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Artwork Requirements: Size, Format and Content Rules

Dave Ayodeji
Dave Ayodeji
Updated yesterday
2 min read
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Technical Specifications

  • Minimum size: 3000 × 3000 pixels (square format only)
  • Recommended: 3000 × 3000 px at 300 DPI or higher
  • Accepted formats: JPEG (.jpg) or PNG (.png)
  • Colour mode: RGB (not CMYK)
  • Maximum file size: 50 MB

Content Rules — What Is NOT Allowed

The following will result in an automatic rejection of your release:

  • URLs, website addresses, or social media handles (e.g., @yourname, facebook.com/yourname)
  • Pricing or promotional text (e.g., "Free Download", "#1 Hit")
  • Logos of streaming platforms (Spotify, Apple Music, etc.)
  • Third-party brand logos without licence
  • Sexually explicit imagery (for standard releases — adult platforms require separate approval)
  • Deceptive content that could mislead listeners about the artist or content
  • Low resolution, blurry, or pixelated images
  • Borders, white bars, or non-square cropping

What IS Allowed

  • Artist name and release title displayed as text
  • Photography, illustrations, graphic design
  • Parental advisory label sticker for explicit releases
  • Label logos (if you are the rights holder)
  • Minimal text overlays — provided they are not URLs or pricing

Tips for Passing Quality Control

  1. Export your final artwork at exactly 3000 × 3000 px in RGB colour mode.
  2. If your artwork includes your artist name and title, make sure they are clearly legible — blurry text causes rejections.
  3. Test your image at thumbnail size (the size most fans will see it on DSPs): the key visual should still be identifiable at 200 × 200 px.
  4. Do not add the streaming platform logos to your artwork — platforms will add their own branding.

Different Artwork for Different Platforms?

InterSpace submits the same artwork to all platforms. If you want platform-specific versions (e.g., a different crop for YouTube), you will need to upload those separately through each platform's artist tools (e.g., YouTube Studio) after your release is live.

Animated Album Covers

Some platforms (Spotify Canvas, Apple Music animated artwork) support animated covers. These are submitted separately from your main artwork. See the Animated Album Covers article for details.