artwork standards explained

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Tips to get your artworkup to store standard

Album Artwork Standards

Explained


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Contents

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Introduction: Standards

Modifying Album Artwork

Photoshop CS6 (Windows + OS X)

! Size and Resolution

! Cropping

Preview (OS X)


Microsoft Paint (Windows)

! Size

Paint.NET (Windows)


! Cropping

GIMP 2.8 (Windows + OS X)


Album Artwork Standards Explained


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Sometimes, album artwork can be a bit of a roadblock on the road to release.

We endeavour to make album artwork specifications as clear and easy to

understand as possible, but sometimes, changes have to be made and its not

always obvious how to go about making them.

Digital stores require all album artwork sent to their stores to be a square .jpeg

of at least 3000 x 3000 pixels in dimension, with a resolution of 300dpi. These are

the requirements outlined by digital stores, and as such these are the requirementsthat we also need before sending your releases to them.

Problems frequently arise because the default resolution for many photo editing

suites is 72or 96dpi, meaning that the files they export will be rejected unless the

resolution is altered manually. In this guide, we will be looking at how to change your

artworks resolution in a range of programs, across both Windows and OS X.

As well as the basic requirements, we at Horus Music also suggest that youmake your album cover as high quality as possible, making sure that no squashing,

stretching, or pixelation has occurred to your final artwork submission. High quality

artwork is important, as it is due to the different quality screens that we use when

consuming music, such as retina computer screens, TVs and various mobile

devices.


Introduction: Standards


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4Album Artwork Standards Explained

Modifying Album Artwork

Photoshop CS6 (Windows + OS X)

Photoshop is a popular program to use when creating or editing album artwork.

Incidentally, its quite easy to change the size and resolution of your artwork. Once

youve opened your artwork in Photoshop, navigate to Image!Image Size or

press"+ #+ I (on OS X) or ctrl + alt + I (on Windows).

In this prompt, you can then change the size and resolution of the image. If

youre altering the size of your artwork, keeping Constrain proportionsticked will

make sure that it remains square. It is best practice not to enlarge your existing

artwork as this can cause pixelation, always try to create your artwork in the

correct size to begin with.

Size and Resolution

[Size

Resolution

Contrain Proportions


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Cropping

If your artwork is not square, then you will need to crop it. Transforming

(squashing/stretching) your cover is not satisfactoryand may lead to it being

rejected. Below, we have a cover that is not square.

Not to worry. Navigate to Image!Canvas Size or

press"+#+ C (OS X) or ctrl + alt + C(Windows).

In the Canvas Size window, you can see

the size of the Photoshop canvas. The

measurement will default to Centimetres,

so change it to Pixels. Select an anchor

pointif necessary. By default, it will

expand or shrink the outside of the image.

Make sure your artwork is 3000 x 3000

pixels and saved as a .jpeg.Measurement

Anchor point

(currently

centre)


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Preview (OS X)Size and Resolution

OS Xs default image viewer, Preview, will let

you quickly and easily edit the size and

resolution of anything you open. Start off by

opening your album artwork and navigating

to Tools!Adjust Size

You will then be met with a prompt that will

allow you to change the size and resolution

of your image. As you can see on the right,

the resolution of our artwork is 72dpi, which

is incorrect. Any album covers submitted to

us must be 300dpi and 3000 x 3000. Once

all the changes have been made, simply

press OK and save the image.

If you are altering the size of the image, keeping Scale proportionally checked

will make sure that your artwork stays square.

You can check to make sure the image is up

to store standard by opening the Inspector

(#+ I) and reviewing the DPI and image

size.


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Microsoft Paint (Windows)Size

Windows built-in image-editor will let you edit the size of your image. Simply

click the Resizebutton in the top right, under the Hometab.

The Resize and Skewwindow will then

allow you to change the size of the image.

It will default to Percentage, so select

Pixels to get the actual size of your cover.

Enter in the correct values, press OK, andsave the image.

Pixel readout


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Paint.NET (Windows)Size and Resolution

Paint.NET is an incredibly powerful and free image editor for Windows, half way

in between the capabilities of Microsoft Paint and Photoshop. It can be used to

quickly and easily change the size of album artwork.

Once you have opened the image, navigate

to Image!Resize or press ctrl + R.

The Resizeprompt will then let you alter the

size and resolution of your cover. Make sure

that your artwork is 3000 x 3000 pixels and

300dpito make sure that it is accepted by

stores.

Once the changes have been made, press

OK, and save the image. Make sure it is

saved as a .jpeg.
http://paint.net/


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Cropping

To crop your image, go to Image!Canvas Size or press ctrl + shift + R.

In the Canvas Size prompt, you can change

the size of your image. Make sure that By

absolute size is selected, so that you are

working in pixels and not percentages. You

can also change the images resolution in

this prompt if needs be.

Beware that Paint.NETs cropping tool

anchors to the top left by default. Click on

the middle square to shrink or expand your

album artwork from the centre.

Anchor point

Absolute size

(for pixel

readout)


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GIMP 2.8 (Windows + OS X)

Size and Resolution

GIMP 2.8 is a powerful (and unfortunately named) image editor on par with

Photoshop. Although the layout of the program is considerably different from the

previous programs we have mentioned, it is still a simple process to change the size

and resolution of an album cover. However, if you are not already familiar with GIMP,

it is advisable to stick with Paint.NET.

Once you have opened the image, navigate

to Image!Print Size

The Set Image Print Resolution dialogue

will let you change the size and resolution of

the image. You might have noticed that there

is a separate resolution value for X and Y -

dont be scared! They are linked by default,

so changing one will change the other.

Make sure your covers DPI is set to 300 (on

both axis), then press OK, and save the

image.
http://paint.net/http://www.gimp.org/


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Horus Music Distribution Limited is a UK registered company that is

legally bound by company laws and transparency. Many other

companies are not registered and therefore are unable to give you the

correct legal protection. Here at Horus Music the majority of our staff

are musicians and have an extensive background in management,

publishing and within labels. We pride ourselves in being truthful unlike

our competitors who do not always inform their customers of the real

story, because they are charging for free services or trying to keep hold

of your royalties for as long as possible.

Horus Music was established in 2006 and our representatives regularly

attend the Independent and International committees of the BPI, as well

as attending many various training events to ensure that our staff are

consistently, and continually, up to date of the latest developments.

Since 2006, Horus music has also been a yearly member of the Brit

Awards Voting Academy.

As a 360-degree music service, we work to help artists of all abilities

achieve their goals and ambitions across the globe. We are successful

in the areas of online and physical music distribution selling your

music to hundreds of stores around the world, music synchronisation

via our publishing division, artist management, live music promotions,

and promotion and marketing.

Our company is run by music professionals and enthusiasts who enjoy

music and help artists to achieve their ambitions. We have fantastic

connections and music partners around the world, which we believe

gives our artists the best possible opportunities they could ask for.

We distribute your music worldwide!


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