Offset printing is a commonly used printing technique where the inked image is transferred (or "offset") from a plate to a rubber blanket, then to the disc's surface. At U-TECH Dallas we use waterless offset printing. Waterless offset printing is a method of offset printing which is less environmentally damaging than conventional lithographic printing. For Offset printing, offset half tone inks (cyan, magenta, yellow, black)are used to print the product.

The upper surface of a finished disc is usually printed with up to six colors by a flat silk screen process. Each color requires a different screen created from label films produced as color separations from the artwork. Each color is printed using a squeegee which pushes the ink through the mesh of the screen on to the disc surface.

The inks are then cured using UV light to produce a durable surface. For Screen Printng, PMS colors and half tone inks can be used. Offset printing, offset half tone inks (cyan, magenta, yellow, black)are used to print the product.

For Offset and Screen print picture discs, five colors are needed. These are white for the base, plus cyan, magenta, yellow and black (CMYK). A sixth, spot color can be used where required.

Printing options for DVD discs depend on the format as shown in the table below:

Printing options	DVD-5	DVD-9	DVD-10
Normal printing on upper surface of disc (like CDs)	Yes	Yes	No
Pit Art where a holograph like image is moulded into the blank substrate	Yes	No	No
Printing on both sides but only within hub area