The Practical CD Label Program that Supports many Different Templates
Written: May 22 '05
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Extremely easy to use, excellent design-layouts, supports many templates and LightScribe technology
Cons: None that's worth mentioning
The Bottom Line: An excellent software program for creating CD or jewel case labels. It supports many major templates.
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| paulphoto's Full Review: CyberLink LabelPrint for PC |
CyberLink LabelPrint is a disc labeling program with design software application to create CD labels, CD jewel-case covers (front and back of front) and inlays. It supports many popular paper template formats offered by manufacturers, such as Belkin, Imation, Memorex, NEATO, etc.
I am reviewing the full retail version, downloaded from CyberLink web site; at the time, they did not yet have the retail boxed available. There is a downloadable trial version that you may want to try. Browsing through CyberLink web site, the product does not appear to be available as a download (at least not yet); only a retail boxed version. This maybe good news, because there are sixteen different files to be downloaded individually. The largest one is the data program (cabinet file, 40MB), which, alone, took me about 3 hours to download via a dial-up connection. Downloading the whole software package required a good amount of 4 hours. Getting a retail boxed version would be better if you decide to purchase this product, unless you have cable connection.
System Requirement: Hardware & Software
For a program that uses less memory or system resources, CyberLink LabelPrint should be a welcome package. In the following, CyberLink suggests the minimum requirement for hardware and software system.
Operating System: Windows 98SE/ME/2000/XP (Win2000/XP required to enable LightScribe Technology)
Memory: 128MB RAM
CPU: Pentium III 700MHz or AMD Athlon 700MHz or above
Hard Disk Drive: 80MB of space required
Other: DirectX9
Peripheral: Printer, LightScribe-compatible CD/DVD burner
I use this program running on my PC with dual CPUs (Pentium Xeon 500MHz each) and RAM of 512MB, with Windows XP Pro, SP-2. A program as simple as LabelPrint only utilizes just one processor in a dual CPU system. Therefore, it is possible to say that I'm running this program on a 500MHz processor. Even with multiple images layered on a single label, and multitasking with other programs running, I could still use this program effectively -- perhaps due to my 512MB large RAM. The point is that this program is very efficient and can run on a slow system like mine.
Installation
Installing the software is quite straightforward. As usual, with many software products, we need to confirm end-user terms and agreement. A language selection must be specified. We need also enter the CD-key to complete the installation. The process was very brief, which took only 30 seconds to complete (though this may depend on the PC system); and the program was ready for use. No need to reboot the system. A CyberLink LabelPrint icon was created and placed on the desktop.
CyberLink LabelPrint: Features and Operations
The program has one main user interface with very intuitive navigation system. Along the top line of the user interface are practical operation features, such as New, Open, Save, Configure, Help, and upgrade.
The upgrade feature in my program is inoperative; perhaps being a full version, it does not require any upgrades. In a trial version this feature might be operational to allow a software upgrade.
The main working window, which covers almost the entire user interface, provides the working environment that starts from the beginning to end. Only this main window changes between the four phases or steps in the labeling process. We can move back and forth between these four phases via a left or right arrow at the very bottom of the window.
As a disc labeling program, CyberLink LabelPrint offers five available options:
1. Disc Label,
2. MiniDisc Label,
3. Front Disc Cover,
4. Back of Front Cover and
5. Disc Inlay.
Each option, once selected, has similar features and operation, comprising four individual steps:
1) Select Label Type -- five available options as mentioned above, with one more to be discussed shortly.
2) Edit Disc Information
3) Edit Layout
4) Print.
Only their individual layout styles may differ slightly. For instance, MiniDisc Label has only five layout styles compared to Disc Label option which has 14. Disc Label option also has more background images compared to the rest.
