Conventions analysis of digipaks

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http://www.discfactory.co.uk/packaging/cd-digipaks/

To gain an insight into how different colours are used in a variety of genres I used Google image search to see where the conventions of each genre of music lie. The results from a few of my searches are below.

Indie album covers:

• Predominant colours:  yellow, green, white,, black, purple/blue, orange
• All colours tend to be more pastel rather than bright; contrasting the bright colours use in pop covers, and the heavier use of dark colours on "indie-pop" covers
• Tend not to contain images of people

 Pop album covers:

• Predominant colours: pink, white,,black, purple, red, bright yellow, blue. On the whole the colours tend to be bright in order to guide the audience to the main point of attraction of the cover.
• Most covers will contain an image of the artist themselves, with their name in large block letters so that the audience can see exactly who it is they are buying an album from.
• Direct address of artist
• Medium close ups//close ups
• Backgrounds tens to be plain; drawing focus on the image of the artist.
• Females on the front of album covers tend to be wearing little amounts of clothing 

 Indie-pop alum covers:

• Predominant colours: green, white/cream, black, grey, light pink, pastel yellow, 'golden' type colours, light blue. On the whole the colours tend to be more neutral; pastel perhaps. This is mixed with a heavier use of the shades black and white; adding a dull tone to the covers.
• Females on the front of album covers tend to be wearing more clothing; perhaps because it is a characteristic of 'indie' audiences wearing considerably more 'comfy' clothes than mainstream audiences. This sense of dress is therefore relatable to an audience so they are more likely to consume it.
• less likely to contain people on the cover than on '"pop" albums, but more so than on "indie" alone albums.
• Backgrounds tend to be scenic, containing scenes of the weather. Sometimes these vary and are based around one single colour but using a gradient affect with shades of white so that certain parts of the album cover are highlighted by the contrast of dark against light.

 Alternative rock album covers:

• Predominant colours: black, white, grey, blue. Many of the colours used on Alt. rock album covers follow no particular theme. Conventions vary within the mise-en-scene. For example; 
• It is more unlikely for the cover to contain images of people/artists, although it is not a standard convention as some do.
• Backgrounds tend to be scenic, or focused on one main colour; used to give the desired affect. 

 Metal album covers:

• Predominant colours:  yellow, red, green, black, purple/blue, orange, grey (mainly analogous colours such as yellow, red, and orange.)
• All colours tend to be very bright; contrasting the black that is commonly used in backgrounds.
• more 'artistic' album cover, a lot 'busier'
• Death related, computer generated imagery (cgi)
• Unusual typography

 Punk album covers:

• Predominant colours:  yellow, red, white, black, purple/blue, orange.
• All colours tend to be more  bright rather than pastel, or faded colours reflecting the 'in your face' style of music. This relationship means an audience are more likely to consume these products.
• Chunky, cracked, block typography is most commonly used. Often individual letters are mis-shapen, and not in line with the other letters.

In addition to looking at album covers, I also did some research into colour and how different colours can be used. I also learnt the 'values' of colour which provide tint and shade. This is important to be aware of whilst producing my ancillary texts because,as found in my research, indie-pop album covers tend to include colours with the tint of another to create a more unusual impression; reflecting the music of indie-pop, and the ideologies that it represents. 

Websites I referred to whilst researching into colour, the types of colour, how these colours can be used to portray meaning, and how colours work well together:

http://thevirtualinstructor.com/Color.html

http://www.worqx.com/color/combinations.htm

http://www.worqx.com/color/color_wheel.htm

Summary:

I found that (on the whole) digipacks from bands within the indie genre, and digipacks from bands within the alternative genre tend to relate to the nature of the music, and what they are trying to portray as a band by using image to connote meaning, reinforcing the meaning of their lyrics, and their ideologies as artists. This is done instead of selling the artist; as typically found in the digipacks from pop artists.

There is also a relationship between the images used of the different panels of  a digipack – in terms of colours, and other elements of the mise-en-scene. This relationship provides continuity so that

In addition to this I found that:

•      Most digipacks use a white font
•      Regardless of genre music, many album covers contain the colours black, and or white. This is because they are considered "neutral" colours (or earth colours) therefore do not belong to any specific genre.