Digipaks: A general overview

Digipak-style packaging is often used for CD singles and special editions of albums released by an artist. It is often called as soft CD packaging as well. Digipaks were first created by the company MeadWestVaco and their product was first called as a DIGI-PAK. Over time, it became a popular form of packaging between manufacterers and for artists to release special physical copies of their albums.

A digipak consists a jewel case in the plastic case that holds CDs. They are made up of a front cover that opens to the left. There is a back cover and a tray that sits in the back cover which holds onto the CD. The front cover has creative artwork which reflects the ideas about the genre of the music the album is about. The front cover in the part of the jewel case – which usually includes the booklet with photos, liner notes, lyrics and such – and the back cover holds the tray card, which usually has the track listing and other artwork on the back side that can be viewed with the CD closed

Digipaks typically consist of a gatefold (book-style) paperboard or card stock outer binding, with one or more plastic trays capable of holding a CD or DVD attached to the inside. The gatefold usally holds the artist’s notes and such. They may also consists of posters and photocards for the fans with personal notes by the artist.

Digipak-style packaging is often used for CD singles or special editions of CD albums and the tall DVD Digipak (DVDigipak) is used as a premium package for DVDs and DVD sets.