CD Silk Screeing

algorhythm · Post by **algorhythm** » Thu Apr 11, 2002 4:50 am

I am putting out an EP [the contingency EP]early this summer with 5 tracks and mostly unreleased new material.
I am doing the grafix and cd-burning myself.

Anyone know how to Silk-Screen CDR's? I want to do a two-color print, but can't find any DIY sites for this on the web . . . any help appreciated

borg · Post by **borg** » Thu Apr 11, 2002 5:36 am

nice to hear

finally

some friends did a punkcore cd, very diy style. they made a design in some kinda app, bought themselves a packet of cd label stickers, fitted the graphics into a cd label printer template (i guess they did all of the calculations themselves, but i'm not sure), and there they were: the labels.
the stickers were pressed on the cd with a little device designed especially to do this job. then they spraid them with a special product, some kind of varnish (don't know which, it was just a spray can, maybe the thing used to fix charcoal drawings).

a very nice and professionally made looking cd, if it wasn't for the blueish color of the disk.

Nestor · Post by **Nestor** » Thu Apr 11, 2002 11:11 am

I use a pack called ExpressIt, it's a very simple tool that allows you to build your own CD layout, quite usefull.

If you want to be perfectionist and want to do absolutely anything, kind a Pulsar for graphic staff, get Fotoshop, but it's very expensive.

subhuman · Post by **subhuman** » Thu Apr 11, 2002 11:19 am

I too am interested in "true" silkscreening on CDs. I've done silkscreening on T-Shirts before, I would imagine it's the same process, just a different type of paint you'd use. And you would have to be REALLY careful not to hurt the other side of the CD... maybe silkscreen them BEFORE burning in case you get ink on the data side. I bet you could get a silkscreen made for around $100 at a custom T-Shirt printing shop (note: you get LOTS of space on a screen, so you may want more than one design and a few reusable ones). Then it would just be a matter of getting the correct paint and squeegies to screen 'em.

An easier method is Cd labels. I've been doing the label thing for almost 5 years, and they work okay and have a decent life span. I prefer the "glossy" CD labels - color looks better on them - and you can do photorealistic artwork with a nice highquality inkjet printer (and these are CHEAP now-days... like $150 will get you something pretty nice).

Check out <a href=http://www.neato.com>NEATO.COM</a> and <a href=http://www.cdstomper.com>Cd Stomper</a>, I think you can get both of them at your local CostCo, Office Depot, etc type place, with die-cut/laser-cut CD labels. If you go this route, get the glossy labels for sure.

Let me know what you come up with.

braincell · Post by **braincell** » Thu Apr 11, 2002 12:55 pm

I make silkscreen t-shirts for a living.

I can't imagine printing CDs that way unless you had an automatic silkscreen machine made specifically for this purpose.

I've seen CD printers similar to the $150 type. I think it was around $1,300.00 USD.

subhuman · Post by **subhuman** » Thu Apr 11, 2002 1:17 pm

Obviously screening them by hand would be for extremely small batches (like 100 or less).

I think those inkjet CDprinters are way overpriced, given the alternatives with the glossy labeling. If you're going to do more than 100, might as well do 500 or 1000 and have them done at a major shop.

algorhythm · Post by **algorhythm** » Fri Apr 12, 2002 5:58 am

hi folks - thanks for the infoz - I have CD-Stomper, but [hopefully not sounding elitist], I want something a little more professional. I know what you mean about the spray covering, I use clear acrylic spray on sidewalk chalk to make it last a little longer [deviant/activist].

I have access to a screen-printing shop for free, so I could get the screen made for free.

Also, I have done screen-printing before.

I am going to use CD-R, but am getting the cool ones with BLACK dye instead of the blah-blue. Two color dye on top - white background and grey abstraction . . .

I have looked around at the pressing ads. But they are charging $1.50ish USD for printing, which is a bit heavy for me cuz I want to sell them for $5.00 or less.

Finally, I WANT to press them myself. You know, the principle of the thing. Full DIY -
Composed, Programmed, Performed, Engineered, Mastered, Graphic Designs, Pressing, Packaging, AND Marketing by algorhythm

I am thinking 100 or so is a good first release. now I gotta come up with a label name. . . .

