Recordable DVD blanks come in several different printable DVD surfaces depending on the DVD printer technology. Printable DVDs undergo several additional processes that make the DVD discs printable. A printable DVD starts its life out as a recordable DVD blank. Recordable DVDs have two polycarbonate layers sandwiching the dye layer and reflective layer. The actual print surface is on the top of the polycarbonate layer. Additional layers of lacquer are for scratch resistance and thermal protection against the heat generated by thermal DVD printing and thermal re-transfer DVD printers on the blank thermal DVD. Thermal printable DVD blanks have a different surface coating then a disc made for a thermal re-transfer DVD printer like the Rimage Everest or Teac P-55.
Inkjet printable DVD provides a way for high resolution color images to be transferred to the disc label. The blending of colors in 4800dpi (dots per inch) from a inkjet DVD printer creates a image that jumps off of the disc. Each inkjet printable DVD surface has its own unique characteristics. White Inkjet printable DVD furnishes a brilliant background to the inked on image. Colors are very rich and display an optimum image. Printable DVD discs have several other more specialized inkjet printable DVD surfaces. Silver Inkjet printable DVD gives iridescence to the printed label that is very striking. The surface reflects an almost three dimensional effect of a drop shadow in the color above. The overall color tends to be less bright then white inkjet printable DVDs. Another striking inkjet printable DVD disc is the Gold printable DVD. With this printable DVD disc you really need to consider your primary colors as it has a gold presentation that really mutes the oranges and reds on the disc label.
A recent development in the inkjet printable DVD disc offering is the Taiyo Yuden Watershield DVD-R Discs. Taiyo Yuden Watershield provides a glossy surface and a water-resistant finish. Taiyo Yuden Watershield only comes in a white inkjet printable DVD. The colors really stand out with the glossy and shiny background. A printable DVD that really says: "take me".
Printable DVD media comes in a standard hub and hub printable DVD. Both thermal and inkjet printable come in both flavors depending on manufacturer. Some printable DVD manufacturers only have hub printable DVD. There can be a difference in shade between the hub and the rest of the disc surface due to the reflective layer not extending into the hub area. Some manufacturers have changed production to include this area in coating, thus making the label uniform across the printable DVD surface.
Printing is a transferring of an ink, dye or resin. Lightscribe is a disc labeling technology and not a disc printing technology. LightScribe DVDs uses a special type of surface on the DVD that is reactive to a certain bandwidth of laser light. These special DVD recorders can record on one side and label on the other side. This takes time and makes "printing" a slow process. The image is a monochromatic grayscale reproduction which is striking in its own way. Lightscribe requires special media that is more expensive than most of the other surfaces. It is convenient and compact so it has a following. Certianly no ink cartridges to mess with or replace.
