What Is CDR | What Is a CDR File | What Is CDrom & CDrw

CoptechDigital.com > Service > Frequently Asked Questions

> What's CD-R? CD-RW? CD-ROM?

> What is DVD?

> Can I just copy files onto a CD-R like I would to a floppy disc?

> Do you test my CD/DVD master?

> Whats the difference between digital print & offset print?

> I've been making my own CDs using label art I created in a desktop disc labeling program, can you use this for screenprinting?

> How much will the mailing costs be for my direct mail piece?

> Can I just email you the contents of my CD or artwork?

> How soon can you deliver my job?

> The L's & I's in my proof look extra bold, what's the story?

> Can I get a hard-copy proof for my CD screenprint?

> What is the difference between silk-screened labels, paper labels, and black thermal printed labels?

> What kinds of packaging do you have?

> What is the turn around time for production?

> We don't have a CD or DVD recorder, can you make our master?

> What input formats do you accept for DVD?

> Do you have any recommendations for CD burning software?

> What brand CD-R and DVD-R media do you use, what brand should we put our master on?

> Can you create our artwork for us?

> What file formats do you accept for artwork?

> Can we make additional copies of our project at another time?

> Can you copy copyright protected DVDs, CDs, VHS tapes, or even just a disc of songs I downloaded from the internet?

> What if I made a master cd of songs to make copies of as a gift at my wedding or party, will you copy it for me?

What's CD-R? CD-RW? CD-ROM?
CD-R is short for "CD-Recordable". Recordable CDs are WORM (Write Once, Read Multiple) media that work just like CDROMs. CD-Rewritable (CD-RW) allows you to erase discs and reuse them, but the CD-RW media doesn't work in all players. CD-ROMs are identical to CD-Rs in functionality, however the production process is different. CD-ROMs are created from a glass master and stamped in large numbers, whereas CD-Rs are burned by a laser one at a time.

What is DVD?
DVD is the new generation of optical disc storage technology. DVD is essentially a bigger, faster CD that can hold cinema-like video, better-than-CD audio, still photos, and computer data. DVD aims to encompass home entertainment, computers, and business information with a single digital format. It has replaced laserdisc, is well on the way to replacing videotape and video game cartridges, and could eventually replace audio CD and CD-ROM.

Can I just copy files onto a CD-R like I would to a floppy?
Sorry, No. Some operating systems do allow UDF cdrs to be made in this manner however UDF format doesn't work for duplication. If you are making a CD master for duplication, there are guidelines that must be followed to make your CD "duplication-ready". These guidelines include that the CD should be redbook or orangebook standard (mode 1, once write in juliet format).

Do you test my CD/DVD master?
No. We guarantee that the copies we make will be 100% exact to the master you supply and we virus check each master before duplication, however we do NOT test masters for functionality as a rule. If you need us to test/modify your master, we will be happy to do so as a billable service.

Whats the difference between digital print & offset print?
Offset printing is the old/traditional method of printing where films & plates are created from a layout and many thousands of identical pieces are produced. Digital printing is comprable to offset print quality but without the film & plate costs. It is also much easier to personalize each print which offers the advantage of more targetability in advertising and being inexpensive for quick-run jobs. Our digital prints are of a surprisingly high quality and are more than suitable for personalized prints such as newsletters, direct mail, business cards, posters and other stationery. We can also easily personalize every individual print with variable images or text.

I've been making my own CDs using label art I created in a desktop disc labeling program, can you use this for screenprinting?
Chances are if you are using a consumer-level program, it will not output a file that is ready for offset screen printing. You can try exporting your file as an EPS or Print-Ready PDF and we will take a look at it, however it will probably be out of spec. for color, resolution and size. If you supply us with the individual elements used in the layout and a color reference, we can usually get your layout completed in under an hour, depending on the complexity.

How much will the mailing costs be for my direct mail piece?
The post office assigns mailing costs depending on the size, weight and indicia usage. There are far too many permutations possible to list here but a good starting guideline is our "Direct Mail A to Z" white paper.

Can I just email you the contents of my CD or artwork?
No. In most cases, the contents for your cd/dvd master or hi-res artwork will be far too large for email. In the cases where you need to send us files electronically, we can set up an FTP account in just a matter of minutes for you exclusively.

