Tip for designing standout album covers for vinyl

January 8, 2024
The GRV Interns

Want your vinyl record to really stand out on the shelves? Album cover design is more important than ever. An attractive album cover can draw attention to the music, and can help you stand out from the competition. Here are some tips for creating outstanding album covers for vinyl records:

1. Make It Bold: Vinyl offers a lot more space for design than a digital thumbnail, which is one of our favorite parts about the vinyl medium. Use bright, bold colors and fonts to grab the attention of music lovers.

2. Use High-Quality Images: High-quality images are essential for vinyl records, as the larger size means that any imperfections will be more noticeable. Make sure you use the highest resolution images possible and don't just stretch out your CD or digital design.

3. Utilize Negative Space: Album covers for vinyl records should have plenty of “breathing room”. Don’t be afraid to use negative space to create a more attractive and balanced design.

4. Incorporate Text: If you’re including text on your album cover, make sure it’s legible. Choose a font that’s easy to read, and don’t crowd too much text into the design. And if you don't want text on your album cover, consider putting a sticker on the shrinkwrap with the artist name and/or album name so fans can find it when digging through crates. It's best for the text to be in the top third of the album design, so fans see it when they are flipping through records on the shelves at stores.

5. Consider Die-Cutting or Embossing: Die-cutting can add an interesting visual element, as can embossing (especially with metallics). We love these added touches, which make records really standout on the shelves.

Remember that what works for vinyl might not work as well for digital, when an album cover is shrunk down. It's not a bad idea to release a special edition vinyl cover that's different than the digital, to incentivize fans to "collect 'em all"!

Ready to press your record? Contact our sales team for options for your vinyl record!