Công nghệ in nhãn đĩa LightScribe™

LightScribe

LightScribe is an [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] that uses specially coated [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] and [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] media to produce [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]-etched labels with text or graphics, as opposed to stick-on labels and printable discs.

The LightScribe method uses the laser in a way similar to when plain data is written to the disc; a [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] image of the label is etched onto the upper side of the disc. In the beginning, the discs were available only in a [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] color but today are available in many colors.

The purpose of LightScribe is to allow users to create direct-to-disc
labels (as opposed to stick-on labels), using their optical disc
writer. Special discs and a compatible disc writer are required. Before
or after burning data to the read-side of the disc, the user turns the
disc over and inserts it with the label side down. The drive's laser
then etches into the label side in such a way that an image is produced.
History


LightScribe was conceived by [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] engineer [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.], and the coating's chemistry was developed by Dr. Makarand Gore,^{[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]} and brought to market through the joint design efforts of HP's imaging and optical storage divisions in 2004.^{[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.][You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]}

It was the first direct to disc labeling technology that allowed users to laser etch images to the label side of a disc. [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] technology had been on the market since 2002, but [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] allowed users to burn to the unused portion of the data side of the disc. In 2005, [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] became the main competitor for LightScribe.
Mode of operation


The surface of a LightScribe disc is coated with a reactive [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] that changes [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
when it absorbs 780 nm infrared laser light. The etched label will show
no noticeable fading under exposure to indoor lighting for at least 2
years. Optical media should always be stored in a protective sleeve or
case that keeps the data content in the dark and safe from scratches. If
stored this way, the label should last the life of the disc in
real-world application.

LightScribe labels burn in concentric circles, moving outward from
the center of the disc. Images with the largest diameters will take
longest to burn.

LightScribe is [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.], initially a [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] etch on a [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]-looking
surface. From late 2006, LightScribe discs are also available in
various surface colors, under the v1.2 specification. The etching is
still in shades of grey.

Currently it is not possible to replace a LightScribe label with a
new design, but it is possible to add more content to a label that has
already been burned.

The center of every LightScribe disc has a special code that allows
the drive to know the precise rotational position of the disc. This in
combination with the drive hardware allows it to know the precise
position from the center outwards, and the disc can be labeled while
spinning at high speed using these references. It also serves a
secondary purpose: the same disc can be labeled with the same image
again multiple times. Each successive labeling will darken the blacks
and generally produce a better image, and the successive burns will be
perfectly aligned.
Drawbacks


Special storage precautions are necessary to prevent LightScribe
discs from fading. HP's LightScribe website warns users to "keep discs
away from extreme heat, humidity and direct sunlight", "store them in a
cool, dark place", "use polypropylene disc sleeves rather than PVC
sleeves", and also notes that "residual chemicals on your fingers could
cause discoloration of the label image". Such chemicals include common
hand lotions and hair care products.^{[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]}
Users not observing these precautions have reported LightScribe discs
to become visibly faded within two months in the worst case. This
drawback makes the technology unsuitable for applications involving
continuous handling, and for such popular uses as car music compilation
discs, which typically have unavoidable high light and temperature
exposure. Since many disc players present internal temperatures
significantly higher than room temperature, LightScribe discs should
also not be left in disc players for long periods of time. These
drawbacks are however purely superficial; they do not affect the data
stored upon the disc.

Lightscribe discs may form a visible white powder coating. This is
due to crystallization of some of the label-side coating. It is not
harmful and can easily be removed with a water-dampened cloth. Wiping
lead to this reaction, nor the precautions that can be taken to avoid
it.

Multiple Lightscribes of the same image increases contrast, but the
image quality decreases with successive burns. Noticeable contrast
variations are seen in solid shades.