DVD Printers

Cheap printers dont have the best quality.

I would avoid it all together. Some of the inks can damage DVD's.
Besides who cares what the DVD looks like it is the movie that matters.

Just my thoughts.

Epson. I've had the R200 for a while. Very happy with it.

Well, my birthday is coming up in March,

Thats good and I hope you have choosen a big venue, for all of us to join the party ;)

Epson. I've had the R200 for a while. Very happy with it.
The newest version of this is the R220 and can be had for around $89.00 if you look around. Good printer for the price and Epson makes some good ones. At least i like them. But like Photo Angel says, who cares what they look like as long as the movie is there. Besides, obviously you want mommy and daddy to buy it for you which indicates lack of funds. The price of the ink cartridges will shock you and when you start printing on your dvd's and then printing labels, you'll go through ink like water. You might get lucky with generic cartridges that work fine, but they still cost. I've never had luck with them. They caused more problems than they were worth so I stay away from them. You could maybe look into a good continuous ink system, but they get pricey. Better to just forget it.

Does the R220 print in color? And what type is it? PC Magazine just had a comparison about ink printers, lightscribe, and heat based printers.

Also, can the R220/200 print on regular discs that have a label already (the ones that say the brandname), or will that damage it?

R200 here too. Cant fault it to be honest and I found some good compatible ink that is not too pricy. You do need printable disc's, but they are no more expensive than ordinary discs.

Right, they are even cheaper for Verbatims, but that's probably because they might be CMC's (remember Verbatim uses CMC too)
I saw this one for $75 at Staples yesterday that was b&w but showed it printing on a standard non-printable disc. Do color ones do that?

For printing on a 'standard non-printable disc', I use a Casio thermal Disc printer. I have the CW-75. Works great for my daughter's back ups because it's water proof (can wash off finger prints), and I can put graphics on it. It is not color. You can choose one of several ribbon colors though. Then there's always sharpies.

LOL!

I think thermal printers were the least good in PC Mag's article.

There are advantages. Thermal doesn't have the resolution, or the color of inkjets, but it does look professional and doesn't smudge, as mentioned earlier.

Are there color thermal printers?

Not at your budget.

Well, if ink smears, would I be smart to get a thermal printer? And do you need special discs for those?

go to pricegrabber.com and do a search for the epson r200 or r220 (newer model). I saw one posted today for $69 + iirc $10 shipping. If I remember the site will post it.

What are the benefits/disadvantages of the R200/220?

BTW I am not the one buying it, I will be sending this list to the people who buy me gifts. I obviously have other stuff on there too, like DVDs and some music CDs.

A half decent colour thermal printer is a couple of grand. More if you want robotics.

As for colour inkjet printers, I would suggest a Canon, but you are in the US so it is Epson or Epson. As for smearing, etc. There are protective sprays that make the disc water/sun resistant or new blanks coming out that are waterproof.

Does the R220 print in color?

being a color photo printer it does that :)

i own R210 same as R200 for US.
works great, nice photos on photopapers that dont fade or somwhat waterfroof aswelll, never tried it ;).
it has function to print direct on dvd's but i havnt tried that as not easy to hold onto lightscribe disks.

only problems i can find are...... expensive ink, 2 colors out of six usually goes way to fast, head is in the printer and now after year its begining to get dirty as now i get bad results, banding somtimes and have to use higest quality for printing to fix it.

my other photoprinter is HP 7760 with LCD and it prints good too, one thing i like bout it is i can choose to print vibrant colors aswell [more ink ofcourse]
change the cartridge and head is changed too the only big goody in it.

Does it smear for you atifsh? I don't want my ink smearing, but I want it to look good.

Hey, here is an article in PC Magazine about the printers, it seems to like the R220 too... but it said that the printing cost was high. See the article here:

http://www.agigforimages.com/images/drfsupercenter/pcmag1.jpg
http://www.agigforimages.com/images/drfsupercenter/pcmag2.jpg
http://www.agigforimages.com/images/drfsupercenter/pcmag3.jpg

Each pic is a seperate page... sorry about the hugeness of it, you may have to zoom in to read it. Apparently my camera didn't rotate them like I told it too, so either rotate them in Photoshop or tilt your head :P

Somehow the colors on the R220 don't look as vibrant as they should... is it always like that?

DRF, I too am running an Epson R200, I bought at Wally world for $80 last year, no problems cept some printable discs. The DVD tray sometimes wont take, but thats a minor nuisance.

