Short-run versus pressed DVDs:

Most commercial releases on DVD tend to be in the 1,000 piece and up range, with per unit costs dropping considerably with a larger run. We can run a small number of pressed DVDs for testing and review purposes with a standard order: glass mastering, stamper production and pressing costs in addition to the cost of the main run will apply.

From time to time, you may have the need to produce only a small amount of DVDs, perhaps less than 100. If this is the case, you can order duplicated (not pressed) DVD-Rs. There are some drawbacks that you should know about. DVD-Rs tend to be very sensitive to common environmental contaminants, like dust and finger oils, and have to be kept perfectly clean to insure playback. This type of disc is also not as robust as a pressed and screen-printed DVD and is more susceptible to damage from handling. Finally, not all older DVD players can read DVD-Rs. 


Due to the cost of the media and the extended duplication time, the cost of 100 discs can nearly approach the cost of a commercial run. In general, we don't recommend DVD-Rs for anything other than very short runs for testing purposes or for rush jobs where the client knows that his audience can play DVD-Rs with success. If your DVD is larger than 4.7 GB, finished, you will have to go to a pressed DVD-9 to hold all your material.