CD Packaging

[Confuzzled]

I don't mind a handmade package as long as it's creative. When CD's emerged I recall older relatives bemoaning the lack of liner notes and the extras that their old vinyl included (stickers, poster, etc) so if someone is going to go extra with their packaging, as a package designer I can appreciate the attempt.

[tiny_tove]

i hate jewelcases, they break and scracth and they are an hassle to send

[Cranial Blast]

i hate jewelcases, they break and scracth and they are an hassle to send

Yeah when they scratch that is very annoying, but at least you can replace them though if they become to shitty. It sucks when the wheel house on digi breaks though, there is no way of fixing that in the event that it happens, plus seems like the cheaper digi packs that don't have the matte finish seem to indent easier. I've started putting some them in plastic sleeves, that kind of helps a bit.

[Commander15]

I've started putting some them in plastic sleeves, that kind of helps a bit.

Yeah that is an old record store trick. Works like a charm!

[Zeno Marx]

Those CD sleeves with gauze-like fabric on one side and plastic on the other were handy for keeping CDs in scratchless condition and out of jewel cases. Super light for shipping purposes too.  Mostly seen in Japanese packaging when they would print 7"-sized sleeves for their CDs. This is one example that comes to mind, but you can't really appreciate it from the images shown.  Whatever that fabric was, I never ran into a CD scratched by it.

https://www.discogs.com/release/2469754-Tomorrow-Nuovo-Punto-Di-Partenza

[Balor/SS1535]

More and more I just like the cardboard slipcases for cds...  LIke the old Troniks ones.

[FreakAnimalFinland]

I used to have plenty of "dislikes" or some sort of prejudice for certain packagings. Digipak I disliked that it may start to get wear and damage. Digisleeves or cardboard sleeves, I was thinking what if disc gets scratched? In reality, when I look my collection, there is ZERO cd's that has been scratched in a way you could call it "damage". Out of thousands of digipak CD's, I don't know do I have any that has broken tray? I know it could happen, but I don't think I have any. So, my former dislikes have become way way less and been publishing plenty of digipaks and there will be more of "cd gatefold cover" type of releases. I like them for compact size, light weight, and as explained, I have personally never managed to seriously scratch CD's or damage the covers, so I no longer feel "stressed" if someone else can't handle his physical media properly, hah...

There is also a lot of people who have almost autistic need of uniformity. Band discography in same format, next to eachother. Label known of jewelbox CD, making digipak and its horror. Label known for norelco case tapes and suddenly comes weird oversized object and don't know what to do with it and where to put it, hah..  I, in the other hand, have grown little tired of "series". Uniformity and look-a-like, and I have no problem with digipak or jewelbox, but in genre where packaging and design have been utterly innovative, endless flood of same format is HANDY, but less exciting.

Like thinking the impact of early days TESCO CD's - for example. Unique item after unique item. And sometimes very simple way. Iugula-Thor mCD or Contagious Orgasm CD or such. Fits fine with jewelboxes and digipaks, but.. are not standard. These days it is vastly more rare to get the "wow" feeling from CD packaging. I don't say one would absolute need that from every CD. Sometimes being handy and convenient for the purpose is good.

[Manhog_84]

There is also a lot of people who have almost autistic need of uniformity. Band discography in same format, next to eachother.

That autistic need is familiar to me, at least to some degree. If other releases have been put out in a specific format, it's easy to wait for LP to come out for example. With some artists that regularly release tapes, vinyls, cds and whatever, it's not that big deal if you know there is not even going to be a possibility of uniformity.

Digipaks and jewel cases are both good. Digipaks can make the release seem more unique object, and the artwork is expandend to the whole package. So it's not just a tray to include cd and booklet. The breaking of central hub has happened several times, although not by me but fucking postal service! The digipaks that Autarkeia put out, are some of the nicest ones I've seen. Thick and glossy! If the cardboard is thin or/and glueing bad, it makes it feel cheap and would be better to be released as a jewel case. In recent years I have seen the quality of them dropping as well. Same thing with DVD cases (and Blu-ray of course): in the past they were very sturdy but later became flimsy crap.

Speaking of DVD covers for CD, the slimmer versions are ugly as hell. Regular DVD cases might be used for some creative exceptions, like Anal Sex CD that was made to look like a cheap porno dvd. That was fucking great. Operation Miranda used the same format for a very dubious purposes haha.

One case type that should never be used is super jewel box. That is THE ugliest case I have seen. Thankfully I have only couple, like MK9 compilation.

Those the black boxes mentioned in the first page are lovely. E.g. Testicle Hazard - Beauty of the Nature and Black Leather Jesus - United States of Persuasion. I wouldn't mind seeing them resurfacing again.

Thin cardboard sleeves and similar...there is a limit. I don't really care for buying a record if it doesn't have enough physicality to prevent it from getting lost among other things. I also dislike inconvenient cardboard packing, like the ones Aural Hypnox uses. I have collected them all anyway, as the music itself is always top notch.

[theotherjohn]

I'm very fond of the clamshell box, but perhaps that's partly due to their association in recent years for all-encompassing box sets. I'm done with flimsy slipcases to house jewelcases. Clamshells are sturdy, free of internal tabs or teeth, they're tactile, there's room and encouragement for inserts, they're book-like when opened, and they have a uniformity in size and format to appease shelf autists. More of these please, even for single albums or tapes!

[Cranial Blast]

There is also a lot of people who have almost autistic need of uniformity. Band discography in same format, next to eachother.

That autistic need is familiar to me, at least to some degree. If other releases have been put out in a specific format, it's easy to wait for LP to come out for example. With some artists that regularly release tapes, vinyls, cds and whatever, it's not that big deal if you know there is not even going to be a possibility of uniformity.

