Snap case
Encyclopedia
A snap case is a type of optical disc packaging. It consists of a paperboard
flap (where the cover art
is printed
) which is held closed by a narrow plastic strip which has a "snap
" closure. The strip is part of a single piece of plastic which forms the disc tray, and protective edges at the top and bottom. The "hinge
" is simply created by the thinness of the plastic along the back right corner. The closure forms the right edge of the package and wraps as a single rigid piece around to the front in an L
shape (as viewed from either end). Bumps on the inside of the top and bottom edges of the tray fit into notches on the end of the closure in order to create the snap.
The packaging was created both to be less expensive
and to be more eco-friendly. However in response to criticism
s regarding its somewhat fragile
design
, the snap case has been largely replaced by the keep case
for DVD
, and the CD jewel case (which came well before and has lasted long since the snap case).
Warner Brothers, New Line Cinema
, Columbia TriStar (for its first few titles), and Live Entertainment were four of the few major film studios to release DVDs in this packaging but has slowly phased-in the keep case on its films.. Snap cases are often the packaging of choice for discounted DVD rereleases.
Paperboard
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...
flap (where the cover art
Cover art
Cover art is the illustration or photograph on the outside of a published product such as a book , magazine, comic book, video game , DVD, CD, videotape, or music album. The art has a primarily commercial function, i.e...
is printed
Printing
Printing is a process for reproducing text and image, typically with ink on paper using a printing press. It is often carried out as a large-scale industrial process, and is an essential part of publishing and transaction printing....
) which is held closed by a narrow plastic strip which has a "snap
Snap
-Computing:* ITK-SNAP, a medical imaging software application* Snap * SNAP , a symbolic circuit simulator* Snap Server, a computer storage device* Subnetwork Access Protocol , capable of binding to the Logical Link Control...
" closure. The strip is part of a single piece of plastic which forms the disc tray, and protective edges at the top and bottom. The "hinge
Hinge
A hinge is a type of bearing that connects two solid objects, typically allowing only a limited angle of rotation between them. Two objects connected by an ideal hinge rotate relative to each other about a fixed axis of rotation. Hinges may be made of flexible material or of moving components...
" is simply created by the thinness of the plastic along the back right corner. The closure forms the right edge of the package and wraps as a single rigid piece around to the front in an L
L
Ł or ł, described in English as L with stroke, is a letter of the Polish, Kashubian, Sorbian, Łacinka , Łatynka , Wilamowicean, Navajo, Dene Suline, Inupiaq, Zuni, Hupa, and Dogrib alphabets, several proposed alphabets for the Venetian language, and the ISO 11940 romanization of the Thai alphabet...
shape (as viewed from either end). Bumps on the inside of the top and bottom edges of the tray fit into notches on the end of the closure in order to create the snap.
The packaging was created both to be less expensive
Expense
In common usage, an expense or expenditure is an outflow of money to another person or group to pay for an item or service, or for a category of costs. For a tenant, rent is an expense. For students or parents, tuition is an expense. Buying food, clothing, furniture or an automobile is often...
and to be more eco-friendly. However in response to criticism
Criticism
Criticism is the judgement of the merits and faults of the work or actions of an individual or group by another . To criticize does not necessarily imply to find fault, but the word is often taken to mean the simple expression of an objection against prejudice, or a disapproval.Another meaning of...
s regarding its somewhat fragile
Fragile
Fragile may be an adjective meaning brittle.It may also refer to:-In albums::*Fragile , 1971*The Fragile, a 1999 album by Nine Inch Nails*Fragile , 2000*Fragile , 2000...
design
Design
Design as a noun informally refers to a plan or convention for the construction of an object or a system while “to design” refers to making this plan...
, the snap case has been largely replaced by the keep case
Keep case
A keep case or poly-box is a type of DVD packaging. From the well-known brand Amaray, this type of case is often called Amaray case, creating a genericized trademark and ambiguities about the real manufacturer of the case....
for 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....
, and the CD jewel case (which came well before and has lasted long since the snap case).
Warner Brothers, New Line Cinema
New Line Cinema
New Line Cinema, often simply referred to as New Line, is an American film studio. It was founded in 1967 by Robert Shaye and Michael Lynne as a film distributor, later becoming an independent film studio. It became a subsidiary of Time Warner in 1996 and was merged with larger sister studio Warner...
, Columbia TriStar (for its first few titles), and Live Entertainment were four of the few major film studios to release DVDs in this packaging but has slowly phased-in the keep case on its films.. Snap cases are often the packaging of choice for discounted DVD rereleases.