Expression has been developing CDs and DVDs for almost 10 years. During that time, we have developed a Design, Production and Quality-Control process which is now applied to all our projects.

Our CD and DVD production process is usually accomplished in the following general stages:

Planning

1. Content Organization
2. Technical Planning
3. Design/Interface Planning

Design and Production

1. Interface Design
2. Multimedia Production
3. Production and Programming
4. Beta Master

Duplication and Packaging

1. Cover artwork
2. Duplication
3. Package design and printing
4. Shipping to destination

Please note that each above step is followed by a quality-control process by Expression and yourself to make sure that the project is evolving in the right direction and meets your criteria.

While Expression offers a complete service from planning to launch, we can also help your organisation with any individual steps of the process if required. For example, if you have a CD Master already, we will gladly handle the Duplication and Packaging for you.

Let’s take a closer look at each individual steps:

Content Organization
In many of our projects, this task is accomplished internally by our clients themselves. However, in certain cases, we can offer our services to help you define a clear and precise content map, as well as assist you to organize the content you may want to include on your CD.

Technical Planning
At this stage a needs-analysis is conducted to see if there are any technical hurdles for your future CD users, such as the need of additional software or hardware in order for viewers to fully experience the CD. For example, if your target audience is in a hardware-challenged part of the work like Africa (where many people can only access computers in Internet Cafés), having music or narration may be lost on your users since, chances are, no speakers are connected to the computer.

Once we have a clear description of the technical profile for the CD, we can proceed to the next step.

Design Planning
At this stage, a careful study of your company’s existing media and visuals is conducted. Also, if required, a review of the visuals of your competitors and/or partners CDs may be conducted. This is done to analyse what we may want to avoid, improve upon or emulate from other CDs. Finally, a series of open discussions between your company and our designers are conducted to capture your vision for your CD.

Please note that if your company has as existing branding guide (for printed and/or electronic media), we will comply with it: staying true to your primary and secondary colors, as well as font choices whenever possible.

Interface Design
At this stage we establish what the interface of your CD is going to look like. With the guidelines established in the Design Planning stage, we proceed with the Interface Design). One or several drafts of Interface screens are designed in Photoshop and presented to you as JPEGs for your approval. From this initial design, a back-and-forth process (between yourselves and our designers) is maintained until a final design is approved.

Multimedia Production
Depending on the type of CD we are producing, we may need audio and video media. Here again, Expression has you covered with professional Studio Recording and Video Production.

Production and programming
This step may vary a lot depending on what type of CD we are producing. Content-heavy CDs are usually built in HTML and accessed with Internet Explorer or Firefox. CDs requiring animation may be built in Flash and may incorporate audio and video. All these options will have already been determined in the planning stage.

Beta Master
Once the production is complete and approved by the client, a Master CD is prepared for duplication. The Master can then be given to the client if they are planning on doing the duplication themselves, or Duplication is handled by Expression (by far the most headache-free option).

Cover Art
Expression will create and produce the artwork for you CD cover. Again, the look-and-feel of the cover can be totally new or be based on your existing visuals (if the CD is to be used in concert with other media).

Duplication
Once the master CD is created and the cover artwork is approved, we’re ready for duplication. We duplicated CDs in quantities of 500 to 100,000. Costs for duplication are based on quantities.

Packaging
If the “clothes make the man”, then the “Sleeve makes the CD”. Expression offers a variety of packaging from the very inexpensive to the very elaborate. You can view some of our packaging options by clicking here.

Shipping
Once the duplication is complete, your CDs or DVDs are ready to shipped anywhere in the world.