Based on the contents in the Edit Disc Information, LabelPrint program at first glance seems to distinctively gear towards Audio Disc Labeling system. In this second step, LabelPrint provides a table with four columns for entering text data starting with entry number, Title, Artist/Author and Time/Size. On top of this table are three fields to be entered: Disc Title, Author and Date. While the table of entry strictly resembles audio CD label, it in fact can be generalized to apply to many types of labels. In other words, the information entered in this table only provides a general guideline for the program to use. Its specific layout can be manipulated to arrive at a desired design in the third step.
The fact that this table is much more helpful for creating audio disc label is that LabelPrint has provided a quick way to enter audio file information without having to type them in. At the bottom-left of the table, there is an import icon that can be used to extract information of a particular audio track (such as, Title, Artist, Time). The three fields will be entered automatically once a particular track is selected.
The entry fields in this table can be edited using the special featured buttons at the lower-right corner of the table, such as inserting an empty row, removing an entry or the entire table, moving an entry up or down.
The Edit Layout in the third step is perhaps the most versatile feature of all; for it allows the user to design personalized labels beyond what LabelPrint can offer. A particular label can have a background image provided by the program or of a user's own image file. LabelPrint supports a number of image format which includes jpeg (.jpg), bit-map (.bmp), tiff (.tif) or gif. In addition, text and/or images can be added to the label as the foreground. All foreground text and images can be moved around the label field. A foreground image can be converted to background, etc.
The most useful features are the text manipulation and layout style. These features can be invoked with the right-click on the mouse button. Different characters and/or symbols or other text properties can be utilized. There are several ways to complete a specific task. The basic operations can be utilized via the icons located at the top of the working window environment. However, the right-click button is the one I prefer the most because it offers more freedom.
Layout style selection option is provided at the top-right corner, while image selection is provided at the lower-right. A user can choose blank layout style and empty background if so desired.
CyberLink LabelPrint supports many popular templates offered by many vendors. The following are just a few of the exhaustive list supported by LabelPrint:
Avery8931 CD-DVD
Belkin CD Labels
CD Stomper CD-DVD
Data Becker CD-DVD
Imation CD Label
Memorex CD-DVD
Mirage CD
NEATO (fellowes)
PressIt CD-DVD
Sanwa LB-CD
TDK
and so on.
Finally, in the fourth step, Print, the finished label can be printed. LabelPrint will detect and utilize a printer connected the PC system. In most cases, it will make use of all the advanced features provided by the printer, such as print quality or number of prints.
Once a template is chosen, the label will appear in the selection. LabelPrint also indicates which direction the template should be inserted into the printer tray. Since in general, for disc label, there are two disc labels per sheet, LabelPrint specifically shows which one will be printed. To switch the order, we only need to click on the desired disc label on the template.
LightScribe
In addition to the five labeling options outlined above, there is a sixth option called LightScribe, which is available only if a CD/DVD burner being used is capable of utilizing lightscribe technology. Lightscribe labeling basically uses CD/DVD burner's laser (the same one that uses to burn data onto disc) to burn or etch imprints on top of the disc surface with lightscribe coating. Imprint is made as a result of the burning on this special coated surface. The procedure is quite simple. We insert the disc into the CD/DVD burner as we normally do to burn data. Then we flip the disc to the other side; insert it into the drive and make label using lightscribe technology.
Currently, there are only a few CD/DVD burners that utilize this new technology. LightScribe is a recent technology developed by HP (Hewlett-Packard). A few HP CD/DVD burners with lightscribe ability are HP 630i, 630e, 640i. BenQ and Lacie also offer several DVD burners with lightscribe. Soon others will join the herd. Because of this extra capability, these drives are a bit more expensive than the regular DVD burners.
Using LabelPrint
With its four separate steps, one can quickly put together a label design and print it. I mostly produce disc labels for my data CDs as well as DVDs. Some involve images, some just require plain text titles. I use disc labels by Fellowes NEATO MediaFace for my first test.
