What are trac's artwork guidelines?
Here are some guidelines to ensure your cover art will be ready for streaming platforms:
YES
- Must be a perfect square
- At least 3000x3000 pixels
- Not blurry or pixelated (unless it’s with artistic intention)
- Accepted files: JPG, JPEG, and PNG
- PNG can sometimes have the background of an image removed. Please make sure this is not the case for your artwork.
- Must be original, not generic (More on that in a bit…)
- Must match with your artist name and/or release title identically
- All credits in artwork must be added to the metadata of your release (Mix/mastered by, produced by, etc. should be included in the Credits section if credited on artwork)
- Legible, easy to read
NO
- Images that are blurry, pixilated, or stretched
- Extra text that isn’t in the metadata
- Logos (unless it’s the logo for a record label)
- Copyrighted images (any other image used in another artwork)
- Company brand logos (Apple, Nike check, Target bullseye, Chanel C’s, etc.)
- Social Media handles
- Contact Information
- Web links
- Blurry, pixilated, or stretched
- QR Codes
- Motion Picture Association labels used to rate movies (such as PG-13, R, etc.)
- ESRB labels used to rate video games (T for Teen, M for Mature)
- Any self-made explicit content labels (Please only use the Parental Advisory Label used by the RIAA.)
- Tracklists
- Dates
Now here are a few common scenarios related to artwork and how we’ve address them in the past:
1. You cannot use a generic artwork template for your release, UNLESS you’ve added the relevant metadata information (artist name and release title) to it. Generic artworks include stock images, desktop wallpapers or screensavers, and images with no graphic or details (i.e. a solid color). An example:
This is NOT allowed:
This is allowed (this is just a placeholder name and title):
2. You cannot use the same artwork for multiple releases. Each release’s artwork must be unique from any other.
3. If you have a single that you want to release in promotion of a new album, you can use the artwork for the album for the single. This is acceptable, and this will not be considered a duplicate artwork.
For more assistance with your release, feel free to reach out to support@trac.co.
Online resource for artwork creation:
• GIMP, an image editor:https://www.gimp.org/