Lucian wrote:
Some bad advice is being given here on using sharpies. Those giving this advice, please let us know where you researched this advice, to be sure you were not giving wrong info to some poor unsuspectiing sole, despite you good intentions of course.
NEVER use a sharpie on a CD, a Sharpie has acid in the ink and it will eventually eat through the very thin layer on the top of a CD or DVD and that will destroy your data of the image file embedded into the undersurface of the CD/DVD.
There are proper acid free pens designed specifically for writing on a CD or DVD and only these should be used to write on such a thing, if you really care about the info you have engraved on there. It may take many months, it make take a year, or longer, but, the ink of a Sharpie or other marker type pen, WILL eat through the top surface eventually and destroy your image files where it has touched it.
There are special pens for archival writing on photographs and CD/DVD discs and only these should be used, in order not to damage the print or files engraved. A true pro at a good art shop will know what to use, don't just ask any employee at any craft or art shop, because working there does not make them an expert in all fields of what that shop sells.
Please be sure you know what you are saying when offering advice to others on these forums, because I'm sure you have the best intentions when offering advice, just be sure you are also offering correct advice.
This was not meant to belittle anyone offering any advice here, just a heads up on what to think about before offering advice. If it is just something you do, rather than something you know for a fact is a safe practise to do, make sure you state that when answering. Please don't take what I've said the wrong way.
Some bad advice is being given here on using sharp... (
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I have been using Sharpies to label all my CD's containing my government files since 1999. In fact the government office I worked for recommended ONLY Sharpie instruments to label archival CDs. Most of my older ones are filed away in storage boxes, but here is a pic of CD's labeled with Sharpie pens from 2003 and one from 2004 and they exhibit NO damages whatsoever from the Sharpie markings on them. I loaded them both up and the files read perfectly, and they are images, not documents. I will continue to use the Sharpie as it is truly permanent ink and appears to have absolutely no detrimental effect whatsoever on the plastic that CD's are made of.
Perhaps you can show us an example of damage from Sharpie ink to back up your claim?