How soon can you deliver my job?
Delivery timeframes are quoted for each specific job. If you do need your job delivered really quickly, please fill out our "Ultra-Fast Turn" form and contact your salesperson with ALL the necessary details.

The L's & I's in my proof look extra bold, what's the story?
Our electronic proofs are PDFs that sometimes include both vector and bitmap artwork. There are versions of Acrobat Reader that do not initially display vector elements correctly, however this is just a display issue... if you zoom in, they do clear right up.

Can I get a hard-copy proof for my CD screenprint?
Yes, however a paper print will not be accurate to color. The only way to accurately proof a CD or DVD screenprint for color is to produce a One-Off CD. This option is pricey though due to the films & setup involved. If color-accuracy is a concern, please communicate your color-match requirements to our prepress specialist. In many cases, we will have a solution for you which won't require a One-Off proof.

What is the difference between silk-screened labels, paper labels, and black thermal printed labels?
Those are three very different methods for printing your artwork on your CD or DVD. We always recommend screenprinting (silkscreen) for the highest quality/durability and can print up to 6 colors onto your disc. If you artwork is only black text and a small volume, we may opt to black thermal print onto them. This is a black wax print which looks comprable to screenprint if it's just text. If your artwork is low resolution or does not translate well for silk-screening, or is too small a quantity, we may suggest paper label due to cost factors. We do not inkjet print our cds. Color matching and Pantone colors are impossible with ink jet printed cds or DVDs, and the ink is water soluble, making it very easy for an inkjet label to get smudged.

What kinds of packaging do you have?
We have an unlimited selection of packaging for you to choose from. Anything from recycled packaging, standard jewelcases, paper sleeves, to custom printed sleeves, etc. Please discuss your packaging needs with your sales rep. We would be happy to accommodate whatever your needs are.

What is the turn around time for production?
For most jobs our turn around time is approx. 3-5 business days. However this really depends on your job and can vary quite a bit depending on the complexity. Rush turns are available. Please specify your due date and fill out the form on our ultra-fast turn page to get everything together.

We don't have a CD or DVD recorder, can you make our master?
Absolutely! You can FTP the contents of your disc to us, we will master it for you, and then send you a check disc for testing. There is a fee for this service.

What input formats do you accept for DVD?
We accept any videotape format, please see our DVD mastering page for more information.

Can you make our master readable on both Macintosh and PC?
Yes, we can master your CD so that is a hybrid disc. Please ask your sales rep for our fee for this service.

Do you have any recommendations for CD burning software?
There are so many these days, but we use Nero on the PC, and Toast on the Mac. Both are excellent for CD/DVD duplication.

What brand CD-R and DVD-R media do you use, what brand should we put our master on?
We use industry-standard professional Grade A duplication media. We recommend you use quality name brand media, not the "no name" brand x media you find in a discount bin at a store. The better the grade of disc, the less possibility it will be rejected for duplication.

Can you create our artwork for us?
Absolutely, we have very talented and professional graphic designers on staff every day. We can offer whatever design services you need at an hourly rate.

What file formats do you accept for artwork?
We accept all industry-standard artwork formats including Quark, InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator. We also accept PDFs, however in most cases, we prefer the source artwork due to issues with downsampling of PDFs to lower quality, usage of RGB elements and missing "bleed", cropmarks, etc... Please review our Graphic Specifications for more details.

Can we make additional copies of our project at another time?
Yes, we will hold onto your master unless you ask for it to be returned. We will also file your master & films/impositions in our library for future reorders and so your entire project can be recreated easily.

Can you copy copyright protected DVDs, CDs, VHS tapes, or even just a disc of songs I downloaded from the internet.
We will NOT duplicate a copyright protected master without you showing us that you have the legal permission from the copyright owner for you to duplicate the master. For music compilation cds, you must provide us the mechanical licensing form for EACH song. You can obtain these forms and pay licensing fees to the Harry Fox Agency in New York City.

What if I made a master cd of songs to make copies of as a gift at my wedding or party, will you copy it for me?
No, we cannot duplicate copyright recordings no matter what you are doing with it. That is a copyright infringement. You must license the songs and give us a copy of your licensing permission paperwork.