| I have labeled 400 individual DVDs by hand for a client, | | | | media labels ... you can't find a good variety in the |
| so as you can imagine I can't wait until all blank CDs, | | | | stores ... more about that later on). So I thought, Avery |
| DVDs and the rest of them are pre-labeled and you | | | | Labels must have Avery downloadable software on |
| can write or print directly onto them. They are on the | | | | their website and they did. For the most part, I like |
| market and coming down in price quickly, but not easy | | | | Avery but I've discovered they don't do media labels |
| to find in stores. You have to order the better quality | | | | as well Fellowes/Neato. Also, when my HP printer was |
| printable DVDs and CDs from bulk media outlets on | | | | pulling one label through correctly and the next one 1/2 |
| the internet. And if you aren't lucky enough to own or | | | | inch too high (consistently over 50 tries...very |
| need a professional duplicator like the Primera | | | | frustrating), and I was wasting label sheet after |
| Duplicator/Printer (that makes 100 DVD copies at a | | | | expensive label sheet, the Avery customer service |
| time) you will need to head off to your office supply | | | | wasn't as helpful as they should have been. The |
| store and find the "by hand" labeling systems. Over the | | | | Avery software is easier to use initially but when you |
| last 2 years I've been through just about every label | | | | try to do anything complicated, like put a picture on the |
| software, label sticker and CD and DVD type out | | | | label, it just doesn't work like a good graphics program |
| there. Trust me, the labeling process is far worse than | | | | should. |
| editing the actual video. I almost had an intimate | | | | All the labels, Memorex, Fellowes, Neato (you will run |
| relationship with Avery Label Company and an HP | | | | across those too) and Avery all seem to |
| printer customer service guy, as I tried to get the two | | | | interchangeably print with each others software. So I |
| to work together. I ruined several packets of very | | | | have no idea which brand is better. And when you buy |
| expensive labels trying to resolve a problem that HP | | | | them at Best Buy, for instance, you would think they'd |
| eventually said wasn't resolvable. So I've surmised that | | | | carry several brands right? No, they show Avery and |
| all these media labels and new media formats are | | | | Memorex on their website but no Fellowes. That brand |
| difficult for the printer companies and the label | | | | you have to get at an office supply store like Office |
| companies, let alone the consumer. Hopefully you can | | | | Depot. |
| learn from my mistakes and not print "Family Reunion | | | | And that sentence makes this a good time to warn |
| DVD" on the margins instead of on the label! | | | | you about online CD/DVD wholesalers without a brick |
| So, with media labels you can't just buy the labels, print | | | | and mortar store. Yes, the prices look very attractive |
| them and stick them on easily. There are certain label | | | | and they often have items you can't buy at Best Buy, |
| brands that work best with certain printers, several | | | | like mini CDs and CD business cards (finding those |
| kinds of labels and several different plastic devices to | | | | labels was worse than locating hens teeth). So I was |
| help you stick them on accurately (and several of | | | | forced/enticed to order minis and CD business cards |
| them you would quickly want to throw to the ground | | | | and their sleeves from an internet store. They didn't |
| and stomp into bits even though you just paid $20-$40 | | | | have CD business card labels so I had to get them |
| for the labeling starter kit). | | | | from another company. When I put the labels on the |
| My picks for labeling CDs and DVDs: | | | | CD business cards the labels were too big! I needed to |
| Epson Stylus Printer | | | | make 100 so I had to trim each CD business card with |
| Neato Applicator | | | | an exacto knife. No, it didn't look professional. Then, the |
| MediaFace Software | | | | business card sleeves had evidently heated to a million |
| Fellowes Labels | | | | degrees because they were wrinkled plastic. I was so |
| I'll summarize first -- I love my Epson Stylus that prints | | | | desperate I ironed one of them to see if it helped. That |
| directly onto DVDs/CDs and does a great job with | | | | is the last time I will order from an internet store where |
| label sheets. | | | | I'm not personally familiar with the people running it. I do |
| For label software, even though they are both good, I | | | | recommend Edgewise Media, where I get the majority |
| prefer creating a label with Fellowes/Neato/MediaFace | | | | of my bulk VHS and miniDV tapes. |
| over Avery. With MediaFace software you can | | | | Now the printer. If you need to print lots of labels like I |
| manipulate graphics and images more easily. For the | | | | do (maybe you volunteer to make the church CDs or |
| life of me I can't figure out what the relationship is | | | | help a nonprofit with a video fundraiser), use an Epson |
| between Fellowes/Neato/MediaFace but they all seem | | | | printer and if you can afford it, the newest versions |
| to have combined for a really good labeling product. | | | | made for printing CD labels. Just because they are |
| Hands down, the NEATO CD Label Applicator works | | | | made for photography and video labels, makes them |
| the best. The label fits over that center core and you | | | | work better for everything media. I had a difficult time |
| press the CD onto the sticky side of the label. You | | | | deciding between the Canon and the Epson but the |
| have to work hard to mess that up. I looked for | | | | Epson's print right on the CD feature sold me. |
| another applicator style (which shall remain nameless) | | | | A word of warning that comes from computer |
| that was horrible. It looks like all the label companies | | | | experts. Sometimes the labels that you stick on can |
| have finally copied the Neato type, which was also | | | | come loose and really mess up your computer's DVD |
| made as the Stomper brand a few years ago. | | | | player so make sure and smooth them out completely. |
| In depth, let's start with label software and the label | | | | With that said, let's refer to my first sentence, please |
| brands. Marketing evidently works because the first | | | | manufacturers hurry up and make the printable DVDs |
| software I considered was the one with market | | | | and CDs industry standard and bring the price down |
| saturation. Avery. Everybody has it, all offices use | | | | so we consumers don't have to be label guinea pigs. |
| some type of Avery label and that's the brand carried | | | | There is a technology out there called LightScribe |
| by the big stores. (That's another big problem with | | | | which seems to be popular among young people. |