For CD and DVD Duplication, how are Paper Parts Printed?

As CD and DVD Duplication is for smaller quantities of a product, it is important to choose a printing method that is inexpensive to set-up, produces excellent results and is a relatively quick process. There are several methods used for CD and DVD duplication, each with pros and cons.

Digital Printing/Indigo Press

Digital printing actually just means printing from a digital source. So, any printer connected to a computer is a digital printer. However, it is the term usually used to describe medium format printing presses with computer controlled functions. Hewlett Packard’s Indigo Press is the most common example of this. Many CD and DVD Duplication companies use the Indigo Press Digital Printer for their paper parts (booklets and inlays). The set-up costs are relatively low and the results are almost as good as lithographic printing (in fact, most people would not be able to tell the difference!). This makes it ideal for the short runs that CD and DVD duplication require.

Lithographic Printing

Lithographic printing is the standard process to produce extremely high quality prints for industry. It is used for anything from booklets to magazines to flyer printing. The set-up costs are quite high, but once started the process works out very inexpensively. For this reason, it is a process usually reserved for CD and DVD replication, rather than duplication.

Laser Printing

Colour laser printers are available quite cheaply from stores that sell electrical goods. The results are quite good, there are virtually no set-up costs and the copies are quite cheap to make. However, laser printing has a problem when it comes to printing onto glossy paper. The heat from the laser can burn the paper, creating scorch marks running down the paper. These appear as small grooves that look as though they have cut with a scoring knife and a ruler. For this reason, laser printing is only really suited for printing onto matte or satin paper.

Inkjet Printing

Inkjet printers can produce excellent print quality and most people have one at home. However, the printing usually takes a very long time and the ink cartridges are very expensive. Also, it can be difficult (if not impossible) to find thin glossy paper suitable for inkjet printers. For these reasons, inkjet printing is not suitable for printing paper parts for CD and DVD duplication.