What is a digipack?
What is a Digipack
Digipaks typically consist of a gatefold (book-style) paperboard or card stock outer binding, with one or more plastic trays capable of holding a CD or DVD attached to the inside. Since Digipaks were among the first alternatives to jewel cases to be used by major record companies, and because there is no other common name for Digipak-style packaging made by other companies, the term digipak or Digi-Pak is often used generically, even when the media holder is a hub or "Soft Spot" rather than a full plastic tray.
Digipak-style packaging is often used for CD singles or special editions of CD albums and the tall DVD Digipak (DVDigipak) is used as a premium package for DVDs and DVD sets. Because such packaging is less resistant to abrasion than jewel cases, it tends to show signs of wear relatively quickly. Licensed digipak manufacturers such as domestic U.S. printer and disc replicator Oasis Disc Manufacturing recommend coating the raw printed paper with a protective UV coating, thus ensuring greater longevity. - http://www.wikipedia.com/
Promo Pack
A promo pack is a running theme or collection of ideas that the video and digig pack share witch can then be transferred in to all aspects of the artists identity at this time to enhance the theme that is trying to be created. For example:
Britney Spears used the theme of the circus for her come back album in 2009.
This first image is from Britney's online ticket booking website www.virginmobile/britneyspears.com the theme she initially obtained with the extravagant circus and production elabouration is carried through on to the website. The font and the image of the stage enhance this feel and create an ongoing premise.
This next image is the cover of Britney's album entitled 'circus' She retains her glamorous side taht is known to the public, but also encouperates elements of the circus design, includig the stars around the edges and the red curvy lettering pronouncing her name.
This picture is a set from her tour, 'The Circus' - The choices of set style and mise en scene is evident in this also with use of the cage, once again to emphasise her promiscuity but use of something that is also commonly found in the circus - ( the cage for lion taming)
This final image is a still from her video for the song 'circus'. The theme has also flowed through in to this with the props symbolic of the circus atmosphere. Analysis of digipacks
The Killers - Greatest hits
The colours used on this digipack cover are made more visually appealing through the use of one another. The black encourages the pink to stand out and gives it increased deffinition and the pink text assists the black background in defining the image below, whilst also creating a more subdued and interesting effect.
Typography
The text is written in 'The Killers' trademark font whilst the album title 'Greatest Hits' is written in a more simple font to attract the attention to the bands name. The text is also used to divide the page in three, a suitable and attractive layout for the eye, with the album title dividing the image and the band name.
Image
Typical of 'indie' style the band are the main focus of the cover dressed and positioned in typical 'indie' ways. The fashion is eccentric, fur coats, braces and waist coats are worn exaduarrating the authenticity and individuality of the band. their close allignment and subdued looks create the stereotypical expectations of this subculture.
Analysis of digipack
Jamie T - Kings and Queens 
Colour
Jamie T, another 'indie' artist also uses an 'abstract ' approach to his digipack cover using multi colours ina repettitive fashion. The image is also enhanced with a form of sepia editing and solarisation. This heightens the colouring and makes the block colours of the image look bolder and more prodominant.
Typography
The text of both teh artists name and the album title are written in a circular reppetative fashion revolving round the central image of a camera shot. This circular patterning creates multiple aspects of the cover and represents the variations of dimentions the genre posses and the different aspects of music the artist presents.
Image
The image is a projection of a visual through a 'fish eye' lens. It presents a distorted image of two people in a suberban area, directly in relation to the circular pattering of the text the image creates an overt dome shaped perpective as if intended to seem as if you were looking from the ppint of view of somebody elce.
Flat Plans
Initial Designs for Digipack
Photo evaluation
The cover for my digipack recreates the initial ideas I had to incorporate light effects into my video. I have taken a photo in a high definition on a SLR camera. I did this as I wanted to create images with an intense feel to them and I feel I have achieved this with a high level of detail in each picture. In my cover image I have increased the depiction of the sparks flying of the sparkler. I decided to use take the photo of someone playing with a sparkler, as when captured on camera at a low shutter speed the light from each movement is retained and this recreates the effect of travelling light which initially, we wanted to carry out in the video. The second image was assembled in a procession I saw. I took various shots of this and then cropped this particular segment of the picture to capture the burning crosses, which I thought appropriate as I thought of this image whilst listening to the song. The underlying protest theme of war throughout the song is particularly evident and I worked with this to depict an image of anger or violence in a subtle way. The third image of the burning flames was composed for the segment of the digipack behind the compact disk holder I wanted to keep this image simple but retain the dark, light contrast being constructed throughout the rest of the pack. I also think the inside of the inlay will look good together with both images of burning present. The final image is also similar to the cover shot as it involves the same aspects of travelling light, yet again created with use of a sparkler. This segment however I have heightened in brightness as it is to hold the track list in a centre position on the page.
Typography
I Carried on the simple typography usually used on Bloc Party’s Flyers, adverts and CD Covers and have used a mix of text sizes to create some sort of interest to the eye. On all the photos where I have used text I have kept the same font style as not to make the digipack look messy. I used a standard Calibri body font as previously said because it was the same as the font used in other Bloc Party items of advertisement. On the track list I used a variation of sized texts as I thought this was a more interesting approach to designing it. On the second image I have used an orange coloured text as I could not black as I had done previously which would clash with the dark background. However it sit comfortably amongst the fiery composition of the picture. I decided to write the name of the band on all viable dimensions of the digipack as I felt images alone would have seemed bland and although the text is repetitive it is true to form of the band themselves to feature this style of replication. As seen in the image below:
I also recreated a true to form style digipack by listing the bands existing song tiles of the back to create some form of authenticity to the CD pack.
Further editing of Digipack
I used photoshop to try out a variation of editing effects and found one that I think would appeal to the target audience. I have used the effect of 'solarisng' to create a neon, appearance.
However I do not think that the typography is visualy appealing so I will experiment with lighting effects in photoshop to create a more accessable and readable title.
Completetd Digipack
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