Otherwise it prints great on Verbatims, and I buy the epson ink from amazon as I tried some of the cheaper one and couldnt notice a difference print wise but had problems once the cartidges would get down to about 25% so I figure that the more expansive Epson are better for me

prints fast too in black / white draft printing for normal day use too

nB

I think I will just stick with the cheapest form of labeling discs......A black sharpie marker :rotfl:

Does it smear for you atifsh?

only once when i used a really really rerally really really cheap photo paper :).
never on a decent to good photo paper, i never printed on dvd's, i use it to print my digicam pics.
i mostly use konica papers now.

I mean on discs... I got a photo printer, that works fine.

The r200, R220 is not designed to print onto non-printable discs, the ink will smear, however i have an R200 and have had for a good year and a half and it is superb, the quality for photo and cd printing is stunning and it is fast. The printer is designed to print onto white printable discs or silver printable discs which give the same effect as a plain CD/DVD with black text, for standard non-printable media a good old fashioned sharpy is the best thing to use!! the R200 is a great printer tho, Jettec and Datasafe compatible cartridges work fine with it aswell.

So what are you saying? It will or won't smear on printable discs?

It wont smear on printable, it will on non-printable. Although for some reason I have never tried to print on non-printable disc's.................

Thanks. So I cound rub it with my finger, or even my shirt (to clean the disc) and it won't smear?

I have never had a printable cd that has smeared, as long as the disc is left for a few minutes once it has been printed on they have always been spot on. None of them have even faded!

Will they wash off in water? Or cleaning solution? Cuz when I clean the discs I don't want the labels coming off.

i couldn't say, i don't bath my discs!!!

LOL neither do I, but I have one of those cleaning kits where you spray cleaning alcohol on the bottom and wipe it with a cloth, occasionaly it gets on the topside.

ah, got you, i got the impression that you were washing the top side of your discs, didnt mean to seem rude!! Depending on what the cleaning fluid is made from, you shouldn't have too much of a problem. Normal water has no effect once the disc is completely dry (about an hour after printing tops)

Alright, thanks! I will add the R220 to the list!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000AYA588/sr=8-1/qid=1140475597/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-2140732-7740737?%5Fencoding=UTF8

Wow, that's kinda expensive! I will look for lower prices.

Good printer are not the cheap printer you will get what you pay for with a printer that is for sure.

Thats true but look at how much it does and the quality it does it in, you have to pay for quality. I have had an R200 for 2 years now and paid ?9 for it new in the UK. I have been running it with cheap compatible cartridges (Jettec & Datasafe) with absolutely no problems or loss in quality and it has not skipped a beat. They are great printers.

Ya but you really do not want to ever use a cheap genaric ink for printing ontothe DVD, some of the genarics are not made with the same chemicals and even though they may give a nice picture they could harm the DVD. NOT ALL chemicals are safe for DVD's.

This is true and is the reason i have quoted those 2 brands (Datasafe & Jettec) as i have used both on over 200 discs and they have not caused any harm to the discs. I cannot say about any other compatible cartridges, you're right to point this out though!!!:)

What blanks do you guys use?

@drf,
I understand that you want to be able to print on your blank DVD's but you have also stated that you have no income except in the summer when you cut grass.
With that in mind a printer like this will cost your more money then you are realizing. let me point out some facts for you with printing.
I am a freelance photographer and I have done more printing then you would care to know of. From my personal experience;

1.) The blank DVD's that you can print on will cost you more money then the regular ones will.

2.) When the ink jets get clogged and they will your printed DVD is scrap and you will have to re- print it. But before you can re-print it you will have to run the clean heads utility and every time you do this excess ink drops off into a pad under the printer and when this pad become full of ink you will have to change this pad costing you even more money.

3.) the ink that is safe for DVD's will cost $$$$ more then regular inks.


Unless you have a job it will not pay for you to have a printer that will burn on DVD's. I am not trying to sound like your Mother but I think when you are picking out what you want for your birthday you may want to stay away from this printed and choose something you can really use that will not cost you a lot of money in the long run.


Just my thought please don’t get the wrong idea. I wanted to print onto my DVD's myself and after weighing out the pros and cons it just didn’t pay for me to get one.

And I earn money from printing pictures that I take.
I also make piture slide shows on VCD and DVD with wedding pictures from wedding that I shoot and it still doesnt pay for me to print onto the DVD.
:)

I've had a Canon i865 for some years. Never had a problem with the heads or cheap ink and ink jet printable media isn't really any more expensive than branded. Like I said though, Canon isn't an option in the US. Guess you could order from OS though. Basically all the Pixma models here support CD/DVD printing from the cheap 3 colour models through to the higher res, more colour models.

