AUME
Austromechana is a collecting society that represents the rights of use under copyright law of those composers, lyricists and publishers of musical works who are organized as members in it. Other collecting societies are, for example, GEMA in Germany and SUISA in Switzerland.
AUME/GEMA exemption
At the start of production, you will receive an AUME/ GEMA exemption form from our customer service department. In the AUME/GEMA form, you confirm to us that your production is either free of music subject to AUME/GEMA or that you have already properly registered it with AUME/GEMA.
Authoring
During authoring, the various contents of a master DVD (e.g. film, images, text and sound documents) are compiled, designed and functionally linked. Authoring is an important intermediate step between production and duplication.
First of all, the so-called encoding involves the conversion of the supplied data, from any source material, into a DVD/Blu-ray-compatible format, i.e. a DVD-compliant MPEG2 video stream is created. Subsequently, the files are prepared to a usability that is comfortable for the user. The focus is on the design of interactive menus and the programming, which varies from case to case and is therefore individual.
Autorun
Autorun = Autoplay = Autostart
Autorun is the function of Microsoft Windows to automatically search data storage devices and to automatically open or execute files as soon as the data storage devices are available for the operating system. Thus, for example, when inserting a CD or DVD, an installation program can start automatically. Newer Windows versions may no longer allow Autorun for security reasons.
Printable area
Since a printing machine cannot print all the way to the outer edge of the paper, the printable area is specified. If print templates are created, this must be selected from the print specifications and observed. The same applies to CD/DVD printing. See also our specifications
Bleed
In order to receive the finished printed product, it must be trimmed by machine. There are always slight tolerances when trimming, as paper and cardboard is just "living" material. So it could be that the knife cuts e.g. 0.5mm further to the right. If the data does not have a bleed, a white unprinted margin of 0.5mm remains on the left side due to the offset.
Trim is therefore not a white margin but a printed margin. This means that at the top, bottom, right and left backgrounds and images that go directly to the edge of the format must protrude an additional 3mm beyond this edge, so that no unprinted areas remain after cutting.
Blu-ray Disc (BD)
The Blu-ray Disc (abbreviated "BD" or "BRD") is a digital optical storage medium and is being treated as a potential successor to the DVD. The name refers to the blue-violet laser, which - compared to the red laser used for CDs and DVDs - enables a much higher storage density.
blu-ray discs offer an enormously high storage capacity (up to 50 GB with double-layer use) and can thus hold very large amounts of data, making particularly high-resolution video and audio formats possible. A DVD, for example, has a picture resolution of 720 x 576, whereas a blu-ray disc has 1920 x 1080.
Besides the better picture quality, the blu-ray also offers a much higher audio quality. Up to 32 different audio streams can be processed, e.g. multi-channel surround 7.1.
Another difference to DVD is the interactivity of a blu-ray disc, e.g. the menu can be called without interrupting the movie.
If you want to use the blu-ray logo on your product, you need an appropriate license, which can be purchased from the blu-ray Disc Association.
CD-Audio
The Compact Disc Digital Audio (abbreviated CD-DA, also Audio Compact Disc, Audio CD or Digital Audio CD) is an optical mass storage device developed by Philips and Sony since 1979 for the digital storage of music. It was intended to succeed the vinyl record. The compact disc has a diameter of 12 cm, a maximum playing time of 78 minutes and contains only audio data. If it conforms to the so-called Red Book standard (a standard for audio CDs), the audio CD can be played in any device designed for this purpose, such as a drive in a PC or notebook or a standard stereo system with a CD player.
CD-R
A CD-R (Compact Disc Recordable) is a write-once CD that can be recorded using a standard CD writer. Data, photos, videos or music can be stored on it and played back with a CD drive.
CD-ROM
The term CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read-Only Memory) is used for optical storage media on which digital data can be permanently stored. Depending on the manufacturer, storage capacities of up to 900 MByte can be achieved on the plastic carrier.
