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The generic duplication turnaround is 3-5 business days, while replication is a 7 – 10 day turnaround.

Screen or Offset printing of CDR and DVD-R media is within 5-7 business days. Paper part like booklets and cardboard sleeves take about 10 business days.

Talk to our team for our express service for urgent deliveries


How to make a CD-ROM work on both PC and Mac?

You will need a hybrid CD. Hybrid CDs can be created on both PC and Mac if you have the right tools. On the Mac, Roxio Toast is the champion. You can find detail descriptions on how to make hybrid CDs using Toast from Roxio support website. Link is http://www.roxio.com/en/support/toast/toasthybrid.jhtml

On the PC side, there is a nifty software call CDEveryWhere that can create a hybrid CD ISO file. You can use any CD burning software to re-create the CD from the ISO file. http://www.cdeverywhere.com/index.shtml


How can I prevent people from copying my CD-ROM or DVD-ROM?

No, you can't. Some way or other people can copy your CD or DVD if they spend enough time on it. There are software available on the net that can help people pirate your CD/DVD. You can, however, make it more difficult so an average guy won't or a smart guy would think it's not worth spending the time. Just search on "cd copy protection" and you will get tons of suggestions.


How to make a DVD from VHS?

Most VHS tapes wear out somewhere after only 10-15 years even if you don't watch them. Converting VHS movies to DVD helps add more life to the original tape, while also preserving your investment.

Video on a DVD is in form of digital signal whereas video on a VHS tape is in form of analog signal. To make a DVD out of VHS you'll first need to convert the analog signal into digital signal. The process of doing this is called digitization. Digitalization can be done either using hardware capture card on a computer or through a camcorder with analog input feature.

Most Sony Digital8 models have the analog input feature that allows you to feed in the analog video signal and the convert the analog signal into digital. To receive the converted digital signal from your computer, your computer must be equipped with a 1394 adapter (or firewire). It goes like this: You play the VHS tape on a VCR and wire the video output of the VCR to the analog input of the camcorder. From the camcorder there is a 1394 outlet that you can use another set of cable (called iLink by Sony) to wire from the 1394 output to the 1394 input of your computer.

Most new computers on the market (especially the laptops) may have an embedded 1394 adapter. In case this is not true, you can get a 1394 PCI adapter for less then $50 now.

Once the video is captured into the computer, you can use any video editing software to edit the video. Editing includes trimming, adding effects, adding transitions, etc. Your video editing software will most likely to have the DVD burning interface for you to burn the DVD, assuming you do have a DVD burner attached to the computer.

The most popular video editing software are: Adobe Premiere, Ulead DVD Workshop, Sonic DVD Producer, and Sonic Scenarist. For home usage Adobe and Ulead should be enough. Your camcorder may also be bundled with simple DVD authoring software such as Sonic MyDVD.


How to make a DVD from miniDV?

Video stored on a miniDV is already in digital form. All you need is just to play the video on the camcorder and then capture the video using the 1394 wired to your PC. Once the video is captured, you can use DVD authoring software to create the DVD and burn the DVD with DVD burning software such as NERO or Roxio Easy Media Creator.


How do I prepare artwork for the replication?

Download the artwork templates in Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, or Quark. These are the most commonly used graphics editing software available on the market. If you prefer to build the artwork from scratch without using the template, remember these attributes: 300 dpi and CMYK mode. Don't try to digitally increase the resolution by entering 300 dpi into the program unless your original artwork resolution is higher than 300 dpi. In doing so the picture looks bigger but the quality of the picture is not increased. On the contrary, the quality of the picture worsens.

To get a true 300 dpi picture, you should get a picture with enough pixels. The dpi of the picture is not really important. You can have a 72 dpi picture but 2000 pixels across. When this picture is scaled down onto the CD artwork template, the result will be very good. On the other hand, if you have a 300 dpi picture but with only 200 pixels across, then when the picture is scaled up onto the CD artwork template, it will look blurry and the result won't be impressive.

