Digipak Template

Digipaks can be made in a range of templates.

4 panel Digipak with pocket

4-Panel Digipaks

6-Panel Digipaks

8-Panel Digipaks

After researching the range of digipak templates available, I have decided to make a 4-panel digipak with an inner pocket for the CD.

Digipak Ideas Analysis // The Back

What is included at the back: 

1. Song List: 

1. Honeymoon Avenue 
2. Baby I 
3. Right There (feat. Big Sean) 
4. Tattooed Heart 
5. Lovin' It 
6. Plane 
7. Daydreamin' 
8. The Way (feat. Mac Miller) 
9. You'll Never Know 
10. Almost Is Never Enough (feat. Nathan         Sykes)
11. Popular Song (feat. MIKA) 
12. Better Left Unsaid 
13. The Way (Spanish Version)

The song list includes all the songs featured and included in the album. The colour scheme has been stuck to by using pink and white which has been consistently used.

2. Artist Album Name:

"Ariana Grande - Yours Truly" 

3. Album Artwork  

An image of the artist has been used at the back of the album which helps promote her music once again and makes her the focal point of the album as well. 

4. Record Label  

Republic Records  

5. Barcode  

6. Extra Information 

This extra information includes links to the artists website, copyright information and social media etc. 

 

Digipak Ideas ANALYSIS

This album is by 'Frank Ocean' and is titled 'Pyramids' released in 2012

1. This design has some differences as well as similarities to the design for 'Vampire Weekend' album cover. The simplicity is something they both have in common as one image has been used which relates to the title of the album. I like how similar colours have been used for the album cover as well as the image and text used, which helps to compliment the entire album. The colours used are somewhat neutral.

2.  The artist name and title of the album have been written in the same font and colour and size. The first part of the artists name is the same colour as the album title, while the second part of the name has been written in orange. This could have been done so the name and album title are both still easily differentiated. I like this technique as I think it works well with the proportion and balance of the cover. Everything placed on the album seems to be well balanced. 

3. The title of the album has links to the image used on the album cover. The title 'Pyramids' has been reflected through the image, which is very effective. The fact that the colour used in the second part of the artists name is the same colour used as 'blood' in the pyramid shows that the album identifies and represents him and also reflects his feelings and emotions.

Digipak Ideas ANALYSIS

I have decided to look specifically at the front part of digipak covers as the back of the packs are more or less constantly the same.

This album is by 'Vampire Weekend' titled 'Modern Vampires of the City' was released on May 14 2013

1. Having the artists name in the center away from any other text that could distract who they are helps to promote the artist as a brand. It also makes the name of the band as the focal part of the digipak (especially since their actual images aren't shown on the album cover)

2.  The design of the album is very simple, focusing on only the parts of the album which relates to the name of the album - 'Modern Vampires of the City.' This relates to the imagery they're chosen, as it's of a city. This is effective as there are links between the two. 

3.  The colours grey, black and white has been consistently used which helps to set the tone of both the album and the music which may be included in the track list. It also once again helps to contribute to the simplistic look of the album. 

4. Making the artist name and the title of the album different fonts helps to differentiate the two. One is also made at a bigger size than the other. 

Digipak Ideas ANALYSIS // Inspired By...

XX Digipak 

XX is an indie genre, making the design of the digipak quite simple but still very effective. However, the band is still reflected well through this design. The X which has been cut out helps the album to stand out well.

The front cover shows a simple 'X' which can be easily recognisable and associated with the group. This therefore makes them unique and can also be seen as their 'Unique Selling Point.' Black and white are colours that easily go together well. This makes it simple, yet effective as there isn't too much going on on the album cover. However what is missing is a close up shot somewhere of the artist/group which is a common feature seen within the indie genre, which allows record labels to create representations of the artist. The simplicity style of the cover allows the customer to focus on the groups unique style as artists. What is particularly interesting and different about this cover is how the colours have been reversed on certain parts of the cover. For example, the CD is black with a white cross while the case is white with a black cross.

The back cover also sticks with the theme and colour scheme and has been repeated. There is a list of songs on the back of the CD, which helps to promote the group and their music, and therefore sell the CD. In small print is also information on the record label, website URL and other information in regards to the artists.

The inside of the CD has also made use of the theme and colour scheme. However there is a cut out of the 'X' on the inside which is a slot for another CD. This part of the case is black, which means that the CD going in that slot will have an 'X' in white, which would then stand out in the cut out. All of this has been created in order to create a sort of remembrance to the artist so they are easily remembered.
The inside also has a little booklet which includes photos of the band. This is effective as it also allows new customers to be able to easily identify each of the band members.

The CD looks matt, while the 'X' printed on the CD looks glossy. This once again focuses on the band name and brings attention to this.

The colour scheme is not very youthful and bright, but can be targeted at a certain group of people. Two simple colours have been used. This could suggest that the artist creates more emotional and darkening songs, which is reflected on the Digipak cover.

