DVD Replication for Dummies: 4 Easy Steps to Professional
DVD Replication by Morris Anderson
Every avid independent filmmaker has dreamed about making
that special interest documentary, or short film to show off
their creative prowess. Many have great ideas and want to
‘wow’ the film-festival scene, or video renters with their
big project.
But once you have the film ‘in the can’ (no easy feat), how
do you move from a couple of master DVDs with the ‘Sharpie’
marked hand-written title inside a secondhand CD case, to a
pile of cardboard boxes full of shiny new, retail-ready
DVDs, with UPC barcodes and polywrap sitting on your
doorstep?
You need to create eye-popping artwork and have your project
replicated. Using a reputable full service DVD Replication
company like PacificDisc, Inc. to partner with is certainly
a helpful option to ensure a professional end result, but to
help with your DVD replication project, here are 4 easy
steps to follow for good DVD replication results:
1. Prepare your DVD master – To ensure the replication
company can read your master, you either need to create a
DVD-R master, or output your project to a DLT (Digital
Linear Tape). DLT has been around for years and used to be
the only way to replicate. Thankfully DVD-R technology has
advanced so much over the past few years, that a pair of
DVD-R masters are normally all that is required when working
on a standard DVD5 project. Why a pair? Just in case one of
the masters gets damaged in transit, you don‚t waste time
looking for another good master.
2. Create your artwork – You’ll need to design artwork for the
DVD face, the outside of the case (commonly called a wrap)
and, if desired an insert for the inside of the case
(postcard, or booklet). All CD or DVD Replication companies
will have templates on their websites that you can download
and use to assist in layout of your art. Just make sure you
download the correct template for your project, as there are
many variables and you won’t want to waste time with the
wrong layout.
While on the subject of artwork, it’s important to mention
that you need to decide if your project needs a barcode
(commonly called a UPC, or the black and white dashes inside
a box on many products). If your DVD will be sold through
retailers, you should have a UPC issued, as many retailers
won‚t stock an item without one.
3. Find a DVD replication partner – Although there are
literally dozens of DVD replication companies out there
(just type ‘dvd replication company’ into your favorite
search engine) not all DVD Replication companies are created
equal. You’ll see all kinds of pricing models that will do
an excellent job of confusing the heck out of you.
Instead, look for a partner who offers good pricing and tries
to simplify the process. Make sure you are comparing the
same thing when shopping around and watch out for hidden
extras, like overage (where the replication company makes an
extra bunch of discs and then expects you to pay for the
extras). Watch out for setup fees, glass mastering fees,
extra costs for offset printed discs, extra costs for
3-color vs. 5-color artwork.
A little homework up front will ensure your DVDs look great
when they arrive and you aren’t left with the feeling of
being cheated, or have crappy looking discs that nobody will
want to buy.
4. Approve check discs and artwork proofs – Once you have
found the DVD replication company, you will be asked to send
in your masters, artwork and cash. Most replicators want
their money upfront, as they start burning materials as soon
as the project lands. Within a few days of delivering your
masters, you should see either email proofs of your artwork
(simple digital prints (PDFs) showing you how your art
elements will line up when printed. If you ordered a hard
proof, the DVD replication company will ship you a print
proof printed from the actual printing press earmarked to
print your job. With a hard proof, you know exactly what
you’re getting before you print hundreds of them. If you
request a check disc, you’ll get a small number of ‘silver
discs’ to ensure your project has come through the DVD-R (or
DLT) master to ‘glass’ master process successfully.
Assuming everything checks out, and you send back your
approvals, within a couple of weeks, you should hear the
beep-beep-beep of the FedEx truck backing up your driveway.
After a quick signature, you should be the proud owner of a
pile of cardboard boxes filled with shiny DVDs — your DVDs!
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Morris Anderson is the co-Founder and CEO of PacificDisc
Inc. – a smaller, more boutique replication company that
specializes in helping first-timers through the CD or DVD
replication process. Morris has over 20 years experience in
the production field, having run three Television stations
and an Independent Production Film company, prior to
founding PacificDisc, Inc. To learn more about CD or DVD
Replication or to partner with a first-rate DVD Replication
company, visit http://www.pacificdisc.com
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Copyright (c) 2006 Peter D. Marshall / All Rights Reserved
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