14% of music consumers are what we call aficionado fans. They are music superfans who are always on the lookout for new tunes and they account for a whopping 34% of all album sales. In this age of streaming, album sales are becoming ever rarer.
So how do you get the attention of these music aficionados? With a piece of stunning album artwork of course!
If you’re not an experienced graphic designer, the prospect of having to create art for record cover may seem daunting. That’s precisely why we have created this short guide to get you started. Keep reading for three helpful tips for creating album cover artwork.
1. Come Up With a Concept
You can’t go directly from a blank canvas to a finished product. The album cover design process is not a clear freeway, rather a winding trail through the forest.
You need to try lots of different designs. Find an aesthetic that suits the artist and sketch out your ideas. It is critical that you establish a strong concept and a clear direction for your piece.
A handy tip is to listen to the music as you design its artwork. This will help you dial into the vibe of the artist and you will draw inspiration from the lyrics and instrumentation.
2. Less is More
The goal is to make your album art eye-catching, not overwhelming. Extensively using a range of colors will make your design look confusing and overcomplicated. Stick to using only two or three colors instead.
Apply a similar philosophy to your use of fonts. One may suffice but you will often choose to use two, one for the artist name and one for the album name.
Avoid cramming too much into the limited space that you have. The typical album art size is 3000×3000 pixels. Keep your designs small with enough blank space that people’s eyes are drawn to your artwork.
3. Use Software Made For Creating Album Artwork
If you are creating a custom album cover, you need specialist software. This doesn’t need to be complicated and expensive though. Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop are the go-to methods for creating album art and they are incredibly simple.
There are also countless tutorials for Adobe Creative Cloud online, so you’ll have help every step of the way when creating dazzling cover art. This is perfect for beginners and seasoned artists alike because there is always more to learn. Adobe software is a wise investment that will pay dividends in the future.
Start Designing Cover Art Today
With good software and a can-do attitude, you will be creating amazing album artwork in no time. It is not easy, but now is the time for you to take the first step towards custom artwork mastery.
If you want more useful tips to help you with your work, or you’re just curious to learn more about how to be successful, check out our business section today.