Some of the less expensive discs we sell are what are known as “overprints” or “reprints“. Sounds strange? Not really- these are simply discs that were originally produced by (or for) other manufacturers. Sometimes otherwise perfectly good discs are rejected simply because of a problem with the labelling- perhaps it was off-centre or smudged.

These discs are often bought by another distributor who will then print a new label over the faulty original. Normally more than one layer is overprinted- if you look closely, you’ll notice the faint bumps of a pattern below the top layer, giving the disc a slight texture. This helps disguise any remaining trace of the original label, presumably keeping the original manufacturers happy! (You can see the effect on the image at the right; click it to see the full DVD / CD overprint detail).

The overprinting of extra layers also adds some extra protection to the top surface. In fact, Tuffdisc media exploit this with a specially-designed super-tough overprint that makes it even tougher!

Due to the nature of overprinting, the underlying discs used for a particular brand/type aren’t guaranteed, and will probably vary from time to time. Obviously, if this is particularly important to you, overprints might not be the best choice. However, for many people, this is a minor drawback compared to the great savings that overprints can offer for everyday use.