Create single cover art and social media versions

Start single cover art with a square image that remains readable at small sizes, then adapt the layout for social posts. A consistent identity can help people recognize a release; it does not guarantee streams or algorithmic promotion.

Set a visual direction

Write one sentence about the track’s mood. Choose a main subject, a short colour palette and readable typography. Reuse these elements across the cover, announcements and teasers. Compare layouts before adding effects.

Prepare for distribution

Spotify requires square artwork, an sRGB colour space and dimensions between 640 and 10,000 pixels on each side. Its documentation lists accepted formats and encoding and advises against upscaling small images. Check your distributor’s requirements too. Release artwork is different from a profile avatar or header.

A five-step workflow

1. Place the subject and title on a simple background. Check thumbnail readability.
2. Keep elements on separate layers. Check any template’s formats and compatibility before purchase.
3. Add texture or effects only when they support the subject. Inspect details at 100%.
4. Create separate square and vertical documents. Rearrange instead of stretching the cover.
5. Check exports, filenames and text in each platform’s preview.

Adapt for TikTok and other networks

Give a vertical teaser one focal point and leave space for captions and interface elements. Test in the destination application because cropping, buttons and text areas can change. The vertical version is promotional material, separate from the square file sent to a distributor. Animation is optional.

Identified HYTRAPE resources

Aura provides chrome PNG backgrounds; Glass Pack contains transparent PNG shards. Read the Photoshop texture guide and browse text effects. Check usage terms for every image, font and resource. These resources are optional and are not attached to this guide.

Common questions

Sources

• Spotify: cover art requirements
• HYTRAPE : Aura
• HYTRAPE : Glass Pack