Cover Art Checker
About the Cover Art Checker
Rejected artwork is one of the most common reasons a release misses its date. Audicient's Cover Art Checker runs your image against the specs every major store enforces — a perfect square, at least 3000 × 3000 pixels, RGB rather than CMYK, JPG or PNG, and a sensible file size.
It also estimates sharpness so you can catch an upscaled or blurry image before a distributor does, and flags the content rules that no automated check can see, like URLs and social handles on the artwork.
What it does
- Square ratio and 3000 × 3000 resolution check
- CMYK detection straight from the JPEG header
- PNG transparency and progressive JPEG warnings
- Sharpness estimate to catch upscaled images
- Blocking issues separated from warnings
Features
Real Header Parsing
Reads the JPEG frame header and PNG IHDR chunk directly, so CMYK and alpha channels are detected accurately rather than guessed.
Upscale Detection
A variance-of-Laplacian sharpness score flags artwork that has been blown up from a small source.
Delivery Verdict
Every report ends with a clear call: ready to deliver, deliverable with warnings, or not ready.
Frequently asked questions
What size should my cover art be?
3000 × 3000 pixels, square, RGB, saved as JPG or PNG. That satisfies Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, and every major aggregator.
Why is CMYK a problem?
CMYK is a print colour space. Stores require RGB, and CMYK files are rejected at ingestion — often without a clear reason given.
Can it detect text on my artwork?
No. Automated text detection is unreliable, so the report reminds you to check manually for URLs, social handles, pricing, and phrases like “out now”, all of which stores reject.