This document discusses the typical features found on digipaks, which are packaging for CDs and DVDs. It outlines elements commonly included, such as information about the artist, track listings, and images. It then examines features specific to different music genres, including indie, dark folk, and house/electro. Common indie conventions highlighted are an emphasis on instruments, handdrawn artwork, bright colors, and themes of childhood freedom and carefreeness. Overall, the document provides an overview of standard digipak elements and explores genre-specific traditions.

1. Things we typically see featured in Digipaks include: Details of their website or MySpace. Copyright information and information about the record label. Images of the band/artist and possibly themes commonly linked with the artist/band. A list of tracks (and video, if included.) Parental advisory (if needed.) Band/artist name. Logo or symbol related to band/artist. Possibly a short biography of the band/artist. A digipak is the name of the covering for a DVD or CD. Our digipak will have to follow the conventions of a typically indie genre digipak. This presentation will look at the typical features of a digipak and later breaks down the typical features seen in digipaks of the indie genre, in order for us to hopefully produce a successful digipak for our own music video.

2. This is a six-panel digipak for an album of the “dark folk” genre. This is seen through the use of blood in the images (and its continuation on through the digipak pages) and the use of the colour red- typically representative of horror and blood. The use of the images of flesh and blood suggests a vulnerability- often making the viewer uncomfortable and hinting at the genre. The logo to the left is often associated with the band who produced this CD. The logo is repeated on the digipak. This ensures that we recognise the band’s identity through this use of a logo and ensures we remember who the band is. The band are not pictured on the digipak. This could perhaps suggest that their image is not as important as the themes and ideas behind the use of images. Perhaps they feel this image of blood is more powerful than an image of them would be. The colour red is powerful and stands out, especially against the white background. The white background contrasts with the blood, as white is typically representative of purity and innocence.

3. This is a four-paneled digipak from an album of the House/electro genre. Plain orange background runs throughout the digipak. We could suggest that the simple background ensures that we aren’t distracted from the music by images or designs. The orange background is striking and so draws you to pick up the album. A list of the artists involved in the production of the music. Often digipaks have a short biography about the band/artist. This one simply has a list of the instruments they play- in keeping with the simple nature of the digipak. The word “groove” is written in a unique way- giving the album an identity recognisable by fans. This is then repeated on the CD. This ensures it becomes almost a logo for which the music is recognised. The name of the two artists are on the top of the first cover. This introduces them straight away.

4. This is a four-paneled digipak for an album of the pop indie genre. Photographs of the band playing live. Typically, bands of the indie variety put emphasis on the use of instruments. We could suggest that this an underlying mock of generic music, as playing their own instruments suggests a unique style and something solely theirs. Large logo. This is art-based, which is a theme typically seen in indie album covers. The logo looks as if it has been hand drawn. The size of the logo ensures that it is eye catching and gives us something to remind us of the band. The front cover is simple- contrasting to the complex inside covers. The name of the album is bold and outlined by lines on the top and the bottom, ensuring we are aware of the name.

5. The album has an art-based background. This is typical of album covers of the indie genre. Seen as far back as The Cure’s (1980s) album covers. The artist is photographed and imposed onto the art-based background. This combines the use of technology with manual art- reflecting music being a combination of instruments and vocals. The font appears to be handwritten. This is typical of album covers of the indie genre, as it represents a freedom and fun nature to the artist. The artist shows a direct mode of address. This ensures that it appears the artist is luring you into the house she is walking up to. This is enhanced by the fact that she is pictured in every window of the house- suggesting you can’t avoid her. The use of colour is important in an album cover of the indie genre. Conventionally, bright colours are used to help reflect a fun nature. The artist is wearing a bright red dress. This draws our eye to her and ensures we are focused mainly on the artist. The red also compliments the bright colours of the background.

6. The use of colour is important in this album cover. The colours look to be of high saturation and so they strongly stand out. The red and green of the old vehicle compliment each other perfectly, as they are opposite each other on the colour wheel. The old vehicle is reminiscent of the type children play with. This is conventional of an album of the indie genre, to incorporate a childish nature in their work. This produces connotations of being carefree and fun. The name of the band is written in a bold font and across three lines. This is aesthetically pleasing and the boldness ensures that it is emphasized so that we will remember it. The cover of this album is relatively simple, but is effective. The use of white font on saturated colours ensures it stands out and the use of bright colours makes it eye-catching.

7. This album, by the cure, takes the indie genre to an extreme by using childish artwork in such a way. The album cover looks as if it has been drawn by a child. This, again, emphasizes the idea of freedom in an indie genre. The lined background makes the album cover appear as if its been doodled in a notebook. This gives the album the carefree and effortless attitude often seen in the indie genre. The name of the band is written in black to ensure that it stands out. This means that we do not miss it, and we are able to recognize the band from its childish cover.

8. This album also uses the typical convention of colour to portray a positive nature. This cover uses blues, oranges and yellows in order to draw the eye in. these colours are autumnal and give the album a seasonal feel- along with the leaf shapes. The artist’s name is written in a circle amongst the artist doodles. This draws us to her name and so we recognize her. The circle is a section away from the complex background and so we can clearly read the artist’s name. The shapes in the background are soft and fluent. This makes the buyers feel comfortable and invites you to explore the digipak.

9. Conventions Of An Indie Genre Album Cover. Indie album covers often feature art work, with computer technology imposed on top (eg, a photograph or writing.) They often play on the idea of childlike nature and freedom by using a childish font or an image often associated with children. They don’t often feature the artist/band, and if they do it is often in an obscure or abstract way (eg, Kate Nash against a fantasy background.) They often use bright colours to produce a positive nature and to ensure the album stands out.