Printing on CDs

[Michael A. Covington]

The instructions for my new Epson R300 say to let the ink dry for 24 hours
(!) after printing on a CD. (White, inkjet-ready CDs, of course.)

In actual experience, it seems to dry much faster -- within minutes -- and
certainly didn't smear when the disk was carefully inserted into a drive.
I'm not going to handle it much until tomorrow, of course.

Does it really take 24 hours?

--

Michael A. Covington - Artificial Intelligence Ctr - University of Georgia

"In the core C# language it is simply not possible to have an uninitialized
variable, a 'dangling' pointer, or an expression that indexes an array
beyond its bounds. Whole categories of bugs that routinely plague C and C++
programs are thus eliminated." - A. Hejlsberg, The C# Programming Language

 

[GeoSd]

You should PRINT then put it in it's case and just leave it for a while, I
know my Canon i865 dries as soon as it is printed but it's better to be safe
than sorry...

 

[Yianni]

R300 uses pigmented inks. They are light-fastnes but they don't dry on some
materials.

--

 

[CarBone]

The Epson Stylus Photo R300 uses six photo dye ink cartridges. These
are not pigmented DuraBrite cartridges.

 

[Matt]

R300 uses pigmented inks. They are light-fastnes but they don't dry on some
materials.

That's news to me. My understanding is that the R300 uses dye-based
inks that are similar to others that Epson printers use. See the
following descriptions for the cartridges:
http://www.securesysteminsight.co.uk/acatalog/Epson_R300_R500.html
I use an Epson 900 that prints directly on CD/DVDs and it always seems
to me that the inks dry quickly and there are no special handling
precautions, at least when printing on inkjet-compatible (white top)
media. It's another story when attempting to print on others having
less-absorbent coatings.

 

[Michael A. Covington]

That's news to me. My understanding is that the R300 uses dye-based
inks that are similar to others that Epson printers use. See the
following descriptions for the cartridges:
http://www.securesysteminsight.co.uk/acatalog/Epson_R300_R500.html

My understanding too. The paper requirements are certainly like the earlier
Stylus Photo printers, not like the new printers that require matte paper.

I use an Epson 900 that prints directly on CD/DVDs and it always seems
to me that the inks dry quickly and there are no special handling
precautions, at least when printing on inkjet-compatible (white top)
media. It's another story when attempting to print on others having
less-absorbent coatings.

I'll bet that's why they put in the warning to let the CD dry 24 hours and
then check that the "quality" is acceptable. Some people are going to print
on CDs that do not have the white coating, or don't have the right kind of
white coating. I presume there are CDs in the world that are white but are
designed for some printing process other than inkjet.

 

[Debbie]

OK, here's the dumb question. Are we talking about printing directly
onto the CD? If so how?

Thanks,
Debbie

 

[Michael A. Covington]

OK, here's the dumb question. Are we talking about printing directly
onto the CD? If so how?

Yes, exactly.

You can buy inkjet-ready CD-R discs, record them in your CD burner, and then
print on them with certain printers (Epson 900, 960, R300).

They are white on top and have a coating similar to inkjet paper. The
maker's trademark is very small and is on the margin around the central
hole.

 

[Warren]

My understanding too. The paper requirements are certainly like the earlier
Stylus Photo printers, not like the new printers that require matte paper.

I don't believe they actually "require" matte paper, since (at least
for the Epson 2200) an alternative glossy black ink is provided to
minimize the dull-pigment look when printing on glossy surfaces. Also
these printers can be used with dye-based inks if necessary, although
this involves 3rd party cartridges or refilling originals.

I'll bet that's why they put in the warning to let the CD dry 24 hours and
then check that the "quality" is acceptable. Some people are going to print
on CDs that do not have the white coating, or don't have the right kind of
white coating. I presume there are CDs in the world that are white but are
designed for some printing process other than inkjet.

Yes, more commonly for small-scale commercial CD printing, thermal
printers are used, and special white-top & silver-top media is
available for these. Unfortunately inkjet-compatible CDs & DVDs have
very matte white surfaces, so won't give the impression of being
commercially done, and silver-top inkjet discs usually look pretty
washed out. Maybe you could spray a glossy coating of some kind on
them, but the inks are not particularly contrasty or bright in this
application as compared to thermal or silkscreen methods. A very high
level of detail is possible with inkjet printing, however.

 

[Michael A. Covington]

Here's an example of the kind of CDs you can print on. Although it's not
obvious from the packaging, the whole top of the disk is white (not just the
half you can see).

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0159180

 

[Warren]

Yes, exactly.

You can buy inkjet-ready CD-R discs, record them in your CD burner, and then
print on them with certain printers (Epson 900, 960, R300).

They are white on top and have a coating similar to inkjet paper. The
maker's trademark is very small and is on the margin around the central
hole.

Yes, unfortunately. But you can order bulk quantities of
inkjet-printable CDs or DVDs on eBay that don't have the printing
around the hole.

 

[Debbie]

Thanks for explaining that. I was not aware of them.

Debbie

 

[Debbie]

I have a Canon i860, can I use this printer to print CDs?

Thanks,
Debbie

 

[GeoSd]

Sorry but you have to use The Canon i865 or i965 which you can get in the
UK, and yes the disc's have to be of the printable type but it makes a
professional job..

 

[Joel]

R300 uses pigmented inks. They are light-fastnes but they don't dry on some
materials.

I don't know anything about R300, but I have been printing on CD with
Epson Stylus Photo 900 without any problem.

About the CD/DVD if the printer is Inkjet then you must use Inkjet
Printable CD which has special coat for the ink to soak in and dry
immediately (just like printing on regular paper). If you have Thermal
printer then you can use just about any printable CD including the very
shinny coat (which will never work with inkjet).

 

[Yianni]

Sorry, you are right, the inks are dyes.

--
Yianni
(e-mail address removed) (remove number nine to reply)


--

 

[Debbie]

But isn't the Canon i860 and i865 the same?

Debbie

 

[Angelfood MacSpade]

Yes except for the direct to disc printing capabilities. Canon, you
see, doesn't believe North Americans can be trusted with such a
device. That's a big reason why I'm buying an Epson R300 instead of a
Canon.

 

[Warren]

Here's an example of the kind of CDs you can print on. Although it's not
obvious from the packaging, the whole top of the disk is white (not just the
half you can see).

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0159180

Note that there are also "silver-top" DVDs and CDs that have
inkjet-printable tops. I've tried some and the printing seems pale
compared to commercial discs done with thermal printers.