The Blu-ray Replacement Case Thread

[Moviefan1203]

Just a quick question for everyone here, but what do you guys do with the thicker cases used in UK Blu-ray releases? I understand some of you have no problems with those particular cases, but for those of you that do, what do you do about them? Find custom artwork, print it out, and put in in a regular sized Blu-ray case? Or is there a way to trim the original artwork so that it fits in a regular sized Blu-ray case?

[jonsmith369]

Originally Posted by Moviefan1203

Just a quick question for everyone here, but what do you guys do with the thicker cases used in UK Blu-ray releases? I understand some of you have no problems with those particular cases, but for those of you that do, what do you do about them? Find custom artwork, print it out, and put in in a regular sized Blu-ray case? Or is there a way to trim the original artwork so that it fits in a regular sized Blu-ray case?

I have just recently started getting into importing Blu-rays. I am still undecided on what to do with them.

I bought the Matrix trilogy and Animatrix from the UK and I am putting them in standard size 12.5mm US Viva Elite cases with custom covers. I already had some custom cover art printed out for those 4, back when I was planning on getting the US collection as I didn't like the slim cases those came in (or the bigger cases these UK ones came in). I don't know if these covers are still available publicly as most artists have recently cracked down of the rights to their customs to prevent getting ripped off. Oddly enough on the UK Matrix trilogy 3 movie boxset had all 3 movies in 14mm(or15mm I don't know for sure) cases and it was a little loose, so I could actually put 4 standard 11mm Vortex cases inside of it to put the Animatrix in there with it's brothers, but I prefer Viva Elite cases so I won't be doing that.

I am not a huge fan of the UK ratings labels so I am thinking about scanning the UK covers for some of them and doing some light customization to slim down the spine art for US sized cases, remove the ratings labels and make the back cover look more US style (it wouldn't be very professionally done though so I probably wouldn't make my scan conversions available for sharing). The problem with that plan is that I also got Elektra which came with a slipcover and I plan on leaving the slip on for displaying in my collection, so it would be a waste of time to redo the inner cover art only to still have those things on the outer slip.

I know you could just trim the artwork on the edges to make it fit, but the spine art would spill over a little bit to the front and back covers. I don't like ever cutting the original artwork up, so I usually just scan and reprint them if I am thinking about doing this. Then while I'm at it I might as well just remove ratings labels and narrow the spine up a bit. I don't actually mind the bigger cases, they are kind of nice as they feel like they have some real value behind them. I probably wouldn't like my whole collection to be in those cases though as it would look way too big then.

Long story short, I still have no idea what to do with those bigger cases on imports.

[rteer88]

All this talk of case types, embossed logo, brand names, hubs, locks, etc is getting really confusing!!! I'm just looking for a quality brand 2/3 disc case without the security latch. Can someone help me out?

[Alpha]

Originally Posted by rteer88

All this talk of case types, embossed logo, brand names, hubs, locks, etc is getting really confusing!!! I'm just looking for a quality brand 2/3 disc case without the security latch. Can someone help me out?

No latch = Viva Elite

Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be too many of the 2/3 disc cases. These are generic/aftermarket ones, but they'll work.

http://www.amazon.com/Standard-DOUBL...5873996&sr=8-5

http://www.amazon.com/Double-BLU-RAY...5873996&sr=8-2

http://www.megadiscstore.com/index.p...999c6c720902b6

Hope that helps!

[rteer88]

Originally Posted by Alpha

No latch = Viva Elite

Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be too many of the 2/3 disc cases. These are generic/aftermarket ones, but they'll work.

http://www.amazon.com/Standard-DOUBL...5873996&sr=8-5

http://www.amazon.com/Double-BLU-RAY...5873996&sr=8-2

http://www.megadiscstore.com/index.p...999c6c720902b6

Hope that helps!

Thanks a bunch!!!

[rteer88]

So which is the standard thickness for a BD case...12 or 12.5mm?

[jonsmith369]

Originally Posted by rteer88

So which is the standard thickness for a BD case...12 or 12.5mm?

