The DVD (digital versatile disc or digital video disc) has become the staple of our home entertainment systems since its inception in 1995 owing to its ability to hold full length movies with a convenient menu system, extras and flexible language and subtitle options.

It's also come to play a major role in business and is now the optical media of choice for many uses. It offers the low cost and reliability of a compact disc but with a far higher capacity, in fact over six times as much for the basic 4.7 GB discs, 12 times as much for double layer, and vastly more the newly developed Blu-ray discs.

This high capacity coupled to low cost per disc makes DVDs perfect for both backing up vital company information and for use in distributing information and marketing messages about your business.

This digital information can be tailored to create the message you want to produce and can take the form of links, documents, audio, a multimedia presentation, a video, an image slideshow or a product catalog. Another plus is that you can imprint your DVD with anything you wish, such as your company logo.

The way you'll use DVDs in your business depends on the type of operation but your options are endless. DVDs are perfect for a whole range of fields and industries including professional musicians, advertising agencies, schools and universities, software developers, financial institutions, healthcare providers, sports teams - in fact anyone who has a message which can be made into a document, audio, video, PowerPoint presentation or other form of digital media.

DVDs are perfect to give out at trade fairs. If you're a hotelier, you can produce a video tour of your facilities that brings the place to life. You could even opt to distribute your annual report in DVD format so you could include dynamic presentations and video clips of the chairman's message. Or you could just digitize your company brochure and have it loaded onto your disc.

One of the major innovations in recent years has been the development of the business card DVD. Business cards have long been the mainstay of disseminating key information on name, company, position. The tried and trusted pasteboard business card emerged from the digital age as the ebusiness card.

The digital age has taken the concept of the business card onto a new level by providing the ability to store large amounts of digital information the DVD that makes up the card. A business card DVD comes in the standard rectangular form of a business card displaying name and company information on the front but containing up to 330MB of digital data (or more for replicated DVDs). These business card DVDs will run in any standard DVD drive on a PC or MAC.

If you're planning to order DVDs, here's a look at the different ways in which they're produced in volume.

If you've looked into getting some DVDs produced, you'll have come across the terms - DVD duplication and DVD replication. There are some important distinctions between the two methods.

DVD duplication simply involves copying the disc just like you'd do on your PC. Duplicated discs are burnt with a laser and you can do full colour laser printing onto a glossy label. This is the way to go if you have a small order. (Most companies stipulate a minimum order of just 50).

DVD replication involves the production of a glass master. With these you can do 5-colour silk screen printing or full colour offset litho printing done directly onto the discs.

Here are some things you need to consider if ordering DVDs.

If you're ordering fewer than 2000 discs then duplication is more economical; above 2000 then replication is better value.

One key consideration is the time needed. Duplicate discs can be done in a day or two but replication requires ten days or more.

Finally, when ordering discs online, you should be aware that duplicated discs can be supplied printed but without data allowing you to burn them in your own DVD writer. However this is not possible with replicated DVDs.

If you've decided DVDs are right for your business, be sure to contact a professional DVD copying company for all your needs. Optical media needs high accuracy for error-free duplication. Also, using professional CD production companies also ensures you get high quality artwork and packaging for the professional look. Bulk rates make the venture highly economical and delivery is fast and often free within the UK. Ordering online makes the whole procedure fast and convenient.

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