Re: [Frameworks] DVD Thermal Transfer Printer

From: David Tetzlaff (email suppressed)
Date: Sat Jul 31 2010 - 12:53:26 PDT


> The Casio Disc Title Printer CW-100 look promising and work with the
> white discs, though I've yet to test one.

Casio Thermals disc printers are made to work with the basic silver
(e.g. uncoated) disks. I've never tried using an in-jet (white
surfaced) disc. It might make the adhesion better, or worse...

The CW=100 will print both the upper and lower areas at the same time,
the other models will not. The CW-100 is also the only one for which
Mac software is available (though you have to DL it from the web and
it's hard to find...). The PC and Mac software titlers are very
different: more options for the PC, but the Mac version is supposed to
waste less of the ribbon per print. In either, you can print graphics
(strictly 2 bit monochrome of course) not just text, so you can make
something creative in a graphics app and use it if you like.

It's all about the ribbons with these printers. A good ribbon yields
nice crisp solid print. It's not subject to moisture as an inkjet
label is, and it's also properly centered (the caddys for printing on
discs in generic ink-jets I've used never get the printing exactly
aligned with the disc). A not so good ribbon and the printing will
have some empty splotches - incomplete characters.

I don't now what separates the good ribbons from the poor ones: age?
storage conditions? inconsistent manufacturing? I'm guessing one of
the first two: that a fresh newly manufactured ribbon yields the best
results.

All in all though, I find the CW-100 the best cheap printer to add
presentable titles to discs. The ribbons are expensive, but a bit
cheaper if you buy them in 3-pacs. Buying ribbons from one of the big
online vendors (Supermedia, Meritline, etc.) might be wise as they
would not only have a lower price than, say, Staples, but their volume
ought to be high enough that they would shipping fresh stock, not
something that's sat on the shelf awhile.

The adhesive paper labels can screw up the disc playback, and many
festivals won't accept discs labeled with them, so don't go that
route, regardless.

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