Maximum bang for buck please. Thanks!

Manufacturers are very sketchy in this area. There doesn't seem to be rhyme or reason in which models support disc printing and which don't. For instance a couple of models of Canon printers support disc printing...but only outside the US.

I've use several low-end HP and Epson printers, and I find that Epsons have always produced distinctly better quality results. Why have I used several different printers? Because at this price point, buying a new printer is only slightly more than buying a new set of ink cartridges. However, if all you're printing is discs, the ink goes a long way.

Right now, the cheapest new printer for discs in the US is the Epson Artisan 50 for $85~99 street. However, I would not get that one because it's not widely distributed (I've never seen one at a local Office Depot or Office Max).

Depending on what else you might want to do with the printer, look at either the Epson Artisan 710 ($130 street) or Artisan 810 ($300 street, often on sale) for an all-in-one that does discs or at the Epson Stylus models that do discs as a dedicated photo printer.

There is an HP all-in-one doing discs for around $300, but IQ is distinctly inferior to the Epson. Another option is the Dymo Disc Painter, but I've never considered that one because it's expensive ($250--and all it does is discs), not the highest quality (four-color...and if you look at any of their ads, they do not show any examples of photo printing--only design printing). However, it does have a very small footprint because it prints nothing but discs.

I use Canon printers as well as their photography equipment. However, there was some kind of an issue with patents that Epson had that didn't allow Canon to incorporate CD/DVD printing on their U.S. marketed printers. I've heard some folks that have retrofitted their Canons with the parts to print CD's. I instead purchased an Epson R280. All I use it for is CD/DVD printing and it does a really high quality job too. Epson direct sells refurbished R280's for something like $60. Mentioning this because I don't know your price range for the printer.

I've been happy with the R280's performance so I'm not familiar with any of the newer Epsons out there. Like RDKirk mentioned there are some newer models you may wish to consider.

This is the info I needed. Thank you all for your time and help.

Many of the new Canon's don't even need to be refitted to print CDs, they just require the tray + software, both which can be found on the web. I've used several Epsons (lower end) and my Canon ip4600 does a much better job with disc printing, especially with alignment and speed. However, since the Canon's really not an option for you, an Epson will definitely take care of you for this stuff.'

Also, +1 on the Taiyo Yuden discs, have yet to coaster a single one that wasn't my fault.