Anyone who isn't in the US. I would suggest a Canon over an Epson for sure.

1. http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0232421 <-- they are cheaper then normal blanks

2. dunno

3. My parents pay for my regular printer ink as it is, maybe they'd pay for thie printer ink too? (the ink for mine is expensive - like $40 for color and $30 for black or something, or it used to be)

i couldn't say, i don't bath my discs!!!

I do. Seriously, a drop of dish washing liquid does wonders to clean a dirty disc. With regards to smearing. My daughter once touched a printable with slightly wet hands, and there was a nice water spot on the disc. With the thermal, I can wash the disc with water and dish washing liquid no problem. If you treat your discs with care, then an inkjet is fine. You have to remember that inkjets are water based. So, if you accidentally sneeze on them, you will ruin them. That's why I have both. Pretty ones for me and practical ones for my daughter. Oh, BTW it's fun to make original designs for flipper's that don't have art to begin with. ;)

What kind of media do you use in thermal printers?

Here's an example of what a Thermal printed disc looks like. My daughter can read now, but before, the images would help her identify the discs. Notice the dust and Finger prints! :)

http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/7261/s25as.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

For thermal you use something like:
http://www.jpldisplays.com.au/oscommerce/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=23_25&products_id=524

For inkjet:
http://www.jpldisplays.com.au/oscommerce/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=23_25&products_id=562

As I said there are protective sprays to protect inkjet printed discs. No idea if the specifically marketed ones are any better than generic.

Any idea where you can get those sprays?

You could do a Google search!

LOL, I just thought you guys would know

You're right, better to get advice from people that have used it than to get a product description that tells you everything except how it really works.

I do. Seriously, a drop of dish washing liquid does wonders to clean a dirty disc.

HeyTNT, perhaps i'll start giving my discs baths than!!!

Any idea where you can get those sprays?
I have been using an Epson R220 for awhile now and love that I can make the DVD covers look like the originals or some customized. I let the ink dry on the disc for a day and then coat the ink with a light coat of clear lacquer. Ink is sealed permanently and is smear-proof.
I could just leave it uncoated as long as I never get the discs wet, because like TNT says, ink-jet ink will smear if water gets on it. So I just coat it and it plays perfectly, no problems.

For those in the U.S., Sam's club sells the R220 for under a hundred bucks and sells Verbatim 16X 100 for about $40 bucks. I have printed over 200 discs with a single set of ink cartridges, and the R220 has the newer ,better working DVD tray than some of the Epson predecessors.:thumbs_up


I do like the look of the Thermal printed disc that TNT posted though, I didn't know that you could get fancy with the word and/or design. Was that from the Casio thermal printer?

Also, I've tried lightscribe labeling and the finished produt looks real cool, But it just takes too long and the discs ain't cheap. I am holding out for improvements in that technology though.

I am not a member at Sam's Club, just Costco. They have discs there but they are TDK I think.

I can get the Verbatim 50 pack printables at Micro Center for $17.99 a 50 pack.
And what type of spray, is it that stuff you spray on wood to keep the paint from smearing? I still have some of that stuff back from when we would do the Pinewood Derby cars in Cub Scouts :P

Yeah, it's a CASIO CW-75. I think there's one with higher resolution now. BTW, what kind of laquer do you use?

Yes it's just a good quality laquer. I use the Watco brand but others should work as long as it's good quality and not the generic type that might sputter.

That's a super price for the Verbatim printables!

I was thinking about the Casio myself because a friend recommended it and now that I see some of it's work, I'm convinced I should get one also for some of my DVDs.

I use the Epson R 200 with a continuous ink system. They almost give the printers away to sell the ink. I also like SureThing Label SW and scan disc or insert for a great label.

Mack

I use the Epson R 200 with a continuous ink system. They almost give the printers away to sell the ink. I also like SureThing Label SW and scan disc or insert for a great label.

Mack

So true!:D
What type of continuous ink system do you use? Some tell me that those systems are prone to clogging problems, do you experience any of that?
Where do you buy your ink?
Cheers:toast:

Yes it's just a good quality laquer. I use the Watco brand but others should work as long as it's good quality and not the generic type that might sputter.

.
I am sorry but I have to jump in here on this lacquer thing. OMG. OMG I wont NOT EVER USE SUCH A THING ON A DVD! Way to harmful for a DVD in the long run.

As for a GOOD lacquer, there is no such thing in a can. The really good high quality lacquers are not sold in cans they are sold in quarts, gallons, and 5 gallon barrels. You would then need retarder and thinner to make it usable to spray. And of course a spray gun and an air compressor.


