AfterDawn: News

TDK and Primera show off inkjet printable BD-R media

The TDK Corporation and Primera Technology showed off the world's first inkjet printable Blu-Ray Disc recordable write-once (BD-R) media. The discs are designed to be compatible with CD/DVD-compatible inkjet printers. The discs will incorporate Durabis 2, TDKs hard coating technology to protect the disc from scratching. The discs are on display at TDK booth #C10741 and Primera booth #SL1233 at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Show in Las Vegas.

"Composed of copper and silicon, TDK's exclusive recording material delivers remarkable, long-lasting performance," stated Bruce Youmans, TDK Vice President of Marketing. "We see many applications that will benefit immensely from its long life and massive data capacity. Being able to print direct-to-disc with Primera's disc publishing equipment allows the media to be used with many new and exciting applications."



The 25GB discs will be available in the third quarter of 2006, and it is hoped the 50GB versions will be available during the same period. "Primera is pleased to partner with TDK to bring the first inkjet printable BD-R to market," said Mark D. Strobel, Primera Technology's vice president of sales and marketing. "TDK BD-R is the perfect solution for our customers who will be using high-capacity BD-R media for backup and archival, data storage, high-definition video and a host of other cutting-edge applications."

No details were given on how much the discs will cost.

Sources:
Tom's Hardware Guide
LetsGoDigital

Written by: James Delahunty @ 26 Apr 2006 15:08

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• 22 comments

• plutonash

  not withstanding TDK's terrible DVD media they now want to sell inkjet BD-R. Its a know fact if you value your DVDs you never print labels on them as any inbalance will basically leave you with a Coaster.
  "TDK BD-R is the perfect solution for our customers who will be using high-capacity BD-R media for backup and archival, data storage, high-definition video and a host of other cutting-edge applications."
  Yeah right... why all the DRM then f'en liars.

  26.4.2006 19:03 #1

• hot_ice

  If anything, you never put labels on your dvd's, ive put some, and the end result was a no play!
  
  So its the same crap on a different format, youpee!
  
  

  26.4.2006 20:09 #2

• hovis71

  You guys are full of sh*t, ive put many of labels on dvds and cds and never had a problem with it. You just have to center it on and make sure the edges dont hang over or you will have problems, as for imbalace of the labels youd have to be pretty f*cking blind and have bad arthritis to really screw up the label so that the "imbalancing" feature becomes a problem.

  27.4.2006 00:28 #3

• OzMick

  Uhh, guys, they're talking about inkjet printables. I don't think a few MICROlitres of ink is going to affect the balance of a disc. It hasn't done a thing to any DVDs of mine. What I WOULD worry about is damage to the disc itself with Bluray, there isn't much between the polycarbonate and the data, and if you're handling the disc in a printer tray there is a high risk of scratches, which the Bluray is NOT going to be tolerant of.

  27.4.2006 03:36 #4

• plutonash

  "You guys are full of sh*t, ive put many of labels on dvds and cds and never had a problem with it. You just have to center it on and make sure the edges dont hang over or you will have problems, as for imbalace of the labels youd have to be pretty f*cking blind and have bad arthritis to really screw up the label so that the "imbalancing" feature becomes a problem."
  Could you be more full of shit? Check out <grasps> Ad own DVD blank media forum forums located at <gasps> http://forums.afterdawn.com/forum_view.cfm/47
  What are going to recommend next the Memerex Media is the bomb or its alright to label DVDs with inkball pens.

  27.4.2006 04:33 #5

• Dela

  Quote:You guys are full of sh*t, ive put many of labels on dvds and cds and never had a problem with it. You just have to center it on and make sure the edges dont hang over or you will have problems, as for imbalace of the labels youd have to be pretty f*cking blind and have bad arthritis to really screw up the label so that the "imbalancing" feature becomes a problem.Try to keep news comments as news comments. If you have something to say persona;lly to a member (or 2), they have PM inboxes.

  27.4.2006 08:16 #6

• hovis71

  Hey whatever, im just stating an opinion about the fact that labeling a cd/dvd is no big deal and that its hard to imbalance a cd/dvd OzMick is right, the little ink you do use is no big deal, and maybe we should actually read the article and understand whats really being talked about before bitching and moaning about something totally different
  

  27.4.2006 16:16 #7

• BUDDD

  "TDK's exclusive recording material delivers remarkable, long-lasting performance,"
  
  How long lasting?? weeks?? months?? Years?? decades???
  
  And why "remarkable"???? It either works or it doesnt.
  
  Salespeak bullsh*t..

  28.4.2006 08:31 #8

• vidserv

  Some of you obviously don't understand inkjet technology. Do you have a better idea on how to get information on a disc? We duplicate (not replicate) hundreds of DVD's and CD's a month using Print Factory inkjet disc printers. We cannot give the customers discs with no labels!! The ink is printed directly on the disc. I cannot fathom that the amount of ink used on a disc can cause an imbalance any more than what is printed on a movie DVD would cause an imbalance. We never even had problems with the old paper labels (DVD's only, never CD's). The other option is thermal printing which we have no experience with but I have never heard of a problem with any of the current print technologies.