Disc Label
The first step involves selecting the type of label, in this case, Disc Label. In the second step, I type in the Disc Title and Author (which can be used as the sub-title). In the third step, I import a jpeg image that I have designed using Photoshop. LabelPrint can import any images and place them on the label field as foreground or background. Foreground effect looks a bit awkward if it sits on a background image with a clear border-cut making the layers look uninteresting. By using Photoshop to render the borders between layered images I can get the label to look more appealing. If I don't like the text that I entered in the second step, I can change it by right-clicking on it and select text property or edit to bring a new effect. At this point, I can still add a few more text with special characters and font style.
In its editor mode (step three), LabelPrint does not have an undo operation key. Once a text or an image is deleted, it's gone.
LabelPrint provides a large preview of the label so I can see exactly as will be printed on the paper. Disc title or sub-title can be re-ordered to my liking. By toggling with the layout style feature, I can select the best design that fits this particular label.
At this point, if I'm not ready to print, I can save my work. This file will be saved under CyberLink native format with extension lpp (LabelPrint Project). For this test, I print the design and save it for use later.
In print mode (the final step), I need to select the type of paper template. My design will appear on the template. Depending on the type of printer, an appropriate paper type (photo, inkjet or plain paper) should be selected to produce better quality in the final print. In the case with my HP PhotoSmart 7150, I select "photo papers" so that it will produce high-quality print of photo images. Clicking the disc icon Print button at the corner of the windows, LabelPrint will send this information to the printer.
Print quality is excellent. Photo images have similar quality as if they were printed directly using HP print driver. The printed label looks exactly as it appears on screen.
For some reason, I cannot put two label designs on one sheet of paper template. By that I mean Fellowes NEATO MediaFace template has two disc labels; and LabelPrint only places one designed label on it. To print another label, I need to reinsert the paper and move the designed label in LabelPrint to the empty spot by clicking on it.
Paper template compatibility is excellent with LabelPrint. After printing my design using NEATO paper, I inserted a paper template by CD Stomper. I then selected the appropriate paper template provided by LabelPrint and sent it to my printer. The result is impressive. No off alignment occurred; and I did not use the Config in LabelPrint to perform any calibration (more on this later).
LabelPrint is quite flexible. I can move back and forth between the four steps at will. The procedure does not always have to start in order. Of course, step one is always the first one to select to begin with. But I can always come back to make new selection. Sometimes, I just start with step one, then jump to step three to edit my text and import my images. If I open my work file (lpp format), LabelPrint will take me to the final step, ready to print. If I decide to edit this work, I can move back to step (edit mode) by clicking on the left arrow button.
Front Cover, Back-of-front Cover and Inlay
The basic procedure is similar to Disc or MiniDisc Label. Once you have done one project the other ones are the same, with repeatable success. I don't really require to make these disc case covers. However, if you are very keen with artistic designs and styles to custom make your own disc cover, this project would be worthwhile.
Just to make sure LabelPrint deserves full recognition, I did test its Front Cover and Inlay design procedures. With several front cover samples included in the retail package when I first purchased NEATO MediaFace 4.0 Disc Labeling Kit, I prepared the design directly using LabelPrint. I imported a few jpeg images and used step two to enter program titles. Back in step three, I selected layout style from LabelPrint. Once satisfied with my layout, I sent it to the printer. The result was nothing short of amazing.
Calibration and Template Configuration
Since LabelPrint supports various types of templates from different manufacturers, perhaps there can result inconsistency that may affect the application of label from one type to the next. To ensure compatibility, LabelPrint has provided a way to configure a different type of template so that label will be printed exactly where it should be. Calibration can be performed using LabelPrint's Config feature to help adjust any off-set on various templates.
I have not used this feature to calibrate my printer. Based on my results, I don't see any need to. I have used three types of templates by CD Stomper, Memorex and NEATO without any problem. Memorex and CD Stomper share similar template layout with two disc labels located diagonally. NEATO's template has disc labels lined up centrally on the paper. LabelPrint seems to handle well on these three types of template.
