CD/DVD Printing FAQ

CD/DVD Printing FAQ

1. Why should I use the Disc Wiz templates?

   Our templates have been designed specifically for our equipment. Using the correct template(s) ensure that your job will move quickly and through our printing process. Differences of as little as 1/32 of an inch can cause problems in the printing process.
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2. Can’t I just use the measurements from a CD or DVD that I own?
   

   No. A jewel box or DVD case from Disc Wiz may look the same as every other at first glance, but they have slightly different dimensions and the printable area on CD and DVD labels differ greatly from printer to printer. Even slight deviations from our specs can cause problems in the printing and packaging process.
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3. The 5 most common problems with client-supplied design jobs:
   

   • Failure to include fonts
     By far, this is the most common reason a job gets delayed at the start. For a complete explanation, see 28. I’m supposed to send in my fonts. How do I do that?
     
   • Failure to include all linked images.
     Before you send in your job, make sure you’re including in all linked files. Each application has a different way to check this. In QuarkXPress, use the Collect For Output feature. Illustrator has a Links menu, which will list all placed images in the document.
     
   • Image resolution is too low or supplied in RGB instead of CMYK.
     For a complete explanation, see 21. How should I scan my photos?
     
   • Insufficient bleed or safety margins.
     For a complete explanation, see 12. What are bleed and safety margin?
     
   • Failure to supply all parts of the job in Disc Wiz templates.
     For a complete explanation, see 1. Why should I use the templates? and 10. Do I need to supply layout files for every part of my package?

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4. What programs should I use?

   Here is a list of file formats we can accept:

   Layout files:
   • Adobe Illustrator (CS - CS5)
   • Adobe InDesign (CS - CS5)

   Photos or images:
   • TIFF (.tif)
   • Adobe Photoshop (up to version CS5) (.psd)
   • Photoshop EPS (.eps)
   • JPEG (.jpg) – accepted but not recommended for print

   Fonts:
   • We can accept PostScript (our preferred format), OpenType, or TrueType fonts.

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5. Can I just send you high-res PDFs of my layouts?
   

   We recommend against it. If you are using any of the software we accept (see question 3 above) we prefer to receive the native files. Since we are printing to our specific process, your files must meet our specs exactly. A part of our prepress service is to check your files against our specs. If we find minor errors or oversights, adjustments may be necessary. If you supply PDFs, we are extremely limited in what we can fix or modify. If your layouts do not conform to the correct template, violate any of our printing specs or require text changes, we will be unable to make the adjustments and you will have to supply new files.
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6. Why don’t I see templates for Publisher or other applications?
   

   We accept files from all major page layout, illustration and image-editing applications. Some popular desktop applications like Microsoft Publisher are suitable for printing to your home inkjet printer, but are not powerful enough to work in a professional environment.
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7. I’ve downloaded the templates. Now what do I do?
   

   Once you’ve opened a template, do not make any changes to the template itself (e.g., copying and pasting into a new page to save space, changing or deleting any of the crop marks, changing the page size, etc.). Our templates are created to maximize our in-house productivity. If you alter the template pages, we will have to reformat your job to fit into the original templates, and you will be billed for this work.
   
   For maximum compatibility, our templates are saved back to the oldest version we support. You should save your documents in the version you’re actually using. For example, if you are working in Illustrator CS, do not save your layout file back to Illustrator 8; save it as Illustrator CS.
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8. Do I need to supply layout files for every part of my package?
   

   Yes. If you don’t provide layout files for every part of your package, we can't complete.
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9. What are all these text boxes and lines in the templates?
   

   We have placed text, cropping and other marks in the templates to help us prepare your job for printing. Do not delete or move these elements. Guide layers should be turned off or sent to the back so they don't interfere with your artwork. Consult your application’s help file or manual for information on adjusting layers.
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10. What are bleed and safety margin?
    

    Bleed is the extension of any color, photo, or design elements past the cut line. Bleed gives the printer a margin of error when processing, so that if the design is slightly off, the white of the paper won’t show along the edge.
    
    We request you add 1/8-inch (3mm) of bleed to your layouts. Each template has guidelines set up so you can see exactly how much bleed you need to add to your layouts. These are generally the outermost guides.
    
    Safety margin is the opposite of bleed. If you put important information such as a song title or an important part of a photo right up against the crop line, some of it may get cut off. We recommend that you keep your type and other important elements 1/8" inside the safety margin. Each template has guidelines set up so you can see exactly how much safety margin to allow. These are generally the innermost guides.
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11. How small can I make my type?
    

    Generally, for your printed pieces you can go as small as 4 or 5 points for black type on a light or white background, 6 points for white type on a dark, black, or complex background (also known as reverse type). This varies depending on the typeface used. For on-disc printing, we recommend type be no smaller than 6 points, 8 points for reverse type.
    
    For smaller type, such as lyrics and credits, we recommend you use simpler typefaces such as Arial, Helvetica, or Times New Roman. Display faces—the “fancier” fonts with lots of detail, like Vivaldi or Edwardian Script—are designed to be used at large sizes, and can be difficult to read even at 10 points.
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12. What’s the difference between CMYK and RGB?
    

