What is the difference between replication and duplication?
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Replication is the process of stamping CD/DVDs from raw material
whereas duplication is the burning of CD/DVDs from CD-R or DVD-R
media. Replication is the equivalent to what you would find off the
shelf of retail stores. We recommend replication for software and
contents that requires stringent data integrity such as software,
movies with menus, and discs designed to autoplay.
Should I duplicate or replicate my disc?
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Deciding on whether to duplicate or replicate you may want to
consider 4 factors; the type of content, the quantity, the
redundancy of your CD/DVD, and the appeal you are looking for. Some
contents require higher data integrity and quality control. If your
content is software or contains complex programming, we recommend
you go with replication to ensure the highest quality. If your
contents are pictures and files, duplication is sufficient. Whether
to duplicate or replicate also depends on the number of copies you
need. If you need 1000 or more copies, it would be more cost
effective for you to replicate your disc. However, for quantities
less than 500, duplication would be the more cost effective choice.
Another factor to consider is how often you change your data content
or artwork label (such as a label code). If your CD or DVD requires
changing of label or content at every 100 disc or so, then
duplication will allow you this flexibility. Appeal is another
factor to consider when deciding to replicate or duplicate.
Replication offers a nicer, more professional look to your CD or
DVD, whereas duplication may resemble something you might put
together on your home computer.
What types of printing do you offer?
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For replication, we offer silkscreen and offset printing, and HD
Printing. For duplication, we offer text, grayscale, and full color
thermal printing, as well as HD Printing.
Silkscreen or offset printing?
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Deciding which type of printing to use on your disc label depends on
the type artwork design you plan to use. Offset printing is often
used to print artwork that have lots of color gradients and shades
such as photos and images of people. Silkscreen is best for artwork
that have mostly solid colors and have no gradients. Very fine
detail, especially photographic images, may not reproduce well using
silk screening. For offset printing, large areas of solid color may
result in “banding” or “ghosting,” in which case silkscreen is
recommended. Gradient settings lower than 15% may not print
clearly. Dark tones above 85% tend to become solid due to dot gain.
Depending on your design, you can have us help you determine the
printing method that will give you the best results.
What is the quality of your printing compared to inkjet
printer labels? Back To Top
Our printing for replication and duplication are not labeled printed
stickers but professional grade printing directly on the disc
itself. Our printed CDs and DVDs are durable, waterproof, and of
the highest quality.
Do you handle printing and packaging of my disc?
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Yes. We handle your CD or DVD project from replication, to
printing, to packaging and fulfillment.
What types of packaging is available?
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We offer all packaging types for your CD or DVD project, from custom
packaging to retail ready packaging.
Can I receive a sample of the packaging material?
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Yes. Call us or email us at
info@weduplicate.com and provide us with your contact and
mailing address. W e will place in the mail samples of our products
for you to evaluate.
Can I have a spine label on my packaging?
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Yes. Fill out our spine label form and we can include a spine label
for your packaging at an additional cost.
Do you provide UPC codes?
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Yes. We can provide you with your own unique UPC code and barcode
image at an additional cost. If you already have a UPC code and
just need the barcode image on your packaging material, leave a
space of 1.25" x 0.5" and we will add it to your artwork for free.
Do I need a barcode for my CD project?
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Some retailers and databases may require you to have a UPC code for
your CD or DVD. However, if you don’t plan on storing/selling your
CD/DVD off of retail shelves, you do not need a UPC code.
How do I place an order?
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Call us at 1-800-920-4726 to receive a quote. Once you receive your
quote, sign and fax back your quote along with your IPR form. Email
your artwork to info@weduplicate.com or upload your artwork to us using the
“upload” link on our website. Mail your master to our location
nearest you. Once your master arrives, we will confirm the receipt
of your master and keep you updated on the status of your order.
When will my order be ready?
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Your order will be ready after the turn time specified on your
quotation and greatly depends on when we receive your master,
required forms, and how fast you approve your artwork. Turn time
begins right after you approve your artwork. For more details on
turn time, refer to our terms and policy under
“turn time.”