Labels
CD Stomper, Memorex and NEATO should be locally available at Wal-Mart, Staples, OfficeMax, Circuit City or Best Buy. All three are available at my local OfficeMax. NEATO appears to be the most expensive among the three; and there are several reasons why. Memorex disc labels are the least impressive due to poor die-cut quality. NEATO has the highest die-cut quality with professional look. Their labels are available in both matte and gloss finish, and they seem to stick onto the disc much better. Gloss labels with photo quality seem to have a nicer impression on printed images with excellent clarity. NEATO gloss labels are very thin. Memorex and CD Stomper labels are a bit thicker than NEATO.
Conventional Disc Labels versus Print-on-Disc versus Lightscribe
Currently, there are three methods for producing disc labels. My use of the CyberLink LabelPrint (as well as NEATO and Memorex) has been for the conventional one; that is, sticky label.
Print-on-Disc label has been widely used commercially for a very long time. Only recently has it been made available to consumers with new printers that are capable of printing labels and images directly onto CD-R and DVD discs with specially coated surface. This method is readily available only if we have a printer with such capability, such as Epson R200 or R300. The specially coated discs for print-on-disc label are also expensive, but I think the price is probably comparable to the cost of buying conventional labels. In the long run, this method has several advantages. First, since label or images are imprinted onto the disc surface, it will not suffer from label peel, and will not add uneven weight distribution to the disc during spinning that may lead to hardware problem.
Lightscribe is a new technology. To utilize it we have to have a CD/DVD burner with this capability. Online price for these drives runs close to twice the cost of a regular CD/DVD burner. I expect the price will drop when other companies join the race. I was tempted to purchase an HP CD/DVD burner (particularly model HP640i) with lightscribe capability to test on this program. After a few days pondering on it, I have decided against purchasing one. To utilize lightscribe, we have to have CD/DVD burner and lightscribe special coated discs. A printer such as Epson R300 is not only capable of printing labels on discs but text and photo images as well. Therefore, print-on-disc probably offers a better outcome, both in terms of investment and quality. Nonetheless, the idea of inscribing texts and labels directly onto discs using a DVD burner is quite convenient! And I will leave these three options for the reader to decide.
Why CyberLink LabelPrint?
Compared to other programs, LabelPrint has the advantage in lightscribe technology. Although a labeling program (OEM) that comes with a new purchase of lightscribe DVD burner can provide lightscribe labeling needs, I think the features provided by the retailed program are far more practical. In either point of view, LabelPrint is still a viable software to have, especially for those who do a lot of disc labeling.
Prior to using LabelPrint, I have used Memorex (its software is called exPressit SE2.1) and NEATO MediaFace Ver. 4.01. Memorex's exPressitSE2.1 is the least desired one due to its poor capabilities, handling and features. MediaFace 4.01 is quite sophisticated and highly capable; but, using it to create a quick and simple disc label can be an overkilled project. I have found LabelPrint to provide similar sophistications, but with a simpler approach.
For comparison, I have installed all three programs (full version) on my PC system and test them to see which one is more practical. exPressit SE 2.1 has the poorest performance. It cannot even load a 27.9MB tiff file into the design label. I was able to import that file into its folder but could not transfer it to the template. With its slow response, it seems to be a bad program that leaks memory. It uses 127MB of memory, yet does nothing practical. In contrast, LabelPrint uses only 68.7MB of memory while it holds that 27.9MB tiff image file in its disc layout, not to mention that it loaded that image very quickly. NEATO uses 147MB of memory with that same image file loaded and placed on its design template. Among the three, exPressit SE2.1 does not seem to know how to handle tiff file format. Even trying to load a jpeg file with a reasonable size, exPressit SE 2.1 still performs poorly; especially it does not print exactly as shown on its template.
