|
 Be it an
invitation on a CD or a simple mix CD you want to give to a friend,
you’ve probably always wondered how to make professional looking CD
labels and jewel case inserts with your inkjet printer. We shall
look at some software and hardware that will help you make great
looking labels and jewel case inserts.
CD/DVD
Label & Cover Design Software
 A
great tool for creating CD labels is Nero CoverDesigner or Nero 8.
It’s included in the Nero Burning Rom Suite of Tools so you can burn
your CD and create a CD label and a cover for it all in one go. Nero
cover designer will even pull the track list straight from the CD
you are burning and put it onto the cover or label you want to
create. Nero lets you choose the type of cover you want to print
ranging from slim CD cases to DVD cases and offers a variety of
templates with themes. Nero also comes with its own tool for burning
LightScribe CDs. We’ll describe exactly what LightScribe is later.
 Once
you’ve chosen or created the desired covers and label it’s as simple
as pressing the print button and cutting out the printouts to fit
your CD and jewel case. Nero will even print out crop marks so you
won’t waste any time trying to figure out where to cut.
If you don’t have many label printing projects
coming up though, there are many inexpensive solutions readily
available.
LightScribe Technology
 LightScribe
is an easy way to burn CD and DVD labels without the use of printed
labels or printable discs. Similar to the way data is burned onto a
disc, LightScribe etches a visible golden image right onto the top
of the disc using the optical disc writer. All the user has to do is
insert the disc with the label side down and run a program that
supports LightScribe. This is especially convenient because there is no messy
printing, cutting or adhesive required.
Inkjet Printable CD & DVD Media
Until recently, printers that printed directly
onto CDs and DVDs were too costly for consumers printing in low
volumes. Today, companies like Canon, Epson and HP offer affordable
printers that can print directly onto inkjet printable media. These
printers are available in a wide range of prices usually starting at
around $150 and they usually specialize in printing other types of
media like digital images and cards. Some printers come with loading
trays for printing multiple discs automatically. Additionally,
you’ll have to buy inkjet printable media. These are usually cheaper
than Lightscribe discs though, starting at around $15 for a pack of
50 DVDs.
Dymo CD/DVD Labeling Printer
The DiscPainter CD/DVD printer is a unique
stand-alone CD/DVD labeling solution. It is a small printer
dedicated to printing on the CD itself. It features patented
technology – the disc is printed as it spins – with great results!
Full color graphics and images are printed with superior quality at
high speed. With a small footprint, it doesn't need much space.
Simply put your disc inside, close the lid and print. No labels or
messy markers. What makes the DiscPainter CD/DVD printer deliver
great quality in a few minutes is all in the spin. RadialPrint
Technology lays down ink directly on your disc as it spins. Unlike
any other disc printing, you get quality and speed with dedicated
disc printing and patented technology.
In the end, it all comes down to how many CDs
you’ll want to label, how fast you want it done and how much you are
willing to pay for additional hardware. If you have the cash and
have a lot of CDs to label, buying inkjet printable media and a
compatible printer will be the best solution since inkjet printable
discs are fairly cheap and can be printed on in little time. If you
don’t plan on doing much labeling, using label printing software and
a regular inkjet printer to print out labels might be the most
suitable solution since you won’t need to buy any new hardware.
Lightscribe is also a good alternative for making very distinctive
looking personalized CD and is also the most convenient as all you’ll need
is a Lightscribe CD and a Lightscribe optical drive.
|