Will putting a label on a CD hurt it?

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Actually, the most damage is from a label not perfectly centered on the disc.

If a label is at all lopsided it will effect the spon of the disc and will lead to failure much sooner than otherwise.

Yes, I have applied labels to discs although I stopped years ago. I just do what Leo suggests, the sharpie notation is the way to go.

I still have and can read from the cd's that have labels that I applied properly. The ones that had labels that were a wee bit off center are long gone.

I use centre transparent portion around the hole of CD/DVD for labelling.

I understand data is not written on this part so its the safest place to write. On the down side you need to write minimum & small.

Leo, I wonder whether we can use ordinary pencil for labelling. Does its lead may harm the CD/DVD ?

~Furqan

as a start thanks your efforts Leo,I just wanted to add my previous experience with adding labels to CD's ,using special CD labels ,commercially avialable in the market, does not hurt and now with the special technology of "Lightscribe" also is possible to label CD's but is possible only using special type of CD's.

I don't know if someone's already said this but you can buy CD's with printable surfaces on them so that you can print a label directly onto the disk with a printer. I've used these for the past year and never had any problems what so ever. I have a Canon PIXMA iP4000 and the software that came with it to do this CD labeling works fine for me. You can also get printable DVD discs as well.

I've made photo compilation discs for my relatives and then printed a nice photo onto the disc and everyone's been pleased with the result.

So if you tend to do a lot of burning discs and then putting labels on the disc I think that getting printable discs and a printer that can print onto CD/DVD's is one of the better options.

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Yikes - I didn't expect a simple typo of a single word to
generate an argument in the comments.

So yes, Don & Glenn, I totally agree that writing reflects
on the writer. In fact I've written about it before here on
the site. But, alas, I am human. I am not perfect, nor will
I ever be. It's one reason I have an editor review each
article within a week of it being published. (Yes, I
publish, then edit - it's a conscious choice made so as not
to slow down the publication process.)

But if you're turning away from places because they have the
occasional typo ... well, there's probably not much left for
you to read, particularly on the internet. :-)

I also wanted to address JB's comment about not speaking in
absolutes.

I can't. Seriously, as soon as I say "this will work" - it
won't, and someone will be pissed off or worse. And yes, I'm
quite gun shy of that issue. One of the most difficult
problems I face trying to help people is that everyone's
computer, everyone's situation is different and I can't see
the specifics.

As you yourself say there are no absolutes. This is
something I honestly struggle with each time I write. My
approach has been to say "this is what I do and what works
for me" which is both honest and accurate and typically
(another waffle) is the 90% solution.

Leo

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I just looked at some CD marking pens made by Memorex- The "magic" word on them is
WATER BASED.

I don't think he "consistently" misspells words. And I did go back over the article several times and could not find the misspelling. I had to assume it must have been on the picture of the cd. Misspelled words are irritating to me and I normally pick up on them right away. But I still think Leo does a great job and if he does mess up somewhere he admits it and goes on. If you read your own post you misspelled unworthy (left off the y on the end) but that doesn't make me think you are a "low-grade moron unworth(sic) of our attention". No one is perfect. We can only strive for it.

Ok I've reread the article again and this time I do see the misspelled word. Leo you get 40 lashes with a wet noodle for a misspelled word. I still believe you are doing a great job with answering all the questions thrown at you. Thanks for all you do; you're doing a good job. And hey, I don't have a halo either. :^)

leo, I'm sure we've all heard the old adage, if you never make a mistake you're not doing enough so I for one welcome your typos...lol I think you have the greatest newsletter out here specially since gizmo has gone over to the dark side merging with windows secrets. You're easily number one now...imho of course.

What a load of crap. I've done them all for years; full face labels, address size labels, sharpies. I have never seen a disk get out of balance. The "glue" on labels is not gonna damage the plastic. Never has, never will.

Now tell the truth, who has actually had a cd vibrate itself to pieces due to an off center label?

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