How to make an album cover like these 50 album cover design examples

The predominant album covers design that you will see and admire in stores is based on photographs. It usually features a photo of the artist and a plain background, with the spotlight on him or her.

But the art of the album cover doesn’t refer to that type of cover.

In fact, it has to do with cover art designs with an artistic influence, such as an illustration, whether drawn or vectorized, a photo manipulation or a 3D model.

Some people may say that shape is less important than content, but it is the shape that grasps attention and attracts a potential consumer. Any album cover maker knows it perfectly.

No matter whether you are a newcomer or an experienced player in show business, you must have come at least once cd covers.  Communication between musicians and the public often starts the moment when they see the album cover design, which can be long before they hear your songs.

So, how to make an album cover?

Since the CD cover design must embody the spirit of the band or of the single performer, you should get a clear image of the personality and character that will be reflected on the cover. Don’t hesitate to ask as many questions as possible, it can really help you to create album cover art.

In a case you are a performer yourself, you’d better talk to your mates and ask for their opinions and views concerning the album art.

Minimalism is OK

Everything is good in moderation. That’s why minimalism for a cover art maker often serves right. A simple black & white photo can sometimes communicate more than a colorful splash shining with glitters and fascinate your potential listeners at a first glance. In order to design an album cover, you need to practice over and over again until the best solution is found.

It may seem from time to time that album art design must reflect its content in every possible way and be as bright and blatant as possible. After many continuous attempts, it often turns out that simplicity suits best and really conveys the soul of the performer.

Think about marketing / branding

No matter how good is the album itself and how much effort was put in in order to release it, if you fail to promote it in the right way, you will fail to sell it. You will not betray your ideas and ideals if you spruce the cover up a bit and have an album design cover which may catch the eye.

The thing is not simply to promote the album and create good album covers at the same time. Nowadays the internet is crammed with bright pictures in news articles and it’s often hard to pick up something you really need. That’s why it’s so important to make sure that while making an album cover your art design is really outstanding and eye-catching.

Know when to take the creative reigns.

If you’re hired to create album cover design, you should always ask questions and try to complete the task in the very best way based on detailed information about the artist and its work.

Still, you should also bear in mind you’re a designer and if the band was able to create a masterpiece on their own it wouldn’t hire you. That’s why it’s important to stick to your guns sometimes and not change everything on every band’s whim. An album art creator is still an artist.

You should ask questions and understand what they really want, but do your job along with it. Be respectful and polite, explain your points of view logically and you will definitely come to terms that will help you create the best album art.

Don’t print lyrics unless you have sufficient space

The album cover template includes many important details about the album itself, the band as well as specific legal information. It goes without saying one would like to cram the cover with lyrics, but it’s not always a good idea to follow.

If you still want the audience to get the lyrics nowadays you’re provided with endless internet resources that you can simply add the band’s site in the corresponding section. The cover shouldn’t be crammed with extra stuff and as an album art maker, you should keep the right balance between the written text and images. Eventually, print the address at which people get access to the lyrics.

Don’t include social media URLs

Keep in mind such practical album covers idea too. Avoid adding temporal information such as social media URLs on the cover. The album is one and the only, while other things change all the time, as one day, even Twitter can disappear for good, while the music remains. The only URL which is to be printed is the URL of your site.

Envision your album cover design as a thumbnail

No matter how bright outstanding and eye-catching your album artwork design is, bear in mind that people are most likely to get acquainted with as a very tiny size. Today we get most of the information from the Internet and digital sources like iTunes and other, where you can see only a small version of the album cover.

Before taking the last decisions, it’s worth comparing full and mini-version of the album covers. Sometimes many tiny details can look very monotonous in a smaller size and cover is likely to fail in grasping the attention of the potential listener. Try to test your cool album covers in both variants.

You might not need your artist name or album title on the cover

Things are getting more simple today. If you want to deliver some key information to the audience of the album maker, it can turn out that you don’t necessarily need to put it on the cover.

Almost every single time, people see on the Internet the title of the song or album and the name of the singer next to the cover image, so you can leave some free space on the music cover art, key points will be still visible.

Get your fans to interact with you online

Putting your site address on the cover is not always enough. You need to get the audience on the hook. Remember that if a person bought your CD he or she really appreciates the job you did and may be interested in some details of the life and work of the album cover creator.

Album covers with faces get more attention

Abstract pictures are everywhere. Probably, five years ago they were outstanding and really impressed but today almost everybody uses them so they don’t have that mysterious effect anymore.

There’s no scientific proof for this phenomenon, but still many people agree with the fact we more often pay attention to pictures with human faces than to abstract music covers.

