CD Duplication for short or large runs.

The CD Duplication process is the process of copying a blank CD-R and may be printing the face with a Graphics or text elements.

In most cases CD-R Duplication is used for small quantity 1 to 1,000 or if you are in a hurry and you are about to miss your deadline. Although CD-ROM replication is an option but the cost can be very high.

 Printing on the face of the CD can be doing in many ways. The following is a short list:

1. Paper Labels
   Positive:     Disc Cost is Low, can be done using Laser or inkjet paper
   Negative:   Glue may get into the data area and cause long term damage to the disc, Labor intensive,
                     Does not look professional 

2. Inkjet Directly on Disc
   Positive:     High Resolution printing Directly on Disc, Good for short run for in house printing
   Negative:   Disc Cost  is High, Ink Cost is High, Automated Printer cost is high. Too Slow, Ink will smear if hands are wet.

3. Thermal Transfer (one Color)
   Positive:     Medium Resolution printing Directly on Disc, Looks almost like Silk screen, Allows printing of Black, Blue or Red  Color on Silver Disc. Excellent for short run and low cost printing. Will not smear.
   Negative:   Flooding Disc is not recommended, Text is Clear only using few fonts, Graphics Edge is not crisp.

4. Thermal Transfer (Three Color)
   Positive:     Medium Resolution printing Directly on Disc, Looks almost like Silk screen, Limited Color Printing on Silver Disc. Excellent for short run and low cost printing. Will not smear.
   Negative:   Flooding Disc is not recommended, Text is Clear only using few fonts, Graphics Edge is not crisp, Photo Printing is not recommended, Color Matching is impossible.

5. Thermal Re-Transfer (one Color)
   Positive:     High Resolution B&W printing Directly on Disc, Looks almost like Offset Print, Photorealistic B&W Photos printing on White or Silver Disc. Excellent for short run. Will not smear.
   Negative:   Disc Cost is High, Printing is Slow

6. Thermal Re-Transfer (Full Color Photorealistic)
   Positive:     High Resolution Photorealistic printing Directly on Disc, Looks Better than Offset Print, bright Photorealistic Colors, Photos printing on White or Silver Disc. Excellent for short run. Will not smear.
   Negative:   Disc Cost is High, Printing is very Slow in Color, % of a Color is not easy to print, some time Color Matching issues come up, Sold Colors are not recommended. Too Many fonts are not recommended.

7. Silk Screen
   Positive:     Medium Resolution Photo printing Directly on Disc, Unlimited capabilities, Standard Disc Printing for Commercial Software and Music Disc, bright Colors, printing on White or Silver Disc. Excellent for Medium to long runs, Printing is very Fast, Will not smear or scratch off.
   Negative:   Setup Cost is High, Photo Printing is not always clear, limited to 5 PMS colors or CYMK plus white.

8. Offset Print
   Not Recommended for CD-R.