Some years ago (before, IIRC, DVD-R’s became widespread), I bought a CD-R pen - a marker that was specifically designed to mark the labels of CD-Rs without bleeding through or anything like that.
I have no idea if buying such a thing was necessary. But regardless of that, is there any reason why I can’t also use it safely on a DVD-R? Is there any difference in material or manufacture that would make a difference?
I once called the Sanford Manufacturing Co., the makers of Sharpies, and asked them about using Sharpies on CDs/DVDs. I was told that there was no reason to believe that ink will make it to the other side of the discs after years or whatever the claims are and that they are perfectly safe. I asked about the markers they manufacture specifically for CDs/DVDs and I was told they’re made with a tip size designed for smaller writing and they did nothing to make the ink “safer” for discs, even though there may be formula changes so the ink can flow better toward the smaller tip.
i’ve been using both fat and fine tipped markers on both media types with no bad consequence.
It should be even safer with DVDs where the data layer is sandwiched between two layers of plastic. On CDs the data is on top of the plastic underneath the label.
I wonder if there’s any sort of pen/ink that WOULD damage the data on a CD or DVD? I’ve written on labels using big fat permanent markers and even one of those shiny silver markers.
I believe that the criteria is whether the ink is water-based or alcohol based. So a Sharpie would be fine but the magic markers I used to sniff as a kid would not be.
The idea that permanant markers mess up CD-R probably comes from the ‘olden’ days.
Back when I was in college, i spent an arm and a leg for a state of the art 2x CD-burner and the CD-R discs kind had that gold tint to them. The top surface of the discs were kind-of a matte finish and I made a labeled a bunch of discs with a normal Sharpie marker (you know the kind that are a little fatter than a pencil, that makes a mark about 1-2mm thickness). The lines and marks I made on the discs cracked and peeled up right where the lines were, no where else, and of course the discs were not readable. I tried another brand of discs and they did the same thing… Wherever there were lines it looked like a dry lake bed.
Those CD-R pens are the same thing as overhead pens (good luck finding those nowadays), but don’t worry about it. As others have said, I always mark DVDs and CDs with a Sharpie again, and I have not had any trouble since the 1990’s ended. Guess they’ve gotten better and making the discs.