Paragon Media - Reference - Disc Replication Tips

Paragon Media Replication Tip Sheet

Thank you for choosing Paragon Media for your replication project. In order to process your order successfully, there are a few things you should know.

Production Schedule

There are three components that make up the production schedule, prepress, replication and packaging/shipping. Prepress is the process of creating film and proofs from your art files. Replication is the process of making the actual CD copies. Packaging and shipping is assembling the CDs in to the desired package and shipping the order to its destination.

The typical turn time for a 5000 piece order is 13 working days. Here is how it breaks down. Prepress takes 3 days from the time we receive your art files. Once you have approved the artwork we then will replicate the CDs and print any required custom packaging. Our standard turn for making the CDs and printing the packaging is 7-10 days. Once the CDs are finished they move out to packaging for assembly and shipping. Our standard turn for packaging is 3 days for orders < 10,000 units and 5 days for order > 10,000.

Turn times will vary depending on the current volume of business. Please check with your Project Manager for a production schedule when you place your order.

The Gold Master

The best way to delivery your CD content files is on a CD-R. We refer to the CD-R you provide as the "Gold Master", meaning its ready for replication. When you deliver your master to us make sure your content files are exactly the way you want them. The copies we make will be identical to the master you supply.

If you don't have the means to burn a Gold Master, (a CD-R with your content files), you can provide us with your content files on a Zip or Jaz drive and we can create the master for you. The cost for creating the Gold Master is $ 79.00. The process of creating a Gold Master, called premastering, will add 2 days to your turn time.

If possible, virus scan your master prior to giving it to us. We will also scan it when we receive it, but you can never be too safe.

Printing the CD Face Label

There are two methods of printing a face label, silk-screening and off-set printing. Silk-screening is the preferred method of printing with spot colors where as off-set is the preferred method for printing process colors.

How you choose which printing method is best is based on the scope of your project. Silk-screening is cost effective but can be limited by image quality. Off-set printing cost a little more but if you want to match the CD face art to the printed packaging it's the best option. Your Project Manager can help you determine which process best matches your project.

Here are a few requirements for setting up your label art:

Setup up your art files according to Paragon Media's design template. (The templates for silk-screening and off-set are different).
If you are going to print process colors make sure you convert all of your images to CMYK.
Make sure to include all the fonts and images you used to create the art. When possible, convert all fonts to outlines/paths.
Set your registration marks and template on a separate non-printing layer.
Do not include any bleeds in your art.
Please provide us with a laser composite of the art files as well as separations.

Providing Paragon with a laser composite will give us a reference point. It will aid us in detecting any problems that may come up.

Here is a list of design applications we can accept. This list does change, so be sure to ask your project manager for a current one.

PageMaker 7 or higher
Photoshop 7 or higher
Illustrator 9 or higher
Freehand 9 or higher (Freehand discontinued in favor of Illustrator)
InDesign 2 or higher
Quark Xpress 4.1 or higher

If you prefer, we can also accept film. Please ask you Project Manager for our film requirements.

Custom Printed Packaging

Paragon Media offers a wide variety of custom printed packaging. To best select the type of package that will meet the scope of your project please meet with your Project Manager to review the options.

Once you have selected the type of package your Project Manager will provide you with the proper design template. To setup your art files, follow the requirements you used for setting up your CD face art with these exceptions.

Add 1/8" bleed to the design.
Set all traps
There may be additional requirements depending of the type of package. This information will be provided to you by your Project Manager.

Stock Packaging

Not all project will require custom packaging. Paragon Media inventories a great selection of stock packaging. Including, jewel cases, vinyl sleeves, paper sleeves, DVD cases and many more. Your Project Manager can review the complete list with you as well as provide samples.