| When it comes to CD & DVD Printing | | | | black (CMYK), also usually on a white |
| nowadays there is so much choice that unlike | | | | base.Artwork is separated into these constituent |
| paper printing (where run size and cost are the | | | | colours and from the exposed films 4 plates are |
| main factors), you’re faced with the daunting | | | | made. This ink is applied to these and rubber |
| choice of Litho, Screen, Inkjet, Digital and Thermal | | | | rollers then pick the ink up, reapplying it to the |
| printing on CDs and DVDs or even a combination | | | | surface of the disc. Once the 4 colours have been |
| of 2 or more of these. DVD duplication is fairly | | | | sequentially applied then the disc is also cured |
| simple - the data is either there (and works!) or | | | | under a strong UV light. |
| isn't. The print on your duplicated DVD or CD is | | | | The latest generation of Digital disc printers use |
| what will set it apart from the millions of other | | | | UV cured ink and multiple print heads that are |
| discs out there. | | | | similar to consumer inkjet but on a much bigger |
| So how do you determine what is best for your | | | | scale. Each colour is applied by 8 separate heads |
| run of CDs or DVDs? | | | | which dramatically increases resolution and variable |
| As a basic guide, stick to the following principles; | | | | droplet size allows greater variation in shades. A |
| solid colours should be screen printed, as should | | | | digital printer such as this will print 1200 discs per |
| Pantones. CD & DVD artwork consisting of | | | | hour compared to a consumer inkjet’s 30 or |
| photographs or CMYK mixes with lots of | | | | so. Once the ink has been applied to a white base |
| graduations and tints will look better litho printed | | | | it passes under a UV light to be cured into a solid, |
| or better still printed using the new generation of | | | | glossy and durable finish. |
| UV cured CD and DVD printers. One of the best | | | | Inkjet and Thermal print offer a cost effective |
| examples of this new print process is a new | | | | solution for very small runs of full colour printed |
| printer developed by Sun Chemical; its resolution, | | | | CD & DVD and the lead time is normally a |
| vibrancy of colour and gloss finish gives picture | | | | matter of hours rather than days, though this of |
| discs an almost 3D feel to them. | | | | course depends in the size of the duplication |
| Screen printing requires the artwork to be split up | | | | facility. |
| into constituent colours. A film is then exposed | | | | Inkjet printers use the same technology found in |
| from each of these colours (usually including a | | | | consumer printers, with a modified caddy to take |
| white base). From this film a screen is made; this | | | | a disc and sometimes automated disc loading and |
| is a 12cm square porous mesh with the area not | | | | unloading. |
| to be printed remaining as a non permeable area. | | | | Thermal (or thermal transfer) prints the image |
| Ink of 1 colour is forced through this mesh with a | | | | using a colour film that is applied using a high |
| rubber blade (known as a squeegee), onto the | | | | temperature process. This is a particularly |
| surface of the disc. Screen printers can have up | | | | expensive and inefficient way of printing discs as |
| to 5 colours, applied one after the other. Once the | | | | there is a lot of waste film from the areas of the |
| ink has been applied the disc is passed under a | | | | disc that is unprinted. It is also a very slow |
| powerful UV lamp that cures the ink, solidifying it. | | | | process. |
| This method allows for some creativity, such as | | | | Solid colours and pantones should be avoided |
| not applying ink in some areas, revealing the silver | | | | printing with either of inkjet or thermal as |
| disc layer beneath, or applying special varnishes to | | | | pantones will be difficult to match and solid colours |
| give specific areas of the disc high gloss or | | | | will exhibit banding or lines. |
| conversely a matt finish. | | | | A professional duplicator will be able to not only |
| Litho printing also starts with photographic | | | | offer any of these methods but more |
| exposure used to generate plates. In litho (also | | | | importantly be able to advise on which of these |
| more correctly known as offset) the print is | | | | methods is the best for your artwork. |
| made up of 4 colours; cyan, magenta, yellow and | | | | |