Струйные принтеры для CD/DVD

A Buying Guide for Inkjet CD DVD Printers

Any inkjet printer can print on a CD or DVD label, but only specialized printers can do it right on the CD or DVD itself. Labels might rip or crease, but printing right on the disc avoids these problems. This buying guide will help you find the right CD and DVD printer for your needs.

These machines are very similar to any other inkjet printer in how they function, but there are a few key differences. The major difference is that the trays are made to take discs and not paper. You should have a tray that is round and that fits snugly around the CD or DVD. This prevents it from moving while printing. As long as the disc is made for printing, the ink should stick to it properly. You can print anything from words to photos on the media.

There is a wide range of how many discs you can print at once. Most low-volume models have a dedicated tray that allows you to load a single CD or DVD for text or photo prints, but there are others that can load 200 or more and automatically work on printing until the stack is depleted. The capacity you will need depends on how many discs you want to print simultaneously. If you just need a few here and there for personal use, a low-volume machine should serve your purposes. If you are trying to publish and sell discs, you may want a higher capacity machine.

The measurement for printing speed is PPM, or pages per minute. Even though a CD or DVD wouldn't necessarily be called a page in any other context, this measurement is standard for all printers and is used with this media. If speed is important to you, you will want to get a higher PPM rating. For example, a 10 PPM printer should be able to print about 10 discs in a minute. The actual speed can differ based on printing quality and individual settings. Photo prints will usually take longer than text prints.

There are a few factors that affect resolution with your printer. While some of these factors are inherent to the printer, others are based on your media and personal settings. These factors are:

• Dots per inch (DPI): This is a measurement of how many tiny dots of ink are spread throughout a square inch. You'll want at least 300DPI, but a higher rating means better quality. Photo printing starts around 600DPI.
• Ink: Ink has a tendency to run if jostled or improperly handled after printing. If possible, choose one that is resilient and allow the disc to dry fully before touching it.
• Disc face: The face of your media is responsible for absorbing the ink. You should either choose a disc made specifically for printing or place a label on the front.