Question: What actually makes a Maxell CD-R appear green, gold, or blue?

Answer: The color of a specific type of CD-R disc depends on the dye material in the recording layer used by the manufacturer. This dye color can alter in appearance when different reflector coatings are applied (gold or silver).

Three types of dyes utilized in today's CD-R's are:

Cyanine: This dye is actually blue in color. When combined with a gold reflective layer Cyanine discs appear green in color. If a silver reflector is applied, the discs appear light blue in color. A major advantage of Cyanine-based discs is that they work with a wider range of laser powers, making them more compatible among several different brands of writers. This is due to the fact that Cyanine has a greater sensitivity to light than other dyes. This characteristic also affects their longevity. These discs have a life span of 50-plus years. The majority of Maxell CD-R media sold in the U.S. is Cyanine-based.

Pthalocyanine: This dye is actually yellow-green in color. When combined with a gold reflector the discs appear gold or greenish gold in color. Pthalocyanine dye is a newer dye that has less sensitivity to light, resulting in a life span of up to 100 years. However, less light sensitivity can sometimes be an issue when it comes to working with certain manufacturer's writers. Maxell CD-R media manufactured in Mexico is Pthalocyanine based.