Lightscribe

[Getback]

I'm not understanding Lightscribe. Does it burn pictures onto the cd or just art? Also do you need a certain type of cd/dvd disc?


One my item. I downloaded IMGburn and well they are asking for money. Not that they shouldn't but I thought it was free. Also, for the cover they used a format of .cov. Not sure about that one. I thought I could use jpeg etc. Also, how do I burn my song list? I see itunes doesn't support it.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.



Thanks all.

[Fulmar]

#1 You can burn pictures and text
#2 Yes, they are about 2x the cost of a regular CD/DVD disc.
#3 ImgBurn is free.  They only ask for donations.
#4 the .cov file is a cover file.  You'll need a cover designer to make a layout for the disc.  Once you've designed a cover layout, you'll flip the disk upside down in the drive.  Simple layouts with text can take just a couple minutes.  Full picture HQ covers can take 20-30 minutes.  You can also find covers online.  This is what they look like when done:



Below is the FAQ from the lightscribe site.
Creating a LightScribe Label
Burning a label with LightScribe is easy.

To start, you need to run LightScribe-supported labeling software. The label software often can be launched as a separate application that is included with your data burning application suite. Depending on the labeling software you use, you can create a label before or after you burn the disc content.

NOTE:  To burn a label, you must flip the disc over and place it label-side down in the drive tray. 
NOTE:  LightScribe labels are monochrome (grayscale) only.
 

Labels can be a simple title, or you can get more creative by adding backgrounds and images. The capabilities will depend on your labeling application. The following step-by-step instructions will help you create your first simple LightScribe label using various LightScribe-supported labeling software. Refer to the documentation of each application for details on all of the available features.

NOTE:  Specific instructions steps may vary depending on the software version.

Some Examples:
Sonic Express Labeler
Nero Cover Designer
SureThing CD Labeler (SE Edition)
Roxio Easy Media Creator

[715]

I think the lightscribe web page itself has free labeling software; I'm pretty sure that's where I got mine (TemplateLabeler.exe), but I had to use an older version I grabbed last year (1.10.23.1) as the present version didn't work on my computer for some reason.

[Getback]

Thanks everyone! Really appreciated. Which labeling software do you recommend?

[Getback]

I did it. Thanks guys. Took some effort. Actually had to learn some things.

[DREDIOCK]

I did it. Thanks guys. Took some effort. Actually had to learn some things.

Pretty cool watermelon though eh?

I got two when I made my build.

One for me and one for my daughters machine as she loves doing artsy things

[Getback]

Pretty cool watermelon though eh?

I got two when I made my build.

One for me and one for my daughters machine as she loves doing artsy things

Oh heck yeah! I burned a picture of my brother and his team mates onto a disc. About 25 years ago they were Florida's 3 vs 3 champions. They made it to the national finals but lost to the eventual champions. This was a pircture from that era. I think he will be shocked that it got burned as a disc cover.

[llama]

For what it's worth, most Epson printers can print directly onto a CD these days, as can a lot of other manufacturers' printers. They come with a tray that you plop the CD (or DVD) onto, and then you print to it with CD Art software. The advantages over lightscribe are:

1. COLOR Printing

2. Blank media with a printable surface is cheaper than Lightscribe

3. If you write on it with a Sharpie pen instead, the ink stands out because it is on a white background.

4. The printed image won't fade if the disk is exposed to heat, such as when it is in your car stereo on a hot day.

5. It's fast - under a minute for a disc rather than up to 20 for a lightscribe with a complex design.

In fact, the latest Epson all-in-one units (the ones with a scanner) have a really cool feature: slap an original CD or DVD on the scanner glass pretty much anywhere close to the middle, slap a blank printing CD or DVD in the tray, and then press the Copy button. The unit is smart enough to scan the disc, realize it's a disc and that there's a blank in the tray, and then it prints out the scanned disc artwork directly on the blank with everything automatically aligned. Pretty slick.

-Llama

[Getback]

For what it's worth, most Epson printers can print directly onto a CD these days, as can a lot of other manufacturers' printers. They come with a tray that you plop the CD (or DVD) onto, and then you print to it with CD Art software. The advantages over lightscribe are:

1. COLOR Printing

2. Blank media with a printable surface is cheaper than Lightscribe

3. If you write on it with a Sharpie pen instead, the ink stands out because it is on a white background.

4. The printed image won't fade if the disk is exposed to heat, such as when it is in your car stereo on a hot day.

5. It's fast - under a minute for a disc rather than up to 20 for a lightscribe with a complex design.

In fact, the latest Epson all-in-one units (the ones with a scanner) have a really cool feature: slap an original CD or DVD on the scanner glass pretty much anywhere close to the middle, slap a blank printing CD or DVD in the tray, and then press the Copy button. The unit is smart enough to scan the disc, realize it's a disc and that there's a blank in the tray, and then it prints out the scanned disc artwork directly on the blank with everything automatically aligned. Pretty slick.

-Llama

Wow!