CMYK
The CMYK color model is a subtractive color model that forms the technical basis for modern four-color printing. The abbreviation CMYK stands for the three color components cyan, magenta, yellow and the black component key as color depth. CMYK color spaces, like RGB color spaces, are device-dependent and therefore require color profiles to describe color tones exactly.
Covercard
Covercard refers to printed matter for CD and DVD boxes. A covercard has the dimensions of a booklet and is also described as a 2-sided booklet, since it is a sheet that is printed on the front and back.
Digital printing
Digital printing refers to a group of printing processes in which the printed image is transferred directly from a computer to a printing press without using a static printing form. The printing system is usually an electrophotographic printing system such as a laser printer, which is designed for long runs. In practice, however, this method is much more expensive than offset printing and is therefore used for very urgent productions.
Printed matter
The product and packaging design of your CD or DVD can, under certain circumstances, have a great influence on the market success of the final product.
With technically modern offset and screen printing machines, we can provide you with printed products of outstanding quality. Therefore, when preparing your order, please be sure to observe the specifications in order to achieve the best possible print result.
DVD - Digital Versatile Disc
The DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) has become the storage medium of the future thanks to its enormous storage volume of audio, video and multimedia content and high data transfer rates. Excellent picture and sound quality characterize this data carrier - the DVD has become the successor to the CD (compact disc) and has even greater potential. It is versatile, extremely durable, transports enormous amounts of data and delivers outstanding quality.
Euroscale
Euroscale is the abbreviation for the European color scale for offset printing. It was previously standardized in the German DIN 16539 standard from 1971.
A color scale is a compilation of the four printing colors for four-color printing. Test prints made in the laboratory with a specified layer thickness on specified substrates are the basis for the colorimetric standardization of the color scales.
Encoding
In DVD production, it refers to the conversion of data into MPEG2 format, the standard for video DVDs.
GVL
GVL (Gesellschaft zur Verwertung von Leistungsschutzrechten). Performs secondary exploitation rights on behalf of artists and producers in Germany (is included in the price of GEMA). If you need a LC (Label Code) please contact the GVL. Information at www.gvl.de.
Hybrid CD
Hybrid CD refers to CD-ROMs for Windows and Macintosh that contain several different file systems, for example data CD-ROMs with an audio CD track. Hybrid CDs are used, among other things, for computer games (for multiple systems or with additional music), but increasingly for copy protection purposes, also for audio CDs.
Image file
Image file is the name for a computer file that contains a memory image of the contents of a CD or DVD structured in ISO 9660 format. The file system is copied unchanged when an ISO image is created, thus permissions and other metadata remain unchanged. This is mostly used for electronic data delivery in the pressing plant, via FTP server or cloud storage. The most commonly used format is the Nero image with the extension .nrg .
Label code LC
The label code (LC) is a four- or five-digit identification number [1] (example: LC 12345), which is assigned by the Gesellschaft zur Verwertung von Leistungsschutzrechten (GVL) upon request and free of charge to members for the labeling of sound carriers. Each registered record label in Germany has its own label code, originally introduced in 1977 by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) for the error-free identification of the various record labels.[2] Sound carriers appearing under such a label bear the corresponding code as an imprint. In the case of use in a radio or television broadcast, the broadcaster can settle accounts with the label via the GVL on the basis of the label code.
Label printing
The "label print" is the job on the CD/DVD itself. Printing processes here are usually a combination of screen and offset printing. First, a white primer is applied using screen printing, followed by the actual high-resolution printing using offset printing.
Layer
DVDs are divided into single-layer DVD-5 and double-layer DVD-9 blanks. The second layer is below the first and is read separately. In the case of the single-layer DVD-5, the second layer is an empty dummy. The first layer is counted as Layer0, the second layer as Layer1.
Fanfold
Leporello folding is the characteristic folding of formal or business letters. The terms zig-zag or Z-fold are also commonly used. In fanfolding, the paper is folded twice horizontally and in alternating directions. This results in the typical zigzag-like fold that is also used for flyers or smaller brochures.
