This program may help with the the original R200 issue.

http://www.ssclg.com/epsone.shtml

I've not tested it yet, but it seems to give a bit more direct hardware access to the cleaning modes. Use it at your own risk!

"unless you don't use the printer frequently: then you blow through CARTRIDGES of ink."

I have 2 HP's... one of them I haven't used in roughly 6 months. Just tested it.... works fine.

I have yet to have a plug on a HP. I have on a Canon and on an Epson. Both the Canon and Epson were junked. Cheaper in the long run to buy new than replace heads.

Quote: "It doesn't print all the way to the centre hole - leaves a white ring about 1cm from the centre hole"

I had this problem with my Canon ip4200. When you use the supplied Canon software, there is very little adjustment possible. So I bought Acoustica CD Label Maker. Not only does it come with a huge amount of artwork, it will also allow adjustment on my Canon printer to get rid of that white ring in the middle. I've set mine to 15mm which allows printing all the way in.

I use my favorite page design software i've been using for years. I made a template that matches the disc and start with that. There's no need to use the (usually pitiful) software that comes with the printer.

John,

My sincerst thanks for the useful tip you gave (about how to print closer to the center hole using CD-Labelprint).

I have been struggling with this problem since day one (I started pringting disks) using my Canon Pixma5600i. I have been ripping hear when the "adjust circle size" just didn't work. THANX a zillion. The solution was simple, but not very intuitive...

The 5600i produces fantastic looking pics, every time. Even if you have not used the printer for a while. I also have the feeling that the firmware (or driver) is using more ink nowadays, compared to how it was when the printer was new... A clever marketing strategy?

Generally speaking, Canon software and drivers are not up to par compared to the printer hardware. I have had a couple of incidences when I swore never to buy another Canon product again. Evenually I ended up buying Canon inkjets, just due to the good printing quality...

Cheers,

Christian

>I use my favorite page design software i've been using for years. I made a template that matches the disc and start with that. There's no need to use the (usually pitiful) software that comes with the printer.

I have done this with my old Epson but it seems impossible with the Canon IP4500. What printer do you use?

Having been satisfied with HP products over the years, we purchased the HP C5380 printer/scanner in December last year after specifically looking at printers capable of printing onto DVD/CD.

The printed results are excellent and the bundled software allows you to adjust the printed area to the inner and outer edges of the disc.

Photographic and normal printing quality is excellent. It is too early to comment on running costs at tis point in time.

Richard

I've got the HP C5280. I can print from any Windows software on to CD. Heck, i could even print my email or an excel spreadsheet directly to the disc surface. As far as the software is concerned, the only difference between printing on paper and printing on the disc is the size of the "page", which is about 4.75x4.75" (12x12cm) for disc printing.

"I've got the HP C5280. I can print from any Windows software on to CD."

Same here. In fact I made up a template for Photoshop (for Blu Ray disks... proper hole diameter) and I print my dvd's directly from photoshop. Don't use any dvd/cd printing software at all.... It's just not needed

You,re right, it's actually easily possible to print on disk with any app on a Canon IP4500. My mistake...

I have the Epson Stylus Photo R380 have never had a problem with it and i have made a few hundred disks so far with it.
(But I am not sure if they still make it.)

I also use the label software Sure thing Labeler Deluxe 5 it is great software and you can ajust the printing to go all the way to the center.
http://www.surething.com

Epson Artisan 700 Photo All-in-One Printer

AMAZON Most Helpful Customer Reviews:

30 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

"There are some important drawbacks though. First, Epson needs to either stop using six independent ink carts. or make the carts twice their current size. The six cart. system has no practical purpose other than to increase the amount of money consumers spend on ink."

Absolutely and COMPLETELY true!
And to piss you off even more.. the epson I had (R320) would stop working if even ONE of those crtridges was empty. Even if I ran out of red but had lots of black and wanted to do a black document... I wasn't allowed.
JUST MADDENING!!!!
I can remember a few times at like 6 in the morning I needed to type something up for work.... lots of black ink in the tank but because I'm out of blue or some other stupid color.... I can't print. In fact the last time this happened to me (no word of a lie) I took that dammed R320 and stuck under the front wheel of my van.... it felt bloody good to hear it splinter up!

And in fact the tanks don't even have to be empty actually... the printer simply counts a total number of drops and PERCEIVES the tank to be empty at a certain number. Lots of ink in the tank.... but no print.

I have used the Epson 960 with manual tray insert for years without any problems. I even applied to the 960 the later EC3 software that I received with the Epson R-1800 without any problems. I can still use the EC2 software if the file was saved that way. While the ink is expensive I have had in some runs close to 400 discs printed before running out of ink. Of course it depends on the color scheme and how much. I have not seen a printer to match the quality of print of the R-1800 using high quality paper.
JJK

I was aware of the ink situation with the Artisan before I bought it. But after milking my old R200 for well past it's prime with a CIS feeder, I wanted to go back to hassle-free printing, and use actual brand ink.

I'm not aware of ANY inkjet that doesn't use more ink that we'd like it to. Not one. The negative with the Artisan is that it takes an entire new cartridge (98 and 99), and you're not seeing these in Costco or elsewhere. That means we pay the premium price.

So while it's far from a perfect printer, it will do for now. If I were a bigger production company sending out tons of discs, I'd love to have the Epson Disc Producer. But at $3000, it's just a tad out of my budget.

I got a Canon iP4500 printer for $99 after seeing so many recommendations.

It has never missed a print, and the high speed Draft setting prints discs as good-looking as the best quality from my previous three Epsons (that I had to take out back and shoot, every one of them).

If you are using Canon CD Label Print:

=======================
I print directly from Inkscape and Gimp - I don't use any label software. In my image, the centre hole is 15mm but it leaves a much bigger hole on th actual print

If you are using Canon CD Label Print:
======================

If you are in Europe, your printer came with CDLabel Print. I would install and use that. If not you can download the latest version here.

John

I'm still using the original R200 that I got for $69.00 years ago. I have printed many hundreds of dvd's befor replacing inks, even on the original cartridges. So far I've been using replacement cartridges and only had one problem, which the dealer replaced. Works fine. Not the fastest, but good enough for what I do. I only use this printer for discs. I have another printer for photos and text type stuff.

Lynn

I had an R200 too before my R800, and it was great. Only thing was, it was not the fastest in the world, but sure reliable and great prints.

/Ulf

I've printed hundreds of discs on an R200 and an R320. No, not the fastest, but they have been essentially trouble free. Ink has been readily available from Costco at a reasonable price.

I also have a Primera Bravo II and didn't use it much until I found out the trick to use $9 Lexmark ink cartridges instead of the $40 Primera cartridges.

Canon ip4300 - it works great...and with good printable discs, it's terrific.