Yes. Choose the CD packaging format first, lay out the lyrics and artwork to fit it, then test-print and check the folds before making the final copy. For a single home-made insert, a page-layout or word-processing app can work; for a professional print run, use the manufacturer’s current template for the exact package.
Choose the format before you design
A jewel-case insert, a folded multi-panel insert, a tray card and a separate stapled booklet are not interchangeable. Each has different dimensions and panel order, so decide what will hold the lyrics before laying out the pages. A simple jewel-case insert commonly combines cover art and a track list, with liner notes where space allows. A longer set of lyrics may call for a folded insert or a multi-page booklet instead.
For commercial production, begin with the provider’s template. Oasis Disc Manufacturing’s templates include two-panel, four-panel, six-panel and eight-page formats; CD Sonic’s forms provide another example of provider-specific layouts. These are examples, not a universal set of dimensions.
Gather lyrics, credits and artwork
Prepare the album title, artist name, track sequence, lyrics, credits and any artwork you are entitled to reproduce. Decide where each item belongs before adjusting typography: the track list may sit on the back panel, while lyrics and credits take up interior panels or booklet pages. Keep track numbers and song titles consistent with the CD’s sequence.
#1 Best Overall
- Add a polished, cohesive look to your CD collections by creating custom CD case inserts that match your disc and spine labels for seamless branding or organization
- Design and print professional-looking CD case inserts with ease using Avery Design & Print, which offers templates, designs, and easy-to-use tools for customizing text, images, and graphics
- Print clear text and crisp graphics with printable CD insert paper optimized for both laser and inkjet printers to help prevent smearing or smudging
- Effortlessly personalize jewel case inserts to fit any purpose, whether for data backups, music albums, photo collections, or custom projects
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Only use images and lyrics you own or have permission to reproduce. For professional duplication, the printer may ask you to document your rights. For example, A to Z Audio’s production guidance says it requires a replication-rights form confirming ownership or written licenses for material the submitter does not own. That is the provider’s submission policy, not a complete statement of copyright law.
Make a home-print layout
Set up the page
Use a word processor or desktop-publishing application that lets you set page dimensions and position text and images. Start from the insert or booklet format you chose, rather than assuming one page size will fit every case. An older It Still Works home-layout guide suggests a page size, but that measurement should not be treated as an industry-wide specification.
Rank #2
- Front booklet insert is die-cut and micro-perforated to allow for ease of printing, separation and insertion into CD jewel case
- Consists of 2 adjoined cards, which are scored in between to allow them to be folded over to make a 4-sided front booklet
- Glossy Finish; Compatible with inkjet printers only
- 100 sheets (standard 8.5-inch x 11-inch size)
Arrange and format the lyrics
- Place lyrics in a clear reading order, with song titles easy to distinguish from verses and credits.
- Use strong contrast between text and any background image; avoid putting small type over busy artwork.
- Leave room around cut and fold edges so important words, song titles and credits are not trimmed or bent.
- Check the text at the size it will actually print. A layout that looks readable on a large monitor can become cramped on a small insert.
Print a proof and finish it
- Print a test page using the intended paper, orientation and duplex setting. Corel’s documented insert workflow includes printing test pages to check alignment.
- Check that both sides line up, the page order reads correctly when folded, and no text falls outside the printer’s printable area. Microsoft explains page setup and printable margins in its Publisher page-setup guide.
- Trim and fold along the intended marks only after the proof looks right. Unless you have confirmed that your printer supports borderless printing, allow for unprinted margins.
Prepare artwork for a professional print run
Follow the selected manufacturer’s current template and file instructions; specifications vary by provider and may change. Oasis, for example, requests 300 PPI artwork, CMYK images and a final PDF, and recommends PDF/X-4. Those are Oasis specifications, not universal requirements.
Keep important text clear of trim and fold lines, and check whether the provider wants bleed for artwork that runs to the edge. A to Z Audio’s guidance calls for 1/8-inch bleed on images extending to the edge and 1/8-inch clearance for elements that do not bleed. Confirm the measurements against the printer’s own template before exporting the file.
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- Make your own CD Jewel Case Mini Booklets using Printable White Matte Cardstock. Each Booklet is perforated and scored to fit perfectly in full size jewel cases.
- Each package contains 20 sheets of White Matte CD Booklet Inserts, with 1 Booklet Insert per sheet for a total of 20 CD Tray Inserts.
- Easily printable with laser and inkjet printers or copiers, these tray inserts are made from 67# Vellum Bristol white matte cardstock. Please note that Vellum Bristol cardstock is not the same as Vellum parchment.
- CD Jewel Case Booklets are easy to format with most word processing or page layout software, and templates are available for download, please inquire.
Which approach should you use?
| Approach | Best fit | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Home-printed insert | A one-off copy or informal project | Page dimensions, duplex alignment, printable margins, cutting and folding |
| Manufacturer template | A professional run or a format with several panels or pages | The provider’s current template, file format, image settings, bleed and rights requirements |
There is no single paper weight or booklet dimension established for every CD package. Let the physical case and the chosen printer’s instructions determine the layout.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Make your own CD Jewel Case Inserts using Printable White Matte Cardstock. Each Insert set is perforated and scored to fit perfectly in full size jewel cases, and contains one Front Insert and one Tray Liner.
- Each bulk package contains 20 sheets of White Matte CD Jewel Case Insert sets, with one Front Insert and one Tray Liner per sheet for a total of 20 CD Jewel Case Insert sets.
- Easily printable with laser and inkjet printers or copiers, these tray inserts are made from 67# Vellum Bristol white matte cardstock. Please note that Vellum Bristol cardstock is not the same as Vellum parchment.
- CD Jewel Case Inserts are easy to format with most word processing or page layout software, and templates are available for download, please inquire.
Rank #4
- Space-saving way to organize and store CD/DVD media
- Protects disc surface from scratches, dust and light exposure
- Clear window to see disc label
- Envelope-style closure keeps media securely in sleeve
- Verbatim has been a leader in data storage technology since 1969, and provides technical support.
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