Making of Digipak Cover

This post explains how I created the digipak cover for my music project, focusing on photography, editing and layout. The aim was to create a clean, emotional design.

Photography and Initial Image

The main image used for the digipak was taken outdoors at night.

I chose to photograph in low light to naturally create a darker mood. The limited lighting helped produce soft shadows and reduced background detail, which made the subject stand out more clearly. This also supported the emotional tone of the project, linking visually to themes of reflection and isolation often seen in Amy Winehouse’s visuals.

The subject is positioned slightly turned rather than facing the camera directly. This creates a more candid and thoughtful feel, rather than a posed studio portrait.

Background Removal and Subject Focus

After taking the photo, I imported it into Canva and removed the background.

By isolating the subject, the focus stays entirely on the figure instead of the environment. This also allowed more flexibility when placing the image inside a frame and adjusting the overall layout. The clean background helps the design feel minimal and professional, similar to classic album covers.

Colour and Image Adjustments

Once the background was removed, I adjusted the image settings in Canva.

I worked mainly with:

• brightness

• contrast

• highlights

  
  

These adjustments softened the image and helped balance the dark tones. The aim was not to over-edit, but to keep the photo natural while enhancing mood. The final result keeps detail in the face and hair while maintaining a serious atmosphere.

Layout and Framing

The image is placed inside a square frame to resemble a traditional vinyl or album cover.

This framing choice references physical music formats and helps the digipak feel authentic rather than purely digital. The black frame adds structure and contrast, separating the image from the white gradient background and guiding the viewer’s eye.

The vinyl record element placed behind the cover reinforces the idea of classic music culture and links directly to Amy Winehouse’s retro style.

Typography Choices

Two different text styles are used on the digipak.

• The artist name at the top uses a clean, elegant Prata font;

• The album title Back to Black is written in a Symphony font, giving it a personal and emotional quality.

Use of White Space

White space is used deliberately around the main elements.

This keeps the design from feeling crowded and allows each component to stand out clearly. The simplicity reflects classic album artwork and supports a more minimal aesthetic.

I also wanted to add the back cover to match the front one:

This is my remake of Amy Winehouse's product, as this is the original vinyl back cover for the "Back to Black" album:

I focused on following the conventions while keeping the design visually consistent with the front cover and the music video.

Some conventions I used:

• A clear tracklist layout, organised neatly so it is easy to read

• Side labels (Side 1 - 4) to reference vinyl and LP album formats

• A barcode placed in the corner, like the real industry packaging contains

• Minimal and simple typography so the focus remains on the music

• A dark background to match the emotional tone of the album and maintain visual continuity

• A balanced layout with clear spacing, avoiding overcrowding