CD Covers and Labels?

[sjaguar13]

I know there were posts about getting printers to make labels and stuff, and the answer was always go to Kinkos. Can Kinkos print on the labels, or do I have to use their paper? I'm looking to do 50-200 CDs. Is there a better way? What about one of those $100 thermal printers that can only print on the top or bottom of the CD for demos? I won't need anything special for them other than the band name.

[Jblount]

What the fat? Where can you get a thermal printer for $100? Please tell me, I will go buy one now. The ones I looked at are at least $600.00 used.

[sjaguar13]

A thermal printer for titles just at the top or bottom for $600? The one I seen is here. I was just thinking that might be good for 50 demos or something.

[sjaguar13]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...tem=3429120633

I called that guy. He said it's about the cheapest way to go, but you're limited to one color. 1 ribbon does about 50 CDs with text just on the top, or 25 with text on top and bottom. For $105, you get the printer shipped with 3 ribbons. Each ribbon is only $8. They're $7 if you buy them in a 10-pack. Is this a good deal? I think it sounds good, but I never really labled a CD before.

[TimOBrien]

The new Epson 900 injet is only $199 and can print on paper, photo paper or directly on printable CDs. You can get it mail order or at Office Depot.

Good cheap ink cartridges available at www.ink4art.com (I buy a lot from them.)

[Jblount]

Thanks tim, I will buy one this week. As far as the one on ebay, there is only one problem, I dont buy casio equipment at all. The epson sounds like a killer deal. I would spend the extra hun and get it.

[sjaguar13]

I have a friend who has the Epson, or some kind of Epson. He just got it last week. He printed one test CD and said it was pretty good. The only thing he said he didn't like was the fact it couldn't print in full color. I don't know the model number, so that one might be able too. This was my second choice. I heard ink jet can smear if it gets a little wet. I'm only shooting for less than 200 CDs at a time. If I was doing, say 50 CDs, could I also do a 1-page insert/inlay and back cover, or would it still be best to go to Kinkos for those? Is it worth the extra $100 for demo CDs, say 3-4 songs sent out in envelopes in our press kit? Would it be worth it to get the Epson because if I ever wanted to do a full CD, I could do some color art on the CD as well as text on demos? I'm not a huge Casio fan, either, but I also don't care for Epson.

[Jblount]

Well its all up to you. Do what you can afford, I guess. So the epson smears when the cd gets wet. Ouch, that dosnt sound good. I will have to do some more research.

[powderfinger]

Originally posted by TimOBrien
The new Epson 900 injet is only $199 and can print on paper, photo paper or directly on printable CDs. You can get it mail order or at Office Depot.

Good cheap ink cartridges available at www.ink4art.com (I buy a lot from them.)

I bought one of the Epsons within the past month. They actually look pretty damn good for what it is. And I've had no problem w/ smear. Of course, I wouldn't recommend trying to print out 200 CDs like this, but if you're doing small runs for friends, it's great. It probably takes 2-5 mins per CD depending on how much color you use.

[sjaguar13]

How many CDs would be a small run for friends, and does that include doing just the CDs or also inlays?

[powderfinger]

Originally posted by sjaguar13
How many CDs would be a small run for friends, and does that include doing just the CDs or also inlays?

It basically comes down to how much time you want to spend w/ it. W/ the Epson, you have to do them one at a time, you can't print like paper where you say "10 copies", leave the room and come back and there's 10. You have to setup each CD to print. So you can do as many as you want, but it would be really time consuming to do more than 20 or so.

I was quite pleased at the look you can get. You can download fonts that have the disc logo that's on all pro cd's and some other logos that make it look pretty pro to the person who's not looking too close.

Put it this way. If I'm ever looking to get 50 or so done, I'd probably just pay for a pro run.

[Jblount]

Sweet, no smear? I may get one today. So it prints in color too? Man I gotta get one. What did you mean by printable cds? Do you have to buy a special cd, or can I print right to a plain old blank cdr?

[sjaguar13]

You need inkjet printable CDs. The ones I seen are white on the top. They may come in silver, too, but I'm not sure. I'm thinking about getting one just because my printer sucks, and I could always use it for other things than just CDs.

[Jblount]

OK there is the hitch. I knew it. Dang. You have to buy some crappy cd with a white top. Thats why the cd printers for $600 that I found are so expensive, they print directly onto regular silver cds.

[sjaguar13]

There is silver inkjet printable CDs.

White CDs

Silver CDs

[powderfinger]

i bought some of the silver inkjet printables.........they are different than normal commercially bought cds in texture........the surface feels a little rough......not as smooth..........they look good though.......

[tanlith]

I got what I believe is a very reasonable quote from www.moderncd.com
Here's what they quoted me for 50 CDs... details outlined below:

50 CD's, Duplication
Thermal Print (Black)
4 Panel Insert 4/4
4/4 Tray Card
Clear Jewel Case and Assembly
Total = $200.00

2 Day FedEx shipping = $17.00

Now the shipping actually comes to $24.00 for standerd UPS (I live in Canada... so it costs a bit more)

That works out to $4.48/CD... which I feel is reasonable considering I wanted such a small order.

Now keep in mind that the Jewel case was clear and I had atrwork on BOTH sides of the insert (behind where the CD mounts) and the front insert had 4 panels (it was folded in half with art work on both sides for a total of 4 panels). The CDs are thermal print so they look totally professional. They even sent me the Photoshop templates to use. I did all the artwork.

