Various systems, methods, and programs embodied on a computer-readable medium are provided for calibrating a laser power in an optical disc drive (100). In one embodiment, a plurality of marked segments (173) of a calibration pattern (166) are created on a label surface of an optical disc (136) with a laser (140) in the optical disc drive (100). The marked segments (173) are created by the application of assorted quanta of radiant energy from the laser (140). The reflectivity of the marked segments (173) is measured. Ultimately, the laser power of a laser (140) in the optical disc drive (100) is set for writing a label based upon the reflectivities measured for each of the marked segments (173) for each quantum of radiant energy.