OKay normally I use the white lableed dvds, and just print on them -
BUt lately I have been just writing a quick note on the disc-
usually with a Sharpee marker.

Has anyone noticed-
That if you use a marker on dvd-
does this cause read errors?

Or rather, is it wrong to use MARKER or ink on a dvd - does it bleed through or can it, and cause any problems.

I can't see that a marker would be more troublesome then a printer, but someone recently told me it bleeds through and can cause read errors later on.

Is this a urban legend?

No, I've never had one issue caused by writing with a Sharpee (as long as you're writing on the non-data side! :)

Maybe the cheap (crap) media has a thinner top layer, but most dvds I've worked with are thick enough on the top not to 'bleed' down.

Hi Kim,

I always use a sharpee and have not had any problems!

... yet :crazy:

Sharpie is recommended...never use a ballpoint pen.

I didn't think so but, my friend came over- and asked me for a copy of something
So i grabbed the disc after, and jotted down the title and he gave me a 20 minute lecture about how ink can 'permeate" the dvd and bleed throughunderneath and give read errors and so on.
And furthormore, stated that it affects the "laser reading"

and that discs should be kept silver or white, and with no ink etc- as this can cause problems.

So I tried to read up on such a thing- and did find numerous comments about cd's the ollllld ones the cheap ones.
but nothing about dvds.

So I thought he was off his rocker.

But, on the far side of that, I know when I used ot print out labeles for my dvds, those DON"T read, and don't liek being copied at all!
And someone told me that that was due to the ?reflectability? being diminished.

So I thought I had better ask before my head exploded

i have had a few people insist that the only marking be in the inner ring where no data is recorded

usualy its the clear part on discs

for my own use, working copies, i use a sharpie and write nice and big, since i want it to be easy to read

when i send things, i usualy use a ultra fine marker, and write pretty small

that way, somecan san either mark them in their favorite way, or just take and eraser and remove all marking, or in the case of the ty discs i normaly use, run them through the thermal printer and label them any way they want

But, on the far side of that, I know when I used ot print out labeles for my dvds, those DON"T read, and don't liek being copied at all!
And someone told me that that was due to the ?reflectability? being diminished.


Most of the problems with applied labels (paper or otherwise) have to due with two things - centering and glue. Even with the best holder and alignment system, the label just has to be off by a hair and it'll wobble, causing read errors. The glue used on the label can cause decay of the surface of the disc and cause all sorts of problems. Those are the reasons I switched to printables (for my self), as they are factor installed and use a specific kind of glue that won't cause issues.

I've heard of people who had non-readable dvds with labels, they removed the labels (soaking them, ripping them, whatever) and then they could read the data.

i have spend a lot of time removing stick on labels

oh what fun

i still have a bunch that have them on, when i recently updated almost all of my equipment to the latest nec 3550 series, i noticed that none of the labeled discs would run in the new machines

i went to my small bartch machine, with older 3520 nec drives, and they worked on that one just fine

it depends a lot on the read drive if they will run

Labels are far worse than a sharpee on a disc.

Labels are far worse than a sharpee on a disc.


I will keep that in mind because I started putting the sticky INSIDE the sleeve instead of OUTSIDE the sleeve

I don't think enclosing a sticky will do anything, but labels have always been a problem. The can pick up moisture, start to peel or crack and throw off the weight of a the disc. T

And in Recap

Sharpee = Good
Ball Point Pen = Bad
Writing in Crayon = Funny but Bad
Labels= Jury Is still out but probably bad.

As long as the silver layer on the top of the disc is intact
then writing on them with a sharpee shouldn't do anything
at all. It's when that layer is broken and light shines through
that the laser gets confused and you end up with a new coaster.

