What is the best way to label your CDs and DVDs? It depends on several different factors. Do you need only light text and logos or a full color photorealistic image? What is the price range you can afford to work within? How much time do you need to print your discs? Are you doing large quantities or do you need just a small piece of table top equipment? 

Fortunately, there are many great ways to label your discs. There are thermal and inkjet printers, title printers, and sticker labels, and even options to have your discs preprinted in bulk by a replicator.  



The two main types of CD/DVD printers are thermal and inkjet. Thermal printers work by applying a ribbon to the face of the disc, and inkjet printers use ink. Both types of printers rely on standard CMY color mixing. For a while, thermal printers were considered the more economical option with inkjet printers providing the higher quality. However, now there are thermal transfer printers that produce photorealistic images on a par with inkjet printers, albeit at a higher cost than most thermal printers. Inkjet printers are said to be slightly messier with possibilities of smearing, but in our experience they are both reliable options with a low number of print errors. 



If you only need light text applied to your disc (if the discs are being archived for instance) then there are very cheap and fast printing CD/DVD title printers that are also compact. 



Finally, there are CD/DVD sticker labels that accommodate different hub sizes, and these can be printed on with a standard inkjet paper printer. An applicator is then used to keep the label perfectly centered. This is a fast and affordable option, and the quality is usually photorealistic, although sticker labels are not recommended for audio discs since they often cause slight defects. 

We provide all of the above and more. Whether you need a printer, labels, ribbons and cartridges, bulk preprinting, or consultation, we can help you with your CD/DVD labeling needs. If you have any questions, please contact us.