I know one more utility for creating .iso files - readcd. This utility
is from cdrecord package and uses same parameters for drive like
cdrecord also this utility better works with cratched CDs and can
display progress (this is very usefull for n-c-b). I think readcd
should be used instead dd for copying. It's very easy to use:

egle@egle:~$ readcd --help
Usage:  readcd [options]
options:
        -version        print version information and exit
        dev=target      SCSI target to use
        f=filename      Name of file to read/write
        sectors=range   Range of sectors to read/write
        -w              Switch to write mode
        -c2scan         Do a C2 error scan
        timeout=#       set the default SCSI command timeout to #.
        debug=#,-d      Set to # or increment misc debug level
        kdebug=#,kd=#   do Kernel debugging
        -verbose,-v     increment general verbose level by one
        -Verbose,-V     increment SCSI command transport verbose level
by one
        -silent,-s      do not print status of failed SCSI commands
        -noerror        do not abort on error
        -notrunc        do not truncate outputfile in read mode
        retries=#       set retry count (default is 128)
 
sectors=0-0 will read nothing, sectors=0-1 will read one sector
starting from 0

For example in my system I simply run "readcd dev=0,0,0 f=cdimage.iso"
and after some time I have iso image, created from inserted CD disk :)

*** Bug 144914 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***

2005-04-03  William Jon McCann  <mccann@jhu.edu>

	* nautilus-cd-burner.c (ncb_hig_dialog): Don't set response and
	modality here.
	(request_media): Use gint64 for size instead of GnomeVFSFileSize.
	(burn_cd): Add source drive and cue support.
	(get_size_of_burn): Pull out estimating size of burn:/// into new
	function.
	(main): Add popt options.  Add support for source drive and cue.

	* nautilus-burn-recorder.c (nautilus_burn_recorder_track_free):
	Add cue support.
	(nautilus_burn_recorder_cancel): Add assert.
	(cdrecord_stdout_read): Make end of blank a FINISHED state.
	(dvdrw_format_stderr_read, growisofs_stderr_read)
	(cdrecord_stderr_read): Use stderr GString.
	(start_async_with_watch): Make sure watch ids are not set if used.
	(nautilus_burn_recorder_run_process): Only remove watchid if set.
	(nautilus_burn_recorder_write_growisofs): Move eject to Drive.
	(cdrdao_stderr_line, cdrdao_stderr_read)
	(nautilus_burn_recorder_write_cdrecord): Add cue track support.
	(nautilus_burn_recorder_blank_disc_cdrecord)
	(nautilus_burn_recorder_blank_disc_dvdrw_format)
	(nautilus_burn_recorder_blank_disc): Use new flags argument.
	Don't prompt for insertion.

	* nautilus-burn-drive.c (nautilus_burn_drive_get_media_size_from_path):
	Get size for commercial CD.
	(nautilus_burn_drive_unmount): Add assert.
	(nautilus_burn_drive_eject): New function, moved from Recorder.
	(nautilus_burn_drive_new_from_path): New convenience function.

	* make-iso.c (nautilus_burn_make_iso_cancel): Use correct return
	value.
	(readcd_stderr_read, get_average_rate, cdrdao_stderr_line)
	(cdrdao_stderr_read, start_async_with_watch, run_process)
	(nautilus_burn_make_iso_from_drive): Add ability to create a disc
	image from a Drive.

	* list_cddrives.c (list_cdroms): Show time for CD type.

	* dvd_plus_rw_utils.cpp (get_disc_size_cdr, get_disc_size_cd):
	Correctly report size for commercial CD.

	* configure.in: Increase libtool version.

	* burn-extension.c (write_activate_cb, write_iso_activate_cb): Use
	g_build_filename.
	(desktop_uri_get_drive_id, copy_disc_activate_cb)
	(nautilus_burn_get_file_items): Add copy disc option to contextual
	menu for CD desktop files.