The Megalodon Proof Disc Set
... how to make sure your
project is perfect

You want your title to stand out from the crowd. You want to convey a feeling of high quality. Special printing effects will give your title that edge you need. And adding them is surprisingly affordable -- even if you're producing a small run of discs.

On this Page:
| Standard Finishes | High Gloss / UV | Matte Lamination | Diecuts | Embossing | Metallic Inks on Paper | Hot Foil Stamping | "6C Discs" | Metallic Ink on Discs | Reverse Printing | Lined Spines | Special Paper Stocks | Clear Substrate Discs |

Spot gloss over matte gives you the silky smoothness of matte finish, with high gloss areas that really pop!

Our graphics department can help you set up your artwork to add these effects.

Diecuts are like a planned hole. It can allow underlying artwork to show through. The example to the right shows a very cute little bug peeking out. Die cut features are frequently used on slipcases, but can also be used on any jacket or Custom Tray.

Technical Tip: You can create diecut areas in your artwork by using the spot color called "dieline", that you can find on most of our templates (or you can create one yourself) When you use the ink, set the ink and/or the object to overprint the colors below it. Print some color separations to check that the lines don't knock out your other art.

Embossing creates raised areas by stamping them into the paper.

Try embossing with metallic inks or foil stamping, as is done here. The effect can be really stunning!

Technical Tip: You can create embossed areas in your artwork by creating a custom ink color just for the embossed areas. When you use the ink, set the ink or object to overprint the colors below it. Print some positive color separations to check that everything is set up just right.

These inks contain actual metal particles, and give your title a look not possible with regular inks. Gold and an assortment of silvers are available.

Technical Tip: When creating metallic areas in your artwork, choose an ink from the Pantone Metallic library.

If you need a mirror-like metallic finish, consider using Hot Foil Stamping (see below).

This title uses three special effects for a very sophisticated look. The smiling face on the cover is made entirely by embossing. All the text on the cover and inside the tray pack was printed using Pantone Metallic silver ink.

The same metallic ink color was used on the CD surface, for a perfect match to the packaging.

Shiny metallic foil is bonded to the printed surface. This gives a mirror-like finish you can achieve in no other way.

Technical Tip: You can add foil stamped areas to your artwork by creating a custom (spot) ink color just for those areas. The color you use doesn't matter. To check that everything is correct, try printing color separations. The areas that use that custom color should appear on a separate plate.

It may seem unusual at first, but you can even use metallic inks on the disc surface! This disc uses a Pantone metallic silver, along with areas of bare disc surface, to a very high-end effect.

Technical Tip: It's easy to make a "knockout" to the raw surface. Just use the default "white" color where you don't want any ink to print!

Choose reverse printing when you don't want to see the raw white paper between inside panels or inside pockets. The reverse of the paper stock is printed, either with a solid color

Technical Tip:
For wide multi-disc sets, you can use lined spines, which are spines which have a fully printed panel on the inside, giving them the same print quality as the main panels.

Choose lined spines when your artwork needs to span several inside panels, and/or you want the same surface coatings one the inner spines.

This DVD project, for Despair, Inc. uses lined spines to great effect.

The use of a special paper stock like fiberboard, can be very creatively worked with.
Check out this title for a DVD Magazine that used the fiberboard background as "earth" for tunneling ants.

Another fun option for making the most out of a background is clear substrate.
This is minidisc with transparent substrate out to the edge.