How To Create Your Own Custom Minidisc Labels
Posted by Scott August 19th, 2006 | 5,253 words | No Comments »
Professional looking minidisc labels don’t have to come from professional labeling equipment! In this document I’ll show you exactly what I did to create the professional looking label below! I’ll also give you tips, tools, and downloads so you can make your own labels.
Perhaps the coolest part of this tutorial (as opposed to the others that are out there) is that in addition to showing you how to make minidisc spine labels (which look incredibly cool), I also give you tools you can use to create them yourself! (more on this later)
Overview
Most people who live in the Western World have never been exposed to minidiscs. They were popular in Asia a long time ago, and they’re still incredibly popular today. In America, most people are content in settling for either a CD player or an MP3 player. Neither of which, in my never-humble opinion, have media half as cool as minidisc players. If you’re reading this, chances are you have a minidisc player yourself and, like me, love the idea of cute little colored disks. However, you’re discouraged by the fact that there is an incredible lack of selection (more like a total absence of it) when it comes to buying minidisc equipment in the US! It’s hard enough finding blank minidiscs, let alone pre-recorded ones of music you like. If you have a minidisc player in America, chances are you’ll be listening to stock media all your life. However, this does NOT mean that your minidisc collection will have to consist of tracks of music saved on stock minidiscs with scribbled-in handwritten titles!
Doesn’t it look cool? Quite honestly, it looks far better in real life than it does through these photos. Since I took them in a reasonably dark room, the true shine of the blue in the disk doesn’t show up in these photos like it would if you saw it in person. Seriously though, these have to be the coolest looking little things ever invented!
With a computer, printer, and very simple (and inexpensive) equipment you can create surprisingly good looking minidisc labels that look as good (if not better) as professional ones! If you’re a hardcore minidisc lover and just like the idea of spending time designing and making your own labels, this is good news for you as well. Whether you want to slap a label on a disk in five minutes or if you like to spend all day perfecting the image, you’ll be able to find all the tools and information you’ll need to know right here within this document.
Choosing Your Images
The label I’m designing today will be one for a minidisc that will contain a small collection of songs by Hitomi Shimatani (yes, it’s Japanese). I like to start by finding two images I want to use; one for the sticker that will go on the face of the minidisc, and one to be used in the creation of the spine. These are the images of Hitomi Shimatani that I selected for my project. Do I think she’s pretty? That subject doesn’t pertain to the topic of this documentation pack
Once I have my images selected, I look for a color minidisc that will make the images look their best. Some people would jump to say that if you have a reddish image, use a reddish minidisc. While this may sometimes be true, often times you can create labels that look better if you contrast them with the color of the disk. Pick the color disk that works best and then manipulate your image (if needed) to go well with that color. So now you’ve decided on the images you want to use and the disk you want to use. You’re ready to start your design!
Designing the Labels
In this section I’ll explain how to use Adobe Photoshop to create Labels for your minidiscs. You can probably use any program to do this as long as you get the dimensions correct, although I suggest Photoshop because it’s pretty useful. If you don’t have Photoshop and don’t like the idea of slapping $600 down to purchase a tool with a large stack of the green sustenance that nourishes the big money software patenting conglomerates of corporate America, you should talk to my pals over at Emule, WASTE, BitTornado, and TorrentSpy! It’s worth noting that BitTornado and Torrent Spy are friends ^_-
Getting the Proportions Right
Believe it or not, designing these labels to properly fit your minidisc can be harder than it sounds. Your best bet is to make a “blank” sheet (where the shapes are solid colors) that you can practice with. Print it, cut it out, hold it up, and see if any of the sizes need adjusting. It might take a few tries, so don’t be afraid to use up a few sheets of paper!
Actual Minidisc Label Dimensions
Front Label: 1.407” wide, 2.077” high
Spine Label: 2.360” long, 0.113” wide
If you have Photoshop and want to simplify your life, you can download one of the blank minidisc label templates I created to help you out! You have a few options here. You could download a single label or a page of six. For first timers, I suggest you only work with the single label. The .PSD file is for all you Photoshop users out there. The .PNG file is for everyone else.
Download Minidisc Label Templates
Download a single minidisc label outline: [PSD] [PNG]
Download a sheet of six minidisc label outlines: [PSD] [PNG]
Using My Photoshop Templates
This document isn’t intended to teach you how to use Photoshop, so if you’re not too sure how to handle yourself in this large and somewhat complex program I suggest you search for some tutorials to get you started. With that being said, let’s jump right in. The template I gave you has two parts to it. There’s a minidisc label size indicator which is displayed as two light gray boxes (one for the face, one for the spine) and beneath it in a separate later are crosshairs (which help during cutting, but we’ll get to that later)
This is a three step progression of actions demonstrating how I went from my blank template to a finished minidisc label ready to send to the printer.