Can I speed up my order? Can I rush my order?
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Yes. We offer rush options for those that needs their order in a
hurry. Rush options are based upon availability. Please call us at
1-800-920-4726 to find out more.
How long does it take to complete my order?
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Our standard turn time for orders in bulk is 7 Work Days. Our
standard turn time for any orders that require packaging is 10 Work
Days.
What areas do you offer your service?
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We make our services available to all major cities.
Wherever your location may be, just give us a call and we can help
you find a location nearest you.
What are your prices?
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Because our prices vary depending on what you need and the volume
that you replicate, give us a call and we will send you a quote. We
offer the Lowest Price Guaranteed, so you can rest assure that
you’ll be getting the highest quality replication and service for
the lowest price.
How can I be sure my replicated CD or DVD will work?
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Before submitting your CD or DVD for replication, you must check,
check, and check that your disc is functioning exactly the way you
want it to. For DVDs, we recommend you test it on 3 different DVD
players before sending to us for replication. For a small fee, you
can have us do a 30 point check on the playability and compatibility
of your DVD. Your replicated disc will be exactly the same as the
master you submit (bit by bit).
What guarantees can you offer me?
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We guarantee 100% exact copies of your master disc as well as 100%
On-time delivery of your order.
What is the quality of your discs?
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Our replication is of the highest quality CDs and DVDs on the
market. For duplication, we use the best grade CD-R and DVD-R
recordable media on the market to ensure the highest level of data
integrity possible once duplicated.
How do I approve my digital artwork pdf proof?
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If everything looks correct on your pdf proof, reply to the email
with “approved.”
What is a check disc?
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Check Discs are test replicas of your disc and are
used to check the functionality and integrity of your disc data as
well as to approve colors for disc label printing before replication
begins. Check discs can be ordered at an additional fee and are
recommended for discs containing software, movies with menus and all
content designed to autoplay.
How do I approve my check disc?
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First, email your approval of your check disc. Next, print your
name, date and sign the check disc and mail it back to us. Once we
receive your signed check disc, we will begin replicating your
order. Your replicated discs will be exactly the same as your
signed check disc.
What if I find a mistake on my check disc?
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Call us and let us know the problem. We will research into the
problem. If the problem exists on your original master, submit a
new master and we will send you a new check disc and charge you an
additional check disc fee.
What is a matchprint?
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Matchprints are a high-quality sample of printed output of your
printed packaging material such as casewraps and inserts and are
used ensure more accurate color matching. Matchprints are the
closest representation of the colors to be printed on your printed
material. If colors are very important for your project and colors
need to match more precisely, take extra measures and order a
matchprint from us. We will mail a copy to you. Once you approve the
matchprint, sign and mail the matchprint back to us. Order
matchprints for an additional $50
What if I am not satisfied with my matchprint?
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Revise and make adjustments to your artwork and resubmit to us for
processing. We will output the new artwork and send you another
matchprint for approval at an additional fee.
What if I find a problem with my duplicated or replicated
discs? Back To Top
If you find a problem with your replicated disc, and the problem
does not exist on your original master or approved artwork, contact
us to let us know the problem. We will initiate a research into the
problem. If the problem is our fault, we will either replace the
damaged discs or refund your money back. Please read more under
terms and policy.
How can I make sure my DVD plays on all DVD players?
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Check your disc for playability and compatibility on at least 3
popular DVD players on the market today. For extra measures, you
can order from us Compatibility Testing for your DVD. Your DVD will
be subject to a 30 point check and testing for playability on many
of the common DVD players in homes today.
How can I make sure my CD plays on most CD players?
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Test your CD (if audio) on a Stand-alone CD player, Car CD Player,
and Computer.
What type of QC do you provide?
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Every replicated disc is guaranteed to contain the exactly the same
content as your master disc. All our replicated discs undergo a do
a bit-to-bit comparison with content on your master disc to ensure
there are no errors.
What if I need to make modification to my master after I approve my
check disc or production begins?
