CD and DVD packaging
Encyclopedia
Optical disc packaging is the packaging that accompanies CDs, DVD
s, and other formats of optical media
. Most packaging is rigid or semi-rigid and designed to protect the media from scratches and other types of exposure damage.
case that has been used since the compact disc was first released in 1982. It is a three-piece plastic
case, measuring 142 mm × 125 mm × 10 mm (5.59 in x 4.92 in x 0.39 in), a volume of 177.5 cm³, which usually contains a compact disc along with the liner notes
and a back card. Two opposing transparent halves are hinged together to form the casing, the back half holding a media tray that grips the disc by its hole. All three parts are made of injection-molded polystyrene
.
The front lid contains two, four, or six tabs to keep any liner notes in place. The liner notes typically will be a 120 mm × 120 mm (4.72 in x 4.72 in) booklet, or a single 242 mm × 120 mm (9.53 in x 4.72 in) leaf folded in half. In addition, there is usually a back card, 150 mm × 118 mm (5.9 in x 4.65 in), underneath the media tray and visible through the clear back, often listing the track names, studio
, copyright
data and other information. The back card is folded into a flattened "U" shape, with the sides being visible along the ends (often referred to as the spine) of the case. The ends usually have the name of the release and the artist, and often label or catalogue information printed on them, and are designed to be visible when the case is stored vertically, 'book-style', on shelves.
The back media tray snaps into the back cover, and is responsible for securing the disk. In its center is a circular hub of teeth which grip the disc by its hole. This effectively suspends the disk in the middle of the container, preventing the recording surface from being scratched. The media tray was originally constructed of a flexible black polystyrene, but many newer trays use a more fragile transparent polystyrene. This allows the reverse of the back card, which is usually used for additional artwork, to be visible. The first album to include a transparent media tray was the Pixies' Surfer Rosa
album, released in 1988. The format did not become common until around 1995-1996.
Jewel cases are occasionally used for DVDs, but generally not for those that contain major film releases. Blank Blu-ray Disc
media is also most commonly sold in standard-width jewel cases.
, the name reflects either the generally high quality of the case design compared to initial attempts, or its appearance. According to one publication, initial attempts at packaging CDs were unsatisfactory. When the new design, by Peter Doodson, was found to be "virtually perfect" it was dubbed the "jewel case". Another publication quotes Doodson describing that he "specified polished ribs as they pick up the light and shine" and states that the resulting appearance led to the name.
The intended successor to the original jewel case, which is now gaining ground, is the "Super Jewel Box", a more advanced design which offers (amongst other improvements) a greatly strengthened hinge area. Unfortunately, the super jewel box cannot be used as a direct replacement for the older jewel case design as its card insert for the back is slightly different in size. However in many other ways it is an attractive concept and some CD manufacturers (for example the high-end company Linn) are supplying them. The depth of the disc tray is also greater, allowing for two discs to be placed on top of each other. The super jewel box was developed by Philips
and other CD-format developers, originally in a larger format as a DVD
case, and then in smaller formats as CD cases.
In the standard CD height, the super jewel box is the conventional case for Super Audio CD
(SACD); a taller form, midway between CD and DVD-Video size, is the conventional case for DVD-Audio
, and as of mid-2006, the case format for all albums released by the Universal Music Group in Europe.
Many alternatives to the standard jewel case may also be found, including larger DVD-style cases with a more book-like shape. It is not uncommon to find CDs housed in custom cases, tins and boxes of varying shapes and sizes. Slipcases and other envelope-type designs are also used.
Some DualDisc
s are packaged in jewel cases of a somewhat different design from the CD version; the inside edge is rounded instead of flat, and the physical position of the disc is moved slightly toward the spine to make room for a latch mechanism. The overall dimensions of a DualDisc case are roughly the same as a standard CD case. However, the hinge mechanism is smaller and cannot be dismantled as easily as on a standard jewel case.
Smaller jewel cases are used for 8 cm CD and DVD media; similar cases without the hub are used for MiniDisc
and (magnetic) Zip disk media.
Slimline jewel cases first gained popularity as cases for CD single
s sold in Japan and Europe, and have become a common space-saving packaging for burned CD-ROMs. The cases used for CD Singles sold in Japan and Europe are 7mm thick, with a "J-card
" type inlay, showing cover art through the front of the case, and also through both the spine and part of the back of the case. The CD itself is usually inserted "upside-down" in the case, so that the artwork on the disc itself shows through the transparent back of the case.
Most slim jewel cases sold for burned CD-ROM use the measure 142 mm × 125 mm × 5 mm (5.59 in x 4.92 in x 0.2 in), which is roughly half the thickness of a standard CD jewel case, allowing twice as many CDs to be stored in the same space, and will generally fit two to a slot in a standard CD rack. They generally do not have room for a full package insert booklet, only a slip of paper for a track listing or cover art, showing only through the front of the case. Unlike the standard jewel cases, slimline cases are made of two pieces rather than three and do not have a place for a back label. However, with this design the "spine" is too narrow to accept a label identifying the contents of the CD, making the discs more difficult to identify when stored on edge on a shelf.
The bulk of slimline cases are made with translucent or transparent polystyrene
, and are available in multiple colors. A stronger alternative is made from semi-opaque, semi-flexible polypropylene
which is strong enough to protect the disc, but flexible enough not to break easily. Also, the hinge mechanism is inverted compared to the standard-width case, with the pivot arms being attached to the lower part of the case rather than the clear cover side.
in order to fit in store fixtures designed for vinyl records, offer larger space for display of artwork and marketing blurbs, and deter theft. This box also provided a form of censorship if the store deemed a particular album cover potentially offensive to the public. This packaging was much-criticized as environmentally wasteful, and was eventually dropped by most retailers in the mid-1990s, though major record companies continued to ship CDs to wholesale clubs, such as Costco
and Sam's
, in longboxes into the 21st century. Longboxes were not used outside North America.
Around 1994, the top wrap-around label sticker began to appear on most CDs, to make it easier to read what each CD was from the top without having to flip through them. These stickers were usually nothing more than informational labels and rarely would have any use in the marketing of the album. The wrap-around sticker also provided an extra seal, possibly as another theft deterrent.
A chiefly Japan
ese packaging is the addition of an obi strip
, a strip of paper wound around the side of the case to show details such as the price, artist, etc.
The simplest, least expensive package is a paper envelope
. More expensive versions add a transparent window to the envelope allowing the disc label to be seen. The envelope can also be made out of spunbonded polyethylene
(trade-named Tyvek
). This is both more durable and less abrasive than paper. However, such packaging is rare for commercial releases due to its relative lack of protection compared with other designs, and is primarily limited to promotional and demo discs.
It is also often used in software packages, where the box is labeled promotionally, but the disc comes in a paper sleeve (to cut costs).
). The Q Pack does not have a snap-in tray like a regular jewel case. It is characterized by the corrugated raised area where the top hinges to the back. Since Q Pack cases are not transparent, generally cover art is applied a decal to the cover. Decals can also be applied to the inside front, on the tray underneath the hub and the back cover. A slot for an insert booklet is found inside the front cover as on typical jewel cases.
The Q Pack has become one of the calling cards of No Limit Records
, who used it often in the mid-to-late 90s.
generally used in reference to any cardboard-based CD package. Despite being made of paper, they were once considered a more environmentally-friendly alternative to jewel boxes. However, they remain less common than jewel cases due to higher manufacturing costs and lower resistance to wear (particularly shopwear).
