|
DVD
- Packaging Options FAQ So far, no single type of DVD packaging has
emerged as dominant. For the publisher, therefore, the question is which packaging best
suits the needs of each individual project.
Early in the development of DVD, the
Video Software Dealers Association, known as VSDA, made several recommendations as to the
packaging guidelines to be followed. According to the VSDA’s task force, DVD
packaging should:
 |
Be unique to
DVD - for immediate consumer identification and awareness; |
|
|
Resist
damage to itself or to the disc; |
|
|
Be
environmentally responsible; |
|
|
Be
source-tagged; |
|
|
Have retail
identity labeling; |
|
|
And have as
its dimensions 5 5/8" wide by 7 3/8" high, ranging from ranging from 3/8"
to 5/8" thick. (The width is therefore the same as a CD, the height the same as a VHS
tape. Undoubtedly these dimensions were chosen so retailers could use existing shelving to
display DVDs.) |
Among the most popular choices in DVD
packaging are these:
- The Book:
- As its name implies, this packaging
opens up like a book. Some styles are molded on both sides, with room for a disc on both
flaps. Most of the printed material is on the outside of the package and, if there is only
one disc, on the left inside flap. Some styles have a molded tray on the right and a
paperboard flap on the left and the back. If desired, the left flap may have several
fold-out parts, allowing extensive graphics.
- The "Book" style has several
types of closure. Some snap shut, some are secured with small flaps, and other styles fit
together tightly. Some "Books" allow for folders within the paperboard for
additional printed material.
-
- The Slider:
- This involves a molded tray, which is
pulled out like a drawer from one end. This style’s "box" may be made of
paperboard or other material. They tend not to have as much space for graphics as the Book
styles do, although one Slider type allows up to a 32-page booklet.
-
- The Jewel Box:
- These come in a variety of
configurations, many of which conform to the familiar square style of the CD Jewel Box.
Some are virtually indistinguishable from a CD Jewel Box, though made of a more durable
material so they don’t crack as easily. Others have paperboard outer coverings and
can take various foldouts. In some cases, they can accommodate more than one disc. Some
slip into a paperboard sleeve, much as vinyl phonograph records did into album covers.
Other Jewel Box styles allow multi-faceted images that can be viewed through the
box’s special outer shell.
-
- When it comes to securing the disc
within the packaging, again there are various options. Some boxes have a center hub that
holds the disc in place by applying slight pressure, as is the case with a CD Jewel Box.
Others have a locking mechanism that holds the disc in place more securely.
"Sliders" don’t use any hub, but rather hold the disc in place from the
outer edges.
-
- Which of these
is right for you?
- That depends on many factors: how your
product is to be marketed, what type of impact you want, how much written or graphic
material is to be included, how the DVD will be displayed, how many discs there will be
per case – and, of course, the cost. The best course is to discuss your packaging
requirements with the DVD professionals at
Optical Disc Solutions. We can guide you to the solution that’s best for your individual
needs.
-
-
Back
 DVD-FAQ- General Questions
DVD-Authoring &
Replication
DVD Overview
Glossary
|