  29.4.2006 14:47 #9

• hot_ice

  No no no, the first guy swears, and the second claims he has a company.
  
  Well, I am a private citizen, with no such company or no such inkjet machine that colour schemes whatever on the CD.
  
  Personally, I am talking out of experience, that some labels make a movie or game hard to read, AND HOW CAN THIS BE FALSE IF IT IS THE DIFFICULTY I EXPERIENCED WITH THEM?!!?
  
  Also, buddy, I don't see the average consummer printing ink directly on the cd or dvd, so yet again, good for you and your company.

  29.4.2006 16:49 #10

• OzMick

  Whoa, chill out dude. Almost any half decent inkjet printer these days comes with a cartridge for doing CD/DVD labels. On what basis do you make the claim "average consumer"? The vast majority of discs I see these days are inkjet printable, odds are any you use are too. You can usually tell they are printable if they have a slightly matte feel to the surface.
  
  Your own ignorance on the topic does not imply that it is out of the realm of the average user.
  

  "I love it when a plan comes together..."
  John "Hannibal" Smith

  29.4.2006 17:36 #11

• hot_ice

  Ozmick
  
  I can refute your argument, however, it would be much easier to pass reference on Chris Rock's standup impression of Michael Jackson and sum it up in a whole word for you to get a feel of what I am saying...
  
  "Yes!"

  29.4.2006 22:49 #12

• OzMick

  *UNSUBSCRIBED*
  
  
  

  "I love it when a plan comes together..."
  John "Hannibal" Smith

  30.4.2006 04:49 #13

• vidserv

  To the non believer, I do have a company (www.vidserv.com). As for consumer printers, Epson has a CD/DVD printer for around $100. As an average consumer, I would purchase one if I didn't have access to company equipment. As to playback problems, I have never seen any I could attribute to the inkjet label, just disc "write" errors (certain computer programs can even locate the disc error). As for TDK, our experience is they are good, not great, but good enough to use in an emergency since Costco sells them and we don't have to wait for a shipment. Our best experience has been with Fujii or Prodisc (which supposedly makes Fujii). Some bargain basement priced discs have shown a higher return and now with prices being so close between brands, we skip those altogether. There seems to be a connection between how "purple" the backside of the disc is and quality, probably due to the types of dies used. Deeper purple, better disc, but I cannot assume that. I would suggest to those that think inkjet printing causes problems to look for more logical reasons such as burn errors, bad discs, and even problems that some websites attribute to brands of DVD burners working less well with certain brands of discs.

  30.4.2006 10:34 #14

• hot_ice

  @Ozmick
  
  I was simply illustrating that I wanted to deal with your premises jocularly, and if you choose to jump to conclusions with your senseless libel and choose to label me as ignorant in the process, good for you.
  
  But I tell you this, "quotes are nothing but inspiration for the uninspired" and your inference has no merit whatsoever either in writing or at the very end of my day.
  
  Regards,
  H_I

  30.4.2006 11:40 #15

• heinlein

  I am just an average guy who has used an Epson Stylus Photo R200 to print labels on hundreds of DVDs and CDs, this is a cheap readily available method of producing good looking discs without having to use stick-on labels which can have various problems.
  
  I recently switched to Verbatim DVD+Rs after using Ridata discs for years so I don't have personal knowledge of TDK quality, but I am glad the printable discs are available for the new format as they are the solution to eliminate the problems NOT the cause.

  30.4.2006 22:13 #16

• sammorris

  Wow, this thread deteriorated fast! I personally can't fathom how a label would cause a problem, but then I don't use them.
  

  1.5.2006 15:15 #17

• hot_ice

  Sammoris, this threat is just fine, don't concern yourself with trivialities.

  1.5.2006 18:12 #18

• flyingv

  I believe everyone is overlooking one detal, the cost factor! Why in the world would anyone pay the price for these new disc in the first place (I hear $20/$25 for a single 25 GB disc!). DL DVD+/-'s are just now coming down to the point of where the majority of consumers, like myself, are willing to pay for them. So what if you can get 25 GB on one disc if it cost more than a new hard drive?!!! Is it going to hold 3 or 4 movies which my DVD player can play or even reconize? I'd just as soon use 3 DL's instead! As to the printable section of this comment, I personally have labeled at least 500 cd's in the past and NEVER had a playback problem as long as the label is centered correctly. With the "Devices" out there to center them for you, it is a no-brainer and as far as as printing directly onto the surface, that is the best way to do label any disc due to the weight of the ink v/s weight of a label. Luck to all!!!

  2.5.2006 07:32 #19

• sammorris

  lol forget labels, I just use marker pens, no issues to date!

  2.5.2006 08:14 #20

• flyingv

  I do the same thing also, sammorris, with my DVD's and now with most of my CD's also unless someone request something special, then I go all out for them. Markers have never given me a problem either. Thank-you for the added advice. Luck to all!!!

  2.5.2006 14:23 #21

• hot_ice

  Ya those indelible markers are definetely the way to go!

  2.5.2006 22:12 #22