A taller form has been used for some DVD movie releases; it is essentially identical to the CD package, though with raised top and bottom sections to keep the disc from sliding out if it comes disengaged from the hub.
released in British magazine Mixmag
used to be packaged in Discbox slider, after replacing a standard jewel box, although the discbox slider itself was replaced by a simple cardboard sleeve.
, but as years progressed, many other artists started to use their own version of the packaging. The packaging is also known as Compact Plus.
live album Live at Earls Court
, The Who's
compilation Then and Now
, and R.E.M.
's 2-disc version of their greatest hit package, In Time. A similar packaging type was also used for Phish
's 1995 live release A Live One, with the CDs inserted into interior slots perpendicular to the spine rather than the ends. The Beatles
' White Album
30th Anniversary re-release was released as essentially a scaled down version of the original release, including card wallets housing the CDs, which in turn slot into the LP-style folder. Unlike the original release, the album was also provided with a plastic protective cover for the package. While some new albums are given the treatment, many of these albums were older albums that were released back when records were still the predominant medium. A more recent use of this style of CD packaging was featured on the Beatles' "Capitol Albums" series.
The downside to this format is that unless the disc is given a protective sleeve of some sort, the disc can be easily scratched each time it is taken out for play. A more serious issue can also be that if the glue that keeps the sleeve that holds the CD closed on the side closest to the spine (on gatefold covers) weakens, it can get onto the CD, rendering it unplayable.
However, the advantages are that album covers that were originally textured, such as Back in Black
by AC/DC
or Fear of Music
by Talking Heads
can retain the texturing on the CD release.
Even more recently, CD manufacturers have encased standard CD jewel cases in a cardboard
slipcover, to give the appearance of LPs and allow more space for cover art. Vitalic
's album OK Cowboy
is one example of this style of packaging.
A keep case is the most common type of DVD packaging. It is taller and thicker than a Jewel case, and is made of much softer, less brittle plastic (polypropylene
rather than polystyrene
), so it does not break as easily. They usually hold one or two discs, but are capable of holding up to six discs. Slimmer keep cases, so called "Slim-paks" or "Thinpaks" typically used for DVD box sets consisting of the thin keep cases stored in a paperboard box. The thin cases are half as thick and can generally only hold one disc as a result, but there are newer slim cases that have central disc holding teeth on both sides. The teeth are made in such a way that when the case is closed, they go between the gaps in between the teeth on the other side.
A standard DVD case is a single-piece plastic case with two creases, which folds around and snaps closed. It measures 135 mm x 190 mm x 14 mm (5.3 in x 7.48 in x 0.55 in). It is wrapped on the outside by a thin piece of transparent plastic which can hold a paper label. The label measures 274 mm x 184 mm (10.8 in x 7.25 in).
Some DVD releases have a cardboard outer sleeve around the shrinkwrap.
Current (early 2007) prerecorded Blu-ray Disc
and HD DVD
titles ship in packages similar to but slightly smaller than a standard DVD keep case, generally with the format prominently displayed in a horizontal stripe across the top of the case (red for HD DVD and Playstation 3
Greatest Hits Games, blue for Blu-ray, and clear for PlayStation 3 regular games).
which wraps around the left edge and across the back of the tray, to which it is glued. It has largely been replaced with the DVD keep case and CD jewel case due to its flimsy design. Warner Brothers and New Line Cinema were the only major film studios to release DVDs in this format.
product branded PaperFoam. Universal used this packaging for issues in its 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection series after 2006.
s, including those from Mobile Fidelity, are packaged in lift-lock cases, a special type of case where the CD is lifted out of the case automatically and a latch unlocked when opened. The advantage of this design is that only the edges of the disc are handled when removing it from the case, and the disc is never subjected to any bending force while removing it. From the outside, they appear almost identical to a standard jewel case. They have the same dimensions as a standard jewel case, and use standard booklets and back cards.
Blank CD and DVD
media are often sold in bulk packages called spindles or, less formally, cake boxes. This type of packaging consists of a round, clear plastic cup that mates bayonet-style
to a base with a central post that holds a stack of discs; dummy discs made of clear polycarbonate
with no recording surface are often packed on the ends of the stack to avoid scratches from contact with the hard plastic of the packages. Such packages have been designed to hold anywhere from ten up to 100 discs, and offer the user multiple options for packaging the finalized disc.
Due to the considerable expense of blue-laser media, blank Blu-ray discs are not yet (as of late 2009) widely sold in cake boxes.
TDK
and Memorex
have begun selling some of their blank media in what they refer to as "Snap n' Save" cases, essentially polyethylene cases designed to hold up to ten discs in a package.
Finally, some bulk packages of blank media forgo a permanent container completely, instead using a simple blister pack
for small numbers of media, or bundling large numbers of discs in shrink wrap
to reduce waste.
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
s, and other formats of optical media
Optical disc
In computing and optical disc recording technologies, an optical disc is a flat, usually circular disc which encodes binary data in the form of pits and lands on a special material on one of its flat surfaces...
. Most packaging is rigid or semi-rigid and designed to protect the media from scratches and other types of exposure damage.
Jewel case
A jewel CD case is the original compact discCompact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
case that has been used since the compact disc was first released in 1982. It is a three-piece plastic
Plastic
A plastic material is any of a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic solids used in the manufacture of industrial products. Plastics are typically polymers of high molecular mass, and may contain other substances to improve performance and/or reduce production costs...
case, measuring 142 mm × 125 mm × 10 mm (5.59 in x 4.92 in x 0.39 in), a volume of 177.5 cm³, which usually contains a compact disc along with the liner notes
Liner notes
Liner notes are the writings found in booklets which come inserted into the compact disc jewel case or the equivalent packaging for vinyl records and cassettes.-Origin:...
and a back card. Two opposing transparent halves are hinged together to form the casing, the back half holding a media tray that grips the disc by its hole. All three parts are made of injection-molded polystyrene
Polystyrene
Polystyrene ) also known as Thermocole, abbreviated following ISO Standard PS, is an aromatic polymer made from the monomer styrene, a liquid hydrocarbon that is manufactured from petroleum by the chemical industry...
.
The front lid contains two, four, or six tabs to keep any liner notes in place. The liner notes typically will be a 120 mm × 120 mm (4.72 in x 4.72 in) booklet, or a single 242 mm × 120 mm (9.53 in x 4.72 in) leaf folded in half. In addition, there is usually a back card, 150 mm × 118 mm (5.9 in x 4.65 in), underneath the media tray and visible through the clear back, often listing the track names, studio
Studio
A studio is an artist's or worker's workroom, or the catchall term for an artist and his or her employees who work within that studio. This can be for the purpose of architecture, painting, pottery , sculpture, scrapbooking, photography, graphic design, filmmaking, animation, radio or television...
, copyright
Copyright
Copyright is a legal concept, enacted by most governments, giving the creator of an original work exclusive rights to it, usually for a limited time...
data and other information. The back card is folded into a flattened "U" shape, with the sides being visible along the ends (often referred to as the spine) of the case. The ends usually have the name of the release and the artist, and often label or catalogue information printed on them, and are designed to be visible when the case is stored vertically, 'book-style', on shelves.