    CMYK and RGB are two different color models, and understanding the difference can mean producing a great-looking insert rather than a muddy, disappointing one. We’ll have to delve into a little science to explain this difference.
    
    The RGB color model is used by monitors, televisions, scanners, and digital cameras. A monitor uses very small bands of red, green, and blue light to generate color. For a quick science project, put a drop of water on the front of your monitor in a white area, and it will act like a magnifying glass. You’ll be able to see the red, green, and blue bands. RGB is additive because when you add all three colors together, you get white light; when you turn off all three lights, you get black. By mixing varying amounts of red, green, and blue light, you can create most other colors.
    
    The paper of a magazine, catalog, or CD booklet can’t generate light like a computer monitor. It has to rely on reflected light, and the subtractive color model CMYK. When you add cyan, magenta, and yellow together (CMY), you get a color close to black, and when you don’t lay down any ink, you get white—that is, the white of the paper. A fourth color, black, is added for economical and practical reasons, and is referred to by ‘K’ so as not to be confused with blue. By mixing varying amounts of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black inks, you can create most other colors. All commercial, full-color printing uses CMYK inks.
    
    So why is the difference important? Most colors created on your RGB monitor can be duplicated using CMYK inks, but not all. Your RGB monitor is generating light, so it can create some bright colors that can’t be duplicated on any CMYK printing press. Paper can only reflect light, so if you print the super-bright RGB colors in CMYK, they get a lot duller.
    
    If you’re designing artwork in an RGB color space, we’ll have to convert it to CMYK to print. Depending on your artwork, the colors might shift a little or a lot.
    We ask you to provide all your images in CMYK. If there are any color shifts, you’ll be able to see them and take steps to correct it. If you supply RGB images, we’ll make the CMYK conversion here, and show you a proof. If you want to make any changes to your images at that point, your job may be delayed and incur additional charges. It’s much better for you to supply us with CMYK files up front.
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13. Why isn’t my RGB file useable for my 6-color, on-disc printing?
    

    RGB is an additive color format, made by generating light, while on-disc printing uses a subtractive color format, made by reflecting light. On your computer, red, green, and blue combine to make white; on a disc, they would combine to make a muddy black. (See What’s the difference between CMYK and RGB? for more information.)
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14. I like how my design looks off of my home printer. Can you match the color if I send in a sample?
    

    No. While we can get very close, variousprinters and inks are not identical. If you printed your design on an Epson inkjet, an HP inkjet, and a Canon color laser printer, they would all look at least a little different, because each company manufactures their inks a little differently. Since your printer and our press are not calibrated to each other, we cannot perfectly match the colors - but we will work with you to get a result that makes you smile.
    
    We will send you a high-quality proof of your job for you to approve before it goes to press. That proof will be a reliable indicator of final print quality.
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15. How should I scan my photos?
    

    Here are a few guidelines to ensure professional-quality scans.
    
    All color and grayscale scans should be created at 300 pixels per inch (ppi) at actual print size. For example, if you want to use a photo for the cover of your CD or DVD booklet, you’ll need to set your scanning software to 300 ppi at 5" x 5". If your software wants the measurements in pixels, multiply the inches times the ppi (i.e. 300 ppi x 5 inches = 1500 pixels). Do not scan at a resolution higher than 300 ppi; this will not increase the quality of the image on your printed piece. (Note: your scanner software may refer to resolution as DPI, or dots per inch. The same formulas apply.)
    
    1-bit (black & white, or monochrome) scans should have a resolution of 2400 ppi at size (1200 ppi minimum). This is not the same as a grayscale image or black and white photo. A 1-bit black & white scan contains only black or white pixels, with no shades of gray. Examples of 1-bit scans would be the Nike swoosh logo, the CBS eye logo, and Chinese text characters.
    
    Do not scan at a lower resolution and then increase it in Photoshop. This will result in blurry images. You need to input the proper resolution when you scan.
    
    If you have an image editor, such as Adobe Photoshop, you should convert your color scans to CMYK color mode before using them. If you don’t, we will have to make this conversion before we can print your files, and your colors may change (see What is the difference between CMYK and RGB?).
    
    Save your scans as either .TIF or Photoshop .EPS files. Avoid using .BMP, .JPG or .GIF files as these are not printing formats and do not allow you to save in CMYK color mode. If you use .EPS files, be sure that you save the image with an 8-bit TIFF preview.
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16. I’ve got a digital camera. How should I supply photos?
    

    You should take your photos on your camera’s highest quality setting. We recommend at least a 2 megapixel size. Use the lowest image compression setting, or uncompressed if possible. Consult your camera’s manual for instructions on how to set the resolution, quality and compression settings on your specific camera. You shouldn’t assume that the default factory settings are correct for professional print needs.
    
    You’ll need to transfer your photos from your camera to a CD-R or keychain-style USB drive. We cannot accept compact flash or smart media cards.
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17. I’ve got photos on my website. Can you download them from there?
    

