Make your own CD box covers.
Whether you're a budding musician starting out in the field or a popular group with an in-house art team, creating your own CD box covers can be a way to express your creativity and let potential listeners know a little bit about your music. With assistance from a variety of software programs (many are free, included with your computer), you can design original CD cover artwork.
Instructions
1. Open Microsoft Publisher (free software included with Microsoft Office) and select "File," then click "New." Click "Page Setup" and use the "Publication type" scroll bar to scroll down to "Custom." Set both the width and height to 4.974 inches (making a square), then click the "OK" button. A blank square appears on your screen.
2. Add the group photo or image for the cover by clicking "Insert" (at the top toolbar), then choose "Picture" and "From File." Navigate to where your image is, click once on it to highlight it, then click the "Insert" button. It appears on the CD cover.
3. Drag the image into place with your mouse. You can make the image bigger or smaller by clicking and dragging one of the corners, but this may distort it.
4. Click the "Text" tool in the "Tools" palette (it looks like a small index card with an "A"), then hold down your cursor and drag a box on the CD cover. A dotted rectangle appears.
5. Select a font from the toolbar at the top of the screen. Consider the type of music--if it's classical, choose a formal script such as Edwardian Script; if it's kids' music, try one of the messy handwriting fonts such as Kirsten or Bradley Hand.
6. Type the group's name in the box (if the group already has its name as a graphic logo image file, add it the same way you did the group photo). You can also use text to add information such as "Brand new album," "First hit single" or "22 new tracks."
7. Click the "Format" menu, then select "Background." Choose from a variety of background images to complete the artwork on your CD cover. The background will be automatically placed under anything you've added; it will not cover up any text or pictures. If you have your own background to add, click "More backgrounds," then at the "Fill Effects" box, click the "Picture" tab and click "Select Picture" to browse to your background.
8. Click "File" and then choose "Save As" and give your CD cover a name. This will allow you to archive it and come back to it at any time.
9. Load paper into your printer and turn it on. Click the "File" menu and then select "Print." Choose your printer from the settings.
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