LightScribe Discs

LightScribe discs are specially constructed on the "label side" in order to allow a LightScribe drive laser to burn a precise image. A thin dye layer on that side lets the laser burn graphical images with the same laser that burned data on the other side (at a much higher speed, most likely!).

The hub of a LightScribe disc contains special calibration marks so that the drive can accurately obtain the disc's rotation at any given point in time. This is why you can actually burn the same image into the same LightScribe disc twice, and the second burn will precisely land right on top of the first one.

LightScribe Disc Speed

If you've already used LightScribe, you already know it's slow, slow, slow. Why so slow? One reason is that LightScribe is writing bigger "dots", if you will on the label side than the drive writes on the tightly-packed bits of the data side. It accomplishes this by defocusing the laser, which requires slowing down the drive so that there's still enough energy to affect the dye.

LightScribe could go faster if it required a higher-power laser, but then the price of drives would have been higher, since normal DVD optical burners don't require that higher-powered laser. In fact, HP claims to have performed faster burns on existing LightScribe media by using a higher-powered laser -- in the lab, at least.

But HP is aware that slow burn speed (30 minutes for a nice, complex graphic) is one of the least favorite features of LightScribe. So, given that they aren't going to require LightScribe drive makers to use more powerful lasers, they went to work on tweaking the dye layer so that it can change more quickly. The new media is supposed to go about 50% faster, so that old 30-minute burn should only take 20 minutes.

Of course, HP has consistently over-promised and under-delivered on LightScribe, and this new, faster media is no exception. So, back in the middle of 2005, HP was claiming the new media would be out "by the end of the year". Well, now we're well into 2006 and the faster media still ain't here yet. As usual with LightScribe, all we can say is "stay tuned!"

See Also

• What is HP's Light Scribe?
• Why does HP's LightScribe technology matter?
• A list of HP LightScribe news.
• When will LightScribe be available?
• What is the price of LightScribe drives, cost of media?
• What is LightScribe ink?
• The official HP LightScribe website.

FAQ