Knowledgebase - FAQ
DVD Printing, CD Printing, Silkscreen CDs, Duplication Experts - Questions and Knowledge Base - Software Manufacturing
Following are our frequently asked questions, organized by category. If we haven't answered your question below, please contact us, so that we can help you.
Graphics Questions
Will the CD or DVD look like my computer screen? Or why doesn't my CD or DVD look like my computer screen?
A computer monitor displays artwork in RGB. This stands for Red, Green, Blue). CDs and DVDs are generally printed either CMYK (aka Full Color) or PMS (Pantone Spot Color). So the printed CDs or DVDs will look different than the computer screen. Additionally please note that your computer screen will be displaying the artwork on a white background and the optical media is silver. This difference between white and silver will also cause the CDs or DVDs to look slightly different than the display of a computer monitor.
Will my CD or DVD printing match exactly?Printing is subject to variations. These variations can include atmospheric conditions, slight variations in inks, slight variations in the scales that weigh inks in preparation for mixing. There are many other varations that do play a part in the final artwork. We do try very hard to minimize output variations, but small variations do occur and are considered acceptable in the printing industries.
What is Full Color?Full color refers to printing in the four basic printing colors: CMYK. This stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, & Black. Full color is the standard printing method for items printed on paper stock. It is also the standard for offset printing optical media (CD/DVD). Additionally, a large percentage of optical media that is silk screen printed will be printed Full Color. Full color is also refered to as 4 color process or CMYK.
What is process color?Process color is any printing method that uses the standard CMYK (Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, & Black) to print the supplied artwork. This is also refered to as Full Color and 4 color process.
Can you accept artwork in RGB?We do not offer any printing services that will allow us to accept RGB artwork. If your artwork is currently in RGB we recommend opening the artwork in a graphics program that allows you to convert the artwork to CMYK. An exception to this recommendation is if you artwork only has one or two colors. In these cases we recommend having the artwork converted to spot colors if the printing method is going to be silk screen printing. If the printing method is not going to be via silk screen please convert the artwork to CMYK.
My artwork has gradients. Is there anything I should know?Gradients will reproduce well in Laser Printing, Offset Printing, & Inkjet Printing. There are some things to know if your project is going to be Silk Screen Printed. The nature of silk screen printing will produce good results with gradients between 20% and 80%. Gradients below 20% might reproduce as random dots. Gradients above 80% might reproduce as solids. Therefore we recommend your artwork be setup with gradients between 20% and 80%.
What are the minimum and maximum gradients recommended for silk screen DVD and CD printing?We strongly recommend that face artwork that is to be silk screened has gradients between 20% and 80%.
What is the difference between silk screen and offset printing?Silk screen printing is accomplished by pushing ink through a fine screen that has the image of the artwork on it. Offset printing is a process of transferring the ink from an inkwell onto a rubber transfer blanket and then onto the optical media. Both are good printing methods with their respective strong points. Silk screen printing puts more ink onto the optical media. This large volume of ink produces bright vibrant images. But the fine mesh of the screen can obscure minor artwork details. Offset printing is very good at producing an image that shows fine details like a photograph. But the printing method applies less ink than silk screening. So the image is less vibrant than silk screening.
When should I silk screen print my CDs and DVDs?Silk screen printing is a cost affective way to produce 1,000 + units of CD or DVD. This method should be used for artwork that does not have fine details that are extremely important.
When should I offset print my CDs and DVDs?You should offset print your CDs or DVDs when you have sharp details like a photograph and your volume is at least 2,000 units.
What is a bleed?A bleed refers to artwork that extends further than what is estimated to be the print area. A bleed is important in case the stock shifts slightly during the printing process. This avoids an unprinted area on the final piece.
Why is a bleed important?A bleed is important to avoid the potential for your final printed piece to have an unprinted area.
Does my artwork for inserts or packaging need a bleed?Yes. We strongly recommend a minimum of 1/4" bleed on all artwork used for inserts or packaging.
How many colors can I print on my CD or DVD?We use several different printing methods for optical media (CD/DVD). Thermal printing is restricted to 300 dpi images printed in black only. Inkjet printing is available in CMYK only. White paper glossy labels are available in CMYK only. Offset printing is also available in CMYK only. Silk screen printing can have from 1 to 6 colors printed. These colors can be spot colors or a combination of CMYK and spot colors.
Why would I want a white flood coat for my CD face artwork?A CD is silver on the surface. When we print on this silver surface the silver might change the tone of the artwork we print. To minimize this affect we recommend the use of a white flood coat. The exception to this recommendation is when the graphics are designed to use the silver CD surface as a part of the artwork.
What is the minimum font size I can use on my artwork?The minimum font size is dependent upon how the artwork is going to be printed. We recommend that the minimum font size is 6pt Bold. This is especially important if the artwork is CMYK (4 Color Process). The complete font specifications are: Silk Screen Printing 6 pt bold unless reversed out. Then use 7 pt bold as the minimum font size. Offset Printing 4 pt bold unless reversed out. Then use 6 pt bold as the minimum font size. The minimum font size for other printing methods is 6 pt bold.
What is the minimum line thickness I can use on my artwork?The minimum line thickness is dependent upon how the artwork is going to be printed. We strongly recommend that your lines are no thinner than 0.75 pt. If your artwork is going to be printed offset the minimum line thickness is 0.5 pt.
Why do my fonts need to be outlined before we send the artwork to you?A font is dependent on the system having the font loaded. When the fonts are 'outlined' they become 'pictures' and no longer require the font profiles to be loaded on our system. This is important to insure that your artwork is faithfully reproduced.
Can I have my project use fluorescent and hexachrome inks?Fluorescent and hexachrome inks are very exciting to work with. These inks have an extremely short shelf life and are extremely expensive. So at this time we have decided to guide our clients to more cost affective PMS and CMYK inks.