is it safe to label DVD's with a marker if they have the silver thermal laquer layer and not the inkjet printable? I don't have a printer to make labels.

also, are there markers designed with this purpose in mind?

I avoid to write on media with markers, sometimes you can see it through the dye. Personaly I write only in the inner circle where there is no dye.

As for stick labels those are also not good since they destroy the weight distrbution on a media.

(in reply to VelcroBP)

I've been writing on the silver layer for years and never had an issue with any disc. All I use is a Sharpie felt-tipped permanent marker that you can buy at your local office supply store. You can buy "CD markers", but I don't think they're any different from a permanent marker except they cost 2x as much.

techfuzz

(in reply to VelcroBP)

I guess you can print your own dvd cover first with some pigment ink, so that you can use marker on it.

I dont suggest you apply it directly on DVD media.

(in reply to techfuzz)

As the actual reflective dye layer of a DVD is sandwiched between two plastic layers there is no problem writing to the top surface with a permanent marker. They are not like CD's where the reflective layer is on the top surface of the disc and any scratches on this surface can render the CD unreadable. I do not recommend sticking labels onto the DVD because of the possibility of unbalance and the risk of them coming loose because of the heat generated inside the drive.

(in reply to Balestrieri)

this is great info, thx

it saves me money on those stupid cd markers

(in reply to Flash)

Thanks for Flash's info.

Also you can try Epson's CD/DVD printer, like Epson R200, R300 etc.
you can print the CD/DVD cover.

(in reply to Bruce Willis)

I have the Epson R300 and it produces excellent prints on inkjet printable media. However I think this is inappropriate to this thread in view of the originators post

quote:

is it safe to label DVD's with a marker if they have the silver thermal laquer layer and not the inkjet printable? I don't have a printer to make labels.

(in reply to Balestrieri)

I decided to test out the "sharpie's are bad for CD-Rs" theory a couple of years back.... so I took a silver laquer Prodisc CD-R and scribbled two thick circles on the label side of the disc. One circle on the inner portion of the disc, and one circle on the outer portions of the disc. I scanned the disc before the marking, and then again afterwards, no difference. I'm still waiting to see when the degrading will start in those areas..... it's been at least 2 years since I did that... maybe 2 and a half now.

(in reply to Flash)

Problem is trying to find some good printable media, I've tried Prodisk and some GSC media and both have severe errors.

(in reply to Dolphinius_Rex)