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The following details the information we require to produce Compact Discs that meet both your deadlines and quality standards.
Some of the following requirements are legal, some technical and others are to assist in the efficient processing of your order.
To replicate a quantity of Compact Discs, there are six things we require:
- A CD/CD-R Master (see 1.0-1.1 Input Media)
- Artwork for printing onto the CD face (see 1.4-1.13 Disc Label Specifications)
- Artwork for paper parts/slicks (see 1.15-1.17 Paper Parts Specifications)
- Manufacturing Order Form All Formats (see 5.1)
- Conditions of Reproduction (see 5.0)
- Compact Disc Track Listing (see 5.2)
Your master must be supplied on CD or CD-R. Please ensure discs are free from any physical defects such as scratches or dirt that are likely to affect playability. The master disc must conform to the relevant standards.
Your master must be supplied on CD or CD-R. All compact disc masters must conform to the CD-Audio Standard - Red Book.
A complete cue sheet or track list is required with the actual start and finish of each track identified by its time code address. Please refer to the Compact Disc Track Listing sheet in the Appendices (5.2).
While the true time limit for a compact disc is 78
minutes, 29 seconds.
Disc Label Specifications (1.4 – 1.13)
1.4 Film Specifications
(disc label)
Regency Media uses a screen printing process for printing the label onto the CD surface.
There are 3 types of printing that can be used with this process:
- Line Prints with up to six different spot colours.
- Halftones and duotones.
- 4 colour process print (picture disc) including a solid white background is required.
To produce the screens required for our screen printing process we require the disc label film to be supplied as:
Right reading positives
Emulsion up
The CD label must be supplied with one piece of film for each colour that is required to be printed. The appropriate PMS code and catalogue number must be marked clearly on each piece of film. Where a white base or specific colour is required as a base coat for the CD, film must be supplied to ensure exact registration of label print.
If the design is four colour process, a colour proof or a colour laser print must be supplied with the film.
1.5 Registration Marks (disc
label)
To ensure correct registration of the print we have outlined the registration marks that must be included on the film as per diagram at 1.13. These must appear on every piece of film supplied.
1. A series of four dots need to be placed on the film work. These are critical to the automatic register system and the print machine performance and must be adhered to.
2. A series of cross hair crosses is also to be placed on the film. These will be used as a back up system to the dots. The size of the cross hairs is not critical but the distance from the image is.
1.6 Half Tones and Duotones
(disc label)
Regency Media are able to print halftones and duotones onto the disc label. Strict attention to detail is required when printing halftones or duotones, please ensure you abide by the following specifications:
screen ruling: 133 lines per inch (lpi)
screen angle 45 degrees
type of dots: Elliptic
Density range: Highlights - 15%, shadows - 80%
Proof Type: Chemical or Digital Proof
1.7 Colour Process Disc Label
(Picture Discs)
Four colour process (picture) disc labels use the CMYK colour combination.
It must be noted that the disc label surface is silver, not white. In the case where key features are required to be white (i.e. teeth or eyes on a face) a white base must be printed first.
Where a special white base is required as a base coat for the CD a file must be supplied.
Where appropriate our graphic art department would be happy to advise in the initial design of the picture disc so that the process can be tailored to the design.
The film specifications for printing a 4 colour process disc label are as follows:
Screen ruling: 133 lines per inch
Screen angles: Yellow 90
Cyan 75
Magenta 45
Black 105
Type of dots: Elliptic
Density range: Highlights - 15%, Shadows - 80%
Proof Type: Chemical or Digital proof
1.8 Identification (disc label)
We recommend your catalogue number be included in the CD label artwork to ensure correct identification.
The identification must appear outside the image area and be a minimum of 12 points in a bold type face.
Regency Media uses the Pantone Matching System (PMS) as a standard colour system. UV curable inks are used and can match any coated PMS colour including metallics and fluorescents. Custom matches of customer supplied samples are also available apon request. It should be noted that PMS colours printed directly onto the CD's metal surface can appear slightly different in colour than those printed on paper.
