What a case wrap is and why it causes so many reprints
Most DVDs and Blu-ray discs are sold in a plastic keep case with a clear outer sleeve. The printed cover that slides under that sleeve is called the case wrap, cover insert or wrap-around. It carries the front cover, the spine and the back cover in one piece of paper, and it is what people see on a shelf, in a shop and in an online listing.
Case wraps look simple, but they are one of the most common reasons disc projects are sent back for corrections. A wrap that is a few millimetres too wide buckles inside the sleeve. Spine text set for a standard case looks off-centre on a slim case. A thin border around the edge shows every slip in trimming. This guide covers the sizes, the spine, the artwork set-up and the paper, so your wrap fits the first time.
DVD and Blu-ray cases are not the same size
The first decision is which case you are using, because every other measurement follows from it.
Standard DVD keep case
The familiar tall DVD case has a spine of about 14 mm. Its wrap is usually around 273 x 183 mm flat, but manufacturers' cases differ slightly, so always work from the template supplied by your printer or case supplier rather than a size you found online.
Slim DVD cases
Slim cases with spines of around 7 mm or 9 mm save space in shipping and on shelves. The front and back panels stay roughly the same; only the spine changes, so the total wrap width is narrower. Artwork built for a 14 mm spine will not fit.
Blu-ray cases
Blu-ray cases are shorter than DVD cases, with a narrower spine as standard. The wrap is a different size altogether, and many Blu-ray designs keep a band across the top of the front cover. Treat Blu-ray as its own format and request its own template.
Multi-disc cases
Cases holding two to six or more discs have thicker spines. If you are releasing a box set, confirm the exact case model before artwork starts.
For a comparison of keep cases with wallets, digipaks and jewel cases, see our guide to choosing packaging for CD, DVD and Blu-ray discs.
Laying out the wrap: back, spine, front
A case wrap is laid out flat, left to right, as back cover, spine, front cover. This is the opposite of what many people expect, and putting the front on the left is a frequent first-draft mistake.
- Front cover: title, key image and any logos. This is the panel that will be seen at thumbnail size online, so keep the title large and the image simple.
- Spine: title and, for series, a volume number or catalogue code. Spine text normally reads top to bottom in English-language markets, so that the title is readable when the case lies face up.
- Back cover: synopsis or track list, stills, running time, credits, legal notices, barcode and any rating badges required in your market.
Bleed, safe zone and the spine
Case wraps are trimmed on a guillotine, then slid under a sleeve that holds them by the edges. That combination needs careful margins.
- Bleed: extend backgrounds past the trim on all four sides, usually 3 mm unless your template says otherwise.
- Safe zone: keep text and logos well inside the trim, often 5 mm or more. The sleeve edges and the case hinge can hide or distort anything closer.
- Spine margins: keep spine text away from the spine fold lines so it does not wrap onto the front or back. On a thin spine, choose a short title or a compact font size.
- Avoid tight borders: a thin frame around the front panel exaggerates any small trim variation and looks uneven inside the sleeve.
A useful check: print your PDF at 100 percent on office paper, trim it, and slide it into an empty case. You will see straight away whether the title is centred, the spine reads correctly and the back cover text clears the hinge.
What goes on the back cover
The back cover carries more information than any other part of the wrap, so plan it before designing:
- a short description or track listing;
- a barcode, sized and placed so it scans through the clear sleeve (our article on serial numbers and barcodes covers barcode basics);
- technical details such as running time, aspect ratio, audio, language and region code;
- copyright and production notices;
- age rating marks where your distribution market requires them, using the official artwork from the rating body;
- format logos used only in line with their owners' licensing rules.
Paper and printing for case wraps
The wrap must slide smoothly under the sleeve and lie flat. Heavy card fights the sleeve and bows; very thin paper wrinkles. Lightweight coated paper is the usual choice, often in the 100 to 150 gsm range, printed in full colour. A gloss or silk coating gives rich colour behind the plastic sleeve. Lamination is rarely needed, because the sleeve protects the print.
Inside printing is optional but popular. The inside of the wrap shows through the clear case when it is opened, and many releases use it for a chapter list, a still image or credits. If you print both sides, check how the inside artwork lines up with the disc tray and hub area.
Pair the wrap with a disc face designed in the same style. Methods and artwork rules for the disc itself are in our guide to CD, DVD and Blu-ray disc printing.
Planning a series or a reissue
If the disc is one of several, such as a training course in volumes, a season of episodes or an annual event recording, design the wraps as a set from the start. Fix the position of the title, the spine layout and the colour of the spine band, and change only the image and the volume number between releases. On a shelf, a consistent set of spines looks deliberate and makes it easy to find the right volume.
For reissues, check the original files before reusing them. Older wraps were often designed for a different case supplier, and a spine or overall size that fitted then may be slightly off with the cases available now. A quick fit test with a printed proof avoids a full reprint later.
Common case wrap mistakes
- Using a DVD template for a Blu-ray case, or a standard spine for a slim case.
- Front cover placed on the left of the flat layout.
- Low-resolution stills pulled from video and enlarged for the cover.
- Spine text that wraps onto the front because the spine is narrower than assumed.
- Barcode placed in a corner where the sleeve seam or hinge distorts it.
Case wrap printing at Disc-Print
We print case wraps for DVD and Blu-ray keep cases in standard, slim and multi-disc sizes, together with disc printing, inserting and shrink-wrapping, so your release comes back assembled and ready to sell. We supply templates for every case we stock and check your artwork against them for spine width, bleed and panel order before printing.
If you are planning a film, training, event or music video release, send us your case type and quantity and we will send the right template and a quote. See our business printing services or contact us to get started.
