By "face" I assume you mean the side that carries the data. You would not want to inscribe or write on that side with anything, but you can do what you want anywhere on the side that has the manufacturer's logo. Sometimes I write with a Sharpie pen, and sometimes I use software to add titles and artwork to an adhesive CD label.

Thanks, K. I've read a little about how thin the actual CD data material is. I guess there could be bleed through, don't you? After your post I did a bit of Net searching. I saw reference to a company that had a CD labeling pen. I guess it should be safe. Thanks, again. Gene

Gene-
When I first started marking CDs with a Sharpie, I wondered/worried about bleedthrough, too, but it never happened. I guess I wouldn't use a felt tip marker, but the Sharpie seems fine. If you want to get a special pen, that might give you the most piece of mind, but don't pay too much...

I've been using a sharpie for years to label disks.
The disks are made up of several layers sandwiched together.
The sharpie ink is NOT going to bleed thru the polycarbonate disk layer.

The burners that will imprint directly on the disk
use what is known as light scribe technology.
A laser is used to burn an image on the top of the disk.

Pooh Bear

I use a Sharpie also. But if my wife wants something a little fancier I use my Memorex labels. These come with 120 labels for each of the CD, the front of the plastic jackets and the spline. I only use the round one to stick on the disk. You would also need a thumper, a specail little tool so you get the label in the right place first time.

Normally about $20 a pack but I have found them in Big Lots for $10 on occasions.

I used to use labels, but found that after a few years of storage, the labels started to dry out and lift off the CD.
"Sharpie" marker does the best.

txKen

I know this is on "What markers to use" but I switched over to the printable watershield discs which I am having a ball doing as I love to make lables with pictures on.

My printer allows printing to disk.

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I LIKE those, Urlee.

At first, I had a lot of fun printing paper labels, but as the CD player in my new (second-hand) car heats up a lot and some of the labels have developed wrinkles, I switched to
Sharpie. Sometimes I have also used a marker pen, and it has never caused any trouble.

I gave up on gummed labels that you stick onto CDÂs. If it gets wet, the ink would run. The labels eventually develop wrinkles and puckers that would cause it to get stuck in my carÂs CD player. I use a fine tip permanent marker to write on the CDs

biwako-- I LIKE those, Urlee.
Thank you.

eric-- I gave up on gummed labels that you stick onto CDÂs. If it gets wet, the ink would run.
I used to make them too until I bought a new printer that has the "Print to CD" feature on it where you make the label (picture to use) Then it prints directly onto your disk fed into the printer on a tray.
Absolutely LOVE it.

I use a Lightscribe DVD burner to label any DVD or CD I burn. All you need is a DVD or CDRW burning dive with Lightscribe.