Specs and Templates
Every CD or DVD has two sides. Generally there is one side that is “decorated” and one side has the data. Each side has it’s own requirements.
The Data Side:
Tell us what’s on the CD and what it’s supposed to do. We’re not just curious (well, maybe not) we need to know because it can affect the way it’s duplicated or replicated. Music needs some loving care. Do you intend this to be “cross platform” i.e. play on PC and Mac computers? In general what you give us is what we give you. If your master has errors your copies will have them as well. We do some routine quality checking and will alert you if we see a problem, but this won’t catch the misspelling of your bosses name or a incorrect file. We honestly don’t want you to have to pay us to re-run your job because of your error. We’d much rather be associated with a successful run (and get repeat business) that make an extra buck re-doing a mistake.
Note that we cannot make copies of CDs or DVDs that are “open”. “Open” means that it is still possible to add more to the CD or DVD. You must “finalize” or “close” the session before a copy can be made. If you send us a master that is open we can “re-master” it to make it closed but there is a charge for that. We can also “pre-master” a CD for you to make it “auto-run” so that it will begin playing as soon as it is loaded. There are other pre-mastering and conversion services that we do for an additional charge. In most cases you will be given a new master for your approval. Check it carefully because once you approve it then it will be treated just as though it were the original master that you provided.
Note that we check music to see if it’s copyrighted and we will report those who are illegally making copies.
The Decoration Side:
The types of files that we can use are on the Specifications page. Sometimes it’s a good idea to provide files that were use to create the final product as well as the final files. If we have those and you need for us the change something (date, version number, etc.) with much less difficulty (and less cost for you). Among other things this would include the font that was used.
There are several ways to decorate a CD or DVD. For short runs we recommend printed labels. This results in a very high quality print that is easier to match to any associated printed material such as a folder or brochure. We use very high quality label stock not found in office supply stores and because of this have never had a problem with printed labels. We have clients who request labels on longer runs despite the fact that it can become expensive. Black thermal print is the most economical method and is fine for some applications. For longer runs silk screen or offset may be best depending on the exact nature of the art. Sometimes digital print is preferred. Or graphics department will consult on the best way to go. These can be done on smaller runs as well but this is costly. Scheduling for labels and thermal is considerably shorter.