Maybe we want to find some connection between the sounds we hear and the people who created them, maybe the reason is different, but still, the fact remains the same. Faces can also look good even on the tiny cover album we usually see on the Internet.

If you’re not going to feature a human face, make sure your design is striking and original

Album cover design shouldn’t simply be eye-catching and blatant, it should also show some ideas and beliefs, should somehow give an idea of what people are going to hear.

That’s why it’s so important to ask questions while creating the cover itself. So even if you aren’t going to place faces on the album back cover, make sure your cover is both bright and thoughtful.

FAQ about album cover designs

What’s the creative process behind designing an album cover?

Well, the process may vary from designer to designer, but it typically begins with communication between the artist and the designer. They discuss ideas, the music, and the album’s themes. Then, the designer does some research, maybe sketching out rough ideas. After that, they’ll choose a direction, create a more refined design, and present it to the artist for feedback. Finally, they’ll make any necessary revisions and complete the design.

How important is an album cover for an artist’s image and marketing?

Honestly, album covers can be crucial for an artist’s image and marketing. It’s often the first visual impression that potential listeners have of the music. A compelling album cover can pique curiosity, invite people to explore the music, and even become iconic over time. It should represent the artist’s unique style and the album’s mood, while also standing out on various platforms, from streaming services to physical stores.

What are the key elements to consider when designing an album cover?

There’s a bunch of factors to think about, but some important ones include:

1. Concept: What message or theme does the artist want to convey?
2. Typography: How will the artist’s name and album title be displayed?
3. Color scheme: What colors best represent the album’s mood or theme?
4. Composition: How will the elements be arranged on the cover?
5. Visual style: Will it be photographic, illustrated, or abstract?
6. Medium: Is it for digital, vinyl, CD, or other formats?

Can an artist design their own album cover?

Absolutely! Many artists are skilled in visual art, too, and they may choose to design their own covers. This can give them more creative control and ensure that their vision is accurately represented. However, working with a professional designer can also bring fresh perspectives and expertise. It’s really about what the artist feels most comfortable with and what aligns best with their goals.

What are some iconic album covers?

There are so many to choose from, but here’s a few that come to mind:

• The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
• Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon
• Nirvana’s Nevermind
• Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours
• The Clash’s London Calling I mean, there’s so many more, but these are some that really made a lasting impact!

What role does the music genre play in album cover design?

Genre can be pretty influential when it comes to cover design. Different genres often have distinct visual languages, which can inform the cover’s style. For example, rock albums might feature bold typography and edgy imagery, while electronic music covers might lean toward abstract visuals and neon colors. However, artists are always pushing boundaries, so it’s important not to rely solely on genre conventions.

How do designers work with different album formats?

Well, when designing for various formats like digital, vinyl, or CDs, designers need to consider the dimensions, print quality, and how the design will be experienced. Vinyl covers, for example, offer a larger canvas and more tactile experience, so intricate details or elaborate gatefolds might be used. On the other hand, digital covers need to be eye-catching even at small sizes, so designers may opt for simpler, bolder designs.

How do album covers evolve with changes in technology and trends?

Album cover design has definitely evolved alongside technology and trends. With the shift from physical to digital formats, designers have had to adapt their techniques to ensure that covers look great on screens and at smaller sizes. Additionally, new design tools and software have expanded the possibilities for creating unique visuals. As for trends, they come and go, but designers need to stay up-to-date and find the right balance between following what’s popular and maintaining the artist’s unique style.

Ending thoughts on album art design and how to make an album cover

People creating music often may not take care of the look of the album cover. Still. The audience is used to blatant advertising and you must get them hooked on the cover before they want to listen to what is hidden behind it.

The Internet is full of performers and their works so it’s really important to catch the attention of the audience in this endless stream of music with album cover posters that tell a story.

The first time you communicate with your listeners is via your album cover design which should be beautiful and reflect the ideas embodied in your tracks. Therefore, make sure this conversation will be hard to forget. That’s why it is so important to make use of outstanding art templates.

I hope this article will help you learn how to make an album cover. If you liked this article with album cover design examples, you should check out these as well:

• Packaging Design: Tips, Ideas, and Inspiration
• Calendar Design: Tips To Design Your Own Calendar
• Concert posters: Design, Ideas, and Inspiration
• The best album cover maker tools you can use online

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Bogdan Sandu

Bogdan Sandu, a seasoned designer with 15 years of diverse experience, has been designing websites since 2008.

Renowned for his expertise in logo design and visual branding, Bogdan has developed a multitude of logos for various clients.

His skills extend to creating posters, vector illustrations, business cards, and brochures. Additionally, Bogdan's UI kits were featured on marketplaces like Visual Hierarchy and UI8.

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