There are of course many ways to make a release in Japanese style packaging but a unique factor seems to be the size. Typically Japanese style jackets are a little oversized compared to the more common 5inch height in the US. Keep in mind that custom dies at note expensive at Megalodon and we can make these any size you'd like.

2pp versus 4pp

You can have the jacket be a single envelope (2pp) or you can have it open like wallet (4pp)

Inner Sleeves are a great LP touch. They can be unprinted white (with or white a window), a solid colors, or we can print them 1C or 4C. Uncoated /matte paper stock is popular for these inner sleeves. We can also do vellum sleeves.

Outward opening pockets are the number one most popular feature of an LP style jacket, but consider also inward sleeve openings or even top opening!

Swinging sleeves or a vertical pocket glued to the back are also a nice vintage touch.


Check out Featured Title OriaBlue to see some more of this swinging sleeve style and look at the full spec.

Vinyl discs are another great feature to add to a LP look.

Our Art Department has some special info on disc printing

If you're making your mini LP for sale in Japan, or for collectors, you might want to add an obi strip. These are great for adding marketing in another language, or is meant to be discarded. These are usually placed over the spine, and extend an inch or so onto the front and back panel. AN obi is also a good place to put your bar code.
An alternative to a traditional OBI is a belly band or sash, which completely encircles the mini LP. We use belly bands for other formats, too.

We can make CD sized inner sleeves to go with your LP packages. These can be uncoated white paper, or a colored paper stock, or printed 1C or 4C. We have several sizes and make them to fit the LPs.

Putting out a double album? Choose a double vinyl LP style package that fits in with regular tray or jewelcase packaging.

Just one disc? Add a standard sized booklet!

Taking a look at some vintage albums can help you build up your spec. Two very good features to include are the pocket opening outward along with an inner sleeve. Thick paper stock, often combined with book binding (using chipboard type material/board stock wrapped with a 4C printed paper of about 150 gsm) is another good addition, although somewhat expensive. Oversized is attention catching, but not ideal for retail areas where the LP has to be the typical 5inch packaging.


For some ideas of making projects look vintage or retro, check out these pages- each has a slightly different "flavor" :
Retro Disc Packaging Slideshow
Vintage CD Covers Slideshow

Our most requested special paper stock is matte uncoated, for that touch me feel me look.


Recycled content is 20-30% recycled, post consumer waste content.

Our Truly Eco paper stock – contains 70-80% recycled content and post consumer waste, FSC. It is a bit softer to the touch as the recycled content is higher. This stock meets & exceeds EPA's definition of recycled paper.

Our fiberboard – lovely unbleached , brownish material, slightly fuzzy texture, , uses end of chain pulp material that otherwise would have been discarded. It is very eco friendly.

Coated Papers – we do that too, of course. Some artwork is not suited to uncoated stocks, or to fiberboard, so starting with a coated paper stock is a good approach. We can help guide you on that when we see your artwork.

Be sure to visit our Art Department- special paper stocks for cd / dvd packaging page.

And we can do all kinds of thickness too. If you need additional choices, ask, but these cover just about everything you might want to create. What don’t we use? We don’t use individual sheets of paper that you might pick up in a stationary store, for example. We use big rolls of paper. If you need help with thicknesses for your spec, this page will help you with pt stock and gsm conversions: Paper thickness / weight.

So, you've gone with a retro look in your CD packaging. How about the CD itself? Well, with the right art tweak, you can make your CD (or DVD) look like an old fashioned (albeit, little) vinyl LP or 45'!
See: Vinyl Disc Record-LP-Style Disc Printing