Digipak conventions / Template - Joshua Manley 9645

Digipak Template

A jewel CD case is a compact disc case that has been used since the compact disc was first released in 1982. It is a three-piece plastic case, measuring 142 mm × 125 mm × 10 mm, a volume of 177.5 cm³, which usually contains a compact disc along with the liner notes and a back card. Two opposing transparent halves are hinged together to form the casing, the back half holding a media tray that grips the disc by its hole. Digipaks are a particular type of CD case, which essentially consists of a plastic CD tray glued inside a folding cardboard cover. Though it once referred specifically to the patented digipak packaging, the term has since become a genericized trademark generally used in reference to any cardboard-based CD package. Despite being made of paper, they were once considered an environmentally more friendly alternative to jewel boxes.

Conventions

Front Cover
The front cover is inevitably the most important part of the digipak as it is the first thing which the viewers see in stores. Therefore the front cover has to be attractive and interesting in order to intrigue to buyers and also can provide them with a sense of themes included in the album. The front cover of a digipak tends to consist of the artist's and album's name which are normally placed over a background image.

Back Cover
The back cover is also relatively important as it provides the audience with a further insight to the album. This is due to the stereotypical inclusion of a track listing where the names of the tracks on the album would be numbered numerically. This can be placed over another background image which tends to be in coherence with the rest of the album digipak. Also on the back cover there is conventional information included such as the artist's website, copyright notice, the record label's name and logo as well as a bar code. 

Spine
The spine consists of the title of the album and also the name of the artists. This spine is also a considerably important aspect of the digipak as when organised different on shelves or in stacks as this would be the only part of the digipak which is visible. Therefore the size, colour, boldness and type of font need to allow the spine to stand out.

Inside Right Panel
In this section of the product the CD is placed securely. The CD itself tends to contain text, colour or images in order to continue to particular theme and overall feel of the digipak. They are usually seemingly simplistic and usually include the name of the project or artist. There are some variations of a CD where the track listing can also be included, stereotypically around the circumference of the disc.

Inside Cover
The cover is designed to carry a booklet, as well as to have panel inserts. These may be used to display album artwork, lyrics, credits, copyright information, photos, thank-yous, messages, biography, etc. I found that in fact Sigur Ros include a blank booklet here in order to allow for the listeners to write down their own interpretations to the audio.

Throughout all the different aspects and components which accumulate together to form a digipak the same colour schemes, fonts and images are used in order to provide a sense of continuity and coherence. This allows for a certain theme and atmosphere to be created which can relate to the artists' work. This works well when advertising the product as the posters and other advertisement would also consists of the same aspects.

throughout, colour, font, image, continuity