The dye layer is where your data is stored. It lies just beneath several layers on the top of the polycarbonate disc. If the surface is damaged by scratches or a ball point pen, data will be irretrievably lost.

For maximum safety, there should be a protective layer that guards the data against physical damage. The chart below shows a comparison of CD-R media subjected to a scratch test. A diamond stylus is pulled across the top side of the disc with increasing amounts of force until the disc shows unrecoverable data loss. Many CD-Rs currently available have only a thin (shiney) lacquer layer.

With the use of digital photography, no negatives exist, so loss of data can mean loss of your valuable photos.

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