Abstract: In one embodiment, a data storage medium includes at least three layers. The first layer may be a substrate. The second layer includes a polymer and may exhibit surface variations. And the third layer may substantially conform to the surface variations of the second layer. The surface variations may be used to encode read-only data, servo patterns, or other tracking patterns on a data storage medium at very low cost. The surface variations may be detectable on the surface of the medium because the third layer substantially conforms to the variations. Additional layers may be added to the medium so long as they substantially conform to the surface variations such that the variations are exhibited on the surface of the medium.