The back media tray snaps into the back cover, and is responsible for securing the disk. In its center is a circular hub of teeth which grip the disc by its hole. This effectively suspends the disk in the middle of the container, preventing the recording surface from being scratched. The media tray was originally constructed of a flexible black polystyrene, but many newer trays use a more fragile transparent polystyrene. This allows the reverse of the back card, which is usually used for additional artwork, to be visible. The first album to include a transparent media tray was the Pixies' Surfer Rosa
Surfer Rosa
Like Come On Pilgrim, Surfer Rosa displays a mix of musical styles; pop guitar songs such as "Broken Face", "Break My Body", and "Brick Is Red" are featured alongside slower, more melodic tracks exemplified by "Where Is My Mind?". The album includes heavier material, and prominently features the...
album, released in 1988. The format did not become common until around 1995-1996.
Jewel cases are occasionally used for DVDs, but generally not for those that contain major film releases. Blank Blu-ray Disc
Blu-ray Disc
Blu-ray Disc is an optical disc storage medium designed to supersede the DVD format. The plastic disc is 120 mm in diameter and 1.2 mm thick, the same size as DVDs and CDs. Blu-ray Discs contain 25 GB per layer, with dual layer discs being the norm for feature-length video discs...
media is also most commonly sold in standard-width jewel cases.
Origin of the name
According to PhilipsPhilips
Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. , more commonly known as Philips, is a multinational Dutch electronics company....
, the name reflects either the generally high quality of the case design compared to initial attempts, or its appearance. According to one publication, initial attempts at packaging CDs were unsatisfactory. When the new design, by Peter Doodson, was found to be "virtually perfect" it was dubbed the "jewel case". Another publication quotes Doodson describing that he "specified polished ribs as they pick up the light and shine" and states that the resulting appearance led to the name.
Weaknesses
There are a number of shortcomings with the format of the jewel case. The structure has a weakness in that the case is hinged on two brittle plastic arms which often break if the case receives shock or stress. The teeth of the hub holding the disc are also prone to failure by snapping. There is a problem with the tabs ("half-moons") which hold the liner notes in place; sometimes, especially with larger booklets, the tabs grip the booklet too tightly, leading to tearing. When replacing the booklet, it can get snagged and crumple or rip. As noted above, some CD releases have only two tabs, which allows the booklet to be more easily removed and replaced (with the disadvantage that the booklet sometimes falls out if held the wrong way).Variations
Double albums can either be packaged in standard-thickness jewel cases with hinged media trays (which can be lifted up to reveal the second disc) or in a "double jewel case", sometimes called a multi-CD jewel case or a "fatbox", which is slightly larger than two normal jewel cases stacked on top of each other, and can hold 4 or even 6 CDs. Double jewel cases do not fit in some CD racks; however, some racks have a few extra wide slots specifically to accommodate them.The intended successor to the original jewel case, which is now gaining ground, is the "Super Jewel Box", a more advanced design which offers (amongst other improvements) a greatly strengthened hinge area. Unfortunately, the super jewel box cannot be used as a direct replacement for the older jewel case design as its card insert for the back is slightly different in size. However in many other ways it is an attractive concept and some CD manufacturers (for example the high-end company Linn) are supplying them. The depth of the disc tray is also greater, allowing for two discs to be placed on top of each other. The super jewel box was developed by Philips
Philips
Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. , more commonly known as Philips, is a multinational Dutch electronics company....
and other CD-format developers, originally in a larger format as a DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
case, and then in smaller formats as CD cases.
In the standard CD height, the super jewel box is the conventional case for Super Audio CD
Super Audio CD
Super Audio CD is a high-resolution, read-only optical disc for audio storage. Sony and Philips Electronics jointly developed the technology, and publicized it in 1999. It is designated as the Scarlet Book standard. Sony and Philips previously collaborated to define the Compact Disc standard...
(SACD); a taller form, midway between CD and DVD-Video size, is the conventional case for DVD-Audio
DVD-Audio
DVD-Audio is a digital format for delivering high-fidelity audio content on a DVD. DVD-Audio is not intended to be a video delivery format and is not the same as video DVDs containing concert films or music videos....
, and as of mid-2006, the case format for all albums released by the Universal Music Group in Europe.
Many alternatives to the standard jewel case may also be found, including larger DVD-style cases with a more book-like shape. It is not uncommon to find CDs housed in custom cases, tins and boxes of varying shapes and sizes. Slipcases and other envelope-type designs are also used.
Some DualDisc
DualDisc
DualDisc was a type of double-sided optical disc product developed by a group of record companies including EMI Music, Universal Music Group, Sony/BMG Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group, and 5.1 Entertainment Group and later under the aegis of the Recording Industry Association of America...
s are packaged in jewel cases of a somewhat different design from the CD version; the inside edge is rounded instead of flat, and the physical position of the disc is moved slightly toward the spine to make room for a latch mechanism. The overall dimensions of a DualDisc case are roughly the same as a standard CD case. However, the hinge mechanism is smaller and cannot be dismantled as easily as on a standard jewel case.
Smaller jewel cases are used for 8 cm CD and DVD media; similar cases without the hub are used for MiniDisc
MiniDisc
The disc is permanently housed in a cartridge with a sliding door, similar to the casing of a 3.5" floppy disk. This shutter is opened automatically by a mechanism upon insertion. The audio discs can either be recordable or premastered. Recordable MiniDiscs use a magneto-optical system to record...
and (magnetic) Zip disk media.
Slimline jewel case
CD single
A CD single is a music single in the form of a standard size Compact Disc, not to be confused with the 3-inch CD single, which uses a smaller form factor. The format was introduced in the mid-1980s, but did not gain its place in the market until the early 1990s...
s sold in Japan and Europe, and have become a common space-saving packaging for burned CD-ROMs. The cases used for CD Singles sold in Japan and Europe are 7mm thick, with a "J-card
J-card
A j-card is the paper card inserted in the plastic storage case of most pre-recorded audio cassette releases, as well as cassettes of bootleg or copied concerts of the jam band scene...
" type inlay, showing cover art through the front of the case, and also through both the spine and part of the back of the case. The CD itself is usually inserted "upside-down" in the case, so that the artwork on the disc itself shows through the transparent back of the case.
Most slim jewel cases sold for burned CD-ROM use the measure 142 mm × 125 mm × 5 mm (5.59 in x 4.92 in x 0.2 in), which is roughly half the thickness of a standard CD jewel case, allowing twice as many CDs to be stored in the same space, and will generally fit two to a slot in a standard CD rack. They generally do not have room for a full package insert booklet, only a slip of paper for a track listing or cover art, showing only through the front of the case. Unlike the standard jewel cases, slimline cases are made of two pieces rather than three and do not have a place for a back label. However, with this design the "spine" is too narrow to accept a label identifying the contents of the CD, making the discs more difficult to identify when stored on edge on a shelf.
The bulk of slimline cases are made with translucent or transparent polystyrene
Polystyrene
Polystyrene ) also known as Thermocole, abbreviated following ISO Standard PS, is an aromatic polymer made from the monomer styrene, a liquid hydrocarbon that is manufactured from petroleum by the chemical industry...
