When submitting album artwork to eMastered, it needs to be a .jpg file. The minimum size accepted is 1000 x 1000 pixels, but the recommended size is a perfect square at 3000 x 3000 pixels.
If your design is smaller or not square, eMastered will resize or crop it automatically if you select that option, though this may cause the final result to differ from your original design.
Your artwork must be a single image file—you cannot upload multiple images or “pages” of artwork, whether your release is a single, an EP, or a full album.
Additionally, make sure your file is saved in the RGB color space. This is usually the default setting in digital cameras and editing software (such as Photoshop), so you typically don’t need to change it manually.
What Not to Include in Album Artwork
Streaming platforms will reject cover art that includes any of the following elements:
Website addresses (URLs)
QR codes
Names of accounts/pages on X (formerly Twitter)
Blurry, pixelated, rotated, or otherwise low-quality images
Unlicensed or stock photos
Price information
Logos from streaming services (e.g., iTunes, Spotify)
Social media logos (e.g., X, Instagram, TikTok)
Nudity
Offensive or disturbing imagery
References to physical formats (like “CD” or “Compact Disc”)
It’s also important that each release has unique artwork. Reusing the same design for multiple singles or albums can cause your submission to be denied.
Fixing Color Space Issues
If your artwork has been saved in CMYK or Grayscale, eMastered may give you an error. To resolve this, simply re-save the file in RGB format and upload it again.
In Photoshop, you can manually switch to RGB (eMastered provides a guide for this).