Off the cuff
Quick Tips for Painless Printing and Duplication of Your
Schools Graduation DVD
The end of the year is an exciting time, here in Minnesota if we’re lucky; the sun starts to shine and the grass gets green. But one thing stays constant, at the beginning of June- students’ graduate and the deadlines to tie up all of your school video production needs get tighter and tighter.
Graduation season is upon us and like last year and the year before that, we receive tons of calls with folks looking to capture the moment with a DVD. Every year teachers, principals, parents and students across this great country contact us to print and duplicate their “Class of XX” DVD.
Many have their production assets lined up and their timelines well scheduled, others well let’s just say they operate a little “loose”.
With that in mind we decided to create a quick little Tip/FAQ sheet to review when gathering your assets for production.
What format should my master be in?
This one gets asked time and time again; unfortunately the answer isn’t always crystal clear. In most cases exporting as DVD is going to be your best solution. Exporting as DVD allows your end user the most latitude. It allows your videos to be viewed on the television.
My clips are MP4 (or some other codec) can you help me make a master?
Absolutely, we have a dedicated production team here that can take your assets and convert them to just about whatever format your heart desires.
What Resolution should I create my master with?
Generally using the defaults on your video production software be it, imovie, windows movie maker, etc is the best option.
If you want true Full HD: we can do that. Keep in mind you’ll need to duplicate your discs on Blu-ray media, which will not only increase your project cost, but limit your exposure (not everybody has Blu-ray players yet.)
What Resolution should my artwork be in?
For the best results and most professional looking duplicated CD or DVD you’ll want to provide us with artwork that is at least 300 dpi. If your creating your own artwork using our hosted templates, make sure to outline your fonts and send layered PSD files so that we can address any potential issues.
What packaging should I get?
The absolute most affordable option is Windowed Paper Sleeve – keep in mind that you’ll need to print all the information necessary (title, tracks, etc) on the disc with this option.
The most professional option is a retail ready option (Full color print/dupe, printed insert or wrap, Amaray style case and shrink wrapping) but it is also quite a bit more expensive. Another thing to keep in mind is that DVD printing and duplication projects with printed inserts generally tack at least 1 day onto the turnaround time.
How soon can I get them back?
The short answer is as soon as you want – but like anything you’re going to pay for the expedited service. It’s a good idea to give yourself at least 3-5 business days, if at all possible 10-15 will get you the best price.
How much data or how long of a disc can I duplicate?
This again is a pretty open ended question: Blu-ray holds 30 GBs of data, Dual Layer DVD or DVD9 holds around 9 GB. Standard DVD’s will give you the best bang for your buck and hold 4.7GB worth of data or around 1hr 20 Minutes at 720X480 (DVD).
How much will it cost?
Ha, ha, funny guy – with as many variables coming together it’s best to simply call us at 612-782-8200 so that we can discuss your specific project and make sure all the i’s get dotted and the t’s get crossed.
