A nice indelible marker and off you go: this is how you usually solve, with a very practical handwriting, the dilemma about how to indicate the content of a burned CD/DVD for which you have not printed a cover, but, in the long run, this system turns out to be counterproductive. Why? Try taking one of those mega CD cases you keep in your home library and try to find a particular disk within five minutes… impossible, right? Reading each title takes so much time….
Admit it, wouldn’t it be better to have some labels with some image printed on them (a cover, a logo, etc.) so that you can quickly recognize the CD you need without having to read the marker writing on all the discs? I would say yes, and that’s why today I want to show you how to label CDs using a series of very practical and effective solutions.
So, without hesitating a moment longer, sit down and take a few minutes of your free time to read this guide: I am sure that, in a few minutes, you will be able to find the solution that best suits you. Trust me: your personal “diskettes” archive will thank you!
Preliminary information
Before going on and explaining to you, in concrete terms, how to label CDs, let me give you a couple of information about how this can happen. Mainly, you have at least two different ways of action: the first one consists in printing manually the label, on self-adhesive paper or on a simple A4 sheet, to be applied later on the upper surface of the disc (the one that is not read).
The second method, instead, involves the use of burners compatible with LightScribe technology: these, in fact, can engrave images, text and anything else on the discs by means of a special laser that is inside them. In order to make this happen, when you want to print a cover on the disc, you have to insert it in the burner with the part dedicated to writing data upwards and the coloured part dedicated to engraving downwards. If you are interested in printing with LightScribe technology, I invite you to have a look at the specific guide I dedicated to the subject.
If you want, however, opt for the creation of labels in the “classic” way and do-it-yourself printing, continue reading this guide: before doing anything, make sure the printer is turned on, working and properly installed on your computer. If you have not yet done so, follow the instructions I provided in my tutorial on how to configure a printer.
How to label a CD on a computer
Now that you have all the information you need, it’s time to get to the heart of this guide and explain to you how to label a CD on your computer, making use of some programs suitable for this purpose.
Ronyasoft CD DVD Label Maker (Windows)
The first software I want to tell you about is Ronaysoft CD DVD Label Maker: it is a Windows program that allows you to create CD and DVD covers in a very simple way. Although it is paid (with prices starting at $19.95), you can download a free trial version, but it applies a watermark to the covers you create.
To get it, connect to this website, click the Download button located in the CD DVD Label Maker section and wait for the file to be completely downloaded to your PC. When the download is complete, extract the obtained package (i.e. ronyasoft-cd-dvd-label-maker.zipper) to a folder of your choice and run the RonyaSoft CD DVD Label Maker xx Install.exe file that you should find inside.
Now, click the Yes button to start the program setup, select the language (presumably Italian) from the drop-down menu that appears, press the OK button and click the Next, Accept, Next, Install and Finish buttons to finish the program installation and start it automatically.
When you start the software for the first time, you should see a window asking you to purchase a license: if you don’t want to do that, click on the Later button to continue using the free version of the program which, I remind you, will watermark your work.
Now you have to decide whether to start from an empty project (Start Composition option) or from a “pre-packaged” template (Start Template button): in the first case, you have to indicate your desire to create a Disc Label, using the proposed drop-down menu, and then click the OK button to open the editor. In the second case, instead, you have to select the preview of the project you want to start (e.g. Full Face Label) and press the OK button.
Once you’ve made your choice, you should be presented with the actual project editor, whose tools allow you to add text, import images, create shapes, and more. Once you’re satisfied with your work, click on the floppy disk icon, to save your project, or the printer icon, to send it to print right away.
Swift Publisher (macOS)
Another solution that I recommend you consider is Sfwift Publisher: a commercial program for macOS dedicated to desktop publishing. Swift Publisher can be downloaded from the Mac App Store at a price of €21.99, however it is possible to use a free trial version of the program that, as a restriction, applies a watermark to the works made.
To get it, connect to this web page and click on the Get Free Trial button, which you will find at the top of the page displayed on the screen.
