DIGIPACK

RESEARCH

SAFIYA VALU.

WHAT IS A DIGIPAK?

In the early 200s, Digipak style cases became popular amongst

record labels and recording artists.

Digipak’s are used by record labels to promote the sales of the

artist, in the same way the video does. Its features give the

audience a multiple reasons to buy the CD rather than just

downloading content off iTunes.

CONVENTIONS OF A

DIGIPAK

A Digipak is usually created as a 4 or 6 plate folded piece of

card with a CD case in the middle.

It includes:

A DVD

Lyric Book

Artist Photo

List of Songs

ANALYSING/PLANNING A DIGIPAK

BEYONCE- 4

Lettering/Font Styles

and Sizes: The typography used on the

front of the album cover is

simplistic and in upper case

letters. This suggests

empowerment and being bold,

which is also what come across

by her pose. It is in black bold

writing to stand out against the

light green background.

The album title ‘4’ ties in with the

fact it is her fourth solo studio

album.

Main Image: In the Centre of the cover Beyoncé

is looking upwards with her arm

raised above her head. This

indicates she is seen as confident,

which is a common convention

used by R&B artists. The

photographer has used a low angle

shot which illustrates a sense of

empowerment. Beyoncé is wearing

gold cuffs and a shawl which

emphasizes on her concept of

coming across as confident. As

she is not wearing anything

underneath this suggests that she

is wealthy women and not giving

off the provocative ‘slutty’ image.

The background gives more

emphasis on what Beyoncé is

wearing and give more attention to

the artist.

Representation & Audience:The main representation in this cover is

epitomized as coming across a strong

independent woman who is powerful and

dominant. This goes against the

contemporary dominant representation of

women and adheres to the concept adapting

through contemporary times of women being

able to be independent and successful which

is seen in the media through single successful

mothers and female business women for

example.

I would therefore believe that this album

would appeal to a female audience who like

R&B music and pop, and a fan of Beyoncé's

recent hits.

The back cover features another

photograph of the back of Beyoncé. It is

taken at a long shot angle. It shows

connotations of new beginnings as she is

now in control of her own career. The image

sticks to the colour scheme. This could also

be targeted at a male audience as it shows

a more sexual image of her legs.

The text of the front cover has not changed it is

still formal and in a bold typeface. There is a

smaller type face of the other featured tracks on

the Album. It is easier to see since it is placed

against a plain background of the wall.

The back cover also

includes small images

of the record labels,

name of executive

producers and copyright

information. This is

used to show those

involved in the creation

of the album.

It also includes a bar

code which is scanned

through when

purchasing the album.

It also lists the record

labels website and

Beyoncé's.

The initial of the Artist is used on the

CD. It is Big and bold which stands out

from the Red background. The ‘B’ is

written in a quirky typeface. The colour

scheme black and red could represent

love and darkness.

LANA DEL REY-BORN TO DIE

Main Image:The main image shows

a medium close up of

Lana’s Face and outfit.

This is a common

feature in the indie

genre. The simplicity of

the design allows us as

the audience to focus

on Lana’s Vintage

style, seen within her

outfit, her bold red lips

and wavy hair. This

creates a visual style

which is in high

demand with the

record label. Lana is

looking straight into the

camera, looking

emotionless and

almost serene. The

background is of a

scene outside, which is

typically used in the

indie genre, it displays

her as exploring the

world and encounter

on experiences for her

to write songs.

Lettering/font styles and

sizes:A simple styled font has been used for

the artist title. This style is commonly

used within all of Lana's albums. The

colours red white and blue could

represent the country America, where

she is from. The simplicity of the font

suggests the simplicity of Lana’s

music.

On the back cover of the Album, it displays

the track list. The same simple font has

been, used in white block letters. Again the

simplicity of the font connotes a simple

style of music. The barcode, record label

and copyright issues can be seen at the

bottom. The colour scheme of the letters

has changed, this time white and black

have been used to highlight some of the

songs. The black connotes songs that

could have a deep and meaningful

message behind them or they could be

extra tracks added. I think that they have

kept the back of the album simple as it

allows the audience to focus on the songs

listed.

The simple white colour of the

CD, compliments the theme

used throughout. The roses

could connote the idea of love

which is a common theme used

within the songs. It could

symbolize the innocent love the

artist has encountered on.

Again we do not see the artist

herself or any big bold letters of

the albums name.

Front Cover CD Back Cover CD

Insert

CD

The inside of the Digipak has the same

style of image of the artist seen on the front.

The mid shot close up draws us to her body

language. It shows her looking into the

camera with the same serious stern look.

Again she is showing us that she takes her

music seriously. By applying this image to

the two windows in the insert it shows us

How important Lana is important as an

artist and how she should be recognized for

her image as well as her music. The colour

scheme is set the same with soft tones. The

target audience could be either male or

female as a very neutral house style has

been used.

Lyric Insert

Inside the Digipak it contains a fold out

which displays the lyrics of each track.

A typewriter font has been used in

black which gives off a vintage style.

Again they have kept it a simple house

style. Blood splatters have been used,

on the page, this could symbolize the

artists betrayal and how her love has

been destroyed. Displaying the lyrics

help the audience understand the

meaning and words of the song they

are listening to.

CASSIE PAST CD COVER

DESIGNS

MAIN IMAGE. Close up of the artist.

Staring straight

ahead to the

audience. Looks like

the artist is kneeling

down on the floor

with arms placed

under the chin,

showing off her arm

bracelets which are

also black and gold.

Title of album‘CASSIE’ written in block

case letters. Gold and white

to fit the house style. Visibly

noticeable.

Song title not featured on

the album.

No barcode or record label

advertised.

Back of album. Track list going across the top of the

frame. Written in simple brown letters. Same image

used on the front but this time Cassie is photographed

from a long mid shot. Record label and copyright

information is included as well as a barcode.

CD. Same colour scheme used.

Simple colours of brown and black.

Name of artist in block bold capital

letters.

Name of

album. Written

in simple thin

capital letters.

Name

of artistMain image-

looking

towards the

camera.

Serious

facial

expression.

Same colour

scheme used

of black, pink

and cream.

No barcode

or record

label

advertised.

Promotional

pictures [click to

play]

Name of

Artist

Name of

album title.

Written in gold

letters.

Main Image.

Artist looking straight ahead,

face pointing upwards with

gun towards her mouth.

Conations of danger and

empowerment of females.

Colour scheme is mainly black and

gold. These colours such as the

black suggest danger and the gold

symbolizes wealth and rich as the

jewelry and gun are used to highlight

this.

Back of album. Same house style used.

Easy to indicate the artists and the name of

song between the contrast of gold.

Name of record label and producers shown at

the bottom.

Parental

Advisory icon

used to indicate

there is explicit

words used.

ANALYSIS OF

CASSIE’S CD COVERS.

All use close up image of the artist looking towards the

camera

Simple colours used

Includes the name of the artist and single/album name

not include any icons such as barcodes