Everybody loves pictures. I’m sure that you’ve had your attention drawn by them at some point during your day. Images are power. Images, design, color and graphics hold within them the power to convey distinct and compelling information. They have the strength to engage the viewer to step closer to the source or to push away from it.
This is why your podcast artwork is incredibly important.
You may already have decided what you want your artwork to look like. You may have no idea what your artwork should look like. Following will be a few guidelines and important information to both facilitate your decision making process as well as refine your choices.
Why Podcast Cover Art Is Essential
You don’t have to have cover art, but you are certainly loosing tons of benefits by not having it or not caring about it. Here’s what Apple has to say on their site:
If you decide that you want to avoid iTunes all together, you may still want to spend time developing your artwork as a way to inform your listeners of what your podcast is about. The top question potential listeners are looking to answer when they bump into your content is what is this about and is this for them? The easier you make it for your potential superfans to decide to subscribe to your content based upon your artwork, about page and Web site in general, the less work you will have to do all around to get your show out there.
Get them to hit the play button and engage!
While in your development process, no matter how tempted you are to include well-known brands or actors and actresses in your artwork it is a good idea to steer clear of this.
Monetizing a podcast with copyrighted artwork or selling products with someone else’s work on them is illegal.
It is so important to adhere to this as it could save you a lot of trouble down the road.
If you have further questions about ethics and design AIGA has published a very informative document which goes into great detail about this matter: AIGA Design Business and Ethics
Podcast Artwork Size and Resolution Requirements
Not only is the look of your artwork significant, but also the size and resolution. Podcasters in general recognize the importance of their artwork, but often times forget to optimize the size and resolution.
- iTunes Podcast- 1400×1400 at 300 dpi
- iPhone Display – 160 dpi
- iPhone App Image requirement – 512×512 pixels at 160 dpi
- iPad Display – 132 dpi
You can see from these numbers, how much they change from device to device. Make sure that the initial artwork that you create is capable of being sized down, which means, making all your images large (1400×1400 at 300 dpi). It can always be scaled down.
You won’t waste your time having an image that large, in fact it may save you a lot of time in the future, specifically if you decide you would like to offer some shwag for your show: t-shirts, mugs, caps, etc. When it comes to images for print, bigger is definitely better. At minimum to get something printed you would need an image at 200 dpi, optimally 300 dpi (currently the safe bet print standard). Web standard is 72 dpi, although on most devices, especially those with massively powerful screens, that dpi looks fuzzy.
What to Ask a Designer for Your Podcast Artwork
The original editable file. (You may not have the programs to open this file if you don’t have Photoshop or illustrator but if you have a graphic designer make changes down the road you will have this to send to them.)
Podcast Artwork Design Resources
Here’s a list of some web resources to both hire a designer and create your own artwork. As with anything: do your research, ask questions and make informed decisions. We are not particularly endorsing any of these services, we are offering you choices so that you can begin or refine your journey.
- http://logoloft.com/pricing.html?gclid=CPWJjZiSl6QCFeI55wodLloCJw
- http://www.elance.com
- http://www.logoworks.com
- http://www.logomaker.com
- http://www.logocare.com/?google-logocaregeneric
- http://www.logoyes.com/logocreator.php
- http://99designs.com/
- http://www.aviary.com/
Here’s hoping this was helpful!
Please let us know if you have any other questions regarding this topic. If we don’t know, we’ll certainly go out of our way to get you an answer!
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do some podcast covers get ignored while others attract new listeners?
Many podcast covers fail because they try to communicate too much. Small text, busy graphics, and unclear branding become difficult to recognize in podcast apps where artwork is often displayed as a small thumbnail. Effective artwork immediately communicates what the podcast is about, uses readable typography, and creates a recognizable visual identity that encourages potential listeners to explore the show.
Should my podcast artwork focus on my face, my logo, or my podcast topic?
It depends on what listeners are most likely to recognize. Personal brands often benefit from featuring the host, while company podcasts usually perform better with strong brand elements. Topic-driven podcasts should prioritize visuals that clearly communicate the subject matter. The goal isn’t artistic creativity alone, but helping someone understand within a few seconds whether the podcast is relevant to them.
Why should I keep the original design files instead of only the finished image?
Many creators only receive a JPG or PNG and later discover they can’t easily update their artwork. Keeping the original editable files allows you to refresh branding, resize artwork for new podcast platforms, create social graphics, or produce merchandise without redesigning everything from scratch. It’s a small request that can save significant time and cost later.
Can I use copyrighted images, celebrities, or brand logos in my podcast artwork?
Generally, no. Even if the artwork is intended to reference your podcast topic, using copyrighted images, celebrity photos, or company logos without permission can create legal issues, particularly if your podcast generates revenue through advertising, subscriptions, or merchandise. Original artwork is the safest long-term approach for building a professional podcast brand.
Why should I create high-resolution artwork if podcast apps display much smaller images?
Your artwork will likely be used far beyond podcast directories. High-resolution files can be resized for websites, YouTube thumbnails, social media, event banners, business cards, and merchandise without losing quality. Starting with a large master file makes your artwork far more flexible as your podcast grows.
How can Libsyn help me maintain professional podcast branding?
Once your artwork is ready, Libsyn makes it easy to manage and update your podcast branding from one place. Changes to your show artwork are reflected across supported podcast destinations, helping maintain a consistent brand experience as your podcast evolves without requiring manual updates on every platform.
– Sarah, Elsie & Chuck from App Ops
