Taking my original images

I took my original images of my artist for my digipak outside in school as I would not be using the background on my digipak as i had already picked one. I did it outside so it would have good lighting and make the picture better quality. I took close ups of her and mid shots, ones that where feminine and up beat and ones that where more serious. I decided to use the more cheerful ones as I realised i was not just selling one song but a whole album. When cutting my pictures out to put onto my blog i regretted not taking the pictures on a plain background as it was harder for me to cut out the image. Also for some of my pictures the sun was in her eyes making my artists squint a little bit so this didn't have the best effect.

DIGIPAK sketches

I wanted to use a pink theme as my target audience was young girls, I also wanted to show off my artists femininity. I wanted to use hearts to represent that my album was about love. I used a lot of close ups to show my artists beauty and to also promote and sell her image so that the public would recognise her. I wanted to sell the artist. 

I chose the first one as my final design as I thought it represented love and also included my artist enough times. I also liked the dove included as it represented my artist being set free and in contrast to the front cover and back cover where she is trapped in tunnel. This is then giving off the idea that the album is about a girl in love who is being set free. 

Focus group feedback into brand image

I came up with 7 questions with the group to help me think of ideas for my digipak. The feedback was very helpful and it was also what I expected to hear, that the brand identity for my artists is more feminine and soft rather than feisty and independent.

How I can use language to address your audience

The language I should use on my magazine advert should include information about the album that I am selling, such as when it is coming out where it is available to buy. It should include a known song on the front so that it will interest the target audience more. Also include a review from a newspaper or magazine that my specific target audience would read. Having this on my magazine advert will make it look more professional and is what most adverts use and it will also attract my target audience. 

Conventions of the DIGIPAK form

1.  What is a DIGIPAK and how is it similar/different to an album cover?

The DIGIPAK has additional features and extras whereas a CD album doesn't, CD albums also usually have only two faces but DIGIPAK can have more.

2. What does a DIGIPAK net look like and how many faces are usual?

A DIGIPAK typically consists of a gatefold, with a paperboard or card stock outer binding, with one or more plastic trays attached to inside the generic. It is a 4 - 8 panel net that is eventually folded, so usually 4 - 8 faces on the DIGIPAK.

3. What do we usually find on the various faces of a DIGIPAK? 

On the front face you would usually have a picture of the artists advertising them, also the name of their CD. 
In the first inside face it usually has a slot for a lyric book
The middle inside face is where the CD is kept 
On the back it will have all the names of the songs featured on the CD also a bar code.

4. Does there need to be a connection between the faces of a DIGIPAK? 
There must be a clear connection between the faces to promote a brand and to make sense

Analysis and annotation of an album

The close up shot of the main artist I think is crucial as it sells the artist and shows her beauty and confidence in herself, the white colours shows purity and innocence . And the pink and red colours and the use of flowers shows love and romance that can featured in the album but also the red colours can show anger which could be shown in the songs. The red lips show danger as well as beauty and love.  The use of setting is very girly, the use of the garden shows her feminine side and her innocent side and the flowers represent beauty and how beautiful she is. It also represents romance and love. The bedroom setting shows the sexual side of her and appeals to the male gaze. She is also wearing very feline clothes that shows innocence and natural beauty. But it also shows off her body which shows he confidence in herself and shows off her sexuality. The typography is in capitals and bold therefore the title is memorable but it also has an elegance and delicacy to it as it quite faint. This album has a mix interpretation of her personality it shows glamour and confidence  through her jewellery and some the facial expressions that she is showing, but then also shows a vulnerable and delicate side to her through the use of flowers, settings and costume. Her looking straight at the camera shows her sexuality and also the pose of her with her fingers on her mouth shows her sexual side and her body language is provocative. 

This album cover links to my artist as it is an R&B artist and my genre is R&B. My album will also be quite feminine as the song is focused on the women. This album also represents love and romance which is also featured in my song. But the vulnerability shown on the album of Rihanna is shown in my song.