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If you need to change your master after production begins, you will
be responsible up to the point of stop production for all processing
costs and services as well as printed material, packaging labor, and
discs replicated. You will also be charged a stamper fee for your
new master.
What forms are required to place an order?
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To place your order, you must submit:
- Signed Quote
- IPR Form
- Artwork
- Master
Where do I mail in my master for
replication?
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Call us at
1-800-920-4726
to find out the mailing location nearest
you.
Can I drop off my master?
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If you are close enough, you can drop off your master at an
authorized drop-off location. Make sure to write your quotation
number on your disc and place your master in a sealed envelope or
package.
Will I be charged tax on my order?
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You will not be charged tax if you are located outside the state of
California or provide us with a resale certificate form. Customers
outside California will be responsible for reporting their own tax
liabilities. All orders that do not meet these two requirements
will be charged sales tax.
How do I calculate turn time?
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Day “0” of turn-time will begin on the day Disc Creation receives
from Customer all artwork, master, materials, payment, and
required documents to process the order (See How To Order
for more information). All required items received before 12 noon
will count as Day “1”. A “1” day turn is 24 hours. A “Zero” Day
turn is within 24 hours. Turn-time will be calculated beginning on
Day “1” and end on the last work day of the specified turn-time.
For example, for a 7 Work Day Turn, if Disc Creation receives all
required items from Customer before 12 noon on Monday 5th,
Customer’s order will be ready to ship by the “end of day” on
Tuesday, 13th
Monday 5th Day “1”
Tuesday 6th Day “2”
Wednesday 7th Day “3”
Thursday 8th Day “4”
Friday 9th Day “5”
Saturday 10th Non-Work Day
Sunday 11th Non-Work Day
Monday 12th Day “6”
Tuesday 13th Day “7”
“End of day” hereunder means by 6:00 p.m. on that work day.
Holidays count as non-working days. Rush is available for certain
orders and are based upon availability. Turn-time does not include
shipping time. For rush orders, Customer must take into account the
time it takes to ship.
Important: Artwork PDF proofs, match prints, and check discs need
to be approved on the same day they are received by the Customer to
avoid delays. Any delays in receiving Customer approvals will
result in an order delay equivalent to the number of days it takes
for the Customer to approve. For example: Assuming a standard 7
work day turn and Customer A is a female, if Customer A approves her
digital artwork PDF proof 2 days after she receives her proof, the
turn-time for the order will be extended to 9 work days.
Will I know if there is a problem with my master or artwork?
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If we encounter a problem with your master or artwork, we will email
you to notify you of the problem. It is up to you to respond as
quickly as possible to resolve the issue in order to avoid any
delays on your order. Your order will be delayed in the amount of
time it takes to resolve the specified problem.
How many masters do I mail in?
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Mail in 2 masters when possible. Do NOT mail in your only master
copy. We will not be responsible for masters lost in the mail or
damaged during shipping or replication process.
Can I purchase other products from Disc Creation?
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Yes. We offer many other CD & DVD related products on our website.
See Shop for Products
Is there a discount for re-orders?
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Yes. Re-orders are the same price as your original order minus the
film cost.
What types of payment do you accept?
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We accept Visa, Master Card, American Express, Discover, Pay Pal and
Check by Phone. You can make credit card payments by online or by
calling us at
1-800-920-4726. We no longer accept checks by mail,
however you can make check payments over the phone.
When do I pay?
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Payment must be received before production of your order unless we
have offered you payment terms.
What formats do you accept?
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We accept the following file formats.
.EPS, .AI, .PSD, .PNG, .PDF, .QXD, .JPG, .GIF, .TIFF, .BMP
What type of proofs do you provide?
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Once we receive your artwork, we will process your artwork and email
you a digital pdf proof for approval. There is no extra cost for
this and is included with your order. Other proofs we offer at an
additional cost are check discs and matchprints.
How long do I have to approve my proofs?
