How to make Spotify covers with AI or Canva? – Musosoup

Cover artwork plays an important role in how music is perceived on Spotify. A clear, well-designed cover can encourage listeners to click and explore, while weak or unclear artwork is easy to overlook.

You don’t need advanced design skills to create effective Spotify cover art. Using AI image generators, Canva, or a combination of both, it’s possible to create professional-looking covers quickly and consistently.

Spotify cover art requirements

Before starting, make sure your artwork meets Spotify’s official requirements:

Dimensions: 3000 × 3000 pixels

Aspect ratio: 1:1 (square)

File format: JPG or PNG

Colour mode: RGB

Quality: Clear, sharp, and not pixelated

Starting with the correct dimensions helps avoid quality loss and resizing issues later.

Method 1: Creating Spotify covers with AI

AI image generators create visuals from text prompts, making them useful for generating unique artwork for albums or playlists.

Step 1: Choose an AI image generator

Commonly used tools include:

Midjourney

DALL·E

Leonardo AI

Stable Diffusion

Each tool produces different visual styles, so it’s worth testing a few to see which best fits your music.

Step 2: Write a clear prompt

An effective prompt clearly defines what you want to generate. Consider including:

Mood: calm, dark, energetic, emotional

Genre or scene: lo-fi, hip-hop, electronic, pop, rock

Visual style: cinematic, minimalist, abstract, illustrated

Example prompt:

Dark electronic playlist cover, neon lighting, futuristic city, cinematic mood, modern style, square format. As the main colour use #1D4A5D.

Clear prompts reduce the need for heavy editing later.

Step 3: Generate and refine

Generate multiple images

Review and select the strongest result

Adjust the prompt if the images don’t match your vision

AI tools work best through iteration rather than single attempts.

Step 4: Add text if needed

Most AI-generated images don’t include clean typography. If you need text, upload the image into Canva or another editor to:

Add the artist or playlist name

Improve contrast and readability

Confirm the final size is 3000 × 3000 pixels

Method 2: Designing Spotify covers with Canva

Canva is a simple and accessible tool that works well for beginners and experienced users alike.

Step 1: Create a custom canvas

In Canva:

Click Create a design

Set the dimensions to 3000 × 3000 pixels

Step 2: Choose a template or start from scratch

You can search for templates such as:

“Spotify cover”

“Album cover”

“Playlist cover”

Templates are useful for speed, while blank designs offer more creative control.

Step 3: Customise your design

In Canva, you can:

Upload photos or AI-generated artwork

Use stock images, shapes, and backgrounds

Add text, gradients, and overlays

💡Design tips:

Keep text minimal and easy to read

Use bold fonts that remain clear on small screens

Ensure strong contrast between text and background

Step 4: Export your cover

Download as JPG or PNG

Use high-quality export settings

Double-check dimensions before uploading

Combining AI and Canva

Using AI and Canva together often produces the best results.

A common workflow is:

Generate original artwork using an AI tool

Upload the image into Canva

Add text, branding, and final adjustments

This approach combines unique visuals with clean, controlled design.

Tips for better Spotify cover art

Design with mobile viewing in mind

Avoid placing text too close to the edges

Match colours and style to your genre or audience

Keep a consistent visual identity across releases or playlists

Consistent, well-designed covers help listeners recognise your work and build familiarity over time.