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RSS feedsIn the early days of PCs, the only form of removable media was the humble floppy disk. We still use floppies today but their paltry size means each one can only hold just over 1Mb of data.
Being able to record our own CDs was a tremendous step forward in storage. They're not only useful for backup purposes; you can use them for archiving old files, creating music compilations from your favourite CDs, compiling digital music, making photo CDs and much more.
Once you buy your first CD-RW drive, you'll quickly start accumulating recorded CD-Rs. But how can you tell all those silver discs apart?
Design a label
As with floppies, the obvious solution is to create distinctive labels for your personal CDs. Many companies sell packs of white labels, usually two to an A4 sheet.
The weight and quality depend on which type of printer they are used with. Some firms, such as PressIT and Avery, also sell silver and gold labels. Avery even produces clear and holographic labels and PressIT has coloured ones.
Label quality is important and paying high prices doesn't necessarily mean high quality. Any maker's markings on the reverse, such as a brand name, will show through a thin label. Check out the description instead. Glossy or high-resolution labels are most suitable for labels with images on them and high-quality inkjet printing.
Next you need software to create a design for your label. Some CD-RW drives come packaged with CD-recording software, such as Ahead Nero or Roxio Easy CD Creator, with their own labelling options.
Easy CD Creator is also ideal for creating labels for music CDs. Not only does it contain a good selection of sample designs but it will automatically add track information to the label or case insert. The software picks this up from the recorded CD itself or can get it via the internet from an online music database.
Now comes the tricky part: sticking the label to the CD. If you sometimes find it hard to get a floppy label on straight, try sticking a round label on a CD by hand without creasing it. It isn't easy. That's why the best solution is to buy a CD labelling kit.
In most cases, these give you everything you need and guide you through all the stages from a plain CD to one with a professional looking label. They usually contain software, sample labels and an applicator to attach the label to the CD.
Read the label
Regardless of make, the design software contains layouts for the kit manufacturer's labels and sometimes for other brands too.
Occasionally there will also be third-party templates for software such as Microsoft Word and Adobe Photoshop, so you can use designs edited in those applications. Some programs supply sample layouts to show what can be achieved.
No matter how good your design, if your printer isn't calibrated the labels won't be positioned accurately.
All good printers include software within the driver to calibrate them, usually by printing a guide sheet with X and Y axes which, when folded, show you any adjustments that have to be made. See your printer's manual and its manufacturer's website for more details.
Label instructions
Here's a tip: after printing, turn the label sheet face down and peel the backing from the label, not the other way round, to minimise label curl. The applicator holds the printed label adhesive side up, as flat as possible.
The disk fits onto the applicator's central spindle with the side to be labelled underneath. Pushing down on the middle of the applicator pushes the CD onto the label and attaches it.
Having removed the labelled disk from the applicator, the final stage is to smooth the label to make sure it has stuck completely. The easy way is to gently run a finger over it but be careful not to scratch the data side of the disk.
Most CD labels are what the kit vendors call a classic design with a large central hole, leaving an uncovered circle in the middle disk. Full-face labels, with a small central hole so they cover almost the whole of the disk, are becoming more popular but only one of our test applicators accepted both types.
The number of labels supplied varies from one kit to another so find out if you can use any brand of labels when you run out of the ones supplied or whether you have to stick to the brand which came with it.
Bearing all these points in mind, which package has the edge over its competitors? We looked at seven, including one software-only package, to help you make an informed choice.
Avery Afterburner
Afterburner comes with a special edition of Avery's Design Pro software. Numerous templates are included and these are colourful enough to satisfy all tastes.
There's also a good selection of labels and inserts to get you started but the most eye-catching piece of the package is the innovative applicator. This is uniquely curved with a foam pad to cushion the label.
As you push the disk down, the whole applicator flexes to ensure a good fit. Another unusual point is that the labels have two tabs which aid the fixing process and these are easily removed once the label is securely attached.
In practice, it takes a few attempts to get used to the applicator, but once you do you're almost guaranteed great results.
Avery CD Stomper Pro
CD Stomper contains a large number of labels and insert sheets as well as a robust applicator. The software includes a good range of clipart and backgrounds plus a few templates but Avery's other product, Afterburner, has a design process which is more user-friendly.
