Re: [ARSCLIST] Inkjet & thermal CD printing

["Richard L. Hess" <arclists@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

At 10:36 AM 1/30/2006, Maze, Elinor A. wrote:
> Does printing CD-Rs with an inkjet printer (eg., Epson Stylus R220 
> or R800) or a thermal printer (eg., TEAC P-11) compromise the 
> archival longevity of the discs?  Is printing discs in one of these 
> ways preferable to using adhesive labels, if there is a compelling 
> need to label?

Hi, Elinor,

I haven't tried the TEAC P-11, I use the Primera Signature Z-1. They 
suggest printing before you burn. In looking at the online 
description of the TEAC
http://www.teac.com/DSPD/PR/TEAC_AMERICA_Launches_One-Color_Thermal_Printer.html
it looks essentially identical (except in more modern black) to the Pimera Z-1.
http://www.primera.com/signaturez1.html

Most of my discs need to be labeled in some form, so I use the Z-1 
for almost all discs.

Jerry Hartke can probably tell us why this is bad for us, but, so 
far, I haven't seen any negative effects when printing on MAM-A gold 
discs. Obviously, it's a non-issue with DVD-Rs, but, alas, we don't 
have an outstandingly archival DVD-R yet, at least according to Joe 
Irasci's accelerated aging tests.

Anything is FAR better than the glue-on labels. Please do not use 
those. I have seen them lift the reflective layer off the CD.

I think the Inkjet printer is probably OK, too, but on most of them, 
the ink smears with even a little moisture. The thermal printing is 
quite permanent.

Burning the disc after printing may allow the burn process to 
identify any errors that the printing process may have caused.

Cheers,

Richard

Richard L. Hess                   email: richard@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Vignettes Media                   web:   http://www.richardhess.com/tape/
Aurora, Ontario, Canada       (905) 713 6733     1-877-TAPE-FIX
Detailed contact information: http://www.richardhess.com/tape/contact.htm