Verbatim Corporation announced at CES today a new family of LightScribe 52x CD-R and 8x DVD+R media specifically designed for use with the LightScribe-enabled drives and software licensed by Hewlett-Packard

By combining the Verbatim LightScribe media with these products, consumers can use the same optical disc drive laser to burn content to the data side of the disc and create a silkscreen-quality label on the other side of the disc. To ensure broad playback support, Verbatim’s new LightScribe discs are compatible with all current CD-R and DVD+R standards.

Verbatim LightScribe 52x CD-R media, which is now shipping, is available in 10-packs and 30-packs. The LightScribe 8x DVD+R media, available later in Q1, will be sold in 10-packs. The new LightScribe media will be showcased this week during CES in Las Vegas at Verbatim’s Booth #31842, South Hall 3.

LightScribe media was developed by Verbatim’s parent company, Mitsubishi? Kagaku Media Co., Ltd., (MKM) in collaboration with HP. Verbatim will produce and market the discs as part of an agreement that MKM entered into with HP.

Currently, disc content descriptions can only be written directly on a disc by hand with a marker; and artwork can only be printed onto labels and then affixed to the discs, or printed directly onto discs with specialized disc printers. The LightScribe Direct Disc Labeling system is a breakthrough in disc labeling technology that creates awesome-looking labels for music mix CDs, digital video and photo archives, as well as any business application without the need for a printer or adhesive paper labels. The label side of Verbatim LightScribe discs has a special coating that reacts chemically when a laser beam is applied to it. As a result, titles and artwork can be burned directly on Verbatim LightScribe CD and DVD discs with the drive’s laser pickup.

“This all-in-one approach to burning and labeling CDs and DVDs will set new levels of user convenience for home, office and mobile users,” said Tim Clatterbuck, Verbatim Optical Storage Manager. “Once notebook computers are equipped with LightScribe-enabled drives, users will be able to print labels on the CD or DVD discs they create in their hotel rooms or at a client’s office.”

Consumers will be able to easily identify Verbatim LightScribe-compatible media through the LightScribe logo found on the packaging and in the hub of every disc.