CD and DVD Packaging is often an afterthought, but is a critical element of any project.  With invaluable resources being invested into the development of the disc’s content, it is equally important to have an eye-catching “exterior” for a fantastic overall impression.  Countless choices exist, and each has its own advantages and disadvantages. We can help guide you through the vast array of available packaging and printing options to find the ideal solution for your project.

How will the disc be distributed? This is a good starting point.  If for retail sale, shelf-appeal is extremely important, but so is size, as an industry-standard case is often preferred. If the disc is being distributed by mail, durability, weight and machinability may be primary issues. Is it being included with a book or other materials? Perhaps an adhesive sleeve makes sense.

Who will be purchasing or receiving the disc? Of course, strong and creative graphics tailored to the audience are always essential. Packaging made from recycled- materials is increasingly in demand, and is a thoughtful approach when “being green” matters.

Cost seems the primary issue for everyone these days. With the countless choices available, a great presentation can be achieved on even the most limited budget.

Feel free to call or email one of our experienced representatives for more information or a free quote. We’re good at packaging, and we’re here to help!

If you ever mail large quantities of individual CD’s or DVD’s, our disc mailer is definitely worth checking out, because it could save you loads on postage. 

When new USPS rates and regulations came down in May of 2007, we responded by creating a cardstock disc mailer that qualifies for the cheaper automation rates.  This mailer is sturdy enough to protect your CD’s through the postal system, yet light-weight enough to qualify for the 1 oz. rate.  We applied for and received official US Postal Service approval of the mailer back then.  And the good news is that, because of this approval, our mailer has been “grandfathered-in” by the USPS even though the regulations have since changed becoming even more stringent.  Consequently, ours is one of the only disc mailers on the market today that allows you the one-ounce automated rate.

For bulk mailings of CD’s and DVD’s, this mailer has saved our clients thousands of dollars in postage.   For more detailed information, visit our online brochure at  http://www.twmedia.com/TW-DiscMailerBrochure.pdf or feel free to give us a call.

There are a number of important considerations when setting-up your CD Disc Art or DVD Disc Art.   Be sure to start with the correct template, as the knockout is different between white and silver background discs.    Templates can be found on our website at:   http://www.twmedia.com/templates.htm.   Art should be 300 dpi, and setup in either CMYK, specified PMS, or grayscale.    Make sure to bleed the art through the center ring, and 1/8″ on the outside.  The safe print area is 1/8″ from the center knockout and 1/8″ around the outer edge.  Type shouldn’t be any smaller than 6 point (for white knock-out type), and 5 point (for any other color).   Do not flatten the template to the art — save it on a separate layer.  And if you have any questions, feel free to give us a call!

To charge or not to charge for overages?  That is the question that every replicator must address.  Here is the reality.  Whether your replicator “charges” you or not, you are paying for overages… either outright and upfront, or hidden in the price.

So why do there have to be overages anyway?  Contrary to what some may say, it is not a ”scam-the-customer” tactic, but a common-sense and money-saving practice.  Any given job requires numerous processes — the disc printing, the replication, the printing of the associated packaging materials (inserts, traycards, etc.), and then the assembly aspects.  In an industry where every job is custom and unique, “setup” is a substantial portion of production downtime.  Even with the most stringent quality standards and the best maintained equipment, there will still be that occasional problem — a silkscreening misprint, for instance — when the disc ends up in the trash.   Running a few extra actually saves money, because it alleviates additional downtime for reruns and minimizes production schedule interruptions.  Overruns are necessary to the efficient flow of any manufacturing plant.

But should you have to pay for overages, if they are merely a replicator’s “mistake insurance”?   The reality is that they are a cost of production, and so whether you pay for and receive your overages, or you pay for the exact amount ordered, this cost is in there somewhere.  Be assured though, that as explained above — it is an efficiency practice that ultimately saves money by saving downtime.

How do we at TW Media Services handle overages?  We do charge our customers for overages; however, we strive to keep overruns to a maximum of 2 to 3%.  (Industry standard is 10%).

If you have any questions about our overage policies, please feel free to talk to a sales representative.