, and are available in multiple colors. A stronger alternative is made from semi-opaque, semi-flexible polypropylene
Polypropylene
Polypropylene , also known as polypropene, is a thermoplastic polymer used in a wide variety of applications including packaging, textiles , stationery, plastic parts and reusable containers of various types, laboratory equipment, loudspeakers, automotive components, and polymer banknotes...
which is strong enough to protect the disc, but flexible enough not to break easily. Also, the hinge mechanism is inverted compared to the standard-width case, with the pivot arms being attached to the lower part of the case rather than the clear cover side.
External marketing packaging
In the U.S. and Canada, the jewel box of a music CD was originally packaged for retail sale in a large cardboard box called a longboxLongbox
A longbox is a form of exterior paperboard packaging for musical compact discs in widespread use in the 1980s and early 1990s in North America.- Background :...
in order to fit in store fixtures designed for vinyl records, offer larger space for display of artwork and marketing blurbs, and deter theft. This box also provided a form of censorship if the store deemed a particular album cover potentially offensive to the public. This packaging was much-criticized as environmentally wasteful, and was eventually dropped by most retailers in the mid-1990s, though major record companies continued to ship CDs to wholesale clubs, such as Costco
Costco
Costco Wholesale Corporation is the largest membership warehouse club chain in the United States. it is the third largest retailer in the United States, where it originated, and the ninth largest in the world...
and Sam's
Sam's Club
Sam's Club is a chain of membership-only retail warehouse clubs owned and operated by Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., founded in 1983 and named after Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton. , the Sam's Club chain serves more than 47 million U.S. members...
, in longboxes into the 21st century. Longboxes were not used outside North America.
Around 1994, the top wrap-around label sticker began to appear on most CDs, to make it easier to read what each CD was from the top without having to flip through them. These stickers were usually nothing more than informational labels and rarely would have any use in the marketing of the album. The wrap-around sticker also provided an extra seal, possibly as another theft deterrent.
A chiefly Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese packaging is the addition of an obi strip
Obi strip
An is a strip of paper looped around a book or other product. This extends the term obi used for Japanese clothing; it is written with the same kanji. It is also referred to as a , or more narrowly as .-For books:...
, a strip of paper wound around the side of the case to show details such as the price, artist, etc.
Paper or Tyvek sleeve
Envelope
An envelope is a common packaging item, usually made of thin flat material. It is designed to contain a flat object, such as a letter or card....
. More expensive versions add a transparent window to the envelope allowing the disc label to be seen. The envelope can also be made out of spunbonded polyethylene
Polyethylene
Polyethylene or polythene is the most widely used plastic, with an annual production of approximately 80 million metric tons...
(trade-named Tyvek
Tyvek
Tyvek is a brand of flashspun high-density polyethylene fibers, a synthetic material; the name is a registered trademark of DuPont. The material is very strong; it is difficult to tear but can easily be cut with scissors or a knife...
). This is both more durable and less abrasive than paper. However, such packaging is rare for commercial releases due to its relative lack of protection compared with other designs, and is primarily limited to promotional and demo discs.
It is also often used in software packages, where the box is labeled promotionally, but the disc comes in a paper sleeve (to cut costs).
Q Pack
The Q Pack was developed by the Queens Group Inc. in the mid 1990s as an alternative to regular CD jewel cases. (The Queens Group was purchased by Shorewood Packaging, who are part of International PaperInternational Paper
International Paper Company is an American pulp and paper company, the largest such company in the world. It has approximately 59,500 employees, and it is headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee.-History:...
). The Q Pack does not have a snap-in tray like a regular jewel case. It is characterized by the corrugated raised area where the top hinges to the back. Since Q Pack cases are not transparent, generally cover art is applied a decal to the cover. Decals can also be applied to the inside front, on the tray underneath the hub and the back cover. A slot for an insert booklet is found inside the front cover as on typical jewel cases.
The Q Pack has become one of the calling cards of No Limit Records
No Limit Records discography
An overview of the albums released via No Limit Records between approximately 1991-2006.No Limit Records Distribution: In-A-Minute , Solar Music Group , Priority , Universal , Koch -Albums:1991...
, who used it often in the mid-to-late 90s.
Digipak
The term "digipak" refers to a particular type of CD case, which essentially consists of a plastic CD tray glued inside a folding cardboard cover. Though it once referred specifically to the patented digipak packaging, the term has since become a genericized trademarkGenericized trademark
A genericized trademark is a trademark or brand name that has become the colloquial or generic description for, or synonymous with, a general class of product or service, rather than as an indicator of source or affiliation as intended by the trademark's holder...
generally used in reference to any cardboard-based CD package. Despite being made of paper, they were once considered a more environmentally-friendly alternative to jewel boxes. However, they remain less common than jewel cases due to higher manufacturing costs and lower resistance to wear (particularly shopwear).
A taller form has been used for some DVD movie releases; it is essentially identical to the CD package, though with raised top and bottom sections to keep the disc from sliding out if it comes disengaged from the hub.
Discbox Slider
The Discbox Slider (also called DBS) is a disc packaging concept in 100% carton board, found both in CD and DVD sized packaging formats. The DBS is comparable with plastic jewel or amaray cases when it comes to size but holds more of the features of the LP style cases in terms of light weight and printability. The DBS case opens up from the side by moving the slider part (on which the disc is resting) from the sleeve. The Discbox Slider is also considered as one of the most environmental friendly CD or DVD packaging options as it is 100% recyclable. Many covermount CDsCovermount
Covermount is the name given to storage media or other products packaged as part of a magazine or newspaper...
released in British magazine Mixmag
Mixmag
Mixmag is a British dance music and clubbing magazine. It styles itself as "the world's biggest selling dance music magazine", with an Audit Bureau of Circulations audited circulation of approximately 21,250...
used to be packaged in Discbox slider, after replacing a standard jewel box, although the discbox slider itself was replaced by a simple cardboard sleeve.
Compac Plus
The Compac Plus is a disc packaging which is similar in style to a digipak. However, it consists of two plastic CD trays which "clip" together like a normal slipcase. The packaging was introduced in the early 1990s. It was originally a brand which had their own logo, and was used by bands such as BlurBlur (band)
Blur is an English alternative rock band. Formed in London in 1989 as Seymour, the group consists of singer Damon Albarn, guitarist Graham Coxon, bassist Alex James and drummer Dave Rowntree. Blur's debut album Leisure incorporated the sounds of Madchester and shoegazing...
, but as years progressed, many other artists started to use their own version of the packaging. The packaging is also known as Compact Plus.
LP style case
A recent trend in CD packaging has been packaging CDs in sleeves comparable to LPs. Many of these albums come from Japan. However, a few European and American albums are given LP-style packaging, such as Morrissey'sMorrissey
Steven Patrick Morrissey , known as Morrissey, is an English singer and lyricist. He rose to prominence in the 1980s as the lyricist and vocalist of the alternative rock band The Smiths. The band was highly successful in the United Kingdom but broke up in 1987, and Morrissey began a solo career,...
live album Live at Earls Court
Live at Earls Court
Live at Earls Court is a live album by Morrissey. Its sleeve notes state that it was "recorded live at Earls Court in London on the 18 December 2004 in front of 17,183 people."-Track listing:...
