Perfect Print - Advanced World Products (510) 226-9062

Index Marking- Perfect Print

Perfect Print Design Specifications (PDF format)

A single black, or cyan colored index mark is to be silkscreened on the disc with a specified relation to the pre-printed image.

Click the image for detailed information.

Perfect Print Alignment

When Perfect Print is enabled in the Production Server software, the system will use the Index Mark Angle parameter to align the disc with the printer prior to printing. The screened and printed images will be aligned to within system tolerances. Perfect Print adds roughly 40 seconds to print times.

The leading edge of the index mark may be placed at any angle (in steps of 0.25°) in the artwork. A user parameter (Index Mark Angle) in the Production Server software tells the system the angle of the index mark Perfect Print process does not create absolute alignment from CD to CD. Silk screen printing systems typically can hold an image to disk registration accuracy of ą0.1mm (0.004"). Positioning Accuracy is as follows:

Angular 1°

Horizontal (X) ą0.75mm (0.03")

Vertical (Y) ą0.25mm (0.01")

Index Mark Image

The index ring begins at a radius of 21.8mm (0.858") and extends to 25.2mm (0.992"). The index ring must have high reflectivity, either from silkscreening a white layer, or leaving the disk un-screened in the index ring area. No contrasting features other than a single index mark measuring at least 1.5mm by 3.4mm (0.059" by 0.134") may be present within the index ring. The leading edge of the index mark defines the angle. Notice in figure above, the index mark is to the left of the center, setting the index mark angle to a true zero degrees.

An Index Mark Angle parameter in the Production Server software tells the system the angle of the index mark. For convenience, Rimage recommends that all index marks be placed at 0 degrees as shown. For further index mark options, select this downloadable file for the complete specification and options:

Ink Receptivity
UV light exposure in the silk screen process can leave a film that inhibits proper transfer of ink. Prior to printing, clean the disc with isopropyl alcohol may remove the film. However, it is better to limit UV on surfaces to be printed.
In testing, offset-printed surfaces and lacquer media are very receptive to ink printing.
How can I reduce UV exposure and the resulting film?
During silk screening, each color is applied separately and cured by exposure to ultra-violet (UV) light. A design that used six colors can mean six separate exposures to UV light. Ink receptivity is reduced each time the disc is exposed to UV light.
Design the artwork so that the silk screen area to be printed on is applied last and only receives one exposure of UV light. In the figure below, blue was the third and final color to be applied so it only has one UV exposure. This silk screened area (C) will be most receptive to ink transfer.
The illustration highlights different areas where customized surface print will be most effective.
Area A is an area where the silk-screened edge has interfered with proper print pressure, resulting in broken text. Avoid printing directly over a silk-screened object.
Area B is an area that ensures sufficient print pressure for optimal success.
Area C is an area that has had only one UV exposure and will be most receptive to ink transfer.
Area D is an area that has had three UV exposures and may not be receptive to ink transfer.

Artwork Placement

How does thermal transfer work?

Rimage printers are a thermal transfer printer that must apply sufficient pressure to the print surface for proper imaging. The print head in the disc printer presses the ribbon against the disc surface developing a line of contact between the disc surface and the resin coated (ink) side of the ribbon. The disc and the ribbon move together past the stationary print head. The ribbon must be in immediate contact with every pixel to be printed on the disc.

Click on this image to see the different areas where customized surface print will be most effective.

What steps can I take to insure that that there is sufficient print pressure?

During the silk screened process, each color is applied separately and the surface of the disc could have a ridge or step at the edge of a color.
The surface of a disc will have steps at the object boundaries if:

screened with spot color objects
a spot color object is screened over another
where spot color coating thickness is unequal

These steps can prevent the printhead from developing sufficient pressure over print areas on the underlying inks.

Recordable Media has varying surface flatness
Some disc surfaces are too rough for successful thermal printing. These surfaces include ink-jet printable, process colored, or textured silk screen disc surfaces.

Disc surfaces that are inherently smooth enough for successful thermal printing are spin coated lacquer (blank discs); silk-screened single ink (major manufacturer's matte gold, white, or silver thermally printable discs); and offset printed discs.