This title sounded great! Easy to use, low price, drag and drop functionality.
Making CD labels should be easy and I do not like using the templates
provided in boxes of labels for Photoshop or the like.
 Both test computers worked well with the software. I started with disclabel
1.0 and during the test I noticed 1.0.1 was the current version
so I upgraded both systems. The program is fairly small, right
at 5 MB and loads quick and easy. There is no updater to go from
1 to 1.0,1 so a new install was necessary.
The program looked simple and the interface is the familiar Mac OS
X style. The layout is nice and appealing and resembles an iLife
app. Things are a bit more jumbled once you start to use the program
and it took a little bit of deciphering on my part to get things
going. So it looked easier to use than it really was. This was overcome
quickly with a bit of looking around.
You
start by following a step-by-step button process. You choose a template
button and can choose from
provided templates or update from the web and get templates made
by others and shared on the web. This seemed like magic because
new templates would show up without any fanfare. There are several
categories
to choose from also. There are music templates and photo templates.
From here you go to the next step that sets this apart from any other
label program I have seen. You can import
play lists from the iLife suite of programs. Lists from iTunes, or
photos
from iPhoto and projects from iDVD can be brought in. I was not
able to get a list from iPhoto but I could import photos in the edit
stage
for backgrounds.
I
was able to use iPhoto to import a photo album and it turned into
a track listing. This was
a nice feature for archiving photos. I also imported single images
for use as backgrounds in the edit stage of template design.
I did not have a DVD project but it appears it would turn into a
track
listing like photo did. All the labels that I printed looked
nice.
 The
choice of labels to print from was extensive and can be updated automatically
from the web. This was an area where the program
shined.
As mentioned earlier I have used templates in Photoshop that
are provided with CD labels and printing is always a frustrating
area.
Alignment is always a hit and miss situation. With disclabel
this was not a problem. Alignment here was perfect with several
different label types. You simply choose which label you are using
and
the
program does the rest. You can still tweak the alignment by
moving your template if problems occur. You make a test print and
measure
the spacing then move accordingly. The measure is only offered
in millimeters so a metric ruler in needed.
When
I first started using disclabel I was unable to import play lists
from iTunes without crashing. After upgrading
to the newer version (1.01) this problem went away. In a tech
e-mail to disclabel they said that this was a problem in version
1. The tech support folks
were very helpful and sent a long email detailing the crashing
issues and some confusion I had over editing templates and assigning
tunes
to a template. No bugs
to report after changing to version 1.0.1
Overall, disclabel is a great little program that produces consistent,
professional looking results. The crash issue was easily resolved
and practice
made the program easier to use. Be sure to read the instructions
and be prepared try things once you get into the program. Once
learned, things go smoothly and the results are worth the effort.
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