Setup is straightforward. Once you unpack the printer and run the automated installation, the included software walks you through the rest. The program, called Discus for DYMO, offers a variety of options that let you design attractive disc labels with minimal skill or minimal time, providing colorful background options and fairly sophisticated templates. The installation also bundles templates for use with other programs like QuarkXPress, Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign.

DYMO claims that the DiscPainter can print a disc in about 1 minute in fast mode, 2 minutes in the default normal mode, and 3 minutes in bestmode. This is consistent with the times I saw, although the actual speeds vary with the image. On my tests using waterproof glossy discs, the fastest had a bit of a draft mode look to it, particularly for photos, but normal and best looked fully professional. In general, of course, output quality and image durability depend on the type of discs you use as much as—or more than—on the printer itself.

This brings me back to price, my only real issue with the DiscPainter. DYMO claims a cost per disc of 39 cents, based on a yield of 100 discs for each $39 ink cartridge. Keeping in mind the cost of the printer (which is rated to last for 2,000 discs), this works out to 14 cents extra per disc, for a total price of 53 cents per disc. And don’t forget the additional cost of the blank discs themselves.

If you can’t justify the expense, you may want to consider an all-in-one printer that can print standard output as well as discs. Both Epson and HP make such printers. If you can swing the cost, however, the DiscPainter will give you quick and easy, professional-looking labels.

DYMO DiscPainter CD/DVD Printer Review
Price Range: $280 street
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