Insert the image you want to use into the top layer. Optimally, it should be of a large enough resolution that it covers the entire minidisc label. Now, with the layer of your image selected, hold down CTRL and click the icon (in the layers window) of the solid label shapes. A striped border should appear around the portion of your image. Click the mask icon (which resembles a small circle inside of a small square) in at the bottom of the layers window. This hides all of the layer except for that which fits the size of the minidisc label. You’ll notice the layer now displays two icons, one of your image and the other of a black and white shape. There may be a chain link between the two images in this layer in the layers window. If so, click the chain link icon once to make it go away. Next, click on the thumbnail icon of your image and select the pointer tool so you can move, resize, and rotate the image to your liking. You can do the same process for the label beneath it. Finally, you can add some text and effects to complete the deal. Once you’ve completed your image, you’re ready to print it!
Printing Minidisc Labels
The labels I’ve been making lately have been printed on Avery’s 
White Full Sheet Labels. I got a pack of 25 of them at OfficeMax for $9.99 (which equates to a little less than 40 cents a sheet). If you’re interested in purchasing them, I recommend this brand and know I’ll be buying more personally (that is, when I run out of 25 sheets (which is about 150 labels worth of paper)). No matter what you do, you should always keep an eye on the state of your labels, because if the adhesive begins to deteriorate it can cause big problems for your minidisc unit if the label comes off while in the player. (More on this later) The best printing settings for this type of paper are those that will place a little more ink on the page than normal. With my HP DeskJet 932C, I’ve been getting good results by printing with the settings normally used for textured greeting cards.
Once you print your labels, give them a minute or two to try. It really stinks when you spend all this time on a label only to have it smear when you try to touch it. Be patient and your extra effort will be worth your time.
Cutting Your Labels
Cutting your labels is the most crucial step to the final look of your minidisc labels. 
This is your make or break moment! It’s incredibly important that you relax and take your time when you cut these labels. The right tools help a lot too. While it is possible to cut your labels out with scissors, I strongly recommend you use a double blade slicer. The one I’m using is one that one that my family uses to chop their photos for scrap booking. Also, a razor blade proves to be an incredibly helpful tool when it comes to separating the sticky paper from the wax coated base sheet. With your tools ready to go, take a deep breath and get ready to do some cutting!
Begin by using scissors to clip each label set out of the paper. Leave around half an inch around the actual image so you can touch the paper to avoid smearing the fresh ink. Look closely at the image and locate the crosshairs at the corners. If you focus on slicing the image just inside the crosshairs you’ll get far better results than if you try to cut on the edge of the colored portion. (It’s a lot easier to line up a blade with a thin line than it is with a contrasting edge) When you’re ready, hold your paper firmly and slice it. Try your best to get clean slices, and don’t be afraid to shave off a small (and I mean small) portion of the colored area to ensure that you don’t leave any white on the edges (which, for the record, makes your labels look really dumb).
Take me seriously when I tell you to rely on these crosshairs to slice your images! Especially for the edge with the corner in it, these lines help you greatly to make good, clean, smooth, and level slices.
One tip I’ll toss out there is to not be afraid to cut the same edge multiple times. I like to cut it at least once really close to the edge leaving a small (0.5mm) white edge on the side. This helps me perfectly align the label for the final slice! Also, it’s best to cut off the edges of the spine label before you try to slice it longwise. It’s really hard to mess up on that tiny little slice, so if you snip it first you’ll have extra assurance you’ll do the long slice correctly (and that’s the money slice!)
Notice how I cut a 0.5mm border around the edge of the image in preparation for my final trimming. This greatly improves the precision you get when making your final slices.
Another tip that I’d like to give you is to put extra thought in how you cut the corner chip from the top left of the minidisc label. Believe it or not, this little cut plays a large role in what the finished product will look like. Since it’s the only irregularity in the shape of the label, the eye is naturally drawn to it. The attention you pay to this little corner can either help you a lot, or come back to embarrass you later. The angle needs to be as close to 45º as you can get it. That little slice is a lot smaller than you think, so when you cut it don’t take too much off! That makes it look REALLY tacky. The size of the slice in the edge on the recessed region of your minidisk is about twice the size that your slice should be, since your paper will border slightly inside the recessed area.
