Okay to write on discs with a marker?

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Blank Media Discuss, Okay to write on discs with a marker? at Consumables forum; I label my cds/dvds with a regular black sharpie, I was just wondering before I make a purchase for a package of cd-rs with a shiny, silver unbranded top, whether or not these are less safe to label with a sharpie than branded blank media. (Couldn't find an answer with

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Sinse Smoka (MyCE Junior Member)
Posts: 99
Posted: 06-08-2006
I label my cds/dvds with a regular black sharpie, I was just wondering before I make a purchase for a package of cd-rs with a shiny, silver unbranded top, whether or not these are less safe to label with a sharpie than branded blank media. (Couldn't find an answer with the 'search' option by the way)
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Today (MyCE Staff)
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katzz (CD Freaks Member)
Posts: 147
Posted: 06-08-2006
I label my Ty's that way - works for me!
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DrageMester (Retired Moderator)
Posts: 17,012
Posted: 06-08-2006
CD and DVD media are different as to how much protection they have from the label side. For DVD media the data and reflective layers are in the middle of the disc with 0.6mm of polycarbonate on both sides. For CD media there is only a very thin layer of lacquer on top of the reflective side, an for some (older) CD-R media the top layer *is* the reflective layer.

Thus it's possible to say that for DVDs it's going to be very difficult to damage the data or reflective layer by writing something on the top or label side.

For CD media it's not so clear. Most people get no problems from writing something with a suitable (soft tip) pen like a Sharpie on CDs, but a few people have reported problems.

As long as the shiny silver top is protected by a layer of lacquer, I don't see why there should be any difference between labelling those and labelling branded CDs.

There is a sticky thread on this subject: Okay to write on discs with a marker?
I intend to move the posts in this thread into that other thread, so please look there when this thread disappears from view.
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Sinse Smoka (MyCE Junior Member)
Posts: 99
Posted: 06-08-2006
Quote:
Originally Posted by DrageMester
CD and DVD media are different as to how much protection they have from the label side. For DVD media the data and reflective layers are in the middle of the disc with 0.6mm of polycarbonate on both sides. For CD media there is only a very thin layer of lacquer on top of the reflective side, an for some (older) CD-R media the top layer *is* the reflective layer.

Thus it's possible to say that for DVDs it's going to be very difficult to damage the data or reflective layer by writing something on the top or label side.

For CD media it's not so clear. Most people get no problems from writing something with a suitable (soft tip) pen like a Sharpie on CDs, but a few people have reported problems.

As long as the shiny silver top is protected by a layer of lacquer, I don't see why there should be any difference between labelling those and labelling branded CDs.

There is a sticky thread on this subject: Okay to write on discs with a marker?
I intend to move the posts in this thread into that other thread, so please look there when this thread disappears from view.
I will do so. My next question is just to make sure these
http://www.supermediastore.com/ritek...-cdr-cd-r.html have the protective top layer of lacquer you speak of
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steve b (CDFreaks Resident)
Posts: 562
Posted: 06-08-2006
I see there are now inkjet printable CD-R discs and they don't seem expensive either. I'm guessing these might have a better protective surface on top. I've written on some inkjet printable DVDs with a sharpie and it worked okay. Your mileage may vary.
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Sinse Smoka (MyCE Junior Member)
Posts: 99
Posted: 06-08-2006
Quote:
Originally Posted by steve b
I see there are now inkjet printable CD-R discs and they don't seem expensive either. I'm guessing these might have a better protective surface on top. I've written on some inkjet printable DVDs with a sharpie and it worked okay. Your mileage may vary.
Appreciate the response, but my question pertains to the shiny silver topped blank media b/c I prefer them, as well as the branded kind, over the printable ones appearance wise.
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soneman (CD Freaks Senior Member)
Posts: 692
Posted: 06-08-2006
It is safe to label silver topped CD-Rs with a marker as I've tried it.

