Creative CD Packaging is not just a minor addition to your album.In this day where new bands are sprouting like mushrooms and the internet is gloriously sipping our profit like a thirsty cow on a summer day, creative CD packaging is a MUST! Like anything in this world, a thing or person has to attract us from the outside before we start falling in love with what’s inside (Unless, of course, if you are already very famous for your music). In some cases, we could not even care less of what’s inside anymore because we’re already mesmerized by what we see on the outside. Yes, some people do buy albums mainly because of its creative CD packaging. We live in a world that has bias for beautiful things therefore, as musicians, we must take it seriously because album packaging could seriously affect sales.

If you are a new band that’s trying to find an awesome idea for your album cover, here are some surefire ways to make your album stand out from the shelf.

Use a catchy image

If you are still starting up and you do not want to spend too much on your CD packaging, then this is the best option for you. It doesn’t cost much but it could be as eye grabbing as the other techniques below. All you need is a kick-ass concept and a still camera that has a high resolution. Do not simply place a plain photo of your band. Remember, they do not know you yet and CD covers with unfamiliar faces do not interest buyers at all. Be creative with your CD Packaging! Make your cover a great work of art.If you are having a tough time with your concept, you can check other CD packaging designs online for inspiration. It also helps if you ask help from a graphic designer because they know a lot of techniques to make your album art look awesome. They know the rules of aesthetics and probably know what works.

Choose glossy paper over matte

Glossy paper adds instant life to your album. If you have a glossy album cover, it has a big advantage over the plain ones beside it because shiny objects attract the eye. In fact, a glossy CD packaging catches attention even if the consumers are meters away from it. You can be sure it would be the first one they pick especially if it has a catchy image.

Instead of standard jewel cases, try using other materials

The consumers are used to seeing jewel cases and digipacks. Anything that’s not made of these materials instantly grabs their attention. Try to think out of the box and come up with an extraordinary idea for your CD packaging. You can use fabrics, metals, foil packs, kitchenware..anything you can think of! Just make sure that the case is still functional. By that, it should protect the CD from dust, water, and termites. Also consider the shipping hassles and cost when working on your CD packaging design.That’s what you call working within the box!

The bigger, the better

Yes, ladies and gentlemen. Let’s put an end to the argument of whether size really matters when it comes to grabbing our attention. It does. Period.The human brain simply pays more attention to big things. You can put this in mind when thinking of a concept for a catchy image, or with your text, or with the material of the pack.A bigger CD packaging in line with standard-sized jewel cases would instantly gain more attention even if the album art is not over the top.

Include freebies

Include a cute but cheap freebie in your album and the consumers would instantly think that they’re getting much more from what they paid for. This would also make the fans want to buy the album instead of downloading your songs from the internet. Think of one item that has relevance to your band, to your album name, or to the overall concept of your CD packaging. For example, if your name is Three-D, you can give them cool paper 3-D glasses. Just make sure it’s not more expensive than the album itself or they would think twice in buying it.

There are literally thousands of ways for you to make your CD packaging look more interesting. As you can see, you do not have to spend too much or to have an exaggerated concept to produce a kick ass CD package. These little additions are more than enough to make your album stand out. Good luck!

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