, The Who's
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
compilation Then and Now
The Who: Then and Now
Then and Now is a 2004 greatest hits compilation album by The Who released internationally by Polydor Records and by Geffen Records in the United States. It features 18 Who classics and two new tracks—"Real Good Looking Boy" and "Old Red Wine"—which were the first Who originals since "Dig" from...
, and R.E.M.
R.E.M.
R.E.M. was an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills and drummer Bill Berry. One of the first popular alternative rock bands, R.E.M. gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's...
's 2-disc version of their greatest hit package, In Time. A similar packaging type was also used for Phish
Phish
Phish is an American rock band noted for its musical improvisation, extended jams, and exploration of music across genres. Formed at the University of Vermont in 1983 , the band's four members – Trey Anastasio , Mike Gordon , Jon Fishman , and Page McConnell Phish is an American rock band...
's 1995 live release A Live One, with the CDs inserted into interior slots perpendicular to the spine rather than the ends. The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
' White Album
The Beatles (album)
The Beatles is the ninth official album by the English rock group The Beatles, a double album released in 1968. It is also commonly known as "The White Album" as it has no graphics or text other than the band's name embossed on its plain white sleeve.The album was written and recorded during a...
30th Anniversary re-release was released as essentially a scaled down version of the original release, including card wallets housing the CDs, which in turn slot into the LP-style folder. Unlike the original release, the album was also provided with a plastic protective cover for the package. While some new albums are given the treatment, many of these albums were older albums that were released back when records were still the predominant medium. A more recent use of this style of CD packaging was featured on the Beatles' "Capitol Albums" series.
The downside to this format is that unless the disc is given a protective sleeve of some sort, the disc can be easily scratched each time it is taken out for play. A more serious issue can also be that if the glue that keeps the sleeve that holds the CD closed on the side closest to the spine (on gatefold covers) weakens, it can get onto the CD, rendering it unplayable.
However, the advantages are that album covers that were originally textured, such as Back in Black
Back in Black
Back in Black is an album by Australian rock band AC/DC. It is the seventh Australian and sixth internationally released studio album by the band....
by AC/DC
AC/DC
AC/DC are an Australian rock band, formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Commonly classified as hard rock, they are considered pioneers of heavy metal, though they themselves have always classified their music as simply "rock and roll"...
or Fear of Music
Fear of Music (album)
Fear of Music is the third studio album by American New Wave band Talking Heads, released on 3 August 1979 on Sire Records. It was recorded at locations in New York City between April and May 1979 and was produced by the quartet and Brian Eno. The album entered the Billboard 200 in the United...
by Talking Heads
Talking Heads
Talking Heads were an American New Wave and avant-garde band formed in 1975 in New York City and active until 1991. The band comprised David Byrne, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth and Jerry Harrison...
can retain the texturing on the CD release.
Even more recently, CD manufacturers have encased standard CD jewel cases in a cardboard
Card stock
Card stock, also called cover stock or pasteboard, is a paper stock that is thicker and more durable than normal writing or printing paper, but thinner and more flexible than other forms of paperboard. Card stock is often used for business cards, postcards, playing cards, catalog covers,...
slipcover, to give the appearance of LPs and allow more space for cover art. Vitalic
Vitalic
Vitalic is an electronic music artist. He was born in France and is of Spanish and Italian descent.-History:His first singles were released in 1996 and 1997, but were confined to the underground electronic music scene...
's album OK Cowboy
OK Cowboy
OK Cowboy is the debut album of Vitalic, first released in 2005. After a year, the album was re-released featuring a second, enhanced CD.-Reception:...
is one example of this style of packaging.
Keep case
Polypropylene
Polypropylene , also known as polypropene, is a thermoplastic polymer used in a wide variety of applications including packaging, textiles , stationery, plastic parts and reusable containers of various types, laboratory equipment, loudspeakers, automotive components, and polymer banknotes...
rather than polystyrene
Polystyrene
Polystyrene ) also known as Thermocole, abbreviated following ISO Standard PS, is an aromatic polymer made from the monomer styrene, a liquid hydrocarbon that is manufactured from petroleum by the chemical industry...
), so it does not break as easily. They usually hold one or two discs, but are capable of holding up to six discs. Slimmer keep cases, so called "Slim-paks" or "Thinpaks" typically used for DVD box sets consisting of the thin keep cases stored in a paperboard box. The thin cases are half as thick and can generally only hold one disc as a result, but there are newer slim cases that have central disc holding teeth on both sides. The teeth are made in such a way that when the case is closed, they go between the gaps in between the teeth on the other side.
A standard DVD case is a single-piece plastic case with two creases, which folds around and snaps closed. It measures 135 mm x 190 mm x 14 mm (5.3 in x 7.48 in x 0.55 in). It is wrapped on the outside by a thin piece of transparent plastic which can hold a paper label. The label measures 274 mm x 184 mm (10.8 in x 7.25 in).
Some DVD releases have a cardboard outer sleeve around the shrinkwrap.
Current (early 2007) prerecorded Blu-ray Disc
Blu-ray Disc
Blu-ray Disc is an optical disc storage medium designed to supersede the DVD format. The plastic disc is 120 mm in diameter and 1.2 mm thick, the same size as DVDs and CDs. Blu-ray Discs contain 25 GB per layer, with dual layer discs being the norm for feature-length video discs...
and HD DVD
HD DVD
HD DVD is a discontinued high-density optical disc format for storing data and high-definition video.Supported principally by Toshiba, HD DVD was envisioned to be the successor to the standard DVD format...
titles ship in packages similar to but slightly smaller than a standard DVD keep case, generally with the format prominently displayed in a horizontal stripe across the top of the case (red for HD DVD and Playstation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
Greatest Hits Games, blue for Blu-ray, and clear for PlayStation 3 regular games).
Discwheel
One notable disc package is the Discwheel. With the case closed, the CD or DVD can be manually rotated so that it operates as an informational wheel chart. This allows for information to be offered mechanically as well as digitally. Stock Discwheels include: Date Wheels, Pregnancy Wheels, Football Schedules, Body Mass Index Calculators, Cocktail Recipes Guides, World Time Conversions, etc. Custom Discwheels are also available. Discwheels are patented and available from Flexigroup, who also make paperboard and plastic wheels.Snap case
A snap case are a design for both CD and DVD packaging, and are made in the standard sizes for both. Each is made of a single-piece plastic tray and closure, which snaps over the right edge of the front flap. The printed flap is made of thin paperboardPaperboard
Paperboard is a thick paper based material. While there is no rigid differentiation between paper and paperboard, paperboard is generally thicker than paper. According to ISO standards, paperboard is a paper with a basis weight above 224 g/m2, but there are exceptions. Paperboard can be single...
which wraps around the left edge and across the back of the tray, to which it is glued. It has largely been replaced with the DVD keep case and CD jewel case due to its flimsy design. Warner Brothers and New Line Cinema were the only major film studios to release DVDs in this format.
Soft Case/Green case
The soft case, also known as Earth case or Green case, are soft-shell cases made from recycled optical discs. They are considerably more pliable than other style cases given that they are made from various mixes of plastics. They are sold by various companies as replacements for disc owners who are environmentally friendly and can be differentiated from other cases by their opaque appearance. The softness of the cases leads them to break less, though the safety of the enclosed disc may be somewhat sacrificed since the case can be bent end-to-end easily.ECO Pack
In 2006 Universal Music introduced the first completely paper-recyclable CD case, titled Eco Pack. Not only is the sleeve printed on recycled card, but the tray is also made an innovative International PaperInternational Paper
International Paper Company is an American pulp and paper company, the largest such company in the world. It has approximately 59,500 employees, and it is headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee.-History:...
product branded PaperFoam. Universal used this packaging for issues in its 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection series after 2006.
