trying to understand LightScribe

  • Thread starter Thread starter Greg Russell
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Greg Russell

I've recently purchased an HL-DT-STDVD-RAM GH22LP20 drive and have questions
about the media that are available for LightScribe finctionality.

I purchased some disks that can be labeled using the device, but the image
and text is a faint B&W, not the coloured image and text I had anticipated
and designed using LightScribe's software.

So I went back to the mart and bought some "printable" DVD+R which had a
white upper surface. These media aren't even recognized as writable on the
top surface by the software/hardware that LightScribe provides.

What type of media are needed to write clear, legible coloured labels to the
DVDs, please?
 
Greg said:
I've recently purchased an HL-DT-STDVD-RAM GH22LP20 drive and have questions
about the media that are available for LightScribe finctionality.

I purchased some disks that can be labeled using the device, but the image
and text is a faint B&W, not the coloured image and text I had anticipated
and designed using LightScribe's software.

So I went back to the mart and bought some "printable" DVD+R which had a
white upper surface. These media aren't even recognized as writable on the
top surface by the software/hardware that LightScribe provides.

What type of media are needed to write clear, legible coloured labels to the
DVDs, please?
Click to expand...

These sample LightScribe disks look "two tone" to me.
Either you see the background color, or you see a darker
color. For example, the green one looks green and black.
The yellow one, is yellow and brown. I don't think there
is such a thing as a true RGB colored LightScribe, although
someone may have tried to build one. Making these two-tone
ones is challenge enough.

http://www.lacie.com/imgstore/more/ls_colordiscs.jpg

http://cache-images.pronto.com/thum...jpg&wmax=180&hmax=135&quality=80&bgcol=FFFFFF

Paul
 
Greg said:
I've recently purchased an HL-DT-STDVD-RAM GH22LP20 drive and have questions
about the media that are available for LightScribe finctionality.

I purchased some disks that can be labeled using the device, but the image
and text is a faint B&W, not the coloured image and text I had anticipated
and designed using LightScribe's software.

So I went back to the mart and bought some "printable" DVD+R which had a
white upper surface. These media aren't even recognized as writable on the
top surface by the software/hardware that LightScribe provides.

What type of media are needed to write clear, legible coloured labels to the
DVDs, please?
Click to expand...

Lightscribe works by burning onto the "label" side. That's why you get
a 2-tone result. The label also fades over time. It will get harder to
read.

You thought the drive was a thermal color printer for CD/DVDs?
Bwaaaaahaaaahaaaa. Um, just where did you plan on inserting the color
cartridges? If you wanted color labels then you should've bought a CD
printer. Hell, if you wanted decent black printing, you'd still need to
get a CD printer.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...81001&cm_re=cd_printer-_-28-181-001-_-Product
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...13203&cm_re=cd_printer-_-28-113-203-_-Product
http://reviews.cnet.com/inkjet-printers/rimage-480i-cd-dvd/4505-3156_7-30884009.html
 
Lightscribe works by burning onto the "label" side. That's why you get
a 2-tone result. The label also fades over time. It will get harder to
read.
Click to expand...

Is this really true? Will the label fade? How long?
I am disappointed.

Duke
 
jw said:
Is this really true? Will the label fade? How long? I am
disappointed.
Click to expand...

Although I have a Lightscribe-capable CD/DVD burner drive, I haven't
used the Lightscribe function. The Lightscribe discs cost more (not a
lot but some). However, a buddy of mine has one, too, and I noticed
that after just a couple of months that the labels were lighter. He'd
print a new one and then compared it against an 2-month old one and,
yep, there was a bit of fade. There would be more fade over more time.
He does have his own business. He uses Lightscribe for his own discs
(those that never leave him) but uses a disc printer for those that his
customers get.

As noted at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightscribe, "visibly faded
within two months". I've noticed this even with the precautions
mentioned.

Even Verbatim acknowledges there is fade although they try to minimize
it (http://www.verbatim.com/lightscribe/questions-and-answers-2.cfm).
http://www.lightscribe.com/support/index.aspx?id=302 claims fade only
happens in direct sunlight. Yet my buddies discs were in a CD wallet
and hidden inside its dark interior in his basement where it is cool and
he uses the A/C in summer. So be even more careful with your
Lightscribe discs to prevent soiling them or exposure to sunlight. How
I've seen users handle optical discs, even those that think they are
being careful, is sometimes quite not very delicate. They grab the disc
by pinching it between their fingers (which haven't been washed) instead
of by the edges and/or spindle hole, slide them around atop their desk,
slide them into wallets while scraping against the zipper, and so on.
There's a big difference on how well the optical discs survive and
remain usability when ideally stored versus when typical users handle
them.

The 2-tone image is already light so any fading makes it even worse.
Lightscribe is okay for personal labelling of your discs but I wouldn't
use it software authored by you or your company that gets distributed to
your customers. You can't expect your business customers to handle the
discs any better than consumers using them at home. Having to be MORE
careful to not get contaminants on the Lightscribe disc, keeping them
out of the sunlight, fade over time, and the light 2-tone "printing"
don't make them candidates for your business use (or anytime you want
professional quality for both appearance and endurance).
 
Although I have a Lightscribe-capable CD/DVD burner drive, I haven't
used the Lightscribe function. The Lightscribe discs cost more (not a
lot but some). However, a buddy of mine has one, too, and I noticed
that after just a couple of months that the labels were lighter. He'd
print a new one and then compared it against an 2-month old one and,
yep, there was a bit of fade. There would be more fade over more time.
He does have his own business. He uses Lightscribe for his own discs
(those that never leave him) but uses a disc printer for those that his
customers get.

As noted at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lightscribe, "visibly faded
within two months". I've noticed this even with the precautions
mentioned.

Even Verbatim acknowledges there is fade although they try to minimize
it (http://www.verbatim.com/lightscribe/questions-and-answers-2.cfm).
http://www.lightscribe.com/support/index.aspx?id=302 claims fade only
happens in direct sunlight. Yet my buddies discs were in a CD wallet
and hidden inside its dark interior in his basement where it is cool and
he uses the A/C in summer. So be even more careful with your
Lightscribe discs to prevent soiling them or exposure to sunlight. How
I've seen users handle optical discs, even those that think they are
being careful, is sometimes quite not very delicate. They grab the disc
by pinching it between their fingers (which haven't been washed) instead
of by the edges and/or spindle hole, slide them around atop their desk,
slide them into wallets while scraping against the zipper, and so on.
There's a big difference on how well the optical discs survive and
remain usability when ideally stored versus when typical users handle
them.

The 2-tone image is already light so any fading makes it even worse.
Lightscribe is okay for personal labelling of your discs but I wouldn't
use it software authored by you or your company that gets distributed to
your customers. You can't expect your business customers to handle the
discs any better than consumers using them at home. Having to be MORE
careful to not get contaminants on the Lightscribe disc, keeping them
out of the sunlight, fade over time, and the light 2-tone "printing"
don't make them candidates for your business use (or anytime you want
professional quality for both appearance and endurance).
Click to expand...


My Epson R320 started acting up, which is why I thought to try
Lightscribe. I can live with the indistinct labeling, but the fading
is another matter. After all, if I can't read what is on the disk,
then I'll have to mark them with marker pen, which I wanted to get
away from. Maybe I can resurrect the Epson. Hope so.
Thanks for the words.

Duke
 
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