I have heard that regular Sharpies do eventually bleed through or damage the disc over time. There are certain markers designed to write on discs, which can usually be found at Wal Mart or anywhere really for under 5 bucks. That's what I always use anyway.

http://www.suppliesstore.co.uk/productimages/KF02305.jpg

I have heard that regular Sharpies do eventually bleed through or damage the disc over time. There are certain markers designed to write on discs, which can usually be found at Wal Mart or anywhere really for under 5 bucks. That's what I always use anyway.

http://www.suppliesstore.co.uk/productimages/KF02305.jpg

unfortunately those markers work for crap

i used to get them free from my disc supplier, and had about a hundred in a drawer, for some day

they werent worth the free to me

sharpie ultra fine last a long time

well over a thousand discs

i think i pay about 40-50 cents each during the school time sale at o depot by the dozen pack

the low amount of ink they use, leads me to believe that its a nonfactor

I guess it depends on the brand. The ones I use are Maxell brand, and they've been working great for me for probably 2 years now-- ever since I purchased my very first DVD recorder.
The only ones I'd say to stay away from are those tall skinny ones. The writing is pretty dull and it just looks bad. But the ones I use are short and fat and the writing is very dark and full and it writes exactly like a sharpie permanent marker, but with the added bonus of knowing it won't damage your discs in the long run.
But I can't say from experience that using regular markers does damage discs, since I've never had it happen to me (although I've never actually even tried it)-- but I would just rather not take the risk.

Hi Savage,

Here's a link to the Sharpie DVD/CD pens, guess they have a softer tip to
prevent data loss!

Steph:wave:




http://www.sharpie.com/sanford/consumer/sharpie/productcatalog/tipfamilydetail.jhtml?attributeId=SNATT_SUP_9200035&currentType=SNTYPE004

Hi Savage,

Here's a link to the Sharpie DVD/CD pens, guess they have a softer tip to
prevent data loss!
Steph:wave:
http://www.sharpie.com/sanford/consumer/sharpie/productcatalog/tipfamilydetail.jhtml?attributeId=SNATT_SUP_9200035&currentType=SNTYPE004


they are $2.25 a piece at office depot

i got a couple for free when i bough specaily marked pakages a while back, as a promo

i didnt see any difference, except they ran out of ink very quickly, as compared to the normal 40-50 cent ultra fines

it was nice to have the option of wide or thin tips

maxell markers, they used to be include in the 25 count cake boxes back a couple years ago, i also tossed a lot of them as well, i didnt like how they worked

especialy since maxell discs were always a solid color

sharpie makes a fine point in gold or sillver that writes on the solid color discs very well

example is like the fujis that are dark blue, the slver shows up just nice and doesnt smear at all

they are $2.25 a piece at office depot

i got a couple for free when i bough specaily marked pakages a while back, as a promo

i didnt see any difference, except they ran out of ink very quickly, as compared to the normal 40-50 cent ultra fines

it was nice to have the option of wide or thin tips

maxell markers, they used to be include in the 25 count cake boxes back a couple years ago, i also tossed a lot of them as well, i didnt like how they worked

especialy since maxell discs were always a solid color

sharpie makes a fine point in gold or sillver that writes on the solid color discs very well

example is like the fujis that are dark blue, the slver shows up just nice and doesnt smear at all
Loren,

I too had those Maxell markers (small, right?) and they didn't last long. The only thing about the Sharpie markers I saw on the box that one was oil? based and one wasn't, something like that-can't remember exactly what but thought whatever it was, might be important. My colored Fujis are starting to peel...has that happened to you? I'm not buying those anymore.

Loren,

I too had those Maxell markers (small, right?) and they didn't last long. The only thing about the Sharpie markers I saw on the box that one was oil? based and one wasn't, something like that-can't remember exactly what but thought whatever it was, might be important. My colored Fujis are starting to peel...has that happened to you? I'm not buying those anymore.


i have numerous sony, maxell, and fuji that are colored

the reason is i use those for my working copy, that way i dont get them mixed up with my taiyo yudens and riteks blanks

nothing worse than sending your --masters--off to someone by accident

i havent noticed that the color was peeling or anything

i have used some of those disc 30 times to make copies , etc


different ink formula maybe the ticket on the expensive cd sharpies

probably why they also ran dry so fast, no nuclear waste in them to keep them flowing

ill continue to go with the ultra fine sharpies, i make very small numbers on the edge, i guess i feel there are always something that could happen, but im comfy with the the present method

i read the reason to not use ball pints are that there is a lot of pressure on the tip, and that could damage the dye layer, once again i dont have any first hand knowledge on that, i never have tried ball points, i dont believe i even own one