CD Covers

This page will get you started on making covers for audio and mp3 CDs. To learn how to make the CDs themselves, visit the How to Listen page. To find blank templates to make your own covers, visit Donating LibriVox CDs and find the template links at the bottom.

Quick guide on how to create CD covers

1. First, download a template so you have the exact measures. You can use this one, for example: http://www.cdstomper.com/downloads/templates/blank/word/e_303_us0_cd_case_inserts.doc At http://drop.io/librivox you can find zip-files with templates (Word and Open Office) for normal jewel case, little booklets and Origami paper cases. They have a suggestion for LibriVox small print.
2. Find some Public Domain pictures.
3. Be creative :)
4. Resize your picture to 300x300 pixels and name it: book_title_xxxx.jpg (xxxx = date jjmm)
5. Resize it again to 150x150 pixel and name it: book_title_xxxx_thumb.jpg
6. Convert the file to pdf format and name it book_title_xxxx.pdf. A free utility available for Microsoft Windows which might prove useful for this is PrimoPDF which installs as a printer driver. Printing from any application while this printer is selected will create the required PDF file. Some CD Cover Creation programs print each page separately, in this case when it prints the second page be sure to reselect the PDF and chose the option to append to an existing PDF.
7. Upload your files here: http://drop.io/librivox or to your personal web space. Post the link to your masterpiece here and wait for an Admin to add it to the catalog to upload it.
8. Admire the result on http://www.archive.org/details/LibrivoxCdCoverArt Covers created before February 2010 are here http://www.archive.org/details/librivox_cd_covers

If you use only public domain artwork or your own artwork, you can release these designs into the public domain as well and we will upload them to Archive.org. If you choose to use another license for your design, that's okay, but you may need to host them elsewhere. In either case, you can paste a link to your design in the forum thread.

CD cover templates

Here are some basic CD cover templates created in Word, which can be customized. They can be cut out and folded in half to allow for a basic cover and, when the case is opened, the specific CD contents reveal track information including duration of each track and reader name. These are a basic alternative for those covers not designed yet and for those who may not be able to print out color. Feel free to change them as needed.

Group Black & White - (Rich Text Format) http://librivox.nikolledoolin.com/CDcover_template_groupbw.rtf

Group Black & White - (Word Document) http://librivox.nikolledoolin.com/CDcover_template_groupbw.doc

Solo Black & White - (Rich Text Format) http://librivox.nikolledoolin.com/CDcover_template_solobw.rtf

Solo Black & White - (Word Document) http://librivox.nikolledoolin.com/CDcover_template_solobw.doc

CD Stomper software (free) and blank templates [1]

Templates for Word and Open Office for jewel case, little booklets and Origami paper cases with suggestion for LibriVox small print. http://drop.io/librivox

CD Covers

Most Librivox covers can be found at http://www.archive.org/details/librivox_cd_covers. Covers created after January 2010 are here http://www.archive.org/details/LibrivoxCdCoverArt To print, download the file and open it in the free Adobe Reader. Open the printer dialog box and make sure "Fit to page" is NOT selected, then print. Standard typing paper is okay to use, but heavier weight or glossy paper will make the covers look sharp. Cut out the design and fold it to fit into the CD case. You may need to do a little extra trimming depending on the make of the CD case.

CD cases

Single CD and double CDs

Single CD cases and double CD cases can be found at some music stores, office supply stores or online retailers (see online resources below). Both single and double CD cases come in two widths, the standard jewel box and the space-saving or “slimline.” For slimline cases, you will only need a front cover. For the standard width cases you will need a front cover and a back cover with flaps which wraps around to the spine.

Four and six CD cases

These larger cases can usually only be found in at online retailers. Some retailers:

• In the USA: Sleeve Town
• In the UK: Windmill Distribution

Typically, the front cover is the same size as the back cover of a standard CD.

Other options

Sleeve Town sells a 10 CD booklet with a printable cover. Templates for the designing front, back, and spine are available at their website.

Plastic CD wallets holding over 10 discs are available at most music stores and office supply stores. These may be customized by directly drawing on them with permanent markers and stencils, or by covering them with printable contact paper.

PD Picture Sources

• From Old Books.org: Scanned Images, Engravings and Pictures From Old Books by Liam Quin. Most of the pictures there are in the public domain in Canada.
• Gutenberg.org: Some HTML-Versions of Gutenberg books include the original images - they are public domain unless not otherwise stated.
• Wikimedia.org: The Wikimedia Commons (or "Commons") is a repository of free images, sound and other multimedia files. The copyright status of each picture is stated individually.
• Zeno.org: Paintings, prints and old book illustrations. All works are pd in Europe. Before using them, check to make sure they were created before 1923(= public domain in the U.S.).