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March, 2006
By: Bambi Hambi
Tera and I both love Mac developers who “get it.”
So it is with the entire collection of Mac applications from BeLight Software.
They get it.
If you need CD or DVD covers and labels, you’ll get it, too, with Disc Cover.
It’s one thing to put out a great Mac application, carve a
delicate niche among hundreds of other developers, and make money at it.
It’s totally something else again to put out a whole suite of
Mac applications that compete with the likes of Adobe and Microsoft and others.
That’s what’s going on with BeLight. Not only do
we like their Swift Publisher (saves you hundreds over Adobe’s InDesign or Quark) for good desktop publishing, we’ve found their other applications, including Disc Cover, to be best of breed and great values.
First, Disc Cover.
It makes covers and labels for CDs, DVDs, and cases. Big deal, right?
Well, yeah. It’s easier said than done, and most of the
software you buy when you buy CD labels and covers is Windows only. Even some of
the Mac applications sure don’t look and feel like Mac applications.
That’s what we mean about “get it.” You
know when you start in with a new Mac application whether the developer really
“gets it” or not.
Disc Cover gets you covered so you can get classy looking CD
and DVD covers on your discs. Then, transfer that design to the case labels
for a complete set.
If you’ve finally put together a CD or DVD of family photos,
iPhoto slide shows, or music from your own GarageBand concoction, Disc Cover adds
the perfect touch to make the package look as good or better than your creation.
Disc Cover opens with the Disc Cover Assistant. Here, you choose
from more templates than you can count, or import your own design or digital
photograph.
Click to see the design on the CD/DVD cover, and how it looks on
the CD/DVD case label. The designs in the template list are inspiring, so if you
can’t find one template you like, make your own.
It’s actually easy. Just as iMovie and iDVD bring in photos,
movies, and music from the iLife applications, Disc Cover lets you select from
iLife, too. Playlists from iTunes. Albums from iPhoto. Even DVD projects.
When your design is the design you want, it’s time to print.
This is where the fun begins.
Not only does Disc Cover print labels and covers for all the
popular labels and covers you can buy, it also prints direct to the CD and DVD
if your printer allows (Canon and Epson).
If you like Swift Publisher, you’ll truly love the
convenience and ease of use built in to Disc Cover.
Frankly, there’s not much to not like. I always like 4X
the templates, but you can modify the including templates to make them your own design.
If you like palettes and floating windows (I don’t),
you’ll love the tools. They’re everywhere.
I started my first project taking a template, adding both a Playlist
from iTunes and an Album from iPhoto to create a CD and DVD package. A “matching”
package, I might add.
Then, I took another template and modified it; adding some of my
own photos into a montage, and then created another cover and label package for
QuickTime movies for my family.
Tera said they look absolutely professional, except for the Copyright © 2006
Barbara Marie Hambi on the label. Whatever.
Still, $35 is modest for a Mac application that behaves like a good
Mac application, has a long list of features, and comes from a developer who
“gets it” with half a dozen excellent Mac apps.
As you’d expect, the download is free, and Disc Cover lets you
try out all the features in demo mode. Click Here for the features list and download link. | 