When the download is complete, launch the file you obtained earlier (i.e. SwiftPublisher.dmg) and use the screen that appears to drag the program’s icon into your Mac’s Applications folder. Then, go to the aforementioned folder, right-click on the program you just copied and double-click Open in order to bypass the restrictions imposed by macOS.
If all has gone well, you should find yourself at the Swift Publisher welcome screen: click Close to skip the initial welcome tutorial, locate the Discs and Media section in the left-hand sidebar, and choose a design to start with, using the options provided.
Then, click the Try It button to continue using the trial version of the program and use the editing tools displayed at the top to add text, images and other elements to the cover.
When you’re done, use the File > Save… menu to save your project, the File > Export… menu to export the cover to another format (e.g. JPG image) or, again, the File > Print… menu to proceed directly with the printing of the item.
Other programs for labeling CDs
The ones I’ve told you about so far are the ones that, personally, I consider the best programs to label CDs, but they are certainly not the only ones: below I’ll list some alternative solutions that can offer equally satisfactory results.
UnderCover 10 (Windows) – is a program that allows you to make labels and covers for CDs and covers from existing images or pre-made templates. It is free of charge.
CoverXP (Windows) – is a small but functional software that allows you to make covers and labels to apply to your records. It is free of charge.
DiscLabel (macOS) – until recently, represented one of the best commercial solutions dedicated to printing labels for CDs and DVDs. As of today, the development of the software has been officially discontinued but, nevertheless, it continues to work excellently on current versions of macOS. It is free of charge.
How to label CDs online
If you don’t have the ability to install anything on your computer, you can rely on one of the many websites that allow you to create CD labels online, working directly from your browser window.
One of the portals of this type is Artwork Creator, a Web site that lets you, in very few minutes, create a label to paste on CDs and DVDs. The site can be used for free and doesn’t require any registration, however it is essential that you have previously activated Flash Player in your browser, otherwise it won’t work.
Are you asking how to use it? Don’t worry, it is very simple. For a start, connect to this Internet page and, if necessary, click on the box containing a puzzle piece icon to authorize the execution of Adobe Flash Player.
Once the website editor is loaded, select the CD/DVD Body template using the button at the top of the screen and use the tools provided to insert text, logos, images and more. Once the project is finished, click on the Save Design button to download the files in .zipper format. When the download is complete, extract the package into a folder of your choice and proceed with printing the downloaded material.
How to transfer the label to CD
Once you have finished creating your label, all you have to do is print it and transfer it to the CD. Personally, I recommend that you use sheets of adhesive paper compatible with inkjet or laser printing, depending on the model of printer you have. This type of paper is readily available in specialty stores and online.
Evergreen Goods Ltd – Self Adhesive Glossy Paper Sheets for Printing …
Anyway, after obtaining the sheets in question, all you have to do is insert one of them inside the printer’s paper slot and start the printing process as you normally would.
Once this step is completed, wait a few minutes for the ink to properly imprint on the paper and, armed with scissors, cut out the shape of the CD, taking care to respect the edges: you must try to be as precise as possible, because a paper surface too large could then negatively affect the performance of the CD, making it stuck inside the player.
Finally, after cutting out the sheet, peel off the adhesive part and stick it, carefully and precisely, on the “opaque” surface of the CD, i.e. on the part that usually faces upwards when reading.
Excuse me? Do you have only “simple” A4 paper? In this case, you can glue your work on the disc using some cardboard glue: personally, however, I advise against using this method, unless you urgently need it, as you could damage the disc or, even worse, the optical drive.
If, in spite of this, you are still interested in doing so, do the following: print the label you have created normally, wait a few minutes for the ink to set on the paper and then cut out the outline, always paying close attention.
Finally, apply a thin layer of quick cardboard glue along the edge of the cover made, on the back, leaving a space of about 0.5 mm between the glue and the outermost part of the edge itself. Then finish the job by overlapping the cover on top of the CD, so that it fits perfectly.