This post is about the DVD Wrap and its beginnings.
Whilst I'm still thinking of some ideas as to what is actually going to go on the wrap, I have started to create the wrap template in Photoshop.
The wrap will (as you can guess from its name) wrap-around the DVD case which consists of the front side, back side and the 'spine'.
This basically means that the wrap design will be split into three separate panels, leaving me to think about whether I want to design to stretch over all three panels, or give each panel its own design.
I prefer the second idea as the designs can be seen/appreciated individually instead of having to stretch the case open to view one design. Plus, separate designs mean that they can be created for different purposes; the front side being the most eye-catching, the spine design (hehe) will feature the title's name along with a not-so detailed/visible design to fill the space and the back side will have (I think) a design that is less detailed than the front, but more than the spine. I think it would also have to be somewhat transparent, or look good with translucent 'boxes' on top of it to house the title's blurb, information etc.
Using the dimensions found on a template online (CD, 2007), I have started to design a blank wrap in Photoshop. The overall image size is 11 inches x 7.5 inches; this converts to 279.4mm x 190.5mm. The image size has a 3.175mm bleed on each side included as a measure to ensure that there are no 'white gaps' when the wrap is cut to fit the case.
You can see the template I am working off below, I have included a table of conversions to show the measurements I have taken when adding the blue 'guide lines' in Photoshop, along with a description for each measurement.
| inches | mm | Description |
| 7.5 | 190.5 | Total height of wrap |
| 11 | 279.4 | Total length of wrap |
| 5.125 | 130.175 | Length of one panel |
| 7.25 | 184.15 | Height of panel (excluding bleed) |
| 0.5 | 12.7 | Length of spine |
| 0.125 | 3.175 | Bleed distance |
I started creating the template by opening Photoshop and selecting the options to create a new file. I entered the dimensions as the template suggested and made sure to set the colour mode to CMYK, this is because the wrap will be printed.
After this was done, I then went to Photoshop's preferences menu and changed the units I was working with from centimetres to millimetres, this gives me more accuracy when it comes to working with guides, tools and images.
I then went on to create my first 'guide' on the wrap. The purpose of guides is to split the image up, making it easier for the user to see where they are placing images and how everything will look. They also serve as useful 'snap-to' lines, making lining objects up and within boundaries much easier.
I decided to start with the first guide marking out the left side of the wrap, this will be the outer edge of the back panel. The gap between this guide and the edge of the file/'canvas' acts as the bleed; the rest of the outer guides will also follow this idea.
After some calculating and guide-making, the wrap now has guides marking off the edges of the wrap and guides separating the three panels from each other. As mentioned before, the outer edges of the file act as a bleed; the template suggests making sure that all important content stays within a 'safe area' of the wrap (this is red-lined area of the template), the template gives no information on the measurements of this safe area and I have not made it yet. I do plan to add the area in, assuming that the gap between the edge of the wrap and the safe area will be the same as the bleed distance- 3.175mm.
So that's all I have on the wrap for now, I may come back to update this on the additional guides.
Stay tuned!
Hasnain
References
CD, N.E., 2007. Available at: <http://www.newenglandcd.com/cd-templates/jpeg/amaray-wrap.jpg> [Accessed 15 February 2016].
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