_________________
[ { ( - algorhythm - ) } ] /

[ This Message was edited by: algorhythm on 2002-04-12 06:58 ]

astroman · Post by **astroman** » Fri Apr 12, 2002 1:33 pm

there are ink jet printers with a kind of table for a single CD in the range of $500.
For the artwork really go with Photoshop, it's state of the art AND simple to use.
Any inexpensive bundled or 'light' version will do, as the full (pro) package only deviates in pre-press stuff you won't need for this purpose.

Post by **garyb** » Fri Apr 12, 2002 11:43 pm

labels ruin car stereos when they come off.i recently got a primera composer and signature printer which is inkjet.soon i will get one of the inscripta thermal printers.the thermal printer does two color permanent printing that looks identical to silkscreen.you can get a "b" stock (factory remanufactured)for about $2000 u.s. with the composer and a computer,you can automate the entire process of duplicating and printing.the products are well made and functional.

[ This Message was edited by: garyb on 2002-05-23 20:11 ]

subhuman · Post by **subhuman** » Sat Apr 13, 2002 8:11 am

The inkjet CD printers never really did much for me. But you've got me excited with mention of that thermal printer. I'm off to do more research on that, sounds exactly what I was looking for. algorythm, does that fit the bill or is it too expensive? Hmm maybe I'll buy one and people can do small runs on my machine

Post by **garyb** » Sun Apr 14, 2002 11:07 am

that's what i think!(tho i think the inkjets are great for promos,they are their own full color pakaging when in a paper sleeve....)

algorhythm · Post by **algorhythm** » Mon May 20, 2002 8:06 pm

well, luck has come my way - I have a friend who manages a silk screening shop who is going to help me! We are doing black media (bottom stays black), painting them off-white, and screening over the CD art in silver.

I'll let you all know the techniques I pick up, because it sounds like some of you are interested.

_________________
algorhythm</algorhythm get the 411

[ This Message was edited by: algorhythm on 2002-05-20 21:08 ]

Stubbe · Post by **Stubbe** » Thu May 23, 2002 12:54 pm

Sorry, I might be totally out of my depth here, just found a page that just might interest some of you guys.
Well, it was new to me that you can inkjet-print directly onto a disc without paper anyway

There's also some thermal-stuff in there.

http://www.riverproaudio.co.uk/acatalog ... ENT_2.html

BTW, I have no connections with these guys whatsoever, just saw the ad in SOS and became curious.

[ This Message was edited by: Stubbe on 2002-05-23 13:56 ]

astroman · Post by **astroman** » Thu May 23, 2002 1:28 pm

tnx, very useful and comprehensive

spacef · Post by **spacef** » Thu May 23, 2002 3:06 pm

isn't it less expensive to have them done as usual rather to buy a cd factory ?
It's just a question, i'm interested into these things too but it seems to be quite an investment.

Chrisznix · Post by **Chrisznix** » Fri May 24, 2002 4:21 am

Hi!

Spacef: Yes, of course it´s quite an inverstment - but it´s not a cash thing here, it´s just a thing of idealism i think!

and.... i like that !

)
Bye,
Chrisznix

spacef · Post by **spacef** » Fri May 24, 2002 4:42 am

well, you are right

That's certainly something I would like to have at home too, for me or for fellow musicians, in a kind of independant "parralel" way of making a nice cd and.. . I like that too

[ This Message was edited by: spacef on 2002-05-24 05:44 ]

algorhythm · Post by **algorhythm** » Sun Sep 22, 2002 6:42 pm

did the screening today. cost me $20 to make the screen, and lunch with my friend to do all of em. sweeeeeeeeeeet

astroman · Post by **astroman** » Mon Sep 23, 2002 1:28 pm

Coool !

...just imagine the face of the waitress at the supermarket's cashier when checking contents of the package...

coc999 · Post by **coc999** » Mon Sep 23, 2002 2:16 pm

hey it's reeeeaaally coming!!!:)