How do you label your CD's?

[readingr]

Chaps,

Read an article the other day that states that the ink from some pens labelled as CD/DVD compatible could eat through the surface of the disc.

Anyone got some information on what is safe to label CD/DVD's with? and if you use a CD compatible pen how long will it before they eat through the surface of the disc?

Roger

[mjs1973]

I have read that myself, and as a result, I don't write on the data part of the disc. I take a screen shot of the folders on that disc, and print it out. Then I assign a # to that disc. I print the # on the screen shot I printed, and then I write that # on the clear plastic part of the disc in the center with a felt tip pen. Since I'm writing on the plastic part of the disc, and not the data part of the disc, I'm not worried about the ink causing any problems.

I keep all my disc's in an album with a seperate pocket for each disc. I use the same pen to write the number I assigned to that disc on the plastic pocket in the album, and then keep everything together that way.

Ink never touches the data part of my discs.

[readingr]

Michael
They were talking about the writing side of the disc not the data side which worried me. I write using a CD compatible water based ink pen on the writing side. Apparently they claim that the ink from printers is fine.

Now thinking of doing the same as you suggested.

Roger

[mjs1973]

Yeah, I should have been more specific. I didn't mean the actual data part of the disc, I meant the back of the data part.

[SmartWombat]

But on cheap discs, they're not a sandwich construction but the data layer is the "back" of the disc, basically overprinted of lacquered.
Now I write on the clear inner section of the disc - not on the silver or gold bit at all.

[reverberation]

Wow, this is all news to me. I have been writing on disks with a sharpie on the top, dull or emulsion side... I think sharpies are ok...well at least on cds cause some of mine are over eoght years old with no problems.

[ciddog91]

Never heard of this, but now I will be careful as to how I mark my disks..Thanks

[magi48]

I have been using CD ink pens for several years now to mark my CD's and have had no problems. Perhaps the answer is CD INK PEN.

[JamesV]

I have been using a Sharpie for many years, 7-8. I have not had any problems with music Cd's. I will have to look for some of the older Cd's and try them out.

James

[Grandpaw]

You are probably asking about your own Cd's with files on them but I would like to add this just in case you copy a disc.

When I copy disc this is how I make the label...

I have an all in one printer. First I take one of the pages with the two CD labels pealed off and cut the outline of where the CD was removed in a square shape using an exacto knife. Now I have a sheet that originally had peal off labels with two cutout squares that the Cd's will fit in snugly. From then on all I do is lay this template down on the top of my printer and put the CD information side down and close the lid. Next I put a new sheet with labels on it in the printer and press copy. By having the Cd's positioned in the template I have made, it will copy the info centered on the CD label right where I need it. This is much easier than scanning it into my computer getting it into a program and lining it up.

With this method I can make a CD label perfectly centered with high resolution in seconds, Jeff

NOTE: Don't try cutting the CD label on the template out with a round hole because it is almost impossible. Cutting a square hole is easier and will make your CD stay where you need it to be able to copy.

[another view]

I don't write anything on the disc either - this eliminates any chance of that problem. I store my CD's in jewel cases and put an Avery label on the outside of the case with what folders are on it. I store my images in folders such as 20080111_(subject).

It's easy and it works for me - I have rarely used the CD's for anything other than the wonderful time that my internal hard drive failed and somehow took a lot of info off my external drive which was on at the same time...