Once you have your artwork designed, you should burn it onto a blank CD and send it to us. If you choose to email the artwork us, make sure to zip it or stuff it before sending.


Why does the artwork need to be in CMYK mode?

CMYK is short for Cyan-Magenta-Yellow-Black, and pronounced as separate letters. CMYK is a color model in which all colors are described as a mixture of these four process colors. CMYK is the standard color model used in offset printing for full-color documents. Because such printing uses inks of these four basic colors, it is often called four-color printing.

When your artwork is in CMYK mode, it makes it easier for making the film that is required for the printing. If your artwork is in RGB mode, you will need to change it to CMYK mode. In most cases the changing from RGB to CMYK is completely unnoticeable. But in many cases the change can distort the contrast and brightness of the original picture. Make sure to make some final touch-up to get the desired color you need. Pay special attention to the BLUE color. Changing a blue from RGB to CMYK is almost always noticeable.


What is bleed for an artwork?

Artwork that extends past the edge of the desired physical size is called a bleed. Bleed is needed only for products that require cutting or trimming to a specific size. For example, replicated hockey rink and rectangular CDs are cut out of a regular standard size CD. In that case bleed will become very important part of the artwork.

Often it's hard to make direct comparisons between quotes that you would receive for your replication requirement. To help you we've explained some of the issues, which should be kept in mind while deciding your vendor.

Clarity & Speed of Quote. To be able to make an informed choice when selecting between duplication suppliers, you need a quote that is clear and easy to understand. How your potential supplier deals with your quote is likely to reflect how they will deal with your order. A speedy and accurate quote is a good sign.

What are being quoted? There are several ways to duplicate and print your DVDs or CDs which vary in cost and print quality. Your duplication options are Recordable Media used for smaller volumes or 'Pressed' media for larger quantities. The common printing options available to you are Paper label, Thermal colour or black print, colour Ink Jet print, Screen Print and full colour offset Print. Different options have different costs and varies in quality too.

Artwork. The print process determines the type of artwork you will need to supply. Screen and offset printing work from 'films'. In most cases you have the option of arranging films yourself, or having your chosen duplication supplier provide this as an extra service. Film charges are generally quoted as extras and costs vary widely with some companies quoting per 'film' with one required per colour and others per 'set' of 5.

Artwork Problems. Problems during a duplication project are often Artwork related and can cause delays. Good duplication companies will issue specifications for your artwork to ease film production. These specifications should be easy for your designer to understand, however it's worth checking with a prospective duplication company how much they will charge for any amends, should your artwork not meet their specifications.

Quality of Print. One of the variables which affects the final outcome of screen printed media is the maximum resolution or LPI (Lines Per Inch) of the film artwork. A higher LPI means a higher resolution of print. Due to differences in equipment between duplicators this will vary and materially affects finished quality.

Technical Backup. Can you rely on your supplier for technical information? As well as technical details for your artwork, you will need specifications and guidance when producing your duplication Masters.

Recordable Media & Equipment. The media and equipment used for your shorter run CD and DVD duplication order will have a direct impact on the final quality of your disks.

Quality & Virus checks during production. A Virus check by your supplier prior to duplication acts as a backstop to your own checks.

Turnaround times. Are they quoted and are they realistic?

Quality of packaging. you will be amazed to see the range of quality that is available for CD packaging like jewel case , DVD case etc. Depending on the quality a DVD case could cost you from $0.45 to as little as $0.10. Always ask for a sample if you are dealing with a new vendor.

Production Options. As you can see from the list of printing options above, there are several ways of producing CDs & DVDs. Even if you are working to a very close deadline, there is usually a way of getting your job done. You supplier should be able to offer alternatives, and be knowledgeable about the pros and cons of each option.

The cost of non-conformance. How much would producing or shipping a bad disk cost you? A bad demo disk might cost you a lost sale, and it's worse when you consider what the lifetime value of that client might have been. If you are shipping a low margin product, the cost of replacing bad disks could turn your profit into a loss.