Lets just say of the " over the counter brands of lacquers can cause metals to rot just thik what they could do to a DVD. This will not happen right away but after a few years it will.:toast:

Just my 2 cents, " from some one that has used them for over 2 decades" LOL
and not on DVD's

Well, I won't use the laquer I have then, I gotta actually get the printer first :rotfl:

I use the Epson R 200 with a continuous ink system. They almost give the printers away to sell the ink. I also like SureThing Label SW and scan disc or insert for a great label.

Mack

Could not be more true. When I initially did a cost analysis when I bought the R200, I bought it for $90 and I think I figured out that the ink replacements were about $85. Luckily I found a very good quality replacement for about $5 a pop.

I was aware that they made continuous ink systems for 4 color systems, but not for the 7 color systems. Who makes them?

Hmmm, odd. My HP printer only has 2 cartridges - color and black. They are like $50 for both. And, my parents pay for them :D

So you have to buy all the colors seperately? I wonder if Staples remanufactures them, they are cheaper that way.

I am sorry but I have to jump in here on this lacquer thing. OMG. OMG I wont NOT EVER USE SUCH A THING ON A DVD! Way to harmful for a DVD in the long run.

As for a GOOD lacquer, there is no such thing in a can. The really good high quality lacquers are not sold in cans they are sold in quarts, gallons, and 5 gallon barrels. You would then need retarder and thinner to make it usable to spray. And of course a spray gun and an air compressor.


Lets just say of the " over the counter brands of lacquers can cause metals to rot just thik what they could do to a DVD. This will not happen right away but after a few years it will.:toast:

Just my 2 cents, " from some one that has used them for over 2 decades" LOL
and not on DVD's

I haven't had any problems with any of those that have been protectively coated. They all play perfectly.:wink:

Here is some interesting reading on the topic, but there are many more talking about coating DVDs or CDs with lacquer or other types of clear finishes.:thumbs_up
http://www.videohelp.com/forum/archive/t243881.html
http://www.customflix.com/Special/printersupportpage/printer_support.htm
http://www.downloadjunction.com/press_release/store/883/
http://www.discresource.com/factsheet.htm

I'm not aware of any problems associated with coating your printed DVDs. Cheers:toast:

You do what you want to do they are your DVD's.

The kind of laquering they are talking about in those links is in no way the kind you can just buy in a store and do you have the UV lighting?

Do what you you will anyways LOL


I would not recomend it to any one else reading this.

You do what you want to do they are your DVD's.

The kind of laquering they are talking about in those links is in no way the kind you can just buy in a store and do you have the UV lighting?

Do what you you will anyways LOL


I would not recomend it to any one else reading this.


I will take your recommendation to heart and check into it more thoroughly. The last thing I would want is to have all my DVDs to come up with problems, so I need to be sure myself/.

My understanding is that the UV lights are used to speed up the drying process, drying it instantly and to give it the extremely smooth surface.
But now, I definately better make sure. Cheers:toast:

I will take your recommendation to heart and check into it more thoroughly. The last thing I would want is to have all my DVDs to come up with problems, so I need to be sure myself/.

My understanding is that the UV lights are used to speed up the drying process, drying it instantly and to give it the extremely smooth surface.
But now, I definately better make sure. Cheers:toast:



UV lights are used to cure it. Heat will make it dry faster , heat can be UV lights but not all heat lamps are UV. Cureing with UV will help tp keep the paint or lacquer from craking or peeling and gives it a tighter bond to the surface it was sprayed to. :toast:

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=229391

The ink is not that expensive, just that there are 6 color cartridges for 13 bucks a piece... dang. My HP printer has a tricolor and a black, that's all.

Does the R200 have less cartridges?

I just bought replacement cartridges for my R220, a multipack of all the six cartridges needed for $60 bucks at Sam's Club. While that saves a little it still is a lot. The R200 uses the same ink cartridges.

I'm gonna have to look into those $5-bucks a pop replacements though.

There's 6 Cartridges. Black, Cyan, Light Cyan, Magenta, Light Magenta and Yellow.

Yeah I know that.

What was that refill thing for $5 you mentioned?

You Yanks are overpaying !!! I get mine from Guensey, tax free at LESS than a pound each (99p) Guess where they originate ??????? USA.......And they are first class too..........www.7dayshop.com

not bad! Are they the original cartridges, or remanufactured?

NEW compatible, not remanufactured. They are very good.....

compatible meaning what?
Are they the ones made by Epson or by someone else?

And, do they ship in the USA too? For free?

Does the R200 have less cartridges?

If you knew why do you ask?

No, I knew that there were 6 cartridges total.