Lightscribe technology for DVD backups - Glamour 1™ Putting the Glamour Back in Photography!

**DocSmith** · 12-09-2007, 10:04 AM

I bought an Ativa DVD burner w/Lightscribe at Office Depot for about $100. It comes with Nero software and I'm using Verbatim Lightrscribe DVD+R disks. I'm very satisfied with the speed and capacity 4G on one DVD, but the Lightscribe feature is a joke. You can barely, just barely make out that there is any printing on the disk at all. Yes, I did turn the disk over to print the label. Anyone else have experience and better luck with Lightscribe?

Doc

rjeffus · 12-09-2007, 10:16 AM

You need to set the print option to BEST for the darker results. Its takes longer but it is darker. Brands of disk do make a difference.

Hope this helps

isaiahbrink · 12-09-2007, 11:45 AM

Well, as far as printing on dvd and cd labels, I use what's known as "Sharpe - Extra Fine Point" and it prints in black. The downfall is that it is only as clear as I can write, but it is VERY visable.

**bc_shutterbug** · 12-09-2007, 11:46 AM

I delivery ALL of my premium product (Wedding/Portrait sessions mainly) on Verbatim Lightscribe media. Setting up the software contrast options to Best (as already mentioned) increases burn time, but the results always impress my clients. I also find that the font size and face will make a large difference in output quality. I use a 16 to 18 point BOLD font for the main text labels, and my copyright notices are printed around 14 normal. Everything comes out crisp and clean.

**DocSmith** · 12-09-2007, 05:38 PM

Thanks -

After brunch and a couple of Bloody Marys I got on the Lightscribe site and downloaded every utility and update they had. Seems the contrast problem has been around awhile and they had published and contrast enhancement utility - which now has become standard. Lots of nice templates, too. The latest results are OK - meaning legible. Takes 20 minutes to burn the label.

Doc

**Stecyk** · 12-09-2007, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bc_shutterbug

I delivery ALL of my premium product (Wedding/Portrait sessions mainly) on Verbatim Lightscribe media. Setting up the software contrast options to Best (as already mentioned) increases burn time, but the results always impress my clients. I also find that the font size and face will make a large difference in output quality. I use a 16 to 18 point BOLD font for the main text labels, and my copyright notices are printed around 14 normal. Everything comes out crisp and clean.

I am using Verbatim Lightscribe media too, as well as Best. My labels are legible, but certainly not dark. I also find that toward the edges of CD or DVD, the text is a bit lighter than the rest.

l101man · 01-22-2008, 08:10 AM

It is great how you are having such success using the Lightscribe feature. I have a HP dvd840 DVD burner with Lightscribe and I have had a terrible time having the drive even recognize the DVD as a Lightscribe DVD. I updated the drivers and software. Out of many times trying to get it to work, I have only gotten two Lightscribe DVDs to actually be recognized and done. The error message indicates it is either not a Lightscribe DVD (which it is), or needs to be cleaned on both sides (which it is). The DVD is so clean you could eat off of it (which I have -lol). I don't know how to make it any cleaner, but I am considering Spic And Span with a Brillo pad at this point. lol Really, they have no smears, smugs or anything I can see on them for them not to do the Lightscribe end of the deal.

**DocSmith** · 01-22-2008, 08:41 AM

I'm much more comfortable with the Lightscribe system, now. I'm amazed at the amount of information one of these DVDs can hold. Which is good because my hard drive crashed last Saturday night. Most of my image data was on another drive, and I have Mozy online backup - so I'm OK. Now, after a shoot, I immediately burn a copy of the CF card to a DVD and add all further work onto that DVD as backup - in addition to Mozy. I use Nero software to burn the DVD and Lightscribe Simple Labeller for the label. The label takes about a minute to burn

Doc

BenE · 01-22-2008, 10:06 AM

I got tired of the long burn time. In order to burn anything unique, the 20 minutes it takes was not worth the effort. Perhaps newer lightscribe burners do not take that long, but I believe the printable CDs are a better choice.. 'cause you can print color even..