Digipaks and jewel cases are both good. Digipaks can make the release seem more unique object, and the artwork is expandend to the whole package. So it's not just a tray to include cd and booklet. The breaking of central hub has happened several times, although not by me but fucking postal service! The digipaks that Autarkeia put out, are some of the nicest ones I've seen. Thick and glossy! If the cardboard is thin or/and glueing bad, it makes it feel cheap and would be better to be released as a jewel case. In recent years I have seen the quality of them dropping as well. Same thing with DVD cases (and Blu-ray of course): in the past they were very sturdy but later became flimsy crap.

Speaking of DVD covers for CD, the slimmer versions are ugly as hell. Regular DVD cases might be used for some creative exceptions, like Anal Sex CD that was made to look like a cheap porno dvd. That was fucking great. Operation Miranda used the same format for a very dubious purposes haha.

One case type that should never be used is super jewel box. That is THE ugliest case I have seen. Thankfully I have only couple, like MK9 compilation.

Those the black boxes mentioned in the first page are lovely. E.g. Testicle Hazard - Beauty of the Nature and Black Leather Jesus - United States of Persuasion. I wouldn't mind seeing them resurfacing again.

Thin cardboard sleeves and similar...there is a limit. I don't really care for buying a record if it doesn't have enough physicality to prevent it from getting lost among other things. I also dislike inconvenient cardboard packing, like the ones Aural Hypnox uses. I have collected them all anyway, as the music itself is always top notch.

That's one thing I've never given any thought or any kind of concern to, is in the way of different cases and formats being in some uniformity and it bothering me in anyway that if it's not. I guess, I don't even think about that.

I agree with that both digi and jewel are good. It's not a total hatred I have for digi packs either, it's just that I prefer the jewel cases over them. You're right if you got any broken anything, it's generally from the post office mishandling them, but generally not wrecked by us, or rarely ever I should say. I've seen some of that where the glue has let go on the plastic backings, where the wheel house is, that's a bit annoying. All of my stuff is in top notch condition. No damages or scratches as I try my best to be mindful about everything, so it's not a big concern I have so much, but what I've noticed sometimes, is it's harder to find a nicer shape 2nd hand digi pack CD, than it is to find a 2nd hand jewel case CD and I'm speaking in terms of the "case", I think the average person gives more in the way of protecting the disc, but not as much concern to the case or booklet and I think it's just because the average handler of CDs simply just aren't as meticulous about keeping them in top shape, maybe it's not even in their mind. If you generally handle CDs in a way of just throw a stack of them on the passenger seat of the car, like a lot of people probably do, you'll probably have a few minor flaws in those digi packs over time, one fast stop by hitting the breaks in the car and those CDs will surely being lying on the floor, I'm sure you're gonna have the potential for some corner dings on the cardboard, haha. I know somebody who once had a drink spill over on a stack in the car! Imagine that...soda plastered on the digi packs, haha. Digi packs just have way too much room for flaw and not that I care for my own sake, but I just think the jewel cases are just a little bit better for the overall protection for of all of the contents of the overall media, unless of course you do the classic, don't get the booklet in good and square and shut the case, causing indenting. I mean you can literally find a way to wreck anything if you want to, haha.

I 100% agree! Super digi packs are the absolute worst. I first started seeing those being used by Peaceville Records, terrible cases! Booklet never ment to be seen, unless you want to wreck it! Also that's a jewel case that would be harder to replace if you needed to and they just suck! Those are definitely the worst.

I love those clamshell type boxes, those I like! Also Black Leather Jesus - United States Of Persuasion should be reissued. I actually finally tracked a copy down last year, that's a killer album!

[HateSermon]

New GRUNT "Vieraat Aivot" packaging is neat. Zine booklet attached to the cd case itself. I don't think I've seen that before and helps keep everything in one place. Nice paper smell, too ha

[Cranial Blast]

New GRUNT "Vieraat Aivot" packaging is neat. Zine booklet attached to the cd case itself. I don't think I've seen that before and helps keep everything in one place. Nice paper smell, too ha

Indeed! A very nice display of packaging. I've opened my copy up, but still yet to play the contents of the CD/noise. I'm hoping to find a window tonight to give that CD a spin in my player. Definitely a very nice display put on digi pack packaging, most often Freak Animal's digi packs are of an A1 type of quality.

[FreakAnimalFinland]

This is what I meant with saying packaging being handy, yet not exactly the same. I don't think I have seen noise cd with this type of "reverse digipak", but I knew factory does them. Very simple things like notch different template, custom selected cardboard and paper, color tray.. Of course price turns quickly to be double than just most basic cover would be, but it may be worth it due first impression that it is not jus the most common, cheapest option.
That is valid even for things like is digipak sturdy or flimsy. I don't care much for foil prints and spot varnish and such, but a bit thicker cardboard, or printing inside spines so it won't look dull etc..  Just little extra displaying label (artist, designer..) cared notch more than minimum level, hah..
It is surprisingly how many "that'll do" type of album packaging there is still today.

[Twoplayer]

Where's the idea come from that autistic music fans prefer packaging to be uniform? That's a misunderstanding. We're more likely to enjoy enthusiastically discussing packaging details with people who'll listen to us or share our special interest.

I love Heel Stone Records for releasing more (unique) packaging formats into the world than the music they contain.

[impulse manslaughter]

I love uniform packaging for practical reasons. I now have 2 shelves w/ special packages (mostly tapes). If I buy too many I will run out of space fast. Also, I don't know why but I love these shelves with endless rows of cd's.