Production - Working on Print Advertisement

Preliminary progress

Changes after lesson

Production - Screen Recordings of Digipak

(Full screen recommended)

Production - Update on Ancillary Products

Above you can see a quick video detailing my progress so far. Since my digipak is practically finished now, I have continued to be meticulous in implementing the conventional features that are found on digipaks. For example, I originally had a barcode on the back that had its colours inverted in order to match the black background. However, after a little bit of research, I found out that this wouldn't work as the colours of barcodes must be specific in order for them to be readable by a scanner. Because of this, I changed the barcode back to its standard black against white colours.

In addition, I have added copyright information on the bottom, which is displayed in small lettering. I created this by adapting an existing example from a digipak, but substituting the label for that of which Poppy Power is fictitiously signed to. To help, I found a copy of Aphrodite by Kylie Minogue, which was released under Poppy's label Parlophone - a subsidiary label of EMI. Below you can see the copyright excerpt from this album, as well as that of Laura Marling's debut album, Alas I Cannot Swim, which is another example that I looked at.

Finally, because I have decided to include a bonus DVD with my digipak, I will have to add some extra information about this. I realized this after purchasing the deluxe digipak edition of Evanescence's self-titled third album which, on the back, displays the DVD logo, the acronym 'NTSC' (which signifies the DVD format), and total running time.

Features that my digipak will have in common with the above examples:

• Copyright + label information
• Barcode
• Website
• Label logo
• DVD logo
• DVD format
• DVD running time

Rihanna's transformation in the music industry. Albums

Do's and Don'ts'

In class we discussed on what the Do's and Don'ts' were of the making of our digipacks. And so, here are some image examples that I created on what NOT to do. 

What is wrong with is digipack:

There are too many fonts 

Too many colours 

The font is blocking the artists face

The fonts are hard to read. 

Whats wrong with this digipack?

The image does not suit the style of the song. 

The fonts are hard to read. 

DO'S:
Use a clear font
Use appropriate sizes for images and fonts
Use clear photos which are in focus
Use photos that are an appropriate shape
Use a layout that follows the rule of thirds for composition
Use an appropriate face type that follows the genre conventions
Use fonts that follow the conventions of the genre
Follow the conventions of the 3 colour rule that is appropriate for images, font and background.
Use a clear and organised layout to text and images can be seen properly
Use appropriate industry logos and conventions and ensure they are properly positioned

DON'TS:
Stretch images
Use unclear/out of focus images
Use layer styles
Use unnecessary effects unsuited to the genre or theme
Place test across the artist's face
Use a font which is not related to the genre or theme
Feel there is a need to use a separate photo on every panel
Use unnecessary imagery
Use multiple font types and colours within an area

Ancillary products

In class, we discussed the importance of Digipacks and their functions in the music industry. A digipack is a modern approach to the CD's packaging. It has only been in the industry for the past decade. It is made from thick cardboard to make it sturdy and hard to damage, it contains a lot more information about the artist, giving the customer who has payed extra for the digipack some extras that you don't get when you purchase online or just a normal CD case. This 'adds value' to the digipack which is why it is always more expensive than the plain cd pack. The digipack is aimed to interest the big fans of the music artist. 

Even though there has been a large decline in the sales of digipaks, this is more likely because the digipacks are only aimed for the true and big fans. 

The best part about digipacks are that they help combat piracy as they cannot be copied or dowloaded online as you can't recieve the extra features that the digipacks provide. This is what encourages fans to buy the digipacks which is therefore supporting the artist and helping the music industry in the long run. Ancillary products are very important to the artists and the industry as they are a crucial amount of profit. Audiences rely on advertisement that surrounds us on buses, billboards and on our televisions, we have relied so much on it now, that there is no other way we would hear about the artists and newest songs or acts without it.

Some of us mentioned how the digipack could be seen as an expression of art and a representation of what the audience should expect of the artist. Ultimately, as the fans of the music and the art of the digipacks, the combination of both would bring in a lot of customers from the large fan basses of the artist as well as people who have not heard of them before, if they see the cover and like the style, they may be interested to buy it. And so, it is very important to draw in the audience with an attractive and eye catching digipack. 

Digipacks are also a very good way of changing an artists image and even their music. As the picture on the front, represents the style of music that will be played in the cd. It is a way that the artist can change their look, yet keep their style of music or change their image completely just from the the digipack. Here are a few album covers that express artists in different ways.