1.10 Type Set and Line Width
(disc label)
A minimum size of 5 pt. for text
in positive print
A minimum size of 7 pt. for text in negative print (reversed out)
A minimum size of 0.15 mm for positive print
A minimum size of 0.25mm for lines in negative print (reversed out)
CD label trapping for screen printing requires a minimum overlap of 0.40mm (an overprint stroke/outline of 0.88mm).
If the film includes the optional Phillips Cd logo, it must appear in the correct proportion on the disc.
1.13 Print Area Compact
Disc (disc label)
The maximum outer print diameter is 117mm. The inner print diameter is 36mm. The centre area between the stacking ring and the centre hole may also be printed. The outside diameter of this are is 21mm. Ink printed inside this inner area will appear a lighter colour than the rest of the disc, as this section of the disc is clear, not silver. The stacking ring area must be left clear (reversed out) on all film.
The dimensions for the stacking ring are:
36mm outer diameter
33mm inner diameter
The following diagram is at 100% CD size and may be used as a template for sizing. Please note the keylines in the diagram are to be used as a guide only. All keylines must be deleted on finished separated filmwork.
Where a white base or a specific colour is required as a base coat for the CD, film must be supplied to ensure exact registration of label print.
Click Here for Downloadable PDF of CD dimensions
A multitude of packaging options are available to suit an infinite number of markets. Standard packaging includes jewel cases and trays (available in a variety of colours), cardboard sleeves, clear PVC sleeves, slimline cases and double cases. Other options are constantly introduced to the market, so please ask our office for the current options available. Click here to go to Packaging.
Paper Parts Specifications (1.15 – 1.17)
1.15 Printing of Paper Parts
(Inlays/Booklets)
As part of our production capabilities, Regency Media also has strong partnerships with printing facilities. These enable us readily to print your booklets and inlays, or you can provide your own.
While we can readily provide prices for the printing itself, a firm quotation for the total production costs can only be offered upon sighting of the artwork.
Regency Media uses the offset printing process for printing all paper parts. All artwork to be provided on disc and must be to Regency Media’s imposition.
Since the introduction of "direct to plate" printing for paper parts, the client no longer has to consider the cost of film outputting.
File Setup:
We ask that you supply the files to us as "printer’s pages",
set up as the job is to be printed,
eg... an eight page stapled booklet will be four pages set up in
the following way:
Pages 8/1, 2/7, 6/3, 4/5.
For the tray insert we will require separate documents.
All pages are to be set up to the finished size of the page, eg... for an eight page booklet, the page size would be 240mm x 120mm with a 3mm bleed around all outside edges. For the inlay the size will be 150mm x 117.5mm with a 3mm bleed. Please ensure that all images are saved in CMYK and not RGB or Duo Tones.
Click Image or here for all specifications regarding file setup.
File in Acrobat PDF Format.
Regency Media strongly recommends reading these
before setting up artwork.
Proofs: All jobs that come to Regency Media must be accompanied by at least one of the following, whether for paper parts or on disc.
Digital Proof.
Chemical Proof.
Laser prints (not used for colour matching).
Any additional special colours such as gold, silver or flouro's will incur additional fees.
Please note if a proof is NOT supplied Regency Media cannot guarantee the final product.
All artwork discs are to be accompanied by an approved chemical or digital proof. If not, a proof will be generated for approval before plates are made. This will delay production by approximately 4 days and will incur an additional charge (if required).
Proofs should clearly indicate areas of special colour. Some film companies cannot correctly mix special proofing colours therefore either Pantone (PMS) colours or sample swatches must be given.
For single colour (mono), a dyeline (or blueprint) should be submitted to check type or folding format.
1.17 Paper Stock (paper parts)
Standard paper quality for CD booklets and inlays is A2 gloss art paper. The weight of the paper varies depending on the number of pages.
Download PDF Guides
2 Page
Booklet 4,8,12,16 etc Page Booklet 6 Page Booklet Tray
Inlays
If supplying stickers for adhering to your packaging, please ensure they are supplied to our specifications. If supplied stickers are not supplied to our specifications an extra charge for manual assembly will be incurred.
If supplying stickers for adhering to your packaging, please ensure they are supplied to our specifications. If supplied stickers are not supplied to our specifications an extra charge for manual assembly will be incurred.
Click Here for Downloadable PDF of CD Label Specifications