This included CD Replication etc...

I haven't ordered yet, but I plan to as soon as I'm done my current project.

- Tanlith -

[freshmattyp]

Originally posted by tanlith
I got what I believe is a very reasonable quote from www.moderncd.com
Here's what they quoted me for 50 CDs... details outlined below:

50 CD's, Duplication
Thermal Print (Black)
4 Panel Insert 4/4
4/4 Tray Card
Clear Jewel Case and Assembly
Total = $200.00

2 Day FedEx shipping = $17.00

Now the shipping actually comes to $24.00 for standerd UPS (I live in Canada... so it costs a bit more)

That works out to $4.48/CD... which I feel is reasonable considering I wanted such a small order.

Now keep in mind that the Jewel case was clear and I had atrwork on BOTH sides of the insert (behind where the CD mounts) and the front insert had 4 panels (it was folded in half with art work on both sides for a total of 4 panels). The CDs are thermal print so they look totally professional. They even sent me the Photoshop templates to use. I did all the artwork.

This included CD Replication etc...

I haven't ordered yet, but I plan to as soon as I'm done my current project.

- Tanlith -

Before you use these guys, try National Media Services. I have used them for my last 3 projects and they do a great job. They do true offset printing on slick stock. We had 100 CD's with a 4 page insert done for $2.69 each. Quick turnaround, too. I sent them the project last week and it will be here today.

http://www.natlcass.com/CDs_and_Casset.html

[tanlith]

Originally posted by freshmattyp
Before you use these guys, try National Media Services. I have used them for my last 3 projects and they do a great job. They do true offset printing on slick stock. We had 100 CD's with a 4 page insert done for $2.69 each. Quick turnaround, too. I sent them the project last week and it will be here today.

http://www.natlcass.com/CDs_and_Casset.html

Cool... Ima go look the link over right now... shanks!

- Tanlith -

[ds21]

A BJC6000, been using it for about the last 6 months, got it on ebay for $50, prints in color, I use the silver CDs had good luck, going to try the white ones next. A couple of thing though,

1) had to make my own caddy to hold the CD as it goes though the printer.

2) after it's printed, and dryed (which actually takes a few hours) than I mist the CD with clear Enamel spray paint (if you don't they printing will scratch off under normal use) I just lay out a bunch and put on a couple really light, light coats.

I calculated for full color CD's, jewel cases and 4 panel inserts it only cost about $1.80 (not including labor of course).

It may sound like a big ordeal, but I just do it while watching TV and will do about 25 a night.

[tanlith]

Originally posted by ds21
A BJC6000, been using it for about the last 6 months, got it on ebay for $50, prints in color, I use the silver CDs had good luck, going to try the white ones next. A couple of thing though,

1) had to make my own caddy to hold the CD as it goes though the printer.

2) after it's printed, and dryed (which actually takes a few hours) than I mist the CD with clear Enamel spray paint (if you don't they printing will scratch off under normal use) I just lay out a bunch and put on a couple really light, light coats.

I calculated for full color CD's, jewel cases and 4 panel inserts it only cost about $1.80 (not including labor of course).

It may sound like a big ordeal, but I just do it while watching TV and will do about 25 a night.

Not bad... what kind of enamel are you using? Gotta watch for some... they'll "eat" the plastic over time...

- Tanlith -

[ds21]

tanlith,
Thanks for the heads up, I'll have to watch for that!

[sjaguar13]

Ds21-

How do you build a caddy? Does it print in full color, and how's the quality? For the CD, jewel case, and a 4 panel insert, it comes to $1.80? Did you use high-gloss photo paper for the insert, and is that included in the cost? I think you talked me into buying one.

[ds21]

Originally posted by sjaguar13
Ds21-

How do you build a caddy? Does it print in full color, and how's the quality? For the CD, jewel case, and a 4 panel insert, it comes to $1.80? Did you use high-gloss photo paper for the insert, and is that included in the cost? I think you talked me into buying one.

I just took some card stock type paper, (posterboard?) maybe two layers plus a sheet of regular paper, guled them togather in a stairstep layering to about the same thinkness a CD, ran it though and printed using regular cd lableing software to find out where to cut the hole for the CD, cut the hole than put another plane piece of paper on the bottom (so the cd won't fall though). Yes it's a color printer, it's got a manual straight though paper path so I just put it in the back print and it comes out the front (top loader won't work unless modified) the max paper size the printer can handle is about 48", so I could make a long caddy and probably print around 8 CD's at once (I've just been too lazy to make one I waisted 10-15 CD and 3 trys on the caddy till I got it right). the jewel cases are cheap, and I just used Neeto (fellows) Matte inserts, also shrink wrap is cheap too (but I let people put their own on). quality is good enough to sell in your local record stores. The whole reason I did this was because I recorded my sister's CD, and she just used the regular CD lables and she left one out in the car one day and it just started to bubble up, she started to look online, and for "on CD full color printing" with 4 panel inserts were way up there in price. I would be nice to get one with a hopper and robotic arm...but $1200+...and I'm getting the same quality!!!

P.S. I even factored in the cost of ink.

[sjaguar13]

Does the printer print photo-quality, or is it real grainy? Also, are the Neeto inserts professional looking? So I can buy this cheap printer, print directly on CDs and print inserts on the Neeto inserts. The CDs are dry, I spray them with a clear coat. Then, package them up with the insert and CD in a jewel case, and I've spent less than $2 and some time? I'd buy a printer if I found one for sale.