Acoustica is really good and has templates for a lot of printers, including HP.

Dave T2

Another vote for Acoustica. I just purchased it after running the eval copy for awhile. I was tired of the limitations of the bundled Epson CD software.

I use the same drawing & page design software i had already been using for a decade. It took me about a minute's worth of experimenting to determine where on a standard 8.5x11 page the CD image would fall, then created a template and saved it. There's no requirement that you use specifically "disc printing" software to print discs.

My vote is for SureThing as well http://www.surething.com/ST/Category.asp?CatCode=ST5_HOME
I have used it for several years and have made many disk designs with it. And it seems to work with most printers. I have an Epson r380 and it is flawless.

The price is nice to.

Acoustica here as well. It's really great to work with.

I use SureThing v5.2 and like it a lot. It is integrated with my Primera Bravo II Disc Publisher software so that I can batch process discs by just pointing to the SureThing project file. It handles both discs and jackets and keeps them together in the same project.

~jr

We have the same system as JR, and the integration works flawlessly.

Our Bravo II did break though, but we might have been trying to do too many discs in too short a time period. When we counted ink, repairs, discs, and our TIME, it was cheaper and more efficient to order a huge batch from a company dedicated to that (and that includes shipping and duty).

Now we just have to sell a LOT!
Anyone want to buy a cool Bahamian DVD?

kairosmatt

Acoustica, Acoustica, Acoustica! If you buy at the moment, they are giving away free photo software with it.

Get yourself a Lightscribe DVD writer and never print again. It looks professionally neat and clean. The only snag is that it takes another 20 minutes to etch the disk but it's worth it.

Jay,

In terms of getting more out of the Roxio Express Labeler software that came with your printer take a look at this thread and see if it helps.

John

Acoustica. I use it to print directly on CDs and DVDs with my HP C5580.

I have used it to print stickable labels as well but printing directly on the disc is the best for me.

Sort of off topic, but another product that the Acoustica people make is this piano software. I just downloaded the demo and loaded in this piano midi that I had. Wow! I like this a whole lot better than the piano sound I have been using. If they can make that good a piano, I'm sold on any of their software, including their disk labeling title:

http://www.myspace.com/larrykingston

The piano tune is called "The Rhodes Not Taken" and it was the first piece of music I ever recorded with midi: on a Comodore 64. It certainly didn't sound this good back then though!

I have a question for you Acoustica users, do you use any other of their software I am interested in the Spin it again product, we do some LP conversion for people and it looks good. right now I use the software that came with my USB turntable EZ tape converter, and am wondering if Spin it again is better, worse, or indifferent.

Sorry, but LightScribe's a joke. Mono-toned and very time consuming. That's not professional in my book.

Same here. Made a "graph paper" image in GIMP with some identifying markers.
Printed image.
Figured out the center.
Made inner and outer rings. Reprinted on same disc.
Made that a template.

When I print I turn off the template layer.

-------------------------

For inserts used the scanner function using insert from commercial
DVD.
Made crop/cut marks.
I use A4 size paper (cut down legal if needed at office/paper supply store.)

My thanks to everyone for their suggestions!

Why does one need disk print software?

I simply print directly from Photoshop. Maybe the printer type makes a difference? (I use the HP5280) All I do is create a template for photoshop to match the disks I'm using.

I didn't know this - you mean Photoshop will control the tray holding the disc and make it go in and out of the printer?

Same printer here and it's delightful! Most trouble-free printer i've ever used.

I think the printer manufacturers are kind of pushing the idea that you need some sort of special software. I would imagine that the people who supply the software that comes with the printer get some sort of kickback and the manufactures have to make it look justified. Certainly nothing in the manual, help screens, or marketing gives the average user any impression that printing on a disc is in any way as simple and easy as printing on regular paper. In fact, lots of the literature seems to almost hint that it can't be done without special software, without actually saying so. I know a lot of users i've talked with were dumbfounded when i pointed out that any program that prints at all can print on a disc. I've saved a few people a lot of money that they were about to spend, and saved some others some major headaches from trying to use the stupid software that came bundled with the printer.

Peter, the printer controls the tray, not the software. When the printer recognizes the tray is inserted (or in the case of HP models you swivel the printing stage down), it knows it's printing on a disc and moves the disc tray instead of drawing in paper. The computer doesn't know the difference at all, except maybe sensing that the page format is 4.75x4.75" instead of 8.5x11" or whatever.

"Why does one need disk print software?"

Rob, do you use any plug-ins for Vegas (or Photoshop)?

I agree with Kelly. You don't need any special software. Someone gave me a template (I think it was on this forum) and I use my draw program to do labels and case inserts. I use Serif Draw Plus X2 and it does everything - curved text, bevels, drop shadows...but any good draw program will work fine.