Album Art and Single Covers
The visual that represents every song — how to make it count.
Thumbnail Test
Your album art lives on streaming platforms at multiple sizes. The most critical test: does it work at 60x60 pixels? If text becomes unreadable and colors blur together at that scale, your design won't cut through on mobile players. Zoom in and out. Squint at it. If the core image—the focal point—survives 60x60, you're set.
Typography on Covers
Text on covers should serve the cover, not fight it. Use bold, sans-serif fonts for artist name and album title—they read at any size. Avoid thin serifs or script fonts unless your brand is explicitly luxury or vintage. Contrast matters: dark text on light, or vice versa. Never layer text on the busiest part of your image.
DIY Tools
You don't need Photoshop. Canva has music cover templates, drag-and-drop simplicity, and one-click exports. Figma offers more precision if you're comfortable with layers; it's free for single files. Photoshop is the pro standard—overkill for most, but unmatched if you're doing heavy retouching or complex comps.
Hiring a Designer
Budget $300–$2,000 for a freelance designer, depending on complexity and revision rounds. Use platforms like Fiverr, Upwork, or referrals from other artists. Brief them clearly: mood board, color palette, text placement, file format (usually 3000x3000 px minimum for streaming). Ask for drafts before signing off.