custom-cut CD

An audio CD or CD-ROM that is cut into a non-round shape after it is pressed by the manufacturer or recorded on a CD-R. To avoid vibration in the drive, the shape is balanced as much as possible. Audio CD drives spin their discs more slowly than CD-ROM drives and can tolerate more out-of-round designs. Custom-cut CDs hold considerably less music, video or data than a full-sized disc. They fit in standard drive trays, but do not work with the feed drives that are used in automobiles. See business card CD and feed drive.

Custom-cut CDs

Audio CD drives spin slower than CD-ROM drives and can tolerate out-of-round discs such as the four at the top of this image. The snowflake at the bottom is a CD-ROM and is more symmetrical and balanced than the others in order to keep drive vibration to a minimum. (Image courtesy of Cutting Edge ShapeCD Inc., www.cdshapes.com)

Discs Are Custom Cut

After the round disc is made, the final shape is created by cutting away the excess. Approximately eight discs are cut at one time. (Image courtesy of Cutting Edge ShapeCD Inc., www.cdshapes.com)