The paper parts of a jewel case release
The jewel case is still the default package for a CD release. Bands selling at gigs, choirs recording a concert, churches releasing a worship album and labels pressing a short run of a reissue all use it, because it is cheap, stackable and fits every CD shelf and shop rack. The disc gets most of the attention during production, but what people actually look at on a merch table is the printed paper inside the case: the front booklet, the tray card at the back and the narrow spines along the sides.
Those printed parts cause more reprints than the discs do. A spine that reads upside down, a booklet that will not close under the case tabs, a barcode that falls on the fold or a tray card cut a millimetre too wide are all common. This guide covers the sizes, page counts, paper and text details for a standard jewel case, so the artwork fits the first time.
What goes into a standard jewel case
A standard jewel case holds three printed items plus the disc:
- The front booklet or insert. A square folded booklet held in the lid by small plastic tabs. The front cover of the booklet is the cover of the album. It can be a single folded card (4 pages) or a stapled booklet of 8, 12, 16 or more pages.
- The tray card, also called the rear inlay. A card that sits behind the clear plastic tray at the back of the case. It shows the back cover (track list, credits, barcode) and folds up at each side to form the two spines.
- The on-body print. The printed face of the disc itself, covered in our guide to CD, DVD and Blu-ray disc printing.
A slimline jewel case, which is thinner, has no tray card and no spines. It holds only a front insert, so spine text is not possible. Check which case you are using before designing.
Sizes and templates
Exact dimensions vary slightly between manufacturers and printers, so always ask for the printer's template. As a guide, standard jewel case parts are close to these measurements:
| Part | Typical finished size | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Front booklet (folded) | About 120 x 120 mm | Flat size of each 4-page sheet is about 240 x 120 mm |
| Tray card (flat) | About 150 x 118 mm | Includes two spines of about 6 to 6.5 mm each |
| Tray card back panel | About 137 x 118 mm | The area visible through the rear tray |
| Slimline insert | About 120 x 120 mm | Usually a single card or 4-page folded card |
Add bleed of 3 mm on all sides, unless the template shows otherwise, and keep text at least 3 to 4 mm inside the trim. On the tray card, keep text well away from the spine folds, because the fold position can move slightly and the plastic tray's edges hide a narrow strip on each side.
Page counts and paper for the booklet
A stapled booklet is made from folded sheets, so page counts go up in steps of four: 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24 and so on. Each extra page makes the booklet thicker, and at some point it no longer fits comfortably under the tabs in the lid. The practical limit depends on paper weight. With a thin text paper, booklets of 24 pages or more are possible; with thick silk paper, the booklet becomes tight much sooner.
- 4-page insert: a single folded card, often 170 to 250 gsm silk. Strong and cheap, good for a short release with a simple track list.
- 8 to 16 pages: a lighter paper, often 130 to 170 gsm silk, stapled in the spine. Room for lyrics, photos and credits.
- 20 pages and more: thinner paper for the inner pages, possibly a slightly heavier cover. Ask for a dummy to check that it fits in the case.
Silk and gloss papers show photos well. Uncoated paper gives a more natural feel and is easy to write on, which some artists like for signed copies at gigs.
Spine text: the detail most people get wrong
The spine is what people see on a shelf, so it needs the artist name, album title and usually a catalogue number. It is very narrow, about 6 mm, so there is room for one line of text at a modest size.
Reading direction
There are two conventions. In North America, spine text usually reads from top to bottom. In much of Europe, it has traditionally read from bottom to top. Many releases now follow the top-to-bottom style. What matters most is consistency: if the release is part of a series, or you are selling alongside your previous albums, use the same direction every time.
Spine checklist
- Centre the text in the spine, both across its width and along its length.
- Use a clear font at a size that fits comfortably, not a size that touches the fold lines.
- Use the same text on both spines, reading in the same direction when the case is lying face up.
- Use high-contrast colour. Thin light text on a busy photo is almost unreadable on a shelf.
What to put on the tray card
The back of the case is where buyers and shops look for information. A typical tray card includes:
- The track list with running times.
- The artist name and album title, if the design allows.
- A barcode, placed in a flat area with a white background and away from folds. Our guide to serial numbers and barcodes covers barcode printing in general.
- Catalogue number, label name or logo, and copyright lines for the sound recording and artwork.
- A website or social media handle so people can find more music.
Keep the barcode and small text in the visible back panel, not on the parts that fold into the spines.
Artwork checklist before you send files
- Use the printer's template for your exact case and page count.
- Set up artwork in CMYK at 300 ppi, with 3 mm bleed.
- Send booklet pages as single pages in reading order, and let the printer put them into the correct position for folding.
- Proofread every lyric and name. Band member names, producers and studios are easy to misspell.
- Check the barcode number against the one you were assigned, and test that it scans on a print-out.
- Print a test at 100 percent scale, cut it out, fold it and place it in a real jewel case.
Printing CD booklets and tray cards with us
We print booklets, tray cards and inserts for standard and slimline jewel cases together with the discs, and we can assemble and shrink wrap the finished cases ready for sale. We provide templates for every case type, check each file for bleed, spine alignment, barcode placement and page count, and tell you before printing if a booklet will be too thick for the case. Paper options include silk, gloss and uncoated stocks, and short runs for gig merch are routine.
If you are still deciding between a jewel case and a card wallet or digipak, our guide to choosing packaging for CD, DVD and Blu-ray discs compares the options, and our print quality and materials section covers paper and finishing. Send your track list and artwork to the team through the contact page for a quote.
When the first box arrives, take one case to a record shelf and look at it spine-out among other albums. If the name is readable from a step away, the spine has done its job.
