
Replication: Replication is a manufacturing process that makes a “glass stamp” or “mold” of the master disc and then that information is “stamped” onto the blank disc as a whole. The stamps act as a blueprint in the replication process. After the information has been stamped onto the disc, it is then coated with a micro-thin reflective layer of aluminum. Finally, the disc is coated with a protective lacquer that is first spun onto the disc, then hardened by ultraviolet light. Because replication is complicated, it’s typically considered only for large runs of at least 1,000 copies. At those volumes, replication produces the lowest per-disk cost and offers the highest possible readability levels
Duplication: Commonly referred to as “burning”. This process copy’s the master disc to a blank disc bit-by-bit with a laser that etches it with information. This method is best for producing limited quantities of copies–more than one, but fewer than a large commercial run. For quantities less than 1,000, many businesses “burn” their manuals, parts lists, and training videos in-house using either PCs with multiple burners or dedicated duplication machines (”duplication towers”)
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