    We could, but you probably don’t want us to. The images on your website are usually compressed to be as small as possible, so they load quickly in a web browser. Images need to have a lot more information for quality commercial print than they do for the web. Your web images will appear blurry, pixellated, jaggy, and just plain horrible if used in your print work. You should provide us with the original images before they were compressed for the web.
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18. Why do my EPS files appear so pixellated or jaggy on screen?
    

    EPS files have a low-resolution preview file for on-screen viewing. The high-resolution image is still there, and when you print to a postscript printer, the computer will throw out the low-resolution preview and use the high-resolution data.
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19. How do I make my image circular or round for printing on the disc?
    

    You don’t need to make your image round to fit on the disc. All the templates come with a circular area for masking any rectangular image. Each application handles this differently, so consult your software’s manual or help file for information on masking your images into the template. View and download our disc label template here.
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20. My files seem really large. Is this okay?
    

    Yes, this is normal. A properly saved 5" x 5" scan, in CMYK color mode at 300 ppi, will take up to 8-10 MB on your hard drive. Your application layout files from Quark, Illustrator, or other layout programs will be much smaller than your image files, perhaps even under 100KB. If you have WinZip or StuffIt installed on your system, you can use it to compress, or archive, all your files into one. These programs can compress your layout files down to as little as 10% of their original size. They cannot compress images files nearly as well, so don’t expect a lot of space savings with compressed scans.
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21. I’m supposed to send in my fonts. How do I do that?
    

    The primary font format for Macintosh is PostScript. The fonts come in two main parts: a screen font (usually in a suitcase) and a printer font. If the font has multiple weights (such as plain, bold, italic, and bold italic), each weight will have a separate printer font.
    
    Make sure you are sending us all parts of a font, as this is one of the most common mistakes.
    
    While we recommend using PostScript Type 1 fonts on the Mac, we also accept OpenType, TrueType, and dfont. These will only consist of a single file. Some TrueType fonts can be troublesome to print, so use the other formats when possible.
    
    On the Mac OS 9 or earlier, fonts are usually stored in System > Fonts. In OS X, there are a number of possible locations:
    - Home > Library > Fonts
    - Library > Fonts
    - System > Library > Fonts
    - System Folder > Fonts
    
    The primary font format for Window-based computers is TrueType. All of your installed TrueType fonts are usually located in the /WINDOWS/FONTS folder, and contain the .ttf file extension. The filenames can be cryptic, but if you double-click on a font file, you’ll get a preview window so you know you’re copying the right ones. Please do not copy the entire Fonts folder: just copy the individual TrueType font files themselves.
    
    If you own any Adobe products for PC, there may be fonts stored in c:/Program Files/Common Files/Adobe/Fonts.
    
    We can accept Postscript Type 1 fonts for Windows, and they consist of two files: a .pfm file and a .pfb file. You must send in both files in order for us to be able to use the font. Type 1 fonts do not have a set location on your hard drive, but Adobe Type Manager usually stores them in a folder called PSFONTS.
    
    We can also accept OpenType for PC files.
    
    If you are using Adobe InDesign as your layout application, we recommend you make use of the Package option, which will gather your fonts and images for you.
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22. A final checklist!
    

    When you’re ready to submit your job to Disc Wiz, make sure that you’re including all of the following items:
    • Layout file for each part of the job (insert, tray card, on-disc printing, poster, etc.)
    • All the fonts used in the layouts
    • All the images placed in the layouts
    • Up-to-date printouts of every layout file. Black and white prints are fine, even if your files are in color, but faxes are not acceptable due to lack of detail.
    • A listing of the files on your disk (please also note the OS, programs and versions you used; i.e. WindowsXP, Photoshop 6, etc.)
    • Any special instructions you may have

    You should also do a final proof-read of all your text and layouts to make sure everything is accurate and complete.
    Organize the files on the disk clearly. Set up separate folders for layout files, images, fonts, not-for-output files, etc. If you submit a disk with dozens of unorganized and/or unnecessary files, your project will be delayed.
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23. Should I convert all my type to paths or curves?
    

    We recommend against converting type to paths. Once type is converted to paths, it’s uneditable, which limits our ability to make adjustments to your files. It also creates a more complex file that may cause Postscript errors in the printing process. Keeping your type as editable text and sending in your fonts is the most practical solution. As an exception, we do recommend converting your text to paths if you have used foreign-language character sets.
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24. Do you have a color profile I can download to make my screen more accurate?
    

    Color management is a complex topic and simply downloading a color profile will not guarantee that you will get an accurate screen preview of how your files will print. You must have a good monitor that is calibrated (preferably using a hardware calibrator) in addition to controlled lighting conditions in your design area. Without these elements in place there could be drastic differences between what you see on-screen and how your files will print to our press, even if you are using our profile. Please keep in mind that even with calibrated equipment in a controlled environment, an exact match from screen to print is not always possible.
    
    For more information on color management we recommend the Adobe Photoshop help system, and Real World Color Management by Bruce Fraser, Chris Murphy and Fred Bunting.
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25. Can I supply a PostScript or PDF file for output?
    

    Yes, but it’s not recommended. We can’t review or edit PostScript files, so any errors or minor incompatibilities with your files could cause delays or additional charges. Our abilities to analyze and edit PDF files are much more limited than working with other files.