10 years back, DVD was a strange word for many. Even today, many say DVD stands for DIGITAL  VEDIO DISK.  But its in-correct. DVD stands for DIGITAL VERSATILE DISK.

As  the name goes,  it has diversified formats. From exclusive video, it has entered many other formats including  Audio, Data and enhanced combination.

This guide is meant to aid in selecting correct type of storage medium for your DVD.

The most standard medium of DVD storage is 14 mm single DVD soft box.

But this is not the only choice. Your selection should be guided by the format and usage.

If you are collecting a classic movie, it most probably comes in a standard 14 mm soft DVD box with label.  You can always store  them alpha numerically.

What if you want to store a DVD R of your choice collection of video, Data, Music or  pictures you wrote on a DVD R!

Fortunately, unlike VHS and Cassette ,  DVD has a standard physical dimensions of 120 mm OD and 15 mm punch hole.

Unfortunately, there are more storage formats than DVD formats.

DVD formats as of this year are: DVD 5, DVD9, DVD10, DVD18, HD DVD , Blue Ray DVD and more.

DVD Storage medium are innumerable and some of them are:  Sleeve, C clamp, paper sleeve, paper sleeve with flap, Cardboard sleeve, Slim Case 7 mm box, Standard 10 mm box, DVD 14 mm soft box, DVD 7 mm soft box, DVD 7 mm dual box, DVD 14 dual box, DVD 14 mm triple box, DVD 22 mm quadruple box and many more fancy color and type.

Your selection depends  on the usage and storage method. If you are on the go and want to use it frequently, cardboard sleeve would be ideal.  If it’s a down loaded software  written on CDR or DVDR and want to store in your table drawer, paper window sleeve would be ideal.

If it’s a personal DVD movie or special event, you will sure want to store on a quality DVD storage box.

How to test the DVD storage box?

When you buy an empty storage DVD box, you should look for the following.

Most  DVD boxes are made from plastics (Polypropylene,  polyether lane). These are found in different grades.

Virgin

Mixed

Recycled

Salvage

How to test the grades:

If you are buying a box to store your marriage Video, you want to buy Virgin box to store your memorable  DVD.

Basic Tests:

DVD box made from Virgin plastic material is soft and smells good.  If it smells like burnt plastic, its not virgin. It may be mixed or recycled.

Virgin plastic is soft. It will bend but not break until bent over 90 degrees. If the edge of the box is brittle and breaks by bending it over 90 degrees, its not virgin.

Virgin boxes are mostly made only in US and North America, because, plastics are still cheapest in North America. If a DVD storage medium is manufactured in US, it has to be virgin. Recycled or mixed boxes are  more costly to manufacture in North America for obvious reasons. 

So, next time when you go to a Mall to buy a DVD storage Box, the first quality check is to smell it and make sure that it does not smell like burnt plastic. If you are buying on line, make sure that its declared as virgin material.