Solved LightScribe rocks!

  • Thread starter Thread starter danny.guitar
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danny.guitar

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Just got an HP LightScribe DVD-R drive. Too bad it takes so long for doing graphics but it's worth it.

Anyone know if there are any duplication services that use LightScribe?

I did a test burn and it looks amazing even at the lowest quality setting.
 
Um, try to do one with any thing else other than a few letters and your opinion will change quickly. Lightscribe is the biggest joke on the planet, 25 minutes for a poor quality monochrome image? I'll pass. I used mine once and then just slapped inkjet labels on my lightscribe disks
 
Consider Epson inkjets that can print on CDs. You can get inkjet printable media on eBay at very reasonable prices, much less than Lightscribe media.
 
altitude909 said:
Um, try to do one with any thing else other than a few letters and your opinion will change quickly. Lightscribe is the biggest joke on the planet, 25 minutes for a poor quality monochrome image? I'll pass. I used mine once and then just slapped inkjet labels on my lightscribe disks
Click to expand...

I just printed a high res graphic image on one (this one):
http://www.atpm.com/6.09/montgomery/images/walk-in-the-wood.jpg

At the lowest quality setting (called "Draft") and I'm amazed. Yeah, it takes awhile, but it's worth it to me.

apl said:
Consider Epson inkjets that can print on CDs. You can get inkjet printable media on eBay at very reasonable prices, much less than Lightscribe media.
Click to expand...

Color graphics would be nice I guess but I actually prefer the way the monochrome ones look. Maybe not suitable for all types of covers. I was actually going to buy an Epson Injket until I got the LightScribe.
 
Those of you with the inkjet experience - how well does the ink hold up?
I've got a friend in a band that used the lightscribe for their demo disc and it looked really good.
 
After some more reading it appears that colored images on LightScribe might not be too far off. I'd personally rather have faster burning times though. That is the only downside. If you're just burning a couple it's no problem but if you're burning like 10 or 20 to give out it will take a long time.

And I wonder how long the drive will hold up or how many covers I can burn before it goes bad.
 
I would imagine the write capibilites would last a while since it's basically laser-etching right?
 
danny.guitar said:
After some more reading it appears that colored images on LightScribe might not be too far off. I'd personally rather have faster burning times though. That is the only downside. If you're just burning a couple it's no problem but if you're burning like 10 or 20 to give out it will take a long time.

And I wonder how long the drive will hold up or how many covers I can burn before it goes bad.
Click to expand...

few years after it came out, and mine still runs well.... As for CD burning, after those few years, the drive is finally giving way.

With the R260 Epson printer, on one refill of ink, with a colorful CD, and b/w, I print an average of 140-160 cd's without having to refill the ink. Not bad really...
 
I had a Lightscribe SATA dvd-rw. It took 20 minutes to print a brown on gold label. It also gummed up some lable printing software I already had.

I removed it. I got a HP 5120 all-in-one, with CD label writing. The cd's cost the same as the lightscribe cds, and I can print color labels in less than 4 minutes.

Case closed.
 
apl said:
Consider Epson inkjets that can print on CDs. You can get inkjet printable media on eBay at very reasonable prices, much less than Lightscribe media.
Click to expand...

+1 on this. You can get one for around $100, maybe less. Very detailed, full color, and convincing. IIRC, printing a CD takes around 3-4 minutes but don't quote me. It's not painful at all.
 
Lightscribe, while very slow, does do a pretty nice job if you get the contrast tool. Without it, the labels are very faint. Nero has a decent label designer, but you want to ignore all the quirky text tools and just use some nice digital pics, and the artistic text tool.

Someone needs to make a waterproof ink for printed labels or that method is useless, imo. Until then, a couple scribed CDs will always hold me over until I send them out for silkscreening.
 
hhmmm....been thinking about this lightscribe. Now it would seem I have some research to do.
 
Jamz0r said:
Lightscribe, while very slow, does do a pretty nice job if you get the contrast tool. Without it, the labels are very faint. Nero has a decent label designer, but you want to ignore all the quirky text tools and just use some nice digital pics, and the artistic text tool.

Someone needs to make a waterproof ink for printed labels or that method is useless, imo. Until then, a couple scribed CDs will always hold me over until I send them out for silkscreening.
Click to expand...

They do have waterproof ink, but it cost more.
 
Really, didn't know that. If so, it would be nice to have a seperate CD printer using the waterproof ink.
 
Just make a mask and use some clear coat if you need to protect it
 
michaelst said:
I had a Lightscribe SATA dvd-rw. It took 20 minutes to print a brown on gold label. It also gummed up some lable printing software I already had.
Click to expand...

Get the free software from www.lightscribe.com. Very easy and straightforward.

michaelst said:
I removed it. I got a HP 5120 all-in-one, with CD label writing. The cd's cost the same as the lightscribe cds, and I can print color labels in less than 4 minutes.

Case closed.
Click to expand...

Colors would be nice. But with the goldish color that the CD naturally is, with a monochrome image, looks a lot better than any color CD I've seen in my opinion.

With that said, the Epson would not be a bad idea especially for $100. Good idea for a birthday present.

I'd go buy one but I just spent my money on drugs.
 
Primera Bravo SE



I much prefer color than light scribe. We have a drive that does it at work...and I wasn't impressed by it. I'd much rather have color.




Of course, I'm not colorblind
 
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