DVD replication and duplication are confusingly similar terms. Most people assume that each of the processes deliver identical end results - exact copies of the information contained on a DVD master disc. However, there are actually important differences between the two tasks as well as the quality of the final product.
Replication starts when the company makes a glass master disc from the DVD for being copied. The master disc is examined for any imperfections that may result in flaws in the copies. A mold is cast from the glass master and used to produce a stamper. The stamper will be employed to press the image of the master onto disc blanks. The replicated discs are next provided a photosensitive coating and lacquered that will help guard the reflective surface from scratches.
Discs made using the DVD replication process may be formed into a variety of shapes and sizes. Mini-discs and DVDs in the shape of business cards are getting to be a popular way for businesses to distribute presentations and free sample copies of software, photos along with other digital files. These types of effects cannot be produced with duplicated discs. Furthermore, a lot of replication companies provide silk screened printing on the front of their discs that appears far more professional than the adhesive labels used by lots of duplication companies.
Discs made out of this replication process are perfect copies of the master. Since they are stamped and sealed, they are a lot more durable and also have a longer shelf-life as compared to duplicated discs. The price difference between duplicated discs and replicated discs is actually minimal on large orders. Because of the expense involving creating the glass master and stamper which are unique to each and every disc, replication can be less cost-effective for smaller sized orders.
The variances between DVD replication and duplication can be found with the unaided eye. Contrast the shiny readable surfaces of any professionally manufactured DVD video with one copied using a personal DVD burner. The surface on a professionally replicated disc is smoothly lacquered with no color variations. The burned disc has an apparent color difference between the areas containing data and the unused space.
Professional DVD duplication applies the exact same process to copy discs as the DVD burner used in a personal computer system. The discs are actually coated using a thin dye layer. A laser burns a pattern representing the data into the dye so it may be read by a DVD player.
The largest distinction between professional DVD duplication systems and the DVD burner in a personal computer system is the number of burners which function in sync. Even smaller systems can burn approximately 50 discs or more at a time. With a decent label printer, a source on bulk burnable discs, and a lot of extra time to burn discs one-by-one you might achieve essentially the same results of professional duplication at home using your personal DVD burner.
Disc duplication on a small scale is more cost-effective than DVD replication. Yet, the discs have a shorter shelf-life and tend to be more vulnerable to flaws than those made with the replication process. The dyes used to burn the data to discs are sensitive to sunlight, humidity and many other external factors that may lead to data corruption and ultimately render the discs unreadable.