Lift-lock case
Many gold CDGold CD
A gold CD is one in which gold is used in place of the super purity aluminiumcommonly used as the reflective coating on ordinary CDs or silver on ordinary CD-RsThe gold coats more evenly and reacts with oxygen more slowly, thus...
s, including those from Mobile Fidelity, are packaged in lift-lock cases, a special type of case where the CD is lifted out of the case automatically and a latch unlocked when opened. The advantage of this design is that only the edges of the disc are handled when removing it from the case, and the disc is never subjected to any bending force while removing it. From the outside, they appear almost identical to a standard jewel case. They have the same dimensions as a standard jewel case, and use standard booklets and back cards.
Spindles and other bulk packaging
Optical disc authoring
Optical disc authoring, including DVD and Blu-ray Disc authoring , is the process of assembling source material—video, audio or other data—into the proper logical volume format to then be recorded onto an optical disc .-Process:To burn an optical disc, one usually first creates an...
media are often sold in bulk packages called spindles or, less formally, cake boxes. This type of packaging consists of a round, clear plastic cup that mates bayonet-style
Bayonet mount
A bayonet mount or bayonet connector is a fastening mechanism consisting of a male side with one or more pins, and a female receptor with matching L slots and spring to keep the two parts locked together....
to a base with a central post that holds a stack of discs; dummy discs made of clear polycarbonate
Polycarbonate
PolycarbonatePhysical PropertiesDensity 1.20–1.22 g/cm3Abbe number 34.0Refractive index 1.584–1.586FlammabilityV0-V2Limiting oxygen index25–27%Water absorption – Equilibrium0.16–0.35%Water absorption – over 24 hours0.1%...
with no recording surface are often packed on the ends of the stack to avoid scratches from contact with the hard plastic of the packages. Such packages have been designed to hold anywhere from ten up to 100 discs, and offer the user multiple options for packaging the finalized disc.
Due to the considerable expense of blue-laser media, blank Blu-ray discs are not yet (as of late 2009) widely sold in cake boxes.
TDK
TDK
, formerly , is a Japanese company which manufactures electronic materials, electronic components, and recording and data-storage media, and markets them globally. Their motto is "Contribute to culture and industry through creativity"...
and Memorex
Memorex
Memorex began as a computer tape producer and expanded to become a major IBM plug compatible peripheral supplier. It is now a consumer electronics brand of Imation specializing in disk recordable media for CD and DVD drives, flash memory, computer accessories and other electronics.Established in...
have begun selling some of their blank media in what they refer to as "Snap n' Save" cases, essentially polyethylene cases designed to hold up to ten discs in a package.
Finally, some bulk packages of blank media forgo a permanent container completely, instead using a simple blister pack
Blister pack
Blister pack is a term for several types of pre-formed plastic packaging used for small consumer goods, foods, and for pharmaceuticals.The primary component of a blister pack is a cavity or pocket made from a "formable" web, usually a thermoformed plastic. This usually has a backing of paperboard...
for small numbers of media, or bundling large numbers of discs in shrink wrap
Shrink wrap
Shrink wrap, also shrinkwrap or shrink film, is a material made up of polymer plastic film. When heat is applied it shrinks tightly over whatever it is covering. Heat can be applied with a hand held heat gun or the product and film can pass through a heat tunnel on a conveyor.-Composition:The...
to reduce waste.
Unique cases
- An unusual type of case has been marketed as empty cases for CDs that do not have cases. It is a plastic case with an open right side so the optical disc can be slipped in. The disc should sit into a black jagged plastic 'U' that appears on the left of the case than can be moved to push the CD out using a black button in the top left of the case.
- A "SteelBook Case" is similar in shape to the keep case, but its material is metal. Products such as PlatoonPlatoon (film)Platoon is a 1986 American war film written and directed by Oliver Stone and stars Tom Berenger, Willem Dafoe and Charlie Sheen. It is the first of Stone's Vietnam War trilogy, followed by 1989's Born on the Fourth of July and 1993's Heaven & Earth....
, Fight ClubFight Club (film)Fight Club is a 1999 American film based on the 1996 novel of the same name by Chuck Palahniuk. The film was directed by David Fincher and stars Edward Norton, Brad Pitt and Helena Bonham Carter. Norton plays the unnamed protagonist, an "everyman" who is discontented with his white-collar job...
, The Day After TomorrowThe Day After TomorrowThe Day After Tomorrow is a 2004 American science-fiction disaster film that depicts the catastrophic effects of global warming in a series of extreme weather events that usher in global cooling which leads to a new ice age. The film did well at the box office, grossing $542,771,772 internationally...
, and The Dark KnightThe Dark Knight (film)The Dark Knight is a 2008 superhero film directed, produced and co-written by Christopher Nolan. Based on the DC Comics character Batman, the film is part of Nolan's Batman film series and a sequel to 2005's Batman Begins...
DVD packages fall under it. - A special edition case for the 1994 The FlintstonesThe Flintstones (film)The Flintstones is a 1994 American live-action comedy film based on the Hanna-Barbera cartoon television series of the same name about a Stone-Age man, his family and his best friend. The film was directed by Brian Levant, written by Tom S. Parker, Jim Jennewein and Steven E...
movie soundtrack was in the shape of a stone that could be opened to reveal the CD inside. - The Simpsons MovieThe Simpsons MovieThe Simpsons Movie is a 2007 American animated comedy film based on the animated television series The Simpsons. The film was directed by David Silverman, and stars the regular television cast of Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, Hank Azaria, Harry Shearer, Tress...
soundtrackThe Simpsons Movie: The MusicThe Simpsons Movie: The Music is a soundtrack album for the 2007 film The Simpsons Movie. It was composed by German film composer Hans Zimmer. The soundtrack was released on July 24, 2007, by Adrenaline Music Group, and peaked at #108 on the Billboard 200 chart. A limited edition version was...
had a deluxe packaging version available, which contained a donut-shaped case that held the CD. This donut case was inside a thick white box. - Most versions of the Nine Inch NailsNine Inch NailsNine Inch Nails is an American industrial rock project, founded in 1988 by Trent Reznor in Cleveland, Ohio. As its main producer, singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist, Reznor is the only official member of Nine Inch Nails and remains solely responsible for its direction...
album Broken were released in digipak in which another panel was placed over the CD so that the consumer could fold it down to reveal the disc. - Some keep cases, such as the special edition of Total RecallTotal RecallTotal Recall is a 1990 American science fiction action film. The film stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rachel Ticotin, Sharon Stone, Michael Ironside, Ronny Cox & Mel Johnson, Jr.. It is based on the Philip K. Dick story “We Can Remember It for You Wholesale”...
are externally lined with aluminiumAluminiumAluminium or aluminum is a silvery white member of the boron group of chemical elements. It has the symbol Al, and its atomic number is 13. It is not soluble in water under normal circumstances....
