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.
Digipak-style packaging is often used for CD singles or special editions of CD albums and the tall DVD Digipak is used as a premium package for DVDs and DVD sets.
Although less vulnerable to cracking than a jewel case, the disc tray inside the package (particularly the "teeth" of the hub which secure the disc in place) remains rather brittle and is prone to cracking if the package is crushed. Digipak-style cases grew in popularity among record labels and recording artists in the early 2000s. Folk band Show of Hands were one of their first bands to use a digipak, on their 1997 album Dark Fields.
Manufacturers have sought to reduce environmental impact and improve functionality by introducing recycled components into its trays; one has announced a 100% post-consumer PET tray made from recycled bottles, which also eliminates the need for the brittle "teeth". Many printers use recycled or sustainable material for the board stock.
Historically, Digipak was only available in large quantities. However, AGI has recently introduced a new product called digipak i-create for the consumer market. Digipak i-create is a web-supported concept that is aimed at music, photo and creative markets.
Digipaks usually resemble the type of music the CD contains for example a rock CD would sterotypically use dark colours to portray what the music is like. Our digipak would need to be more colourful and attractive to the audience it is aimed at which would be young adults, Although Mixys music is not sterotypical rap our album will still need to follow the codes and conventions of a rap music album. Our images and logo will be funky and fresh in order for the audience to realate to them. Examples of Album covers are shown below:
Eminem's music is stereotypical rap. The text used on this album is very simple and bold, this draws your attention to the name 'Eminem'. The 'E' is backwards which is something that is noticeably done throughout his albums, this makes the audience relate to it as being him. Throughout his albums his name is in bold lettering and is clear on the front of the album. When on shop shelf's the customer and quickly identify his albums. The image on the front of this album relates to the name 'Recovery' as Eminem laying there could indicate that he was recovering from something perhaps mentally or physically. Most of his albums also have a picture of him on the front and he is there throughout his music videos this is also a stereotype of rap music. On this album the walls don't look particularly clean witch also relates to the fact rap music is usually about sex and violence and is not a clean way of living. In the corner the 'Parental Advisory' logo is there to indicate that strong language is used throughout this CD, this is an important logo when buying a CD and it shows the customer it wouldn't be suitable for young people to listen to.
This is the sort of album and style we will need to base our Digipak around.
The album cover shown above is a stereotypical rock band, The colours and the image used show us instantly that the music will be of a rock nature. The lettering used is more grungy and not perfect and the image of the heart with blood dripping would only attract audiences that where into rock, the image perhaps does not relate to any of the music on the CD and dose not relate to the title 'American Idiot' but the image dose portray the 'Rock' genre. The colours used are very basic and only 3 colours are used. The colours are dark and the black and reds are a common stereotype for rock music albums.
