Can I use a Marker on a CD or DVD?
Many people find it convenient to use a marker on a CD or DVD for home-recorded media, but controversy persists over the practice. At issue is the thin layer that protects the writeable surface that lies just below the label. In some cases ink might degrade protective coatings over the long haul, resulting in a disc that will eventually generate errors. However, it would appear from general chatter in the Internet community that the majority of people that use markers on media haven’t experienced problems. A study performed by Media Sciences subjected marked CDs from different manufacturers to 100 hours of high humidity (85% relative), and temperatures of 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 degrees Celsius) to simulate accelerated aging. Results indicated no single disc type or ink marker performed consistently better than another. All discs degraded, with the upshot being that using a marker on a CD potentially reduces the life of the media to an estimated 20 years. However, Media Sciences its
Many people find it convenient to use a marker on a CD or DVD for home-recorded media, but controversy persists over the practice. At issue is the thin layer that protects the writeable surface that lies just below the label. In some cases ink might degrade protective coatings over the long haul, resulting in a disc that will eventually generate errors. However, it would appear from general chatter in the Internet community that the majority of people that use markers on media haven’t experienced problems. A study performed by Media Sciences subjected marked CDs from different manufacturers to 100 hours of high humidity (85% relative), and temperatures of 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 degrees Celsius) to simulate accelerated aging. Results indicated no single disc type or ink marker performed consistently better than another. All discs degraded, with the upshot being that using a marker on a CD potentially reduces the life of the media to an estimated 20 years. However, Media Sciences i
