Digipak production for A2 Media Studies

2. This is the template that I used to create the digipak. It was available through college
and it made it easier to produce the digipak as it showed the size of each panel, but
also the placement of the discs. This was the bottom layer of the digipak as it meant
that it was visible when I wanted it to be, but when the layers above were visible you
could not see the template.

3. To start with, I added black squares inside the panels which were going to be black. I
kept the boxes a little smaller than they should have been, just so I could see the
template. This was because I had just started producing the digipak, and I wanted to
make sure that everything was going in the right place.

4. To add the images into the digipak, I first had to open the image in Photoshop,
and then edit it in the window. As we wanted the digipak to be black and white, I
selected the Colour Replacement Tool to change the image black and white. As
you can see from the images above, this process meant that I could change the
colour in the image to whatever colour I wanted, in this case black, to make the
image look more monochrome.

5. When I had finished colouring the images, I added them to their places on the
digipak. This was a basic edit, as we had not 100% decided how the images would
look on the digipak. As you will see in later screenshots, we decided that it would
look best if the images were in black and white. We also decided to change the front
cover image.

6. When adding the images to the digipak, I decided to use the visibility tool to hide the
black background of the digipak. This was because I wanted to make sure that I had
placed the images in the correct place, and for me, using a white background makes it
easier. As you can see, I also created the three bars, which is the Paramore logo,
however altered it slightly from the original design as otherwise we would not have
had enough images to create the full bars logo.
I also added the default text in the places we wanted the album name and title to be,
just so I could make sure that the image was placed correctly.

7. To make the images in the bars relate to the main images on the front of the digipak, I
decided it would be best to change them black and white. To do this I had to select
the image, select the image option on the tool bar, and adjust the image to black and
white. This meant that the images were similar to those on the front, giving the
digipak a sense of professionalism and continuity.

8. As I have previously mentioned, we decided that we would create the
Paramore bars logo in our digipak as this is what would show that it was
a Paramore album. It has been one of the main Paramore aspects since
around 2011, so including it in this digipak was important as it is a
convention of Paramore themselves. Making the images more of a black
and white colour also references the first group of singles that paramore
created with the inception of this logo.
Paramore Singles Club- released in 2011

9. As I used a lot of images to create the
three bars, I had to make sure I knew
what photo was where. This is why I
colour coded the layers, and as you
can see, at the bottom of the layers list
I have named each layer so I know
whereabouts the image is. This means
it was easier for me to select the
image, but also if anything needed to
be changed I could easily do that.
I also linked each bar’s layers, so that
they could be moved together, saving
time. It also means that when the
images are moved, they are all in line.
I did not just colour code the bars
images, I made sure to colour code
every aspect of the digipak as it meant
I could easily find which layer I wanted
to edit. I also made sure to name each
layer, so that it was even easier to find.

10. To create synergy within the products we had created, we decided that it would be best to make
the band name and album title the same as that of the magazine advertisement. To do this, we
used the Paramore font, however rotated it slightly so that it was on a slant. This is exactly the
same as that on the magazine advertisement, so creates a link between the two products. Using a
black and white/grayscale colour scheme also links the two products to the music video, as that
also has black and white aspects.
This means that each product links to each other, and those who view the products can
distinguish the motifs between the three products.

11. as you can see, we decided that it would be best to change the image on the front of
the digipak, to that which was used for the advertisement. This meant that there was a
link within the digipak and the advertisement, but also to the music video as there is
an as- live aspect within. Also, as I thought the album should be a live one, the image
of the amp links in with the live aspect, as the band would need this to play live.

12. Here is the completed digipak. As you can see, all of the images are in black and white,
and we have changed the front cover image. This is because it created synergy within
all of the media products created.
Adding the grey background to the discs also broke up the impact having an all black
background would have, and also makes it easy to distinguish where the discs are
held.
Including the CD/ DVD text on the discs makes sure that you can easily work out which
disc is which, which can often be difficult if there are two discs that look identical.

14. As previously stated, including the band’s
bars logo was important as it is one of the
conventions of the Paramore name. This
logo is constantly used, for example in the
singles club box set, but also on their
stage set ups. Each member of the band
also has it tattooed on their arm, so
therefore the logo hold great importance
to both the band and their fans.
The three bars represent the three
members of the band, created by the
band themselves when two of the
founding members, Josh and Zac Farro,
left the band in 2010. the bars represent a
new era for Paramore, as the departure of
the two brothers meant that the band had
to take a moment to discuss where the
band was going to go after that.
The bars logo has also been a
predominant feature in merchandise, and
perhaps the logo is considered one of the
most important aspects when designing
the merchandise available for fans.
The impact the band have had on fans is
shown by fan tattoos, which mostly
consist of this logo.
This meant that for the
product to look
like an authentic
Paramore product, it
had to include the logo
in some shape or form.
This is why the logo is
included in the centre of
the digipak, as this is
the central aspect of the
product, and the logo is
considered a central
aspect of the band.

15. The Paramore font is also an
incredibly important feature for a
Paramore product. The font was
used on the band’s self titled
album, the first album released
after the departure of the Farro
brothers. This marked the
comeback of the band, the new
era of Paramore had started. The
font also includes the bars, with
the E of PARAMORE being simply
three lines.
The importance of this is shown
on the band’s website,
Paramore.net, as members of the
website have a default icon of the
letter E.
The Paramore box is also an
important aspect of the live shows,
as this is constantly used by
Hayley, with her standing on the
box. This also holds her
microphones, but also the spare
mic which is used by one fan
every show. This highlights the
box’s importance to fans, and the
font is included on this box.

16. The monochrome colour scheme
has also been used by the band,
yet again in the Singles Club. As
you can see from the image, the
bars are prominent in the
package, however the only
colours used are black and white,
even in the images. This has
become one of the main aspects
of the band, the dark colours
contrasting the bright hair of
frontwoman Hayley Williams.
The band rarely use bright
colours as their main colour on
their releases since the departure
of the brothers, they are only
used as contrasting colours in
very small amounts.