Types of Album CoverBy Charlotte Bennett

Album CoversWhatever the design type of the album cover, there are several things that almost all of them have in common, which are described in my “codes and conventions” Prezi.Furthermore, the albums are vehicles used to create the star image, which I looked at whilst researching for my music video. The colours, mood, style, people, text, subject, etc. all contribute toward making the image of the band/singer.

PhotographPhoto images are a popular album cover design, as they can look natural or edited to the designer’s desire. Photographs most often picture the band, though it is common for landscapes, still life, and other objects to be used. There is usually a link between the photograph and the album name, such as in Bon Jovi’s “Lost Highway” which shows a road disappearing into the distance. The meaning can sometimes be hidden, however.

IllustratedAlbum covers using illustrations are often either very simple but effective, like the bottom example, or detailed and intricate, like the top one. There’s often a small range of colours, with a brighter/richer tone used to stand out. The texture and patterns within the drawings depend on whether they were created traditionally or digitally; computers allowing for more interesting effects, whilst hand-drawn can be done with a range of medias.

PortraitSome albums, particularly by individual singers rather than bands, use portrait images as album covers. In mid-shot photographs, the colour and editing is used to give a feel for the music. For example, John Mayer’s is a relaxing style of music. Close up shots are more often used to look more dramatic. Editing is often used to affect the colour and tones. Occasionally, such as in Nirvana’s famous cover for Nevermind, the portrait photo doesn’t show the singer, instead using a profile image for a hidden meaning.

TypographyA simple but effective album cover idea is using typography – just text, no (or very little) imagery. A textured background is often used to draw the eye in to the text. The text itself should be in a font that is associated to the band, and where the style suits the music genre. The colours used stand out, such as the orange “RIOT!” against the black and white, and the colours sometimes, again, link to the band’s star image.

Photo Manip/Heavy EditsPhotographs, often of the band or singer, can be edited and combined with other images to create interesting concepts which sometimes relate to the album name, the band’s image (ie. surreal), or to create a different mood such as spooky/dramatic. Editing includes colouring and saturation, textures, contrast, text, etc. This could also include combining other ideas, such as photography and illustration, or simple photography and typography.

My OpinionSince my music video will include both filming and animation, I think that it would link nicely to use both photography and illustration on my album cover, similar to the examples on the left. I also like the simple but powerful effect of typography, but I don’t think it will suit my song and genre. My next choice would be portrait the song I am using isn’t by a whole band. A portrait could also incorporate illustration or editing onto it to make it more childlike and happy.