Are you about to buy a burner with support for LightScribe technology and, therefore, would like to know what software you can use to take advantage of its printing functions on CDs and DVDs? Then I’d say you’ve landed on the right guide at the right time. With this tutorial of mine today, in fact, I’m going to show you what, in my humble opinion, are the best programs for LightScribe on the market. Satisfied?
In the following lines, then, we’re going to find out what software you can use to succeed in your intent acting both from Windows and macOS. In fact, there are several tools used for this purpose, all of them quite simple to use, even for those who, a bit like you, do not consider themselves a great expert in information technology and new technologies. Some of them are free, others are paid.
Well? May I know what you’re still doing standing there? Courage: take a few minutes of free time just for you, make yourself comfortable and start immediately to focus on reading the following. I’m sure that, at the end, you’ll be very happy and satisfied with what you’ve learned and that, even, you’ll be ready to give advice to your friends interested in the same topic. Want to bet?
Preliminary information
Before getting into the heart of the tutorial, going to list the best programs for LightScribe, it seems to me necessary to make some clarifications about the technology in question and the media available to use it.
First of all, as I mentioned at the beginning of this article, it is necessary to specify what is meant, exactly, when we talk about LightScribe. In case you don’t know, it’s an optical recording technology invented at HP that uses a special coating on CDs and DVDs to imprint labels on the side opposite to that of the disc’s recording.
Clearly, in order to take advantage of the technology in question, it is essential to have not only the right programs (those of which I will tell you in the following lines), but also, and above all, a burner that supports it. If you still don’t have a burner with LightScribe support and you want some suggestions about it, you can consult my buying guide dedicated to external burners.
Another thing that is essential to have in order to take advantage of LightScribe technology are compatible blank media: these are actually very common writable CDs and DVDs whose side dedicated to the label, however, is completely free of any engraving by the manufacturer.
Note also that, unlike when writing data, the discs on which you want to print lettering and various designs should be inserted into the burner with the writing side up and the colored engraving side down.
LightScribe Programs
Having made the necessary clarifications above, let’s get to the heart of the matter and find out what are the best LightScribe programs for Windows and macOS.
LightScribe Simple Labeler (Windows/MacOS)
LightScribe Simple Labeler is a very easy-to-use application that allows you to quickly create labels for floppy disks using custom text and a number of preset decorations. It is available for both Windows and macOS and is free.
To download it to your computer, if you are using Windows, go to the program’s website and click on the Download Now button under the software’s name.
After the download is finished, open the .exe file and click the Next button. Then select the I accept the terms of the license agreement item, click the Next button, click the Install button and finally click the Yes and Finish buttons.
If you are using Windows 10 or Windows 8/8.1 and when trying to install the program you get a warning that it is impossible to proceed due to compatibility issues, right-click on the software executable, select Properties from the context menu, go to the Compatibility tab of the opened window, check the box next to Run the program in compatibility mode for and select Windows 7 from the drop-down list below. Then press the Apply and OK buttons and start the installation process all over again.
To download the program on macOS, on the other hand, go to this other web page and click on the Download Now button under the name of the software corresponding to the correct version of the operating system you are using.
Once the download is complete, extract the obtained TAR archive, double-click on the .pkg file it contains, press the Continue button three times in a row and then the Accept button. Then select the hard disk where you want to install the program, click Continue again, enter the password of your user account and press the Finish button.
At this point, regardless of the operating system you are using, insert the floppy disk you want to work on into the burner connected to your computer and launch the software by clicking on its shortcut that has been added to the Start menu or desktop (on Windows) or Launchpad (on macOS).
On the screen that appears, click the Next button. Next, start composing your label by typing the text you wish to insert at the top and/or bottom in the Top and Bottom fields, choosing the type of font from the Font drop-down list and selecting the border type from the various ones available in the section below the Select Border item. Border.
Next, make sure that your burner is selected in the Drive menu (if not, you can do it yourself), indicate the number of copies you want to make in the Copies field and click the Next button. Finally, take a look at the preview of the final result and if you are convinced, start the procedure to print the label on the disc by clicking the appropriate button.
CDBurnerXP (Windows)
CDBurnerXP is one of the most comprehensive and popular free burning programs available on Windows. It allows you to create data CDs/DVDs, music CDs, video DVDs and easily manage rewritable diskettes. Among its features is support for LightScribe technology which allows you to print labels on your floppy disks using customized text and images. It supports all major LightScribe burners (and therefore all major brands of discs) and despite its name, it does not only work with Windows XP but with all the latest versions of Microsoft’s operating system.
To download it to your PC, go to the program’s website and click on the Download latest version (x.x.x.xxxx) link at the top. After the download is complete, open the .exe file and click the Yes button in the window that appears on your desktop.
Next, click the Next button, select the I accept the terms of the license agreement item and click the Next button four times in a row, then the Install button and finally the Finish button. If during the setup process you are prompted to install extra programs (e.g. Avira antivirus), decline it as they are not required for the proper functioning of CDBurnerXP.