Overall, having a simple digipak with just a logo or symbol of the artist shows the artists importance as an artist and how they can be easily recognised by one simple symbol.

Aurora - Running With The Wolves // Inspiration

This is a video we were shown in a lesson by one of the other students.
Firstly, what I really like about the video is the strong narrative, which links to the narrative we would like to explore. The main protagonist is portrayed as trying to 'free herself' from the chains which she is bound by. The opening shot of the video is a wide shot of the location of the protagonist. She is placed at the centre making her the focal point and centre of attention. This is effective as it shows her isolation from the rest of the world, as there is a lot of land around her.

The next shot is a mid to close up of the artist, which once again also shows her importance in the video. Her facial expressions immediately tell the audience of how she's feeling and her emotions. This is one of the conventions of an Indie music video which conveys a lot of emotion and feeing. 

The video makes use of a grey scale colour palette which makes relates it to the lyrics of the song and the emotion conveyed. Shots of the wire which chains the protagonist are shown to the audience to give them an idea of why the protagonist feels the way they do. The artist makes use hand gestures and movements which show how she cannot be free from the wires which are attached to her. Lyrics such as 

"Go 'round the boat to safer grounds

But don't you know we're stronger now"

Suggests this

 As the artist moves, the camera moves with her which once again shows her surroundings. It can also be suggested that someone may be trying to find her to perhaps cause her harm. This is seen in the lyrics;

"But we're running out of time, time

For the echo's in my mind, cry"

This is then accompanied by a shot of her looking back to show a car in the far distance slowly getting to her. 

What I particularly like about the video is the use of a range of camera shots and movement, even though the music video has been shot in only one location. This helps to fully understand the narrative and perhaps allows the audience to be in the artists shoes. Shots such as an 180 degree shot, high angle shots makes the protagonist seem inferior compared to their surroundings and the buildings in the distance. 

Digipak Ideas ANALYSIS // Looking At Digipaks

What Is A Digipak?

A Digipak is a type of packaging for CDs or DVDs, typically made from cardboard with an internal plastic holder for one or more discs. They 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. Digipaks were first created by MeadWestvaco, and their product called Digi-Pak, is trademarked. Now in current times, digipaks are very common and very popular.

The front of a digipak has a relevance and some aspect of what the artist represents and what their predominate genre is. The digipak also conveys a theme and a message about the artist and their image. All aspects of the digipak, brand image and music video are all interwoven together.

Digipaks benefit the artists and their music as its promotional aspect of the music industry which helps to bring awareness to the artist, and thus assist in selling their product to a wider market.

Some Examples: 

1. Lana Del Rey - 'Born To Die'

This is a more girly digipak  with the use of a lot colour. It promotes the artist well, with the use of flowers which could be used to symbolize the artist. In addition to this, the album cover has some significance with the rest of the album songs.  Songs which include 'Summertime Sadness' and 'This Is What Makes Us Girls'. This therefore allows customers to easily identify and relate to her music. What I particularly like about this album cover is the cut out of her name on the album sleeve. The CD covers out of the outer sleeve to show a digipak with an image of the artist on the front. the colour on the sleeve has also been used on the digipak cover. This shows consistency and also prevents too much going on, on the cover. It makes it visually appealing and easy on the eye. I like how the design on the outer sleeve of the digipak has been used on the CD as well. The blue and the clouds as well as the font of the artists name 'Lana Del Rey' links well together.
The Inside:
The artist has done a photoshoot, as a consistent use of a similar image has been used. The imagery used in the middle makes her the centre of attention as a circle has been used in which she has been placed at the centre.
The template of this digipak is something I would like to use for the creation of mine. I like how there is a sleeve on the outside which holds the actual digipak. This makes it different from the conventional digiapak design. The cut out of the artists name gives the digipak a good quality finish and gives it a good texture. Other relevant information has been included such as the album title, the record label company and the tracklist.

2. Rihanna - 'Loud'

What I like about this album cover is close up shot used for the cover. Everything used compliments each other well, such as her red hair and red lipstick. What is also effective is how her photo has once again been used on the inside. It spreads across the entire inside cover, and therefore helps to promote her as an artist. This is something that I think I would like to adopt and consider when creating my digipaks. Techniques that put all focus on promoting the artist and their music.

Filming Day 4: Hospital Scene

On Tuesday we filmed the hospital scene of our music video. This is the scene which features at the start of our music video. It shows how our female protagonist is being held by a few people (whose faces aren't shown in the video). Overall, this day of filming went really well. This is mainly due to the fact that we already knew the kind of shots we wanted for this scene, so therefore it went smoothly.

We shot the entire scene in our photography studio, while gathering and making use of our own props that we had previously gathered and put together.

Below are photos of us setting up the room before filming. 

The props we used include:

- Black Backdrop
- 4 Studio Lights
- A table
- Pillows
- Medical Equipment (Gloves, Needle, Stethoscope)
- Medical Privacy Curtains