Most of our packaging is made to order. We make the packaging to fit the needs of our client's job so it can hold any number of discs you would like it to, and in just about any way. Common ways to hold discs are by pockets, plastic trays, paper trays, foam tray, or in boxes. Holding literature or inserts is usually dependent on how big (how many pages ) the literature is and how many pieces. We can do inserts, cards, special retail items, and books. If you see features you like on a title, please let us now and we can incorporate those features into your spec. It generally is cheaper to use an existing die, but a new die is really quite reasonable in cost, so it is worth consideration to make it an exact match, unless you are on the strictest of budgets.

The exception to our custom made packaging, is plastic amaray or jewel case style cases. Those we have to buy. Usually we dress them up with slipcases.

See our special page on plastic cases: Jewelcase and Amaray Slipcase Sets.

The minimum cost effective quantity is usually 500 units and it gets much more cost effective per unit as you get over 1000 units. Sometime 300 makes sense, but the total is usually very close to 500 qty which is not too far off of 1000 qty. In manufacturing, the per unit price goes down the more the make.

Question - Can I buy just 10 or 100?

Answer - Yes but your total cost would be the same as 300 - 500 as we have to make them. This is due to set up costs. Offset printing and disc manufacturing are not geared towards small runs. We have had clients who needed professional sets but only a small number of them. We can do this, but understand the price tag is about the same as a larger qty. Buying 10 or 100 will not lower your total.

Question - Can I have packaging made unprinted?

Answer - Yes, but #1) you would have a hard time printing them as they are assembled/glued, #2) these are made by our printer so you may not find it very cost effective.

Suggestion - If you do want to have these made unprinted, perhaps so you can resell them, consider putting a die cut window in the front where a printed insert/booklet can serve as the customization. Or a photo (great for photographer presentation packages).

Question- Can I have these made without discs?

Answer - #1 We do not always take on jobs without discs, #2 It probably is not the cost effective way to go with your project - if you need recordable, we can supply printed recordables to go with it.

We've done all sorts of multi-disc sets. Go to these pages for examples grouped by the number of discs they were made to hold:

2-Disc Sets

3-Disc Sets

4- or 5-Disc Sets

6- to 8-Disc Sets

10-Disc Sets and up

Remember that every spec is going to be different. Some packages may hold literature or have a different type of finish or paper stock than you want. Tell us what it needs to hold, and features you like as well as features you dislike, and we can build your spec together.

Plastic trays (new or recycled) are great options for adding sturdiness and long to a multi disc set. It is probably the most popular option among our clients. You still are using less plastic than a full plastic case, and you have the option of using recycled paper and sometimes, recycled trays. We can build these using 5inch or 7inch height trays.

Go to this page for lots of examples of multidisc traypaks and to see what options you have: multi-disc Tray pak packaging for cd and dvd sets

Consider also using paper trays, 100% recycled compressed paper with cork hubs.

SEE ALSO - Paper Tray Packaging

LEO Featured Title

If you have a USB to hold as well, consider a foam tray. These are easily customizable to hold special retail items.

SEE ALSO Featured Title Image Content

We can create jackets to hold almost any number of discs using pockets or foam hubs.

See this page for options and lots of examples—multidisc jackets

Multi-disc-jacket packaging for cd and dvd sets

Multi-disc CD and DVD jackets are the lowest impact method of housing your discs. It uses just one sheet of board stock and nothing else—no trays to add weight and expense. Pockets can be full (with standard or custom thumbholes) or you can go with slit pockets. Slits pockets are great for getting more discs into a smaller panel.

Eco-Friendly hub jackets are a great option when you want low impact, but need the maximum flexibility in disc placement. Plus, they look pretty cool. You can put a little foam hub in more places than you can practically put pockets, and they add only a tiny amount of additional weight to your package.

Recycled paper stocks are available with a moderate amount of post consumer waste (20-30% pcw) or a higher 70-80% pcw. We can do these white coated or uncoated (matte). e also have fiberboard stock, which is unbleached, recycled material. Soy inks are available for printing as well. We have a non toxic shrinkwrap that can be used to seal it, or a sticker tab seal if preferred.

Consider also using paper trays, 100% recycled compressed paper with cork hubs.

SEE ALSO - Paper Tray Packaging

LEO Featured Title

Who says all the discs have to be in a row? A cross or plus shape is ideal for 4-5 discs!

Sometimes too many discs in one package become unwieldy. An option you have is to split up the discs per package, and create one or more volumes. For example, in this title, the client split the volumes into two 2 disc sets, added a book, and packaged it altogether in a slipcase set.

SEE: CD / DVD Slipcase Sets

We can do all sizes and types of boxes; portfolio with velcro closes, software boxes, film reel boxes, gift boxes, custom shaped...just about anything. Disc are sometimes packaged inside with thin paper sleeves or vellum sleeves, or thicker stock jackets.

SEE our Multidisc CD / DVD Box Page for options and examples

Many multi-disc sets have an accompanying book. You need something that can stand alone. The best way to start is to size your book to match the disc packaging.

Unlike saddle stitch, in which the entire book can be bound using a couple of staples driven through the common "saddle," Contiguous pages are gathered into "signatures," the signatures are printed, folded, then stacked together into a block, with all pages appearing in reading order.

Perfect binding is the process used to make square-backed books using glue. Stitched binding is used when the book needs to lie flat.

• Qty: (500 to 1000 is a typical minimum order)
• Disc Types and Number of Discs:
• Packaging:
  • (Height of packaging/Number and type of trays?)
  • (Number of panels? 4pp, 6pp, etc.)
• Printing: 4C/4C including inner spines
• Paper Stock / Finish: (white, recycled, fiberboard, coated uncoated, thickness, etc.) (matte, glossy, aqueous, lamination, etc)
• Booklet/Book: number of pages? Stapled? (for perfect bound see further below, these have some specific details)
  • Printing:
  • Paper Stock / Finish:
• Slipcase:
  • Type: (side-load, top load, etc.)
  • Construction and stock (ex: 18pt single wall board, double wall board, chipboard and wrap)
  • Effects: Matte lamination, spot gloss, foil stamp, emboss or deboss
• Assembly: usually insertion of discs, booklet, etc. and shrinkwrap
• Shipping: we will include, one address US Continental, let us know if shipping outside of Continental US

Other things that help.... Look & Feel you are going for? Any preliminary art we can look at? Did you see titles on our site that you liked elements of?

Don't know where to start?

It seems like most projects are driven by the number of discs and the desired packaging height. The packaging height is often determined by whether it has booklets/books in it

Here's a page on MultiDisc Style that might give you some more ideas.