Editing Led Zeppelin III (section)

==Packaging and artwork==
[[File:Led Zeppelin III volvelle .jpg|alt=|thumb|The volvelle used on the front cover]]

''Led Zeppelin III'''s original [[vinyl record|vinyl]] edition was packaged in a gatefold sleeve with an innovative cover, designed by [[Zacron]], a multi-media artist whom Page had met in 1963 whilst Zacron was a student at [[Kingston College of Art]].{{sfn|Lewis|2012|p=77}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zacron.com/view-item.asp?iid=4 |title=Zacron – Led Zeppelin III Rock album cover, strictly limited world edition plus 50 a/p's signed by Zacron Gallery |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080117131508/https://www.zacron.com/view-item.asp?iid=4 |archive-date=17 January 2008 }}</ref> Zacron subsequently graduated from the [[Royal Academy of Arts]] and became a lecturer at the [[University of Leeds]]. Page asked him if he would help design a sleeve for the album, which he helped arrange in January 1970.{{sfn|Lewis|2012|pp=77–78}}

The cover and interior gatefold art consisted of a surreal collection of seemingly random images on a white background, many of them connected thematically with flight or aviation. Behind the front cover was a rotatable laminated card disc, or [[volvelle]], covered with more images, including photos of the band members, which showed through holes in the cover; moving an image into place behind one hole would usually bring one or two others into place behind other holes.{{sfn|Lewis|2012|p=78}} The back cover was a composite shot of the best photographs from the photography sessions. Zacron chose the images because he wanted to "show them as the giant force they were in music".{{sfn|Lewis|2012|p=78}} In France, this album was released with a different album cover, simply showing a photo of the four band members.<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Led Zeppelin III|publisher=Atlantic Records|id=940 051|year=1970}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/digimeister/16014883008/|title=LED ZEPPELIN III Rare French Cover|date=22 August 2008|access-date=17 May 2021|website=Flickr.com}}</ref>

Zacron later said that, upon his completion of the artwork, Page telephoned him while he was in New York to express his satisfaction with the results, saying, "I think it is fantastic".<ref>''"Hats Off to Zacron", [[Classic Rock (magazine)|Classic Rock]]'', December 2007</ref> However, he later thought the artwork was unsatisfactory because of working to a deadline.<ref>{{cite magazine |first1=Brad |last1=Tolinski |first2=Greg |last2=Di Bendetto |title=Light and Shade|magazine=Guitar World|date=January 1998}}</ref>