Now that you see the main window of CDBurnerXP on your screen, click the OK button to confirm the use of the Italian language and choose the burning operation you want to perform between Data Disc and Audio Disc (the only ones that support label printing), then click the OK button.
Now click the File menu in the upper left corner of the screen, select Print Cover from the menu that appears and, in the next window that opens on the screen, tick the item Create Cover.
Now type the text you want to engrave on the disc in the Title field, specify how many copies of the recording you want to make in the Copies field and choose a background image, if any, by clicking the […] button next to the Cover Image item. Then insert the disc you want to burn into the burner connected to your computer and click the LightScribe button.
In the new window that opens, you can see a preview of the label to be printed on the disc on the right. If you are happy with what you see, go ahead and print it making sure that your drive is selected in the Drive dropdown menu (on the left), then choose the contrast level of the print from the Contarst Level dropdown menu and click the Print button at the bottom right.
Regarding, instead, the procedure to be performed to burn the disc, you can refer to my guide on how to burn for free in which I have provided to describe the procedure in question in detail.
Ashampoo Cover Studio (Windows)
As you can easily tell from its name, Ashampoo Cover Studio is an application dedicated to creating CD and DVD covers. It has an extremely easy-to-use user interface and fully supports LightScribe technology: this means that it can make and print labels on CDs and DVDs using custom lettering and images. The software is for Windows only and is pay-as-you-go (it costs €14.99), but it is available in a free trial version that allows you to test all of its features for a period of 30 days.
To download it to your computer, visit the program’s website and click on the Transferir button located on the right.
Once the download is complete, open the .exe file and click the Yes button in the window that appears on your desktop. Then click on the I accept and proceed button, then on the one that says Get a free activation key and, in the browser window that opens, type your email address in the appropriate field, after which click on the Request key for full version button.
Next, open your email account and click on the button in the message sent to you by Ashampoo to activate your account. Fill in the form in the new tab that opens in the browser, click on the Done button, continue, copy the license key that is returned to you and paste it into the appropriate field of the setup window, then click on the Activate now, Next, Next and Finish buttons to finish the procedure.
Now that you see the software window on your desktop, select the Disc option, then the LightScribe option located a little further down, define the print size and the diameter of the CD/DVD to be printed by clicking the Change Paper Size and Disc Diameter buttons; press the Acquire Image button to select the image to be printed on the disc and click the Next button.
At this point, insert the diskette you want to use into the burner connected to your computer, type the title you want to print on the disk in the Title field, any subtitle in the Subtitle field, select the type of content you are interested in and click the Next button again.
Finally, use the editor that is shown on the screen to change the appearance of the disc: using the buttons on the left you can add tables, graphics, text and backgrounds, while on the right you will find predefined templates that you can eventually use (by double-clicking on them). The buttons at the top allow you to remove certain elements you have added, undo changes you have made, etc. To proceed with printing, click on the Next and Print with LightScribe buttons.
Disc Cover (macOS)
If you’re using a Mac, you may also want to consider Disc Cover: this is software that allows you to design and print labels for CDs and DVDs in a simple yet professional manner, either by working directly on the discs or by creating paper media. It offers numerous options for customization and is also quite intuitive. It is pay-per-use (it costs $24.99), but you can download it in a free trial version that runs for 30 days with no limitations.
To download it, go to the program’s website and click on the Get Free Trial button. Once the download is complete, open the .dmg package and drag the icon of the program to the Applications folder of macOS. Then, right-click on it and select Open from the context menu, in order to launch the program and bypass Apple’s restrictions on applications from non-certified developers (this should only be done on first launch).
At this point, close the screen related to learning how the software works and insert the disc you want to work on into the burner connected to your Mac. Then, in the main window of Disc Cover, choose the theme you prefer (if you want to use predefined themes) and press the Finish button to move on, otherwise click the New Project button at the bottom left to create a new project from scratch.
In the new screen that appears, press the Try it button to activate the trial version of the program and customize the disc as you see fit, using the various on-screen controls. On the left side you will find the images and the categories into which they are organized, at the top you will find the buttons for adding text, geometric shapes, setting colors, etc., while on the right you will find the toolbar for adjusting margins, filling and all other characteristics of the label to be printed. To proceed with printing, click on the button with the printer at the top.
Other programs for LightScribe
The programs for LightScribe that I have already mentioned did not convince you in a particular way and you are looking for alternative resources for this purpose? Then try the ones listed below, you won’t regret it.
LightScribe Template Labeler (Windows) – is an enhanced version of LightScribe Simple Labeler, the software I told you about in the step at the beginning of this guide, which allows you to create labels for floppy disks using not only basic text and decorations, but actual images. Using it, you can choose an image from those saved on your PC (or downloaded from the Internet) and print them on your CDs/DVDs using the entire surface of the media. It’s free.
Disc Labeler (Windows) – commercial software (has a base price of $19.95) that allows you to create professional graphics for both LightScribe burners and printers that accept printable discs. If you wish, you can download a free 15-day trial version.
LaCie LightScribe Labeler (MacOS) – free application specifically for LaCie burners with support for LightScribe technology. It allows you to print on CDs and DVDs. It is very easy to use and also has an Italian interface.