What is a WaterShield DVD?

WaterShield
Discs

WaterShield
DVD-Rs

WaterShield
CD-Rs

A: The JVC/Taiyo Yuden WaterShield CD-Rs and DVD-Rs are discs that repel water so that your inkjet printed disc art can resist smudges and smears. The added bonus was the protective surface also created a super-glossy look. In essence, they leveled the playing field by creating an inkjet printable disc that was an affordable and viable competitor of thermal printed discs.

Since the introduction of Watershield, other disc makers have created water resistant inkjet printable discs. In addition, JVC/Taiyo Yuden and other manufacturers have created new finishes that are either glossy or water-repellent in an effort to create more (and more affordable) options for today’s professional disc duplicator.

Here are some of the new WaterShield alternatives that are available:

• JVC/Taiyo Yuden “PrintPlus!” What can I say about PrintPlus! media? It’s water resistant. It’s JVC/Taiyo Yuden. And it’s got a matte finish.
• PrintPlus! DVD-Rs, starting at $.426/ea. Order here.
• PrintPlus! CD-Rs, starting at $.433/ea. Order here.
• Falcon “Smart Guard.” These feature a water-resistant, inkjet glossy surface.  The Smart Guard layer offers a superb bright photographic finish, excellent ink absorption. It is also resistant to smudges and bleeding due to moisture and humidity.
• Smart Guard DVD-Rs, starting at $.701/ea. Order here.
• Smart Guard CD-Rs, starting at $.595/ea. Order here.
• Falcon Glossy Inkjet. If you like the super glossy look of Smart Guard but want something that’s more affordable (and the whole, water-resistant thing is unimportant to you), Falcon’s Glossy Inkjet discs are a good alternative. Glossy Inkjet printable offers a high gloss finish with superior color contrasts reproducing true-to-life glossy photo quality printing at an affordable price.
• Glossy Inkjet DVD-Rs, starting at $.264/ea. Order here.
• MBI AquaShield. Water-resistant and glossy, plus the benefits of MBI’s Professional Select Discs (like a hub center that doesn’t show tonal variations when you use edge-to-edge printing).
• AquaShield DVD-Rs, starting at $.546/ea. Order here.
• AquaShield CD-Rs, starting at $.503ea. Order here.