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Proofs should be approved once you received them; however you have
until the end of the same day you receive them to approve. Keep in
mind that your order will be delayed in the amount of time it takes
for you to approve your proofs, so try to approve them as soon as
possible.
Do you provide hard copy proofs?
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Yes. Hard copy proofs such as check discs and matchprint are
available at an additional cost. Digital pdf proofs come with the
standard ordering process.
Do you have templates I can use for my artwork?
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Yes. Templates can be downloaded from our website under “Artwork
Templates.” If you cannot find the template you need, call or email
us at info@weduplicate.com and we will email you the correct
template.
Can I use templates I already have?
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Yes. You can use templates you already have but make sure they are
the correct dimensions and specification. Artwork submitted with
incorrect specification will be sent back to you for revision.
How do we get our artwork to you?
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Compress all artwork and supporting files into .ZIP or .SIT (for
Mac). If your file size is less than 10MB or less, you can email
your artwork to info@weduplicate.com. If your file size is larger than
10MB, use our “Upload Files” link on our website to
send us your file.
How do I determine the number of colors on my artwork?
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The maximum number of colors possible on your artwork is 5 (C, M, Y,
K + White). All artwork with photos or colorful pictures are full
color and consist of all five colors. For all other artwork, count
the number of solid colors on your artwork including white.
What is the difference between CMYK and PMS (Pantone)
colors?
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CMYK and PMS are just two different color modes used in commercial
printing. With CMYK, the colors Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and (K)Black
are mixed at different combinations to produce a resulting color.
Pantone colors, created by the company Pantone, Inc., consists of
colors prepared by CMYK base colors mixed at different percentages
to produce an large array of colors that are assigned a pantone
number and made available on a color chart or guide. Offset
printing uses the basic CMYK color mode and Silkscreen printing uses
Pantone color mode.
Which color mode has more accurate color matching
capabilities, CMYK or Pantone Color?
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Pantone color mode.
What is a white flood? Do I need white flood?
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White flood is simply a coating of white that is printed on the disc
that acts as a primer before your artwork is printed. Without white
flood, white areas of your artwork will show the silver of the
disc. White flood is not required. Some customers don’t print a
white flood on their label to produce creative effects. Customers
that don’t want white flood must specify so at the beginning of the
order process.
Can Disc Creation design my artwork?
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Yes. Our graphic design team can help you design your packaging
material.
How do I avoid errors with my artwork?
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Read our technical guidelines on how to prepare
your artwork and follow any instructions found on our artwork
templates. For extra measures, you can email your artwork to
info@weduplicate.com
and ask us to check for problems with your artwork.
Will the colors on my printed material and disc label match
exactly to colors on my pdf proof?
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No. Colors represented on our digital pdf proofs are not accurate
determinants of the resulting colors once printed. This is
industry-wide and is a result of your computer screen displaying
digital artwork in RGB color mode as opposed to the CMYK color mode
used in commercial printing. Unless you choose silkscreen printing
and specify the corresponding pantone color codes for your colors,
your printed colors will match up to 80% of the colors assigned on
your digital artwork. Digital PDF proofs are for you to confirm the
positioning and layout of your artwork and not for approving whether
colors match. If you are concerned with color matching and want to
improve the matching of colors for your project, assign pantone
color codes to colors on your artwork and order from us a check disc
(for disc labels) and matchprint (for printed packaging material).
Can I make modifications to artwork after it is approved?
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Once your artwork is approved, we will proceed to output your film
for printing. You can revise or modify your artwork as long as we
have not outputted your film or begin printing your disc. If we
have already output your film or begun printing your disc, you can
still change your artwork but you will be charged for the work that
have been done up to the point we were notified. Contact us
immediately if you need to make changes to your artwork in order to
avoid any extra charges.
Why won’t colors match exactly to my digital artwork colors?
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Printed colors cannot match 100% to colors assigned on your artwork
when viewed on your digital computer screen. This is inherent in
the printing process and is a problem industry-wide. There are a
number of reasons for this. First, your computer screen uses RGB
mode to display colors, whereas digital printing uses a combination
of CMYK to produce colors. Second, CD and DVD surfaces do not
absorb ink like printing paper, thus resulting in a slightly
different color when dried. For printed material such as inserts
and casewraps, colors will vary slightly depending on the air
temperature, humidity and pressure.
