LabelFlash vs. LightScribe: Tom's goes for the burn

We still label our CDs and DVDs the old-fashioned way: with a Sharpie. But that doesn't mean we don't appreciate the idea of the laser-etched labels that LightScribe and LaserFlash drives are capable of. Tom's Hardware took a close look at both technologies, along with supported drives and software. Not surprisingly, the site found a lot more hardware and software for LightScribe, which has been around longer and has broad industry support. LabelFlash from NEC has yet to be formally introduced in the US, and requires NEC hardware as well as hard-to-find, more expensive media (over $2 for a CD-R). Of course, LightScribe blanks aren't a bargain either, at about $1 each for a CD-R. Maybe we'll just stick with our Sharpie for now.

[Bean @ Feb 14th 2006 5:45PM]

Am I the only one that bought a printer for $100 that prints in full-color, full-resolution on white discs that cost about the same as not-white discs? I don't understand what the appeal of these are? Because it's shiny?

[pcphantom @ Jun 16th 2008 8:23PM]

The appeal is not having to use ink, not needing a seperate printer at all, and never having to worry about your image fading or rubbing off. I have one of those printers, the disks are more expensive, nearly as much as light scribe is now and they are a pain to use in comparison.

I even have light scribe on my laptop, I went over to my sisters on mothers day and burned her a disk with a bunch of pictures on it, then flipped the disk over and burned our family photo on the other side of the disk. It was quick, easy and very nice, not something I could have done at all with my cd printer unless I brough my luggage.

[Bean @ Feb 14th 2006 6:01PM]

Was he shot while LightScribing?

[Rich @ Feb 14th 2006 6:04PM]

#1) I'm right there with ya Bean. I bought an Epson that can print directly on the discs about 2 years ago, and I haven't written a CD/DVD label since then.

The initial reason for getting it was to burn/print our own Wedding favor CD's, though that idea was abandoned after we bought the printer.

[Lee Gibson @ Feb 14th 2006 6:07PM]

That ink ain't free, Bean. Just sayin'.

[Noah @ Feb 14th 2006 6:30PM]

Uh... Creative criticism+confusion here. Is it LabelFlash or LaserFlash? TBH, I know it's LabelFlash, but the link says LaserFlash.

Totally agree with you, Bean. We bought an Epson printer 2 years ago, and we refill our ink (we steal empty cartridges from Officemax (actually, they let you take them)), so it's cheap and easy. In most events, a 50 cent sharpie, a 5 cent CD or 20 cent DVD with a writable label, and 10 seconds gets you a nice, easy label. For archiving, we just print a piece of paper from Nero with the list of stuff on it, and shove it in the binder with the CD. Done, easy, cheap.

[Michael @ Feb 14th 2006 6:35PM]

Lightscribe is kinda silly because it takes 5 minutes to burn a CD and then 30 minutes to write the label.

[Paul @ Feb 14th 2006 7:02PM]

While the ink "ain't" free, it is less than the difference in cost between the white and LightScribe discs, especially since I buy my ink from a bulk container (to a small bottle I supply) and re-fill my cartridges myself. Just sayin'.

[ChronoZaga @ Feb 14th 2006 8:25PM]

I'll stick with Sharpies, myself.

[Taylor Alexander @ Feb 14th 2006 8:35PM]

Ahhhh!!!! Error will robinson! Lightscribe CD-R blanks aren't $1.00 each! A quick check on pricegrabber shows them as around $0.60 each, which isn't that bad. I also feel like I've gotten them cheaper before, but I can't be sure on that...
-Taylor

[JCA @ Feb 14th 2006 9:07PM]

Tis true.....That ink ain't free....but neither is the crap on top of LightScribe media that makes it "scribable".

That said, I get what yer sayin.....lightscribe will blow ass until write times for a fairly complex label drop to below 5 minutes

[Uncle Jerry @ Feb 14th 2006 9:37PM]

I have lightscribe on my Lacie DVD burner and it's great when your making a cd or dvd for somebody. If you have any knowledge of photoshop you can make some amazing covers, in greyscale... It may take a while to burn it onto the disk but people are really impressed with a disk that doesn't have a label or sharpie on it...

