How to Make an Album Cover

What makes a good album cover

A strong album cover does three things: it captures the mood of the music, it reads clearly even as a tiny thumbnail in a streaming app, and it is delivered at the right size, a square image at 3000 by 3000 pixels, which every distributor accepts. Keep any title or artist text large and legible, and avoid clutter that disappears when the cover is shrunk.

You can design one from scratch in an image editor, hire a designer, or generate one automatically.

The fast, free way

AetherWave makes it a two-minute job. Upload your finished track, and the AI generates cover art matched to your sound in 8 styles. Pick your favorite, download it free with no account, and optionally animate it into a looping video for social and Spotify Canvas.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size should an album cover be?

A square image at 3000 by 3000 pixels is the standard that every distributor accepts. Keep any text readable at thumbnail size.

How can I make an album cover for free?

Upload your track to AetherWave and it generates cover art matched to your sound in 8 styles, free to download with no account.

Should the cover match my music?

Yes. A cover that reflects the mood and genre of the track helps listeners and sets expectations. AetherWave generates art from the song itself for that reason.