Ernie:

I had success with creating my own "template", and here is how I did it:

(1) print a CD outline to regular 8.5 X 11 paper using the EPSON software (believe it is called "Epson Print CD", or something like that; use a color background to see the CD/DVD properly) by NOT selecting CD/DVD as the destination type with the Epson driver, but using regular sheet 8.5 X 11 paper as the page setup.

(2) Measure the distance from the top of the paper (around 5-6 mm is what I got) to the top of the circle (outermost circumference of the CD, or tangent to the circle) and from the left side (around 12-13 mm) to the left tangent, or edge, of the outer circumference.

(3) Create a new template in Photoshop, using mm as the default ruler and grid measurements (Edit/Preferences menu; I chose 10 mm increments, with 10 sub-increments). Add a new layer and draw a circle using the oval tool, measuring exactly 118 mm in diameter (CD/DVD diameter of outer circumference). Draw the inner diameter circle of about 38 mm for the inner, non-printable ring. You can make these a layer set if you like. [Note: if you like, you can measure your own CDs with a mm ruler to make sure you have the correct measurements.] If you like, you can measure the innermost spindle ring and center it inside the 38mm ring.

(4) Using the move tool, position this exact replication of a CD/DVD in the top, lefthand-corner area of your canvas. That is, the top tangent to the outer circle should be touching the top of the canvas, as should be the leftmost tangent touching the leftmost side of the canvas.

(5) Using your custom setup, make sure your page setup is set to A4 page type, and try using 5.6 mm as the topmost distance from the image, and 12.16 (you will have to experiment with these distances; they should be almost exactly what you measured in step 2 above) as the distance to the left side of the image.

(6) Use "File/Print with Preview" to set up the printing to the CD/DVD, and make sure you have "Manual", "A4" and "CD/DVD" established as the print parameters in the Epson driver. Try printing to the DVD this way. You will probably have to experiment with 2 or 3 to get it right. I twisted each around for a second printing, and placed text at the top and bottom of the image to test alignment, etc. I used a light color background to test the outer edges of the DVD. [ I did have to wipe ink off (wet cloth) the rollers and tray when I first started testing this {;>} ]

Hope this helps.

Ed

Ed_Barfield

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