8.1.13 - Digipak Research

Forms and Conventions:

1. What is a Digipak and how is it similar/ different to an album cover?
A Digipak is a form of CD or DVD cover which is often used for a first single release or special edition release. It differs from an album cover as it usually has video extras and other bonus items for the customer, as well as having some music tracks released by the artist.  CD Digipaks give a product an expensive professional look and feel.

2. What does a digipak net look like and how many faces are usual?

This is the 8 panel Digipak (left) and one
variety of the 6 panel Digipak (right)

The most The most common CD Digipaks is the 4 panel Digipak which opens like a book. However 6 panel CD Digipaks are also popular, providing a larger canvas for CD artwork and text information about the CD. 8 panel and even 10 panel CD Digipaks are also available. In my advanced media portfolio I will be designing a 4 panel Digipak. 

4 panel Digipak

3. What do we usually find on the various faces i.e. front cover? Back cover? Inside cover? CD tray? 

      Front Cover: Usually has a image of the artist themselves along with the title of the album. It is often important to have an image of the artist especially if this is the first released music related media product, such as an album or Digipak. Also the front cover will have caption about the extras within the Digipak or a raving review of the Digipak.
Back cover: Frequently has the list of other tracks on the album as well as a bar code to indicate that the Digipak will want to be bought.


Inside cover: Sometimes has the lyric book or otherwise has a note from the artist just to say 'Thank you'. On rare occasions it has both.
CD Tray: has a simple pattern or image otherwise it may confused the customer due to the distraction caused by a busy CD tray.
The Digipak itself should follow a colour scheme to make the product look professional.