| Before you decide whether replication is the best | | | | silkscreen or offset printing onto the CD surface as |
| option for you or not you should know more about | | | | well as printing and packaging. Some companies |
| the process so that you can make an informed | | | | provide customized CDs in the form of mini CDs, CD |
| decision. | | | | business cards and discs in various shapes. |
| In the CD replication process, copies of a CD glass | | | | CD replication is a good option when you require over |
| master are pressed onto blank discs made of | | | | 500 copies of a CD. This process is more expensive |
| aluminium or polymer. Unlike the CD duplication | | | | for smaller quantities as set-up costs are high. |
| process, this process does not use blank recordable | | | | However, the cost per unit goes down once the |
| discs. The discs are made from scratch and data is | | | | process starts running. This makes CD replication |
| physically pressed into the non-label side. This creates | | | | more suited more large-scale production. In |
| a series of pits on the surface of the disc. The | | | | comparison, CD duplication required just a blank, |
| information is recorded in these pits. The CDs | | | | recordable CD and a CD burner so set-up costs are |
| produced through replication are printable on the label | | | | very low. This is why CD duplication is preferred for |
| side and silvered on the data side. | | | | smaller quantities. |
| In the process of CD duplication, dots are burnt into | | | | CD replication is usually used for mass production of |
| the dye on the recordable side using a laser. The CD | | | | CDs. Although it is a more expensive process than |
| player reads these dots as pits and hence the end | | | | CD duplication, CDs produced through this process |
| result is the same. | | | | can be played on any CD player. Some players are |
| The replication output does not vary as such | | | | unable to read CDs produced through the duplication |
| between different companies as most of them use | | | | process. |
| standard equipment. Replication cannot be done on | | | | Your decision to go in for replication will thus take |
| your PC and you will need to hire a company for | | | | into account all these factors. Keep in mind, however, |
| your project. The process is carried out in large | | | | that replication is a time-consuming process and it |
| factories with automated assembly lines as it requires | | | | could take even 10 days depending on the volume of |
| injection moulding machines and other heavy industrial | | | | work. Therefore, you should opt for replication only if |
| equipment. These companies usually also offer | | | | you are not pressed for time! |