A digipak is copyrighted form of CD/DVD packaging. It is a gatefold card outer binding containing one or more plastic trays to hold the disc. Digipak has become the accepted name for this style of packaging, not just the patented. It has replaced jewel cases and they both have advantages and disadvantages. The packaging is stronger than a jewel case but the disc holder inside is more likely to crack, they are more environmentally friendly than a jewel case as they contain less plastic and there is research into using recycled materials to construct them with.
They have become more straightforward to create since the introduction of
digipak i-create.
It is quite common now for classic bands (The Beatles, Nirvana, Queen etc.) to do re-issues of old albums and sell them in digipak form.
Click here to view the construction of a
digipak, they are usually 4 panels (bookfold) but this example is 6.
Album packaging is a unique opportunity to market the band. Traditionally, LPs were packaged in a sleeve which had a picture of the artist on the front and a tracklisting on the back.
