Collector’s glossary
New to steelbooks, 4K and group buys? The scene is full of jargon. Here’s a plain-English guide to the terms you’ll see across this site and in collector communities.
Editions & packaging
- SteelbookSB
- A premium metal case that replaces the standard plastic one — the centrepiece of most collections.
- Slipcover / Slip
- A printed cardboard sleeve that slides over the case for extra artwork and protection.
- Full Slip
- A slip that wraps the whole steelbook — front, spine and back. Usually the most desirable slip version.
- Half Slip
- A shorter slip covering roughly the lower half of the case.
- Quarter Slip
- A small slip or band covering about a quarter of the case.
- LenticularLenti
- A slip or front panel with a lenticular print that animates or shows 3D depth as you tilt it.
- Double Lenticular
- Two lenticular panels (often a layered front, or front and back) — a step up from a single lenti.
- One-ClickOC
- A single purchase that bundles every version of a release — the steelbook plus each slip and lenticular — usually in a collector’s box. You get the lot in “one click.”
- Box Set
- Several films or discs packaged together in one box.
- Digipak
- A folding cardboard case with a plastic disc tray, opening like a book.
- Mediabook
- A hardback, book-style case with a bound booklet and the discs held in the covers.
- Amaray
- The bog-standard plastic Blu-ray/DVD case — the non-premium default.
- Rigid Box / Hardbox
- A sturdy rigid cardboard box or slipcase, common on premium and boutique sets.
- Black & ChromeB&C
- An edition mastered in black-and-white with metallic/chrome styling — e.g. Mad Max: Fury Road’s “Black & Chrome” version.
Discs, formats & regions
- Blu-rayBD
- The standard 1080p high-definition disc.
- 4K UHDUHD
- An Ultra HD (2160p) disc, usually with HDR — often sold as “4K + Blu-ray” with both discs included.
- HDR / Dolby Vision
- High-dynamic-range picture formats that give brighter highlights and deeper contrast on 4K discs.
- Region A / B / C
- Blu-ray region locks. A = Americas & East Asia, B = Europe, Africa & Oceania, C = Central/South Asia & more. A locked disc only plays on a player set to its region.
- Region-Free
- Plays on any player, anywhere — no region lock. Worth checking before importing.
Buying & the community
- Group BuyGB
- A community-organised bulk order. Collectors pool their orders — usually via a Discord or Facebook group — to land a hard-to-get or region-locked edition, split shipping, or hit a minimum quantity. Run by a “GB manager.”
- Pre-order
- Reserving an edition before release. Boutique steelbooks frequently sell out at pre-order and never restock.
- Out of PrintOOP
- No longer manufactured — only available second-hand, often well above the original price.
- Exclusive number (e.g. “ME #82”)
- Boutique labels number their releases. Manta Lab’s are “ME” (Manta Exclusive); others have their own codes. The number pins down the exact release.
- Boutique label
- A premium, mostly Asia-based maker of limited, numbered steelbooks — e.g. Manta Lab, KimchiDVD, Novamedia, HDzeta, Blufans, WeET Collection, Cine-Museum.
- The “versions” of a release
- One film often ships as several separate editions — the bare Steelbook, a Full Slip, a Lenticular, a Double Lenticular, and the all-in One-Click. Each is priced separately, which is why a single film shows several cards on this site.
Still stuck?
Found a term we should add? Email hello@thebluraydb.com and we’ll explain it and pop it on the list. New collectors might also like the communities page.