The supplied labels are relatively thin and it's hard to keep them flat on the applicator. They also need a good rub to remove air bubbles after being 'stomped' and, because the spring on the applicator was so strong, our first disc leapt off the base and onto the floor.
However, the second attempt was more successful and the final results were good.
Neato 2000 CD Labeller Kit
The Neato kit comes with a small but comprehensive collection of labels and jewel case inserts, as well as its own MediaFace II design software. This is a competent program with a reasonable selection of good-quality background images.
Printer calibration is done by eye and is not as easy or as accurate as other methods. Applying the label is a breeze, despite the fact that the applicator is very basic with no tabs to secure the label against the central post. It's just a base with a plunger but it works well and that's really all you need.
PC Line CD labelling Kit
PC Line's package includes both ExPressIT and ExPressIT Lite software, three sheets of matt labels, one of glossy and one insert.
The low price of this kit is because of the small number of labels rather than the quality of the applicator, which is easy to use, and the central plunger has two small clips to neatly prevent the label from moving. It's a nice starter kit at a good price.
PressIT CD Labelling Kit
PressIT gets the award for the tallest applicator. It looks top-heavy but it's very stable and a cinch to use. The label fits snugly around the central plunger so there's no risk of it shifting as you attach the CD.
The kit includes a good selection of labels - 20 sheets in all - of different types including silver, gold and coloured. It also has an updated version of its own ExPressIT software, which is a great improvement on earlier versions.
The kit has only four sample designs and just one of these is for CDs but it shows the effects that can be achieved. It's also worth mentioning that PressIT also produces kits for labelling specialist media such as 3in mini-CDs.
PressIT Labelling Kit Lite
For an inexpensive introduction to CD labelling, consider PressIT Lite. It doesn't contain as many samples as its big brother, with just two sheets each of labels and inserts.
The applicator is a basic base and plunger rather than the snazzy piece supplied with the full kit and the software is ExPressIT Lite, a more basic version of ExPressIT. At such a bargain price, this is the most economical way to try CD labelling with a good-quality, robust applicator. The labels run out quickly but you can easily buy more.
Print Shop CD Label Creator
This is the only package that is software-only with no labels or applicator, but the Print Shop CD Label Creator software is the best of the lot. To get you started, it contains 1,021 layouts, more than 300 of which are for CD labels and templates for Avery and Neato products.
The associated images are excellent but the lack of an applicator is a major drawback and, if this had been a complete kit, it would have been rated much more highly.
Sticky decisions
This was a close run contest. PressIT's Lite kit was a good option on a very tight budget and PrintShop's software impressed us, but Avery came up with the best all-round solution.
Avery has been in business since 1935 when Stan Avery invented the first commercially feasible self-adhesive label, so history suggests that its Afterburner kit should be impressive. It doesn't disappoint. It's dearer than other kits but this is reflected in the quality of the labels, software and applicator.
When the time comes to buy more labels, lots of stockists carry them and you can find them quite cheaply.
Cheap, own-brand labels
You may have everything you need to label your CDs, even if you don't have an applicator. You don't even need labels; all you need is a marker pen. Some CD-RW drives, such as Sony's, come with a free pen. Then you can simply write the information onto the upper surface of the disk.
Permanent markers come in different thicknesses and colours so, with a bit of thought, you could even create colourful designs.
Also, some discs don't need labels because they already have coloured coatings. The different colours could be used to categorise them and then you can simply write a few identifying words on them with a marker. Even so, the end result will not look as professional as using one of the kits.
If all you've bought is a pack of labels, you could try being inventive. Use a graphics or drawing application such as Windows Paint and draw your own design.
Draw a circle slightly larger than the labels and work within its boundary. Add some colour, clipart and some text. It may take some time and experimentation to successfully print on the correct area of the sheet to cover the label but you'll have the satisfaction of saying it's all your own work.
And don't forget the CD-recording software we mentioned in the test, which offers a selection of label-creating tools.
Happy labelling!
See also:
Buying branded recordable CDs and DVDs could hit your pocket hard. We ask whether it's worth paying for a name 14 Jul 2004
All Peripheral Devices
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