How to Make an Album Cover Image for a Rock Band Using Freeflo

Getting ready to release some new music but haven’t been able to put together the perfect album cover? Then you’re in the right place! Learn how to make an album cover image just as impressive as your music with the tips in this post.

What Makes a Good Album Cover Design?

Before we get into what type of image you should use, let’s first review some basic rules of good album cover design. These rules are meant to guide you as you create your cover, but they are by no means unbreakable.

1. Use the correct size. Stick to a 1:1 aspect ratio when creating your cover art. It’s rare to see album covers that don’t use this aspect ratio.
2. Use an image you’re legally allowed to use. Never use an image that is copyrighted because that can get you into a lot of trouble.
3. Avoid text clutter. Include only the essentials on the cover. This usually means just your band’s name and the name of the album. Other information like the track list and the record company can go elsewhere.
4. Use a maximum of two different fonts on your cover. Using too many font styles can lead to a messy and cluttered look. It’s also important to ensure the fonts you pick are legible and match the rest of your visuals.
5. Implement what you know about color psychology. Stick to a minimal color palette that effectively communicates what this album is all about.
6. Design something that looks great in all sizes. Whether you’re printing your designs for physical copies of your album or you simply need a cover for online purposes, your design should look great in every size. Keep in mind how small your design will be on a music streaming website and how large it will be printed.

How to Choose the Right Album Cover Art

Beyond just ensuring that your image isn’t copyrighted, there are a few other things to consider before making your final choice.

We can’t tell you what your cover image should look like because this can vary based on the type of music you make and what you want to communicate with your design. This can be a more personal decision based on factors like these:

1. Your band. In the music world, your band is your brand. Choose a cover image that makes sense for the brand you’ve built and that fits your general branding.
2. Your genre and subgenre. You don’t have to create a cover that looks like everyone else's in your music genre, but the genre can impact your cover art. For example, a death metal album cover image will probably look very different from a psychedelic rock album cover.
3. The mood of this particular album. Your band’s branding should dictate things that don’t change, like your band’s color palette, logo, and fonts. Each album, however, can have a different feel. With a change in inspiration, sound, and feel, it makes sense to adapt your cover art to this.
4. Your target audience. Finally, keep your target audience in mind when choosing your cover image. This is especially important if this is your first release. Your cover image should be appealing to your target audience and should pique their interest.

How to Make an Album Cover Image Using Freeflo

With all these tips in mind, it's time to find that perfect cover image. Luckily, this is easier than ever thanks to Freeflo's curated library of AI image styles! You can use Freeflo to find the right image for your album cover or to create a custom image using your favorite AI image generator.

To make an album cover image with Freeflo, follow these quick and easy steps:

1. Head over to Freeflo and browse our catalog of AI styles. You can also use the search bar at the top of the page to search for something specific.
2. When you see a style that fits what you have in mind, click on the image to open it up.
3. Scroll through this page to see more images in this style, and, if you see an image you want to use for your cover, download the image for free.
4. If you want to use this style to create your own image, copy the style prompt for free and head to your favorite AI image generator.
5. Update the style prompt with your own subject and adjust the details to fit your vision.
6. And just like that, you’ve got a brand new album cover image ready to go!

💡 Read more about how to use Freeflo AI style prompts!

Midjourney Style Prompts for a Rock Album

If you're looking for a bit of inspiration before you get started, we’ve compiled some of the best AI image styles you can use to create a unique and eye-catching design no matter what type of rock music you make. Use these AI styles to get inspired in the design process or go ahead and grab the image prompt to create your own variation.

Indie Rock Album Cover Image

Create your album cover in the Dreamy Soft Focus style using this prompt:

{subject} in the style of cross-processing/processed, light red and sky-blue, sarah purser, shiny eyes, lawrence alma-tadem, film, negative colors

New Wave Album Cover Image

Create more images in the Blue Spotlight style using this prompt:

{subject} in a blue light, in the style of richard phillips, dark black and amber, leo putz, pastel gothic, large canvas format, gareth pugh, soft-focus portraits, incident blue light, projection lighting, 50mm photography, studio photography

Black Metal Album Cover Image

Create more images in the Dark Fantasy style using this prompt:

an engraving of {subject} standing in the woods, in the style of dark fantasy creatures, ingrid baars, dan hillier, alexandre benois, light black, chilling creatures, dense compositions

Psychedelic Album Cover Image

Create more images in the Funk Art style using this prompt:

{subject} funk art

Alternative Album Cover Image

Create more images in the Flash Lofi style using this prompt:

{subject}, photography taken with flash: white background white wall of home, analog photography: grain film, vintage photo, in the style of lo-fi aesthetics

Garage Rock Album Cover Image

Create more images in the Summer Collage style using this prompt:

{subject}, in the style of collage-like pieces, album covers, whimsical wilderness, bloomcore, folkloric themes, colorful dreams, cut and paste, rough collage

Indie Pop Album Cover Image

Create more images in the Vaporwave Illustration style using this prompt:

a drawing of a {subject}, in the style of light pink and light aquamarine, grid work, vintage aesthetics, post-internet aesthetics

Wrapping Up

Creating a memorable album cover that stands out is a must if you want to see your music succeed. To achieve this, be sure to keep your cover simple and choose an image that makes a great first impression.

With Freeflo’s library of stunning AI image style prompts you can create any image you have in mind in a matter of minutes. Browse all of the styles available and grab any prompt you like to generate the cover you’ve been dreaming of!