What formats do you accept as masters?
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We accept as masters, CD-R, DVD-R, DVD-R Dual Layer, DLT and
Replicated CD/DVD
How do I avoid errors on my master?
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Read our technical guidelines on “how to prepare your master.” Make
sure to test and test again your CD & DVD for functionality and
playability. Check for scratches and safely package your master
for protection during shipping.
Can I receive my replicated disc to check and test before
you begin replicating?
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Yes. You can order check discs from us at an
additional cost and we will mail you 5-10 check disc to approve.
Once approved, we will proceed to replicating your order.
Can you create my master?
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If you need us to simply burn your content onto a CD-R or DVD-R, you
can compress you files into a .ZIP folder and upload your file to us
on our website. This is available at no extra cost only if there is
nothing else other than burning the files you provide onto a
CD-R/DVD-R. We cannot create your master if there are programming
or modifications of files. Your master content will only include
exactly what you upload to us. The only thing you would need is to
sign our “Master Indemnification” form. This form
does not apply to other mastering services that we offer at an
additional cost such as Audio Mastering, DVD Menu Design, and PDF
Design.
Do I get my master copy back?
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If you check the “Return Master” box on your quote, we will
separately mail back your master to the address you provide after
your order is complete.
Can I upload my disc content instead of mailing?
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Yes. If you would like us to burn your disc content onto a CD-R or
DVD-R to serve as a master, you can upload your files in a
compressed .ZIP or .SIT folder. In order to create your master, we
will need a signed Master Indemnification form.
How will I know when my order is ready?
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We will contact you via email or by phone once your order is ready.
How do I receive my order?
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We can ship your order via UPS, Fedex, DHL or Freight. We also
offer same-day delivery if you are located within 50 miles of one of
our facilities. Cost of delivery depends on your location.
Can I track my order once shipped?
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Once your order ships, we will email you your tracking number so you
can track your order.
Can you deliver my order to my location?
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If you are located within 50 miles of our facility, we can deliver
your order. Cost of delivery depends on your location.
Can you drop ship my order?
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Yes. We can ship or deliver your order directly to your customer.
Can you handle the mailing of our disc?
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Yes. We offer bulk mailing of your CDs or DVDs to addresses on the
mailing list you provide. Mailing lists must be in Excel
spreadsheet (.xls) and formatted with the appropriate headers.
Do you offer warehousing & fulfillment?
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Yes. We can store your CDs or DVDs and ship your items once your
customer places an order. Call us for information and pricing.
What is region coding?
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All DVD players are manufactured with a code based on a particular
region. The regions are coded from 0-8.
The geographical regions are as follows:
REGION 1 -- USA, Canada
REGION 2 -- Japan, Europe, South Africa, Middle East, Greenland
REGION 3 -- S.Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Parts of South East Asia
REGION 4 -- Australia, New Zealand, Latin America (including Mexico)
REGION 5 -- Eastern Europe, Russia, India, Africa
REGION 6 -- China
REGION 7 -- Reserved for Unspecified Special Use
REGION 8 -- Resevered for Cruise Ships, Airlines, etc...
REGION 0 or REGION ALL -- Discs are uncoded and can be played
Worldwide, however, PAL discs must be played in a PAL-compatible
unit and NTSC discs must be played in an NTSC-compatible unit.
Region coding allows you to assign which region DVD player you would
like your DVD to be playable. Such coding is a tool to protect
copyright and film distribution rights in other parts of the world.
Therefore, Region 1 DVD players can only play Region 1 coded DVDs.
The region code can be assigned using the software used to design
your DVD. There are DVD players sold on the market that is coded
for all regions, allowing DVDs coded for any region to be playable.
If you want your DVD to be playable on all DVD players then set your
region code for all regions (Region 0).
Do I need a UPC Code?
