Filed In:
CD / DVD Packaging
Create and print your sweet-sounding designs on compact disc. Layout inserts, sleeves, booklets, and labels for CDs and DVDs. Printing specifications listed here may be for specific printers so always check with your own service provider, using these links for an overview of the CD and DVD packaging process.
Dissecting a CD for Design Sake
The individual parts of a compact disc provide unique graphic design challenges and opportunities for desktop publishers and designers. In this article we dissect a compact disc and analyze its manufactured anatomy, explaining how the different parts will affect your disc design. Guest article by Eric Fritz.
Printing on Compact Disc
Learn how pictures are printed on a CD and the limitations of this type of design and printing.
CoverTalk - CD Design Resources Blog
Blog discusses album covers, software, and cd design tips.
CD Design Critiques
Marvin's Corner critiques of various CD designs.
CD Design Tutorials at Marvin's Corner
I've linked to a few specific tutorials but here you'll find the entire start-to-finish course on designing and printing CDs and CD packaging from Marvin Humphrey.
CD Packaging
In this article Carol Wright talks to the graphic designer, label manager, musician, lyricist and anyone else who has a say in the graphic design and typography of the CD packaging, advertising, or other printed matter.
CMYK Process Printing
For those doing multimedia packaging, how to make many colors from just four, explained in Printing 101 at Marvin's Corner.
Gang Run Printing
Printing 101 at Marvin's Corner tells how "grouping several jobs on a single press sheet makes printing affordable."
Music CDs
These packaging designs by Daniel Will-Harris are mostly CDs and CD covers (with a few other items thrown in).
Offset Lithography
A look at this common printing technology used for much printing on paper. This is how most of your sleeves and CD booklets would be printed.
Prepress Problems
Mr. Toad's list of commonly encountered problems with files from missing graphics to misused inks.
Rich Black vs. Plain Black
In printing, not all black inks are created equal. Marvin's Corner explains the differences.
Screen Printing
Marvin's Corner explains this process. One common application is for printing on CD discs.
Strategies for Effective Disc Design
Marvin's Corner at Mr. Toads covers everything you need to know to design and print on a CD. Color matching, printing on reflective surfaces, and limitations of screen printing are some of the topics covered.