LightScribe
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A LightScribe Disc printed with the Logo.
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| Original author(s) | Daryl Anderson |
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| Developer(s) | Hewlett-Packard |
| Initial release | 2004 |
| Stable release |
1.18.27.10 / March 14, 2013
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| Development status | Discontinued |
| Platform | Cross-platform |
| Available in | English, Spanish, French, German, Simplified Chinese |
| Type | Computer Software |
| License | Freeware, closed source |
| Website | [1] HP LightScribe Information Site Closed Nov 2013 |
LightScribe is an optical disc recording technology that was created by the Hewlett-Packard Company. It uses specially coated recordable CD and DVD media to produce laser-etched labels with text or graphics, as opposed to stick-on labels and printable discs. Although HP no longer is developing the technology it is still maintained and supported by a number of independent enthusiasts.
The LightScribe method uses the laser in a way similar to when plain data are written to the disc; a greyscale image of the label is etched onto the upper side of the disc. In the beginning, the discs were available only in a sepia color but today are available in many monochromatic colors.
The purpose of LightScribe is to allow users to create direct-to-disc labels (as opposed to stick-on labels), using their optical disc writer. Special discs and a compatible disc writer are required. Before or after burning data to the read-side of the disc, the user turns the disc over and inserts it with the label side down. The drive's laser then etches into the label side in such a way that an image is produced.
LightScribe was conceived by Hewlett-Packard engineer Daryl Anderson, and the coating's chemistry was developed by Dr. Makarand Gore, and brought to market through the joint design efforts of HP's imaging and optical storage divisions in 2004.
It was the first direct to disc labeling technology that allowed users to laser etch images to the label side of a disc. DiscT@2 technology had been on the market since 2002, but DiscT@2 allows users to burn only to the unused portion of the data side of the disc. In 2005, LabelFlash became the main competitor for LightScribe.
Various brands manufacture the required media. Dual Layer DVD+Rs are currently the highest-capacity disc to support the technology. There has yet to be any development of LightScribe Blu-ray discs.
Companies such as HP, Samsung, LaCie and LiteOn have discontinued or are phasing out LightScribe drives as of June 2013[update] with only LG still manufacturing drives.
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Wikipedia