Abstract: A method and system for printing new material onto a designated area of a randomly oriented data storage substrate involves determining the orientation of the data storage substrate and electronically generating printer data that compensates for the specific orientation of the substrate. The preferred printing system includes an imaging device, a printing device, and a computer system. The printing method involves imaging a randomly oriented target substrate, such as an optical disk, having a visible pattern and a designated area for receiving new printed material. The new material, text and/or graphics to be printed onto the target disk, is normally oriented in a reference position, but, in order to account for the randomly oriented nature of the target disk, the orientation of the new material is electronically adjusted relative to the printing system. The electronically adjusted new material is then printed onto the designated area of the target disk without having to rotate the disk.