This step is really, really important. Notice how I line up the edge of my label with the corners of the squares on my slicer to ensure I get a clean, even, and level 45º cut on the corner! (poor Hitomi! She looks so scared in this picture)
Once everything is cut out, and before you remove the backing, hold up the labels to the minidisc you’ll be putting them on to make sure everything is perfect. The labels should fit cleanly, with a small amount of room between the label and the edge of the recessed region it’s going to which it will eventually attach. If you’re dissatisfied with the color of minidisc you had in mind while designing this label, you still have a chance to make a last minute change! I end up doing this a third of the time myself, so don’t be afraid to swap discs as the last minute.
The blue seems to go well with the orange and light blue color combination in the labels. I’m deciding to stick with it.
Applying Your Creation
Perhaps the most difficult part of your project is separating the sticky paper from the wax coated paper backing. Sure, some label paper (like mine) has convenient little creased pre-sliced edges on the back to help you separate the two, however more often than not the stupid little things are never in the right place so you’re left with really cool images that can be ruined in a second by clumsy separation of the paper layers. I found that a sharp razor blade helps a lot with this step. If you carefully (and I mean carefully) wedge the tip of your razor between the two layers, you can separate them enough that they can be split by hand. It’s a lot easier to pry apart these layers with a razor on a corner of the paper. Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t fast. It usually takes me a minute to get the razor between the two sheets. However I found it gives consistently better results than other methods I’ve tried lately.
Notice how I’m using that little corner slice to my advantage.
Be incredibly careful while slicing your spine label. One wrong move, one little slip, or one touch slightly too firm can wrinkle, strip, smear, or incorrectly slice this wimpy little strip of paper! Until it’s firmly secured to the side of your disc, treat it very, very carefully. The corner method works wonders with the spine sticker as well.
The corner method works wonders with the spine as well. Just be careful that you don’t cut it!
Much like slicing your labels, this next step is a highly visible one that makes a big impact on what your final project will look like. Luckily for you though, it’s not that difficult. I like to apply the big face label first (because it’s a little easier). It’s really easy to stick a label on crooked if you’re not careful, so put extra thought into proper alignment. I found I get best results when I use one finger to line up and stick the top right corner of the label to the disc first, then slide a finger down to the bottom right corner, then brush to the left securing the rest. If you line up two corners (preferably ones far apart) you know you’ll get a straight and even application.
Ah, a beautifully applied label looks great! Proper alignment is vital both for the face label and the spine label. It’s worth it to take your time!
When applying the spine, attach the leftmost edge of it to the correct place on the edge of the minidisc and hold it there with your thumb. Since it’s such a narrow strip, a small portion of the sticky paper touching the plastic won’t hold too firmly, so you can move it around until it’s level to your liking. Once you’re confident it’s level, go ahead and press the other end down (gently) and rub your finger (lightly) from left to right to smooth out the stick. Next, to be sure this spine is stuck on firmly, put some pressure on it with something that won’t smear it (like cloth, your shirt, or perhaps even another sheet of paper if you’re careful).
When done correctly, the spine labels can make your minidisc look awesome!
Concluding Warnings
You’re done! Congratulations with creating your very own incredibly awesome looking and completely unique minidisc label. Now, there is something important I want to warn you about. If you use this new minidisc for a few years, the label will be subjected to a lot of strain. Greasy fingers, temperature changes, humidity, and a plethora of other factors can cause any adhesive surface to begin to deteriorate. As long as it sticks firmly to your minidisc you’re safe, but if it starts to flake or peel at the edges after a few years don’t hesitate to peel that label off immediately! If it comes off inside of your minidisc player it could cause serious and permanent damage! With that being said, I’ve found that the sticky paper I use for my labels sticks to my minidiscs far better than the labels that Sony ships with their minidiscs. In my opinion, these custom minidiscs are even safer than the ones that Sony makes! Just watch them closely and you’ll never have to worry about the safety of your minidisc unit.
Extra Information
If you used this this document to help you create your own minidisc labels, let me know! Send me pictures of your creations and/or quotable material regarding their creation and I’ll display it on this webpage. Be sure to include your name and website URL (if you have one) so I can link to your website from this page! My contact information is on the contact page of ScottIsHot.com
Custom Minidisc Label Photos
Here are some photos of my own custom minidisc label projects…
~ Written by Scott Harden on August 12, 2005 ~
