CD/DVD Printer Review:
DYMO DiscPainter CD/DVD Printer

If all the CDs/DVDs that you burn end up going to friends or family, you might not need this story, but if money is at all involved, in any way, keep reading. If you are starting to put yourself out there as a videographer, even if it's pro bono, and you are starting to feel anxious or nervous about how neat and pretty you can label your burned media using just a sharpie, this article can help.

In a profession that is all about the quality of how your work looks, it can be surprising just how much the presentation of that work matters. Whether it's weddings, commercials, corporate work, live events or a presentation video, simple things such as the DVD design can go a long way. It's notable how one will judge the actual content of the work based solely on the presentation and packaging. Keeping all that in mind, if you are serious about presenting yourself professionally, then the DYMO DiscPainter is a smart move for you.

With its intuitive design application and beautiful printing capabilities, the only real question to ask yourself is if buying the DYMO DiscPainter is cost-effective for you.

The first thought that popped into my mind when I took the DYMO DiscPainter out of the box was just how convenient the size was. At just 10 1/2 inches long by 5 1/2 inches wide, the DYMO doesn't take up much room. Through all the testing and examination, I kept going back to this one nice essential feature as one of its high points. It can really make a difference for those who have a crowded workspace.

Along with the disc burner, the DYMO also came with several inkjet-printable burnable CDs, two ink cartridges, an install disc, USB cable and power cord. Setup was a cinch. Just plug in power, and connect the USB from the printer to your computer. Installation was a bit rocky. Several attempts at installation gave me an error message that I couldn't shake. My first installation attempt was on Apple's new operating system, Leopard; my second was on Tiger. Both had the same error message, but I ended up installing the printer manually on Tiger, which fixed the problem. Once I'd overcome that road bump, it was time to jump into some design work.

The Discus for DYMO design application makes creation easy. You can choose from several disc brand templates to ensure your design will fit the disc you are working on. In this case, I was using the homegrown DYMO disc that came with the printer. Getting around the application was pretty easy, and I never had to refer to any manuals to figure out what I wanted to do. DYMO definitely receives high marks for its easy-to-use intuitive interface.

To help you create your disc design, Discus for DYMO has tabs for Paint, Symbol, Grid, Canvas, Photo and Text, to give you complete creative control. For example, the Paint tab is like a mini-Photoshop, with basic Photoshop tools like brush stroke, spray can, stamp tool and shapes.

The Photo tab allows you to import pictures already stored on your computer and manipulate them in several ways, such as crop, color, frame, add shadows and much more. The Photo tab also has a collage effect that allows you get even more creative with your pictures, allowing a unique look in a professional way.

I printed my first disc with a template provided by the Discus for DYMO application. This was pretty straightforward: just click on the Canvas tab and choose the design you like. You can also manipulate the given template in a myriad of ways. Add your own photo, change the design with Paint or give it titles with the Text tab.

My second design used personal stock photos. I spent about 45 minutes playing with and changing them within the Discus for DYMO application. It was fun and easy, and I was able to create a CD design that I was happy with. The software also allows you to design a jewel case insert using the same tools.

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