Guides
Prepare custom vinyl artwork that survives the crop and prints clearly
Prepare jacket and center-label artwork using the customizer’s actual pixel dimensions, with practical checks for cropping, text and PDF uploads.
A photograph can look sharp as a thumbnail and still disappoint when spread across a record jacket. Start with the original image, decide what must remain visible after cropping, and check the exported file rather than only the design on your screen.
Use the dimensions for the part you are designing
These are the current customizer's recommended pixel dimensions. The jacket and the center label are separate uploads; one file does not automatically design them all.
| Artwork area | Recommended dimensions | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| 7-inch front or back cover | 2185 × 2185 pixels | A square composition with room around important details |
| 12-inch front or back cover | 3675 × 3675 pixels | Enough original detail for the larger jacket |
| Center label, either side | 1200 × 1200 pixels | A circular crop and a clear center-hole area |
The uploader accepts image files and PDFs, with a 50 MB file-size limit. JPEG or PNG is a straightforward choice for finished artwork. If you use a PDF, put the intended design on its first page: the current uploader renders that page, not a multi-page booklet. Use separate files for the front, back and each label.
Pixels matter more than a “300 DPI” label
A 900-pixel square image does not become a detailed jacket photograph because its resolution setting is changed to 300. Pixel dimensions describe the image data you have; print resolution describes how that data is distributed on paper. Adobe explains this relationship and why enlarging an image cannot recover detail missing from the original.
Use the original camera file or the full-resolution export from your designer. Avoid screenshots of photographs, thumbnails saved from a gallery, and images repeatedly passed through messaging apps. If a family picture exists only as a small file, consider a smaller photograph inside a simple designed background rather than stretching it to cover the entire jacket.
Design the square before designing the details
Take a portrait photograph as an example. If the face is already close to the top edge, a square crop may remove part of the head or leave no room for a title. Try the crop before adding type. You may need a wider original, a different placement or a border around the picture. This is a layout choice, not something a higher export setting can fix.
Keep names, dates and other essential text comfortably inside the edges. Do not rely on a thin frame touching the outside of the design to look perfectly even after trimming. For precise edge-to-edge artwork, ask for the appropriate template before finalizing it; a screen preview should not be treated as a print proof or a color match.
The center label needs its own composition
A square cover reduced to label size often leaves tiny text and a face directly behind the spindle hole. Build a simpler label: a short title, Side A or Side B, and one clear image or color field. Keep critical details out of both the central hole and the corners removed by the circular crop.
Give the two sides distinct labels if that helps the listener find the opening track. Check the actual previews for Side A and Side B instead of assuming the second side has inherited the first side's artwork.
Before you approve the design
- Reopen each exported file and check spelling, dates and orientation.
- Inspect faces and small text at full image size, then view the design small enough to judge whether it remains readable.
- Check all four placements: front cover, back cover, Side A label and Side B label.
- Read any quality warning in the customizer. Replace the source or adjust the layout rather than assuming an optional service will restore missing detail.
- Use only artwork you own or have permission to reproduce, then wait for each upload to finish.
You can review your files in the customizer. If you need help with an unusual layout or a low-resolution original, contact us before ordering with the file and the record size you intend to choose.