Do-It-Yourself CD Packaging
http://www.cddesign.com/covertalk/archives/cd_design_tips/
While I was reading through this short blurb on making your own CD Package I realized how much work went into simply printing the cover and the rest of the packaging. Earlier this week we were focusing so much on the design and layout and how to make the packaging look nice to sell it, that we never gave any thought to actually printing it off and how much work can go into something like that.
For the design plan, some of the articles we read discussed the difficulties that arise from finding cost-efficient ways to produce your desired design. This blurb also described problems that appear from the actual printing process and how to make the design print look the best without spending too much money or even printing more of the product than necessary (since the usual is 1,000 copies).
Our previous articles also described the necessity of sharp edges, and one-to-one fit in the design layout. These concepts also need to be taken into account for the printing process. The cd design print needs round corners, sturdy feel and modern design lines.
What I'm getting at, is that the design alone is not the only process to worry about while creating a cd. The printing process needs to be clearly thought out as well and cost is always in issue for each process. This applies to me and my classmates especially since most of us are "broke college students". And although our design and finished product will most likely not be mass produced and mainly need to appeal to our teacher, all of these issues come into play with our project. We need to carefully consider how to design it to suit the music inside, how to print it to look professional, and how to do all of this at cost.
In short, the processes that go into creating a cd are much more than I think most of the class have ever thought about (and I'm not even talking about making the music that goes onto it!).
I agree, when beginning the project I was already worried about the design but now I must also take into consideration the materials I would have to use to produce it. It seems that music artists, though, are looking for new ways to spread their music. I was a Target the other day in the CD section and noticed credit card sized cd cover. When taking a closer look I saw that they were in fact full cd's but on a card which had a serial number that you would use to download a whole cd. Most of my friends do not buy cds but download them off the internet, or buy them off i tunes. I wonder if the production of the cds we know today will be replaced by internet or credit-card cds. Also, people are going green now, I wonder if this will affect the production of the jewel-case cds. I think all of us will be taking this into consideration when we produce our cd.
Submitted by Girl on Sun, 02/10/2008 - 22:53.I agree with your statement. You have to take materials in to account when making a design. You have to consider what kind of ink/printer, number of disks, type of case, ect. Creating the design is one thing but there are alot of diffrent things to take into consideration to successfuly output a album.
Submitted by cloud586 on Mon, 02/11/2008 - 06:12.I agree that you have to think about the materials and printing. Knowing what type of material or packaging you're going to use can actually have an effect on the design that you create. You'll know how much stuff you need to make. If you're making a sleeve, then you just have a front and back. If you're making a jewel case, you have the front leaflet, the back, the part behind the cd, the sides. Knowing in advance will help you to not do more work than needed.
Submitted by zmcnulty on Mon, 02/11/2008 - 11:15.I think you are right. There is a definitely a lot more than making appealing artwork when one is designing an album cover. This also applies to trying to make an internet banner that advertises or a billboard along a highway. It has to make since based upon dimensions and medium. Just like with the data map, visual appeal is important but not the only factor.
Submitted by twykoff on Mon, 02/11/2008 - 12:55.I agree with what you said as well. I particularly agreed with what the article said about these new, sleeker cases. I think that this is very true, and a good way to make your work stand out.
Submitted by iamaustin on Mon, 02/11/2008 - 13:18.