. Total Recall was also released in a disc sized foam lined can about 3/4 inch thick. - The original release of the Pet Shop BoysPet Shop BoysPet Shop Boys are an English electronic dance music duo, consisting of Neil Tennant, who provides main vocals, keyboards and occasional guitar, and Chris Lowe on keyboards....
1993 album Very was packaged in an orange jewel case with raised bumps (sometimes unofficially described as the LegoLegoLego is a line of construction toys manufactured by the Lego Group, a privately held company based in Billund, Denmark. The company's flagship product, Lego, consists of colorful interlocking plastic bricks and an accompanying array of gears, minifigures and various other parts...
case), designed by Daniel Weil of PentagramPentagram (design studio)Pentagram is a design studio that was founded in 1972 by Alan Fletcher, Theo Crosby, Colin Forbes, Kenneth Grange and Mervyn Kurlansky in Needham Road, West London, UK...
in London. The bonus CD, Very Relentless was similarly unique, with the two CDs housed in card sleeves (Very in orange and Relentless in pink) with both of these housed in a translucent rubber case with raised bumps. - Another uniquely designed CD case was for a CD released in the UK called "The Apple EP", which contained four tracks, each performed by artists signed to Apple Records. The case, which was made of three pieces of cardboard, was shaped like an apple, and was held together by a plastic rivet. This allowed each of the three pieces to fan out and rotate. The CD itself was housed in the centre of the second piece of cardboard.
- BritishUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
band SpiritualizedSpiritualizedSpiritualized are an English space rock band formed in 1990 in Rugby, Warwickshire by Jason Pierce after the demise of his previous outfit, space-rockers Spacemen 3...
became famous for their unique CD packaging. Their 1997 album Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in SpaceLadies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in SpaceLadies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space is the third studio album by Spiritualized, released in June 1997, and features guest appearances from the Balanescu Quartet, The London Community Gospel Choir and Dr...
came in a pharmaceutical-style blister packBlister packBlister pack is a term for several types of pre-formed plastic packaging used for small consumer goods, foods, and for pharmaceuticals.The primary component of a blister pack is a cavity or pocket made from a "formable" web, usually a thermoformed plastic. This usually has a backing of paperboard...
, while its follow-up, Let It Come DownLet It Come Down (Spiritualized album)Let It Come Down is the fourth album by the space rock group Spiritualized, released in 2001. It was recorded and produced at Abbey Road and AIR Studios. It took Jason Pierce, Spiritualized's lead singer, guitarist and sole constant member four years to write, perform, produce and release...
, was distributed in a moulded plastic case featuring a concave reliefReliefRelief is a sculptural technique. The term relief is from the Latin verb levo, to raise. To create a sculpture in relief is thus to give the impression that the sculpted material has been raised above the background plane...
of the lead singer's girlfriend. - The limited edition of BrotherhoodBrotherhood (The Chemical Brothers album)Brotherhood is a compilation album by English big beat duo The Chemical Brothers, released on . It is the second compilation spanning the band's greatest hits, after 2003's Singles 93–03...
by The Chemical BrothersThe Chemical BrothersThe Chemical Brothers are a British electronic music duo comprising Tom Rowlands and Ed Simons. Originating in Manchester in 1991, along with The Prodigy, Fatboy Slim, The Crystal Method, and fellow acts, they were pioneers at bringing the big beat genre to the forefront of pop culture.- Background...
came in a cardboard box of a similar size to a jewel case but slightly taller and thinner. The box can be opened from the right to reveal both CDs packaged in cardboard cases, along with the booklet and a postcard. - The deluxe edition of HotelHotel (album)Hotel is the seventh studio album by American electronica musician Moby, first released internationally on March 14, 2005 and then on March 22, 2005 in the United States. Hotel was recorded under the Pacha label and mixed at Moby's apartment, Electric Lady Studios, and Loho Studios in Manhattan,...
, the 2005 album by MobyMobyRichard Melville Hall , better known by his stage name Moby, is an American musician, DJ, and photographer. He is known mainly for his sample-based electronic music and his outspoken liberal political views, including his support of veganism and animal rights.Moby gained attention in the early...
, is a digipack made out of a much smoother material than normal. It is packaged in a slipcaseSlipcaseA slipcase is a four or five-sided box, usually made of high-quality cardboard, into which binders, books or book sets are slipped for protection. Special editions of books are often slipcased...
of a much harder thicker material than a typical cardboard one. - The Tri-Slim CD Jewel Case is another one-of-a-kind type of case. This case employs a standard size double CD jewel case and a precision card. The card is slipped into the front side of the case (where the booklet normally goes) and holds the 3rd disc in place. Many feel the Tri-Slim CD Jewel Case is preferable triple slim case to the traditional type because it does not obstruct the rear trayliner card.
- One-piece polyethylenePolyethylenePolyethylene or polythene is the most widely used plastic, with an annual production of approximately 80 million metric tons...
cases of various shapes are sometimes used for disc storage, though these tend to lack space for labels and booklets and are not commonly used for commercial releases. - The disc of Grand Theft Auto: San AndreasGrand Theft Auto: San AndreasGrand Theft Auto: San Andreas is a 2004 open world action video game developed by British games developer Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games. It is the third 3D game in the Grand Theft Auto video game franchise, the fifth original console release and eighth game overall...
PC version was housed inside the hard cover manual on a rubber hub. - The Delirious?Delirious?Delirious? were an English Christian rock and worship band. For the majority of their career, the lineup featured Martin Smith on vocals and guitar, Stu G on guitar and backing vocals, Jon Thatcher on bass guitar, Tim Jupp on keys and piano, and Stew Smith on drums and percussion...
album Live & In The CanLive & In the CanLive & In The Can was the first live album released by Delirious? in 1996, and was packaged in a tin can.-Track listing:# "Spontaneous I" - 1:06# "I'm Not Ashamed" - 6:35# "Did You Feel The Mountains Tremble?" - 5:25# "Spontaneous II" - 3:17...
was packaged in a cylindrical metal container. The CD rerelease of the Metal BoxMetal BoxMetal Box is the second album by Public Image Ltd, released in 1979 by Virgin Records.The title refers to the album's original packaging, which consists of a metal 16mm film canister embossed with the band's logo and containing three 12" 45rpm records...
album by Public Image Ltd.Public Image Ltd.Public Image Ltd are an English post-punk band formed by vocalist John Lydon , guitarist Keith Levene and bassist Jah Wobble, with frequent subsequent personnel changes. Lydon is the sole constant member of the band....
too came in a metal container, in homage to how the original record was packaged. - Technical death metalTechnical death metalTechnical death metal is a musical subgenre of death metal that focuses on complex rhythms, riffs and song structures. Technical experimentation in death metal began in the late '80s and early '90s by bands such as Death, Atheist and Cynic...
band NileNile (band)Nile is an American death metal band from Greenville, South Carolina, formed in 1993. Their music and lyrics are inspired by Ancient Egyptian/Near Eastern mysticism, history, religion, and art, as well as stories by H. P. Lovecraft.- History :...
released 1000 copies of their album IthyphallicIthyphallic (album)- Papyrus Containing the Spell to Preserve Its Possessor Against Attacks from He Who Is in the Water :"Papyrus Containing the Spell to Preserve Its Possessor Against Attacks from He Who Is in the Water" is Nile's first single, originally released only as a music download through Nuclear Blast's...
in pyramid shaped packaging. - Alice in ChainsAlice in ChainsAlice in Chains is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1987 by guitarist and songwriter Jerry Cantrell and original lead vocalist Layne Staley. The initial lineup was rounded out by drummer Sean Kinney, and bassist Mike Starr...