At startup, LabelPrint uses 13.1MB of system's memory; exPressit SE 2.1 uses 47.8MB, while NEATO uses 63MB. NEATO is a very large program which reflects its level of sophistication and capabilities. The drawback of NEATO MediaFace 4.01 is operating system compatibility problem. Even with Windows 2000 Professional, it requires a Service Pack 4 (SP-4) installed. Therefore, the operating system that seems to work out of the box is Windows XP family. On the contrary, LabelPrint will work on virtually all Windows family starting with Win98SE. I have installed LabelPrint on my Windows 2000 Professional SP-1 and it works fine.
At $19.95, LabelPrint is quite a reasonable product to buy, considering Fellowes NEATO CD Labeling Kit also costs $19.95, with its MediaFace 4.01 Design software, a few labels and an applicator. I spent about $12.99 at Wal-Mart (a year ago) on Memorex exPressit SE2.1 CD Labeling Kit that contains the software, applicator and 20 matte finish CD Labels and a couple of jewel-case/inserts. They also included 5 colorful Memorex CD-Rs in thin case. With poor features and capabilities, exPressit SE2.1 is not worth that $12.99, even with the included labels and blank CD-Rs.
A Simple-Designed Program Has its Limitation
There is one small drawback with LabelPrint. NEATO CD label paper template, for instance, has two disc labels as well as four long strip utility labels (Spine Labels) for jewel-case and two disc core labels. Based on my experience so far, LabelPrint can only produce disc labels but not those utility strips and core labels independently. Whether we can regard this as LabelPrint's short-coming, it rightly depends on how we use it to create our disc labels. While I now regularly use LabelPrint for my disc labeling projects, for certain I will not put aside my NEATO MediaFace 4.01 software; in case I need it to produce spine and core labels.
Help/Support
The download version I have reviewed here does not come with an e-manual (or hardcopy manual) for reference. However, the program contains a help file which I think is quite adequate to assist a user get familiarized with the basic operations.
Quite frankly, since the program incorporates interface with such user-friendly style, I really doubt that a help manual would be required. To put it succinctly, this program is extremely easy to use. By going through its procedure once, we can get a feel of how everything is operated. In fact, that's how I did for the first time. Other features, such as right-click operation and text manipulation, I discovered as I get to use the program more frequently, which has now become my standard disc labeling program.
Of course, help may be required not for using the software, but perhaps for troubleshooting a software that may have conflict in your particular system. Either it refuses to install or operate properly, or other software conflicts or related issues.
As usual, CyberLink offers a number of support routes: phone, e-mail, internet and fax. Phone and fax help only offers to registered users. I have never made a phone call to CyberLink for help. If a phone call is required, CyberLink can be reached via their specified number provided with the software. However, they can be reached during business hour 9am - 5pm in Taiwan, their local time, which is GMT +8:00. With my previous experience, they are pretty good with responses.
Conclusion
CyberLink LabelPrint has a friendly user interface. With it, a labeling project can be accomplished in the 1-2-3-4 procedure. With a selection rich with layout styles and background images, a good designed label can often be done without a user's intervention. Its versatile approach to editing allows a user to freely explore all possibilities in their design style if the built-in features do not meet their requirements. This flexibility, in my opinion, is extremely practical.
The program is very small, reflecting the fact that it uses very little of system resources, thereby allows multi-tasking a pleasant working environment, even for a less capable PC system (like mine). LabelPrint is very responsive in operation. I like the fact that it supports different types of file format and many popular paper templates. Its compatibility with different templates makes it a highly capable disc labeling software program.
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Hardware/Software used under LabelPrint for this Review
CPU: Dual Pentium Xeon, each with 500MHz
Memory: 512MB RAM PC100 (4x128MB sticks)
OS: Windows XP Pro SP-2, DirectX 9
Printer: HP Photosmart 7150
Paper Templates: CD Stomper -- matte finish, Memorex CD Labels -- matte finish, NEATO CD Labels and Jewel-Case Covers/Inlays -- matte and gloss (for labels)
Recommended:
Yes
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