Cd Cover Template

Design a CD cover without setting up page sizes by hand. Enter the album title, artist and track list, add a cover image from your computer, and print a front insert (120 × 120 mm) and back tray card (151 × 118 mm with spines) with cut lines, ready to trim and slide into a standard jewel case.

CD cover sizes

Jewel case sizes are an industry convention; minor variations exist between manufacturers, so measure your cases if the fit is tight. Printers recommend a 3 mm bleed beyond the trim line if artwork runs to the edge.

How to use the CD cover maker

1. Enter the album title, artist and track list, one track per line (durations are optional).
2. Choose background and text colours, and add a cover image if you have one — it stays on your computer.
3. Check the preview, then click Print and set scale to 100% or “Actual size”.
4. Print on matte or glossy photo paper around 120–200 gsm; heavier card will not fit under the tray.
5. Cut along the solid lines with a craft knife and ruler.
6. Fold the tray card along the dashed spine lines and slide it behind the clear tray; place the front insert in the lid.

If your printer adds margins that shrink the page, look for a “borderless” or “Actual size” setting.

Design tips for a CD cover

• Keep the title and artist readable at thumbnail size — many people will see the cover small on a screen.
• Leave about 3 mm around the edges clear of text, since trimming is rarely perfect.
• Use high-resolution images: 300 pixels per inch means about 1,420 × 1,420 pixels for the 120 mm front.
• Check contrast between text and background, especially over photos.
• Put the artist and title on the spines so the case can be found on a shelf.
• On the back, list tracks with numbers; include total running time, label, year and copyright notices if you distribute the CD.

Home printing vs professional printing

Home printing works well for mixtapes, demos, gifts, wedding favours and small runs. For larger runs to sell at gigs or online, professional replication or duplication companies print full-colour inserts on coated stock and assemble the cases. They supply their own templates with bleed and safe zones; use your design as the basis and export at their specifications, typically CMYK at 300 dpi with bleed.

Copyright and artwork

Use artwork you created, own or have permission to use. Photos found online are usually protected by copyright. If you are distributing music, credit songwriters and performers, and check that you have the rights to any covers you recorded — in many countries a mechanical licence is needed to distribute recordings of songs written by others.

Worked example

For a five-track demo, the band enters “Summer Sessions” by “The Harbour Lights”, picks a deep navy background with off-white text, and adds a photo of the harbour. The front insert shows the photo with the title and band name at the bottom. The tray card lists the tracks with durations and “2026 · Home Recordings”, and both spines read “The Harbour Lights — Summer Sessions”. They print on 160 gsm matte photo paper at actual size, trim with a craft knife, and fold the spines before sliding the card behind the tray.

Track list and credits

A clear back cover lists tracks in order with numbers and, optionally, running times, followed by the total length. Below the list, add the artist, recording and mixing credits, the label or “self-released”, the year, and copyright lines such as “© 2026 The Harbour Lights” for the artwork and “℗ 2026” for the sound recording. If there are many credits, move them into the booklet and keep the tray card uncluttered. Check spelling carefully — reprinting a run of inserts because of a typo is a common and expensive mistake.

Other disc packaging

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