Splashy Inkjet Printable Media

One of the most frustrating things about today's inkjet printable CDs and DVDs is how susceptible the surface is to moisture. One sweaty finger, one drop of water, and my carefully crafted label can become smudged, sometimes beyond recognition.

Imation makes a big splash with its AquaGuard Inkjet printable water and smear resistant surface--first in the industry I've seen. The media uses a ceramic-based nano particle as the foundation of the surface itself. When the ink droplet is placed on the surface, it's attracted to and bonds to the ceramic particle, and therefore locks to that particle. As a result, when the disc comes out of the printer, it's dry to the touch immediately. You can handle a disc immediately after taking it out of the printer, unlike standard inkjet printable media.

The media itself is produced by Imation's partners; the surface is applied to the discs in Wahpeton, North Dakota, the same facility as where Imation still produces 3.5-floppy diskettes.

Imation expects a street price premium of about 50% over standard inkjet printable media. Even so, the company expects discs will come in at less than $1 apiece. The media is already available in Japan; Imation plans to bring the media to a store shelf near you around mid-year.