Mastering / pre-mastering
In mastering, the original digital file of your data carrier is transferred to a glass master by laser exposure. Pre-mastering involves checking and, if necessary, post-processing the source material provided to us. The pre-mastering process includes, for example, data formatting, any copy protection editing and DVD authoring.
Of course, pre-mastering is unnecessary if your source file already meets the guidelines for a production master.
Maxi-InlayCard
The Maxi-InlayCard is a cover card that can be printed on both sides and is used in the standard packaging for Maxi CDs, the Two-Piece-Box. It differs from the cover card mainly by the fold, through which information can be deposited under the 7mm wide bar of the two-piece box, and by the subsequent folded print area, which is reminiscent of the insert in music cassettes. Maxi-Cards are produced with and without flap. The flap is another folded side.
MP3
MP3 is a method of lossy compression of digitally stored audio data. MP3 makes use of psychoacoustics with the aim of storing only audio signals that are consciously audible to humans. This makes it possible to greatly reduce the amount of data, but with little or no reduction in perceived audio quality. MP3 is the dominant method for storing and transmitting music on computers, on the Internet and on portable music players (MP3 players).
A CD with MP3 files is practically considered a CD-ROM, although audio data is stored on the CD. Nevertheless, many modern CD players, car radios and DVD players are now capable of playing MP3 CDs. Please note that we cannot produce an audio CD from delivered MP3 files without renewed approval.
Offset printing
After CD/DVD pressing, the CD/DVD can be printed. For this there is the screen printing process and the offset printing process. With both processes, up to 6 label colors can be used. The offset printing process is more suitable for displaying photos, fonts and detailed color gradients.
Polycarbonate
Polycarbonate, the raw material for pressing CDs/DVDs, is transparent and colorless.
Polycarbonate is relatively expensive. It is therefore used almost exclusively where other plastics are too soft, too fragile, too scratch-sensitive, not dimensionally stable enough or not transparent enough.
RGB
Red, green and blue. The RGB color space, an additive color space that replicates color perceptions by additively mixing three primary colors (red, green and blue). This is used on computer monitors, but is not suitable for printing. When converting RGB data into the CMYK color space required for printing, color shifts can occur, e.g. a dark blue can easily "tip" into violet. Therefore, create your print data in CMYK color space right from the start
Stamper
The stamper is the template for duplicating CDs, DVDs and BDs in a pressing plant. It is the final impression of the glass master obtained by electroplating. During pressing, CDs, DVDs and BDs are produced in large quantities in an injection molding machine using the stamper. A stamper is factory-specific and also has a limited shelf life, but can be used for all pressings or re-pressings until it is no longer usable after about five or more years.
Screen printing
After CD/DVD pressing, the CD/DVD can be printed. The screen printing process and the offset printing process are available for this. With both processes, up to 6 label colors can be used. The screen printing process is the standard version and is very well suited to display strong, full-surface colors.
Thermal Retransfer Printing
Thermal retransfer printing is a label printing process for small CD/DVD series up to 500 pieces. By heating the print head, the ink is removed from a ribbon and transferred to a special transfer ribbon (retransfer ribbon). A film is then melted onto the CD or DVD from this retransfer ribbon. This intermediate transfer enables high resolution and full-area printing. Printing can take place before or after burning the CD/DVD. Special blanks are required.
WAV
The WAV file format is a container format for digital storage of audio data based on the Resource Interchange File Format (RIFF) defined by Microsoft for Windows. A WAVE file contains at least information about its format before the audio data. Please note that we are not able to produce an audio CD from WAV files supplied without renewed approval.
Wrap fold
The spiral fold is a form of parallel folding in which two or more parts of the folded sheet of the same width are folded around a sheet part without changing direction. The fact that each fold is in the same direction results in the winding that gives the fold its name. Two parallel folds result in 3 sheets or 6 pages from one folded sheet. This is referred to as a two-fold wraparound fold. A three-fold buckle fold results in 4 sheets or 8 pages, and so on.
Zigzag fold
In a zigzag fold, the paper is folded twice horizontally and in alternating directions. This results in the typical zigzag fold that is also used for flyers or smaller brochures.