' 1995 self-titledAlice in Chains (album)Alice in Chains is the eponymous third studio album by the American rock band Alice in Chains. Released on November 7, 1995, it was the follow-up to the highly successful Dirt...
album was first released with a limited number of CDs in a purple and green jewel case. - Progressive Death metalDeath metalDeath metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It typically employs heavily distorted guitars, tremolo picking, deep growling vocals, blast beat drumming, minor keys or atonality, and complex song structures with multiple tempo changes....
band OpethOpethOpeth is a Swedish heavy metal band from Stockholm, formed in 1990. Though the group has been through several personnel changes, singer, guitarist, and songwriter Mikael Åkerfeldt has remained Opeth's driving force throughout the years...
released the Special Edition for their 2008 album Watershed in a Jewel Case-sized packaging which looks like and opens up like a letter. They also released limited editions of Morningrise, Orchid and My Arms Your Hearse in a CD-sized aluminum tin with embossed Opeth logo on the lid, and the CD was sitting on a thin foam disk and was packaged with an Opeth logo sticker. The track listing was stuck to the bottom of the tin. - GermanGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
punkPunk rockPunk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band Die ÄrzteDie ÄrzteDie Ärzte is a punk band from Berlin. Die Ärzte are one of the best-known German punk rock bands and have released over 20 albums. The band consists of guitarist Farin Urlaub, drummer Bela B. and bass player Rodrigo González...
have several releases with special packaging. Up to 1994, jewel cases were used. Planet PunkPlanet PunkPlanet Punk is an album released by Die Ärzte on 18 September 1995. According to the band's autobiography, Die Ärzte guitarist Farin Urlaub considers Planet Punk to be their best album.-Track listing:-Personnel:*Farin Urlaub - guitar, vocals...
and Le FrisurLe FrisurLe Frisur is a concept album by Die Ärzte. It was released on May 24, 1996, and is entirely about hair...
were released in a cardboard packaging, similar to digipak. Runter mit den Spendierhosen, Unsichtbarer!Runter mit den Spendierhosen, Unsichtbarer!Runter mit den Spendierhosen, Unsichtbarer! is a studio album by Die Ärzte. The package of the album is a plush pocket.- Album title :...
was released in a plush pocket. GeräuschGeräuschGeräusch is a studio album by Die Ärzte. The album was sold on two CDs, which look like LPs. The package is designed, using upside-down techniques, to make it difficult to decide which of the covers is the front....
and Devil used another type of cardboard packaging. Bäst ofBäst ofBäst of is Die Ärzte's greatest hits album with singles from 1993-2004 and some of their B-sides. The album comes in a metal box.-Track listing:CD 1 - Alle Singles seit 1993# "Schrei nach Liebe" [Cry for love] – 4:12...
was released in a metal box. The packaging of Jazz ist andersJazz ist andersJazz ist anders is Die Ärzte's eleventh full-length studio album since Debil. It was released on 2 November 2007. The album has a bonus-EP with three songs about Die Ärzte and a hidden track. This is the first album after Debil that Die Ärzte produced alone. The cover is a reference to the most...
is made to resemble a pizza box. - The CD case for the limited edition of the 1995 techno compilation CD Dance Opera 4 consisted of two pieces of acrylic plastic that screwed into one another holding the three discs (two audio discs and one disc with the contents printed on either side).
- The most recent editions of The ResidentsThe ResidentsThe Residents is an American art collective best known for avant-garde music and multimedia works. The first official release under the name of The Residents was in 1972, and the group has since released over sixty albums, numerous music videos and short films, three CD-ROM projects and ten DVDs....
' albums (specifically The Third Reich 'n Roll, Duck StabDuck Stab/Buster & GlenDuck Stab redirects here. For the 1978 EP, see Duck Stab!Duck Stab/Buster & Glen is an album released in 1978 by The Residents. It is often called Duck Stab, after Duck Stab!, a seven-song EP released earlier in 1978 featuring shorter songs similar to the first side of Fingerprince...
, EskimoEskimo (album)Eskimo is an album by The Residents that was originally supposed to follow 1977's Fingerprince. However, due to many delays and arguments with management, it was not released until 1979...
, The Commercial AlbumThe Commercial AlbumCommercial Album is an album released by The Residents in 1980. It is commonly considered a follow-up of Duck Stab/Buster & Glen. The album pares down the concept and structure of the average commercial pop song and reduces it to a one-minute redux. It contains a compilation of 40 such sixty-second...
, and Mark of the MoleMark of the MoleMark of the Mole is an album by The Residents, released in 1981. It was meant to be the first album in a quadrilogy detailing the conflicts between the Moles and the Chubs .After the Moles are forced to abandon their tunnels due to flooding, they enter the land of the Chubs seeking...
) were released in hardback book cases, with a paper slipcover inside, housing the disk. - Star Trek (2009) was released exclusively at TargetTarget CorporationTarget Corporation, doing business as Target, is an American retailing company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the second-largest discount retailer in the United States, behind Walmart. The company is ranked at number 33 on the Fortune 500 and is a component of the Standard & Poor's...
on Blu-Ray with a model of the U.S.S. Enterprise (NCC-1701)USS Enterprise (NCC-1701)The USS Enterprise, NCC-1701, is a fictional starship in the Star Trek media franchise. The original Star Trek series depicts her crew's mission "to explore strange new worlds; to seek out new life and new civilizations; to boldly go where no man has gone before" under the command of Captain James...
that also doubled as the disc case - The films from the live-action Transformers seriesTransformers (film series)Transformers is an American film franchise directed by Michael Bay, and based on the toys created by Hasbro and Takara Tomy. The first film, Transformers, was released in 2007, the second film, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, in 2009, and the third film, Transformers: Dark of the Moon in 2011...
have been released with transforming DVD cases in the shape of Optimus Prime, Megatron, and Bumblebee. - Another version of the keep case, used for Meet the RobinsonsMeet the RobinsonsMeet the Robinsons is a 2007 American computer-animated family film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures on March 30, 2007. The forty-seventh animated feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics, the film was released in both the United States and the...
and other titles, includes two lifts on the right side of the package. - Early LegoLegoLego is a line of construction toys manufactured by the Lego Group, a privately held company based in Billund, Denmark. The company's flagship product, Lego, consists of colorful interlocking plastic bricks and an accompanying array of gears, minifigures and various other parts...
PC games, starting with Lego IslandLego IslandLEGO Island is a Lego based action-adventure computer game developed by Lego and Mindscape. Released for the PC on October 2, 1997, the game is the first in the Lego Island series , followed by Lego Island 2 The Brickster's Revenge, Island Xtreme Stunts, and Lego Island Xtreme Stunts Lego sets.-...
, featured standard jewel cases with a spine formed with raised lego studs which can connect with other lego pieces. These have since been phased out and replaced with keep cases. - Most K-PopK-popK-pop is a musical genre consisting of electropop, hip hop, pop, rock, and R&B music originating in South Korea...
albums tend to come in special packages that varies in size. They are not typically a jewel case or reside in a certain type of case, but the packaging depends on the label etc.