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Independent musicians, churches, photographers and software publishers still hand over discs, and CD jackets are the lightest, most printable way to package them. A jacket is a paperboard sleeve with a pocket for the disc and full-color panels for cover art, track lists and credits. Boxify Now makes custom printed CD jackets in single-pocket, spined and gatefold styles, finished in matte, gloss or soft-touch, with your logo and artwork proofed before printing. Labels and duplicators can order CD jackets wholesale across several titles. Buy CD jackets sized to your disc and inserts. Buy now or request a quote.
CD jackets are printed paperboard sleeves that hold a compact disc in a pocket, in the same way a record jacket holds a vinyl LP. They are used to package music albums, recorded sermons and talks, wedding photo and video discs, software and training material. The jacket protects the disc from scratches and gives the release a printed cover, back panel and, on some styles, a spine.
CD jackets are ordered mostly by people who sell or give discs in person. Bands and solo artists want something to sell at the merch table after a show, and a disc in a printed jacket is an affordable item fans can have signed. Churches and conference organizers record services and sessions for people who prefer a disc. Wedding photographers and videographers deliver galleries and films in a keepsake package. Software, language and training publishers use jackets for program discs and course audio, and radio promoters still mail physical copies to stations.
For all of them the appeal is the same: a jacket is thin, light, inexpensive to post and has no hinges or trays that can crack.
The style you choose depends on how much printed space you need and whether the release has more than one disc.
A standard CD jacket is close to 5 x 5 inches, sized around a disc that is 120 millimeters, or about 4.72 inches, across. The small margin lets the disc slide in and out without the pocket gripping it. Gatefold and multi-panel styles keep that closed size and open out to two or three times the width.
If the jacket has to hold more than the disc, tell us before we draw the layout. A folded lyric sheet, a download card or one of our stapled booklets adds thickness, and the pocket and spine have to be adjusted for it. Custom sizes are also made for mini discs, DVDs and Blu-ray discs.
A jacket is the right choice when weight, cost and print area matter more than rigid protection. A jewel case is a hard, hinged case with a paper insert. It protects well but is heavier, costs more to mail and breaks at the hinges. A digipak is a paperboard cover with a molded tray glued inside to hold the disc, and it sits between the two in cost and feel.
Jackets win on simplicity. Everything is paperboard, the whole surface inside and out can be printed, and a carton of them takes up very little room in a tour van. Many artists like that a jacket looks like a small record sleeve.
Most CD jackets are made from SBS paperboard, a smooth white board that prints clean color and folds without cracking. A mid-weight board is stiff enough to protect the disc while keeping the jacket slim. Uncoated or kraft board is a good match for folk, acoustic and vintage-style releases, where a natural, slightly rough surface suits the artwork.
Finishes change the mood of a cover:
The inside of the pocket can be printed too, often in a solid color or pattern that shows at the opening.
The front carries the cover art. The back normally holds the track list, running times, credits, copyright line, label logo and barcode. Leave a clear, light area for the barcode so it scans reliably.
A spine on a jacket is narrow, so keep it to artist, title and catalog number in a plain typeface. Text needs room on either side, because folding can shift it slightly.
Extend backgrounds 0.125 inch past every trim edge and keep text at least 0.125 inch inside it. Glue flaps and the pocket edge are marked on your digital proof, so you can see which areas are hidden once the jacket is assembled.
Boxify Now prints the jacket, not the disc, so share the final cover art with your duplicator to keep the disc face and the packaging consistent.
A disc in a paperboard jacket travels well, but a few habits help. Seal the pocket opening with one of your custom labels and stickers so the disc cannot slide out in the mail, and so buyers can tell the copy is unopened. For online orders, small mailer boxes protect corners far better than a thin envelope, and they leave room for a shirt or a thank-you note.
At a show, stand a few jackets upright so the cover faces the crowd. If you sell a signed edition, choose a matte or uncoated finish, because marker ink smears on gloss.
Boxify Now produces custom CD jackets in CMYK and PMS, printed outside and inside, with free design support and low minimums. Ordering takes four steps:
Printed CD jackets give a recording a physical form that is easy to sell, sign and send. Share your release details with us, and buy now or request a quote.
A CD jacket is a paperboard sleeve with a pocket that holds a compact disc, similar to a small record cover. It is printed with cover art on the front and track or content details on the back, with no hard case.
A standard jacket measures about 5 x 5 inches closed, which gives a little clearance around a 120 millimeter disc. Gatefold and multi-panel jackets keep the same closed size. We also make custom sizes for DVDs and discs with inserts.
Yes. A gatefold jacket can have a pocket in each panel, and multi-panel wallets hold three or more discs. Tell us the number of discs and whether a booklet or poster is included, so the pockets and spine are sized correctly.
Most are printed on SBS paperboard, which is smooth, white and sturdy enough to protect the disc while staying slim. Uncoated and kraft boards are available for a natural, textured look that suits acoustic, folk and vintage-style releases.
It can. A basic single-pocket jacket has no spine, while a spined jacket adds a narrow printable edge for the artist, title and catalog number. A spine is worth having if the disc will be shelved in stores or collections.
No. Boxify Now prints and assembles the jackets only. Your disc duplicator or replicator handles the discs and the print on the disc face. Share your approved cover artwork with them so the disc and the jacket match.
Place the barcode on the back panel, usually in a lower corner, on a white or very light background with clear space around it. Avoid placing it over a photograph, a dark color or a fold, which can stop scanners reading it.
Yes. The inside of the pocket and the inner panels of a gatefold can be printed in CMYK or PMS. Inner panels are useful for lyrics, liner notes, thank-you lists and photographs that would crowd the back cover.
Choose uncoated board or a matte finish. Permanent marker dries quickly and stays put on those surfaces. Gloss lamination and gloss UV coatings are slick, so ink takes longer to dry and tends to smear when jackets are stacked.
Options include matte or gloss lamination, soft-touch lamination, aqueous coating, spot UV, foil stamping, embossing and debossing. Limited editions often combine a matte cover with a foil or spot UV title to set them apart from the standard release.
Send print-ready PDF, AI or EPS files at 300 DPI in CMYK with 0.125 inch bleed. Your proof shows the flat layout with panels, spine and glue areas. If you have only cover art, our design team can position it for you.
Yes. You receive a digital proof of the flat layout and a 3D mockup of the assembled jacket. Check track titles, credits, spine text and barcode placement carefully, then approve the proof or send corrections before we print.
Minimums are low, which suits a first release, a limited run for a tour or a small batch for clients. The starting quantity depends on the style and finishing, and it is stated on your quote before you place an order.
The timeline is confirmed on your quote, based on quantity, style and finishing. Production begins after proof approval. If the jackets are needed for a release date or the first night of a tour, give us that date when you ask for the quote.
Yes. Jackets are printed, cut, folded and glued so the pocket is ready to take a disc. They pack flat and tightly in cartons, and shipping is free. Your quote will confirm delivery details for your location.