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You only need a UPC Barcode if the retailer where you plan to sell
your CD or DVD requires you to have one, or if you want to register
your disc with databases online such as iTunes or Windows Media
Player.
How do I register my UPC code?
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To register your title with soundscan/videoscan, simply fill out the
title addition form on the soundscan website -http://www.soundscan.com/register.html.
It can be submitted by email to
dbase@soundscan.com or faxed to (914) 684-5606. If you have
received the barcode from Disc Creation, put us down as the parent
label. This simply indicates where you got the label from. In the
sub-label field, fill in your label name if you have one.
Registering with soundscan and videoscan is free and will take about
10-15 business days for it to be processed. In order to review
sales reports on your registered titles, you need to subscribe to
the service. Nielson soundscan and videoscan provide different
packages for their subscribers. The limited access package for
smaller labels gives access to up to 20 titles. Full access lets
subscribers see all title information in the database, as well as
more types of reports.
What formats do you accept for artwork?
Back To Top
We accept the following file formats.
.EPS, .AI, .PSD, .PNG, .PDF, .QXD, .JPG, .GIF, .TIFF, .BMP
What formats do you accept for masters?
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We accept as masters, CD-R, DVD-R, DVD-R Dual Layer, DLT and
Replicated CD/DVD
Do you offer copy protection?
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Yes. We offer copy protection such as Macrovision RipGuard,
Macrovision ACP, and CSS Encryption.
How do I add CSS Encryption to my CD/DVD and what is the
cost?
Back To Top
CSS Encryption is the only copy protection that is available without
any additional cost. Copy protection for RipGuard and ACP requires
licensing from Macrovision. If you want CSS encryption on your
CD/DVD, flag your disc for encryption on the software you use to
create your master and we will add CSS encryption for you. Do NOT
encryption your data before submitting your master since we will
need to access your data for replication. Only flag your data for
CSS Encryption.
Do you provide other services besides replication and
duplication?
Back To Top
Yes. We offer Graphic Designing, DVD Menu Design, Audio Master, PDF
Document Design, and Fulfillment Services.
How can software such as iTunes and Windows Media Player
recognize my album and song titles?
Back To Top
Many computer audio players retrieve track and album information by
connecting to online databases such as CDDB. CDDB is supported by
Gracenote.
To submit a new title to CDDB, enter it through one of its licensed
applications (such as ITunes or Windows Media Player). For more
information on how to submit a CD entry, go to
http://www.gracenote.com/corporate/FAQs.html/faqset=subs. For
specific steps to submit a new disc, consult the help section of the
player. For a list of players that are enabled with CDDB, go to
http://www.gracenote.com/partners/software/
Will my song titles appear when I
put my CD into a computer?
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CD Text information is normally written to an audio PMCD master
using CD Text enabled software. If your studio cannot provide you
with this service, Disc Creation can add CD Text to your master for
a small fee. You’ll need to supply us with the exact text in an
email.
CD Text can consist of varying degrees of song, album, and artist
information that are encoded on an audio CD. CD Text can only be
decoded by specifically enabled CD players. In other words, even
though your CD is encoded with CD Text, it may not appear on all
displays. The player/display must support CD Text in order for the
text to appear.
CD Text should not be confused with internet-based CD identification
services such as
Compact Disc Data Base (CDDB). CDDB works with software players,
such as Windows Media Player, to read the unique "fingerprint" that
any audio CD has. Your computer will stream the “fingerprint”
through your internet connection, and the CDDB server compares that
CD's "fingerprint" against CDs in the database. If it finds a match,
it sends artist/album/song info for that CD back to your virtual
player.
CDDB does not require any title and artist data to actually be
encoded on the disc. What CDDB does require is that you submit the
title and artist info for your disc to the database. Computers using
CDDB to look up CDs must have an active internet connection, and the
computer user must not have blocked access by their player program
to the database (some users may have decided to do this due to
privacy concerns). Some firewall/antivirus programs may interfere
with the operation of CDDB as they may also block the necessary
internet access.
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