[Matt @ Feb 14th 2006 9:50PM]

I got lightscribe in my HP laptop. Luckily it was a free upgrade from basic DL DVD writer to one with lightscribe but when i burned the first label - i thought I did something wrong because it took about 30 minutes to do it. Now another obstacle i've encountered is that there are no Dual layer DVD's with lightscribe....I can't even imagine what the price will be... I bought a regular DL DVD+R today (3 pack) at target for $11.00 - Screw that... I know I overpaid as i can get dl dvd's online for about half the price but i was in a rush but still no luck with DL Lightscribe DVD.. The technology is cool but the burning time sucks big monkey balls... so Epson and inkjet DVD's might be a better idea...and you can always

[Mike @ Feb 14th 2006 10:00PM]

You can get LightScribe discs for a lot less than $1/cd.

All the office supply, brick and mortar stores, as well as internet resellers have 10 per, 20 per, and 30 per spindles for a lot less than $1 per disc. Sometimes approaching $0.30 on my last purchase.

Heck, you can still pay $1/CD for ordinary CDs if you don't shop carefully!

Yes, the burn time stinks; but the results are lasting.

Mike

[tiuk @ Feb 14th 2006 10:20PM]

At work I have a thermal disc printer for labelling backup DVDs. It's made by Casio, don't remember the model number, but it was somewhere around $70 or so and can print about 40 labels per tape. New tapes are like 3 for $18 or something like that. It can print to any disc that has a shiny top surface. IMO, it's a great solution if all you want is to label a disc and maybe have some kind of clipart-type graphic (like the company's logo).

[flareak @ Feb 15th 2006 9:30AM]

okay, kobol's last gleaming was by far the best episode. i mean, who wouldn't like to see a bunch of naked boomer's saying "We love you". instead, we get to see gaius and richard hatch... yipeeee

[Michael @ Feb 15th 2006 11:50AM]

Matt, I have a Dual Layer writer with Lightscribe, Lacie makes it for the Mac, but I would think that someone would make a PC version too (or maybe this one works?)

[TurboFool @ Feb 15th 2006 2:24PM]

Yeah, I think I'll stick with the Epson Stylus Photo R220 that I can get for $50 after rebate (or free with a camera) that not only prints full-color CDs that look professional, but will just happen to print some of the best damn photos I can get at home. Oh, and the discs are pretty cheap for it, even in stores, and when you start buying huge spindles online most of them are printable now, anyway.

[vidGuy @ Feb 16th 2006 2:46PM]

Ink can run. Stickers are bad for the discs. Sharpied-labels look cheap. I'll stick with my Lightscribe. If you use a pure black and white image you can get a much better label than the one pictured here. And I don't know where you are getting a $1 per CD-R price, I pay $0.60 per DVD-R.

[Nick @ Feb 18th 2006 10:04AM]

A few thigs I have noticed here that I would like to comment on. I am the owner of http://www.LightScribeCovers.com. What I think people are forgeting is that lightscribe technology is only about a year old. Was the first cd burner that came out able to burn a full cd in 2 minutes or less. And how long did we wait to burn a DVD using a 1x DVD Burner.

I do agree that it could be faster, cheaper, and in color. And although the images are only etched in monochrome you need to see one in person to trully see how well it comes out. The scanned images on a computer screen does not give it justice.

As for printing on the cd's. You have to take into effect the cost of ink and take a look at the reviews on Amazon where many people claim that after about 20 uses they are worthless.

VErbatim announced not to long ago that they will be releasing a disc that is 30% faster and HP claims to be working on a full color disc.

New technology takes time to grow but needs support to get off the ground.

[HeavyMetalLucidity @ Feb 23rd 2006 1:26PM]

I think lightscribe and labelflash are both cool technologies. I agree that it will take time for things to progress as the drives and media just came out. Really, no one started out burning at 52x I remember the over 30min wait for burning a cd-r a 2x and even 4x speeds. It may take a few years but the speeds will increase, the quality will increase, and the color will probably be added too.

On the quality of that image there... yep that was a color image that was used so it really does take away from the maximum potential of a "custom" label. However, that is what you will likely see if you plan on doing cds and dvds in that manner. Doing a picture in greyscale would yeild much better results given the cd/dvds obvious monochromness. I agree with the previous statement up there too you really would need to see one to see the quality.

[P12 @ Dec 28th 2006 1:32AM]

LightScribe discs are cheap. ebay... 50pack of DVD+R rounds out to $0.48 for each disc and a 25pack of CD-R rounds out to $0.20 for each disc, plus if you buy in bulk you can get shipping free and the price per disc drops dramaticaly. Allthough, if your not going to burn enough data to have to buy in bulk, you need to pass on LightScribe, cause all these weekend warriors pay out the nose for their one CD/DVD a month.