From researching existing album packaging, the author found several conventions: 1) Front covers typically feature the band/artist name and album title along with a dominant image, while back covers list the tracklist and include a band photo. 2) Inside covers sometimes include additional photos or images. 3) Spines usually contain the band/artist name, album title, and a number for manufacturing identification. 4) CDs and DVDs commonly feature images or patterns to distinguish them visually and include copyright information.

1. DIGIPAK RESEARCH

2. CD FRONT COVER
• I decided to look at existing products to get inspiration for my product. I
looked at albums from alternative rock bands including the band who’s
song I have chosen to create a music video to. From this research I have
found that all album covers have the name of the band and most have the
name of the album and a picture that dominates the cover. I have found
that not all album covers feature the band/artist giving the album an
element of mystery. From this research I have decided that I will use a
picture of train tracks when the sun is rising for my front cover. I decided
to do this because the band who's song I have created a music video for
has a train station and I wanted to follow a similar theme. I also chose to
use train tracks as it symbolises a line you follow and my bands name is
‘The Lifeline’ and a lifeline is another line you follow therefore linking the
two and showing continuity.

3. CD BACK COVER
• From looking at existing products I have found that all back covers of CD’s
have the songs that are on the album are in order and are in columns. I also
found that all the albums I looked at had the copyright statement and a
barcode. I found that bands generally had a picture of the band on the back
cover of the album to reinforce that they are a band and it is not all just about
the lead singer though in most cases the lead singer is at the front or shown
as ‘bigger’ than the other members in the picture. In a lot of cases the picture
of the artist/band are landscape to so the writing does not distort the image
and makes the writing easier for the audience to read. For my product I am
considering having a picture of my artist on the back cover as his face does
not feature in any other covers on my digipak.

4. THE INSIDE COVER
• From researching existing products I have found that some albums have an
inside cover on the right under the CD and some on the left so you can see
the full picture. I have found that it is conventional to have at least 1
picture as an inside cover. In relation to my product I have decided to place
the picture on the left hand side of my inside next to my CD as I am
creating a digipak that includes a DVD and the DVD will be behind the CD. I
will also include some form of picture on the inside cover that is situated
behind the back over. From looking at existing products I have decided
that I will not be using a full picture of my artist but a picture of their
hands close to symbolise the closeness of people in the songs but also the
‘lost’ feel I want for my album.

5. THE SPINE
• I have found that on the spine of the album it features the artists name, the
album name and a number, usually from the manufacturing. I have found
that some albums do have the record label logo. For my product I have
decided to put a number on the spine as it is conventional of most album
spines, the name of my band and the name of the album as well as the
record label logo (RCA records) to make my spine look professional. The
font I used for my bands name on the spine is the same as the one I used
on the front cover to show continuity. The font is the bands logo, so people
can recognise my band from the style it is written rather than the name as
there might be other bands or companies with the same name and this way
my audience will know it is definitely the band they are looking for.

6. THE CD/DVD
• From research into existing products I have found that album CD’s usually
have some form of image or pattern to make them stand out. It is also
conventional of a CD to have the name of the band and possibly the name
of the album. This shows continuity throughout the product and helps the
audience identify the CD. Another convention of a CD I have found is that
most CD’s have some form of copyright on them to prove that they are
real. I have taken inspiration from the yellow lifehouse CD and used a
black silhouette with a bright background colour to make my product
stand out. Similarly to the CD the DVD has a copyright on as well as the
DVD symbol to show the audience that this is the DVD part to the digipak.