The Vortex Cases with security flaps are 11mm and standard Viva Elite cases without the flap are 12.5mm.

Most generic multiple discs cases are not very good quality, they just do not feel very official. There is a guy in the trading forum right now with a bunch of official Viva Elite 2-disc cases for sale. I don't understand it but I think he is switching all of them out to put them into the ones with the flaps (which I hate also).

Elite BD Cases For Sale

His prices aren't super cheap, but these are official Viva 2-disc cases that I have never seen for sale anywhere.

[primitiveskin]

http://www.megadiscstore.com/index.p...ex&cPath=34_38

The Good News about Canada's Mega Disc Super-Store:
They've just added 5- and 6-disc 15mm Viva Elites to their product selections....

The Great News about Mega Disc Super-Store:
Shipping is now FREE for 3-disc 12.5mm, 4-, 5-, and 6-disc 15mm Viva Elites....

The God-Awful News about Mega Disc Super-Store:
Shipping is free because prices have escalated dramatically to $4.99 or $5.99 Canadian PER case, with a minimum order of 5 cases!!! Vernon Library Supplies has always charged a premium price per case for MeadWestvaco/AGI Polymatrix Vortex cases, so it looks like Mega Disc Super-Store will now follow suit. This pricing may have resulted from a spike in their sales when news of their carrying 3-disc 12.5mm and 4-disc 15mm Viva Elites started spreading across the Internet a week or two ago....

[Sussudio]

OP Updated

Good to hear about the free shipping, bad to hear about the price spike...Not terrible if you need lots and lots of cases I guess

[rteer88]

Originally Posted by jonsmith369

The Vortex Cases with security flaps are 11mm and standard Viva Elite cases without the flap are 12.5mm.

Most generic multiple discs cases are not very good quality, they just do not feel very official. There is a guy in the trading forum right now with a bunch of official Viva Elite 2-disc cases for sale. I don't understand it but I think he is switching all of them out to put them into the ones with the flaps (which I hate also).

Elite BD Cases For Sale

His prices aren't super cheap, but these are official Viva 2-disc cases that I have never seen for sale anywhere.

Thanks jon for the info, but I'm still not clear on the cases.
Which case will not require me to alter (cut or trim) the cover-art?
Which 2D case can I buy and transfer my 1D blu-ray movie along with my previous copy of the DVD to create my own 2D Special Edition blu-ray, but still be able to use the cover-art from the 1D blu-ray case?

[Breotan]

Originally Posted by primitiveskin

The God-Awful News about Mega Disc Super-Store:

I think the free shipping is a Canada only offer. These are going to be quite expensive to order if you live in the USA.

[jonsmith369]

Originally Posted by rteer88

Thanks jon for the info, but I'm still not clear on the cases.
Which case will not require me to alter (cut or trim) the cover-art?
Which 2D case can I buy and transfer my 1D blu-ray movie along with my previous copy of the DVD to create my own 2D Special Edition blu-ray, but still be able to use the cover-art from the 1D blu-ray case?

The viva elite 2-disc cases that are for sale by that guy in the trading forum (I bet he is running low soon though as 2-disc elites are not for sale anywhere) would be able to fit the cover art from a 1 disc elite case perfectly. Elite cases are the ones that are 12.5mm thick, don't have the stupid security flap and the 1 disc and 2 disc cases are the exact same size.

Vortex cases have the flap on the side and are 11mm thick, so the spine art on those cases is slightly narrower but it is not too noticeable when put in a 12.5mm case. These thinner cases actually have the artwork sleeve extend slightly further on the front and back. As odd as it sounds the artwork in the thinner 11mm cases is sometimes actually slightly too long to fit into a thicker 12.5mm replacement cases and would need to trim like 1/16 of an inch off, but I have only had this happen like 3 times though out of like ~50 movies being switched from vortex into elite cases.

[rteer88]

Thanks again, jon.

[m6bigdog]

I'm interested in converting my collection of Blu-ray's to slim cases. I have several muilti disc BR releases with the Viva Elite slim cases. The Harry Potter 7-disc set has the 1-disc slim and the Ultimate Matrix Collection has the 1 & 2-disc slims with a Black (6mm BD size) Viva Elite case without the BD Logo.