However, I've generally had bad experiences with them. The silver topped, non printed surface generally gets more finger prints and scratches on it compared to the printed top surface discs.

And you might have guessed that this can lead to readabilty problems.
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DrageMester (Retired Moderator)
Posts: 17,012
Posted: 06-08-2006
* * Threads merged * *
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Sinse Smoka (MyCE Junior Member)
Posts: 99
Posted: 07-08-2006
Quote:
Originally Posted by soneman
It is safe to label silver topped CD-Rs with a marker as I've tried it.

However, I've generally had bad experiences with them. The silver topped, non printed surface generally gets more finger prints and scratches on it compared to the printed top surface discs.

And you might have guessed that this can lead to readabilty problems.
Interesting. I have heard this many times myself before I became a member & user of cdfreaks. Then it seemed like when I started reading through these forums, I would see little about people having issues with the shiny silver topped discs. But I have heard this quite a bit, & it's steering me away from purchasing them over branded or thermal. Anyone else have any poor experiences with the silver topped blank media as compared to the branded & the thermal kinds?
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Hitokiri (CD Freaks Member)
Posts: 115
Posted: 07-08-2006
I'm wondering, since writable DVDs are a sandwich between 2 plastic layers, does this mean that the top of blanco DVD+Rs feel like plastic and not like with blanco CD-Rs?

I was going for printable T02 DVD+Rs as I never liked those blanco CD-Rs, they seem so fragile.

Tia!
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karangguni (CD Freak)
Posts: 2,523
Posted: 08-08-2006
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sinse Smoka
Interesting. I have heard this many times myself before I became a member & user of cdfreaks. Then it seemed like when I started reading through these forums, I would see little about people having issues with the shiny silver topped discs. But I have heard this quite a bit, & it's steering me away from purchasing them over branded or thermal. Anyone else have any poor experiences with the silver topped blank media as compared to the branded & the thermal kinds?
Yes, I've had silver topped blank CD-Rs which the top layer peeled off really easily. All I had to do was to place a sweaty thumb on the surface and wait for about a minute. When I pulled the thumb off, the silver layer came off with it. In the case of these discs, it was as DrageMester said : the silver layer was also the reflective layer - underneath it was transparent plastic.

Needless to say, the disc was unusable after that. I started backing up the remaining stuff I had burned on these immediately!

I wrote on them with OHP markers though and that didn't seem to cause a problem.

However, these are some rather horrible unbranded discs made by Postech, never a manufacturer known for good quality media. They were also ridiculously cheap. I bought them to find out just *why* they were so cheap. Boy did I find out in a hurry The same thing might not happen with better quality stuff.
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kg_evilboy (CD Freaks Boy Toy)
Posts: 5,358
Posted: 12-08-2006
So those silver tops actually lacked the top protective lacquer...
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Wizzu (CDFreaks Resident)
Posts: 6,556
Posted: 06-09-2006
[Moderator's note by DrageMester: This is a reply to this post in another thread]

Quote:
Originally Posted by L'Arc-en-Ciel
i would appreciate a little more explanation regarding that psrticular statement.
Maybe this post will help.
Quote:
are the usual [sharpie] permanent markers, fine/ultra fine point, ok for cds too?
In theory, yes, but personally I prefer to use dedicated CD markers for CDR. But most users of Sharpies have no problem I think.

see also this thread - if you read it in its entirety, you'll know everything you need to know guess.
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Last edited by DrageMester; 06-09-2006 at 17:01. Reason: Post moved here from another thread
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L'Arc-en-Ciel (CD Freaks Member)
Posts: 221
Posted: 06-09-2006
Quote:
Originally Posted by Francksoy
Maybe this post will help.
In theory, yes, but personally I prefer to use dedicated CD markers for CDR. But most users of Sharpies have no problem I think.

