HOME : INFO CENTER : REPLICATION and DUPLICATION. What's the difference?

CD replication involves several stages conducted in clean, controlled factory environments. First, the source data is transferred to a high speed server and checked for errors. The source media for CD replication is usually a CD-R or Exabyte tape. Then, the glass master is created. The glass master (which is made of glass) is stripped, cleaned, washed, dried, coated with a primer and baked prior to exposure to the laser. During the laser beam recording stage, copy protection such as CSS may be implemented. The laser generates pits in a photo resist layer which are then metallised in a sputtering process. Stampers are now formed from the glass master. A father stamper is first created by an electroforming process, and a mother stamper is created from the father. The stampers are quality checked, punched to the required diameter and then used by a hydraulic press (hence the term "CD pressing") to injection mould the CDs from a transparent polycarbonate base. The CD is metallised to create a reflective coating which is coated with a protective lacquer. It is this lacquer that may be screen or offset printed. DVD replication is slightly different; sometimes using two separately moulded substrates which are bonded prior to printing.

CD duplication is a much simpler process. You have probably duplicated CDs on your PC in the past. A CD-R has a smooth reflective layer that rests on a layer of a photosensitive dye. This dye varies between CD manufacturers; hence the blue, green and silver recording surfaces of various CD-Rs. The write laser in the CD duplicator darkens parts of the metal layer to form non reflective areas. These areas create part of a digital code which can be "translated" by the read laser in CD players and writers. Which process should you choose for your project? Read more here.

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Confused about your printing options? Read more about offset and screen printing.

Have a look at our range of CD packaging including digipaks and printed card wallets.