When preparing an art file for your CD or DVD project, there are a few important things to keep in mind:

TEMPLATES:  Be sure to use a template to avoid pre-press problems. TW Media templates are located at http://www.twmedia.com/templates.htm.   (If you don’t see the one you need, or for custom packaging options, give us a call and we can provide one via email.)  Templates should be used at 100% according to the exact dimensions.  When possible, keep the template on a separate layer from the artwork.  Be sure not to flatten the template on top of the art.   TIP:  When opening a template in Photoshop, be sure the resolution is set to 300 dpi (high resolution), and not 72 dpi (low resolution, and the default for many computers).

BLEEDS:   One of the most common problems we see with submitted files is designs lacking a bleed.  A Bleed is a printing term that refers to extending the artwork outside of the template or trimline, which ensures the artwork goes all the way to the edge on the final trimmed piece.  Make sure that any photographs or backgrounds that you want to bleed go past the perimeter/trimlines of the document by about 1/8″ (.125″).  After the piece is printed this extra bit gets trimmed.   TIP:  Non-Bleed Items:  All images and text that are not intended to bleed should be kept at least 1/8″ (.125″) inside trim marks.

CMYK COLOR:  Print files should be submitted in CMYK mode (not RGB).  The exception would be for very specific color when a Pantone® or spot color is used.  TIP:  Never trust the color accuracy of any computer monitor.  Transmitted additive images (what you see on the screen) will not match reflected subtractive images (what you see in a final printed piece).   Though most proofing is done electronically, for extremely color-sensitive pieces, we may need to provide a matchprint proof to ensure an exact color match.

RESOLUTION:  Image Resolution is the amount of information in a digital file, and is measured in dots per inch (DPI).  The quality of an image is dependent upon the resolution and size at which it will be printed.   Files must have a minimum resolution of 300 dpi, otherwise they will reproduce poorly on press — the image will look fuzzy and/or pixilated.  TIP:  Just because an image looks okay on your screen doesn’t always mean that it will print the same way.

FONTS:  Adobe PostScript Type 1 fonts are the industry standard.  Please try to avoid using True Type fonts as they do not work reliably with many imagesetters.  PostScript fonts have both a “screen font” for proper display on your monitor and a “printer font” that is used to create smooth type on a printer or imagesetter.  Always send both the screen and printer fonts, and all fonts used.  Fonts used by both client (you) and printer (us) MUST be of the same version, name and manufacturer as you used to create them.

FILE FORMATS:  If you are submitting your own print ready files, we can accept native files from the following programs:  Adobe Photoshop CS3 (.tif or .psd); Adobe Illustrator CS3 (.ai or .eps); Adobe InDesign CS3 (.indd); QuarkXpress 6 (qxd).

SUBMITTING ART VIA EMAIL/FTP:  Be sure that your final files are clearly labeled and include all components used in the file (fonts, art, and the final file).  All files being electronically transmitted must be compressed using a program such as Stuffit Deluxe or Winzip.  These compression programs protect your files from becoming corrupt through the transfer process.  Fonts will not be usable if they are not compressed.  Compressing your files also reduces the size of the file which allows a quicker transfer.

These are just a few pointers.  Submitting files correctly ensures a smooth production process that is free of delays.  Please feel free to contact our Art Department with any questions relating to art and file submissions.  We’re here to help!

Welcome to the TW Media Blog!  We look forward to utilizing this resource to provide helpful information, as well as the latest and greatest news about our company, its services and special promotions.

TW Media Services has been in business for 15 years, earning a reputation for reliability, great customer service, and high quality products and services.  When we first got started, our business was solely custom packaging and printing.  But after a bit of urging by our clients,  we expanded into duplication to provide them a “one-stop-shop” for their (VHS at the time) needs.  We’ve continued to grow, and have been offering turnkey services ever since.   Our services include DVD Duplication and DVD Replication, CD Duplication and CD Replication, Blu-Ray Replication, USB Flash Drives, Graphic Design, Custom Packaging, and Fulfillment Services.

There are countless companies out there for you to choose from for your industry needs, but we stand apart because of our excellent customer service.  You won’t find a more experienced staff anywhere when it comes to guiding you through the entire process from authoring and replication to a retail-ready package.