see also this thread - if you read it in its entirety, you'll know everything you need to know guess.
Francksoy, thanks for that. after reading through both those topics, it seems thats what
i had in mind all along. that sharpies are just fine for both dvd's and cd's. especially if you
have quality cd's like ty and even if theyre silver top, i.e. only lacquer and no paint/label!
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Lenny_Nero (MyCE Resident)
Posts: 572
Posted: 18-09-2006
Interesting thread, I did not know about the 0.6 mm layer on the top of DVD's.
I had a bad experience a few years back with unbranded CD-r's that just had the reflective layer as the top of the disk and the first I knew of it was when I caught the CD tray as I was putting the disk in and the tray closed with the isk half out of the tray and scratched the back/top of the disk, killing it dead

When I held the disk up to the light it was just clear plastic where scratched, I have since re-burnt them all (IIRC about 50 of then, given to me as a present) and have always had nothing to do with 'any' unbranded media since.

But I will give 'unbranded' (as I call it) DVD's a chance in the future, as for the pen thing I got a pack of pens made to write on CD/DVD media in with an on-line order quite a few years ago, when they started running out I have since used Staedtler Lumicolor because it says on the pen itself 'waterproof on most surfaces + CD/DVD lightfast', I also have a 'Stabilo Sensor' medium 0.7 that is good for very fine writing on printable surface media.
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ExpertTech (CDFreaks Resident)
Posts: 1,000
Posted: 19-10-2006
I use water based markers (Memorex) as opposed to alcohol based markers. I just make sure water stays miles away from my precious DVDs

Any experiences using Memorex markers? They are pretty good IMHO.
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bigmike7 (CDFreaks Resident Old Fart)
Posts: 7,439
Posted: 27-10-2006
Yo-

I have been using Sharpies for the last ten years on my CD-R and DVD media - and have never had a problem-

Lately I have been using Bic Permanent Markers (4 for $1.50) and still no problems-eh!
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rbaron (New on Forum)
Posts: 3
Posted: 28-10-2006
Quote:
Originally Posted by rdgrimes
You've just learned the true cost of "cheap" media. 3 out of 5 were coasters, the other 2 are probably very marginal. Thats a lot of money wasted.

If you know what to look for, you can get decent media in stores on sale. but if you prefer to get the best without risk or hastle, just stick with www.rima.com .
So, what kind of DVD's should I buy? There are Taiyo Yuden DVD-R 16X and DVD-R 8X Silver Lacquer? My DVD burner I think is higher then 8 or 16?

Thanks....
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xrM (New on Forum)
Posts: 27
Posted: 30-01-2007
I've used all sorts of markers(whiteboard/OHP/permanent) for over 5 years now. Not a problem cause by the markers so far

My only problems were that the reflective layer was peeling away from my cds, but those happened away from where I used the marker on, so I doubt it's cause by the ink.
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muscles4life (CD Freaks Member)
Posts: 100
Posted: 18-03-2007
I use a Sharpie INDUSTRIAL marker(looks the same as the retail, just says Industrial on it) to write on my burned dvd's, not the retail kind since I get the Industrial one from work. Is this ok to write on my dvd's or should I get the retail Sharpie?
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CDan (MyCE Resident)
Posts: 3,463
Posted: 18-03-2007
Makes no difference on DVD's, use whatever you like.
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DrageMester (Retired Moderator)
Posts: 17,012
Posted: 18-03-2007
* * Merged threads * *
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valiance (New on Forum)
Posts: 9
Posted: 04-07-2007
This is what I use.. Because ts the only one available here in Manila.
http://www.ecumparaturi.ro/birotica/..._schneider_244
Do you think its good?

And how do you erase a label if ever you make a mistake?
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mmilovan (New on Forum)
Posts: 12
Posted: 01-08-2007
I would like to ask if there is there any CD-R manufacturer in the world that makes CD-R with topmost surface as on DVDs (0.6 mm plastic)?
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ebanat (CD Freaks Member)
Posts: 138
Posted: 01-08-2007
how much damage can be done by sticking labels to dvd ?
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