The Viva Elite slim cases are very good quality.

The motivation for me is to reduce the space required for my current collection of 400+ blu's and an anticipated collection of 600-800 in a few years.

I have yet to find an online retailer that has the 1 & 2 Viva Elite Blu-ray slim(6mm) cases. I may have found a retailer that will special order them in lots of 100 - which is what I'm looking for.

Viva Elite Slim Case
http://www.viva-elite.com/vivaelite_bw.php

Anyone know of a online retailer that stocks the slim cases?

I anticipate having 300-400 standard size cases available when I've converted to slims.

Thanks,

[Sussudio]

Originally Posted by m6bigdog

Anyone know of a online retailer that stocks the slim cases?

As of right now the only retailer I've come across with 6mm cases is Merit Line as listed in the OP, but they are Vortex, not Elite cases:

http://www.meritline.com/6mm-clear-b...--p-38873.aspx

Will definitely let you know if I find something else and/or will update the OP if someone else does.

[Ray_Rogers]

Originally Posted by Sussudio

As of right now the only retailer I've come across with 6mm cases is Merit Line as listed in the OP, but they are Vortex, not Elite cases:

http://www.meritline.com/6mm-clear-b...--p-38873.aspx

Will definitely let you know if I find something else and/or will update the OP if someone else does.

I've seen Blu-slims listed for purchase at GenesysDTP.com Cheap too per case.
I've purchased from them several times before and I'll keep buying product from them in the future.

[Sussudio]

Originally Posted by Ray_Rogers

I've seen Blu-slims listed for purchase at GenesysDTP.com Cheap too per case.
I've purchased from them several times before and I'll keep buying product from them in the future.

I'm looking into it, thanks for the link and info!

[PBR]

Originally Posted by rteer88

All this talk of case types, embossed logo, brand names, hubs, locks, etc is getting really confusing!!! I'm just looking for a quality brand 2/3 disc case without the security latch. Can someone help me out?

try http://www.megadiscstore.com
they have now up to 6 disc cases by VIVA I got some today. 15mm too!

[m6bigdog]

I contacted the Megadiscstore and they said, "we will put them (6mm Viva Elite cases) in our regular stock in near future.

http://www.megadiscstore.com/index.p...ex&cPath=34_38

The only other 6mm BD cases I've seen online so far are non-Viva Elite cases and if I'm going to go through the pain of swaping 400-600 cases I want to know what I'm getting.

[primitiveskin]

There is no slim Vortex case, so all slim cases would have to be Elites or generic Elite-types. Previously, retailers who were selling generic cases were either selling 11mm Nexpak PremierPaks as single- and double-disc Vortex-style cases; or slim "7mm" single-disc and "12mm" single- and double-disc generic Elite-types. The previous generation of Elite-style generics had a branding bar where a whitish pad-printed Blu-ray Disc Logo could be placed. The newest lineup of generic cases has an "embossed" logo that is molded directly onto the case with a raised symbol and lettering, but no coloring has been added.

Retailers like Meritline, Genesys DTP, and Tape.com carry this newer generation of generic cases:

1) 6mm Slim Single-Disc Elite-style
2) 12mm (12.5mm) Single- and Double-Disc Elite-style
3) 22mm (21.8mm) 3-, 4-, 5-, and 6-Disc Vortex-style


Mega Disc Super-Store had previously been carrying generic single- and double-disc Elite-types, but has supposedly transitioned to genuine 12.5mm single-disc Viva Elites. Perhaps when they exhaust their supply of generic 12.5mm double-disc Elite-style cases, they will then begin to carry brand-name Elite doubles?

Oh, and by the way, either the shopping cart for Mega Disc Super-Store is still incorrectly coded to calculate shipping costs, or free shipping DOES apply, at least for North American purchases, although I can't be sure if that further applies to say, Mexico. Let me restate that, for now, if you're in the United States, your order for genuine multi-disc Viva Elites from Mega Disc Super-Store will receive FREE shipping!