The document discusses different types of album covers, including photo manipulation, image based, portraits, type based, black and white, digital, and hand drawn covers. Photo manipulation covers edit photos of bands to merge them together or portray them in a particular style. Image based covers use random images to give bands a mysterious edge. Portrait covers feature close-up photos of band members. Type based covers emphasize text over images to identify the band. Black and white covers give albums a vintage look. Digital covers appeal to younger audiences with interesting colors and lights. Hand drawn covers are rare but can be professionally or amateurishly produced.

1. Types of Album Covers
A2 Media Coursework

2. Photo Manipulation
This is Queens album
cover ‘The Miracle’, this
is a clear example of
photo manipulation
because all band
members faces are
merged together. This
portrays the fact that the
band members come as
one and are an item
when together. There all
well known and play as
a group. This also
explains if one of the
band members were to
leave then they would
not be called Queen any
more. From this image
you can also identify the
strong relation between
the band.
The fact that there all in the sky
means that they are superior, this
also shows there success in the
music industry.
Photo Manipulation is a popular
type of music album, this is when
certain images are heavily edited
in order to create a desired
effect. A single image can be
used or many images.
The image which has