Other Album Sizes

Optical disc packaging is the packaging that accompanies CDs, DVDs, and other formats of optical media. As a general rule, most such packaging is rigid or semi-rigid and designed to protect the media from scratches and other types of exposure damage. more...

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Jewel case

A jewel case is the original compact disc case that has been used since the compact disc was first released in 1982. It is a three-piece plastic case, measuring 142 mm × 125 mm × 10 mm, which usually contains a compact disc along with the liner notes and a back card. Two opposing transparent halves are hinged together to form the casing, the back half holding a media tray that grips the disc by its hole. All three parts are made of injection-molded polystyrene.

The front lid contains two, four, or six opposing tabs to keep any liner notes in place. The liner notes typically will be a 120 mm × 120 mm booklet, or a single 242 mm × 120 mm leaf folded in half. In addition, there is a back card, 150 mm × 118 mm, between the media tray and the back, usually listing the track names, studio, copyright data and other information the consumer would need to read before purchasing. The back card is folded into a flattened "U" shape, with the sides being visible along the ends of the case. The ends usually have the disc name and artist printed on them, and are designed to label the case when it is stored book-style.

The back media tray snaps into the back cover, and is responsible for securing the disk. In its center is a circular hub of teeth which grip the disc by its hole. This effectively suspends the disk in the middle of the container, preventing the recording surface from being scratched. Originally, the media tray was constructed of a flexible black polystyrene, but many newer trays use a more fragile transparent polystyrene. This allows the reverse of the back card to be visible, and is usually used for additional artwork.

Jewel cases are occasionally used for DVDs as well as CDs, but generally not for those that contain major film releases. Blank Blu-Ray and HD DVD media are also most commonly sold in standard-width jewel cases as of early 2007.

The success of the CD jewel case design stems, in part, from its common form factor. Given the restriction to a common form, manufacturers have sought to compete on cost (rather than via product variation). A form of destructive competition has followed .... whereas the original 1980s and 1990s CD jewel case were of a high-quality stiff and firm design, most jewel cases on the market today are now produced in China ... they are remarkably lighter than the original design, and they have no firmness. In part, this has been to cater to automated packing machines that prefer lighter boxes. In the worst cases, the rear cover is so spongy, it can be bent by hand like a rubber band. For those seeking to replace or renew their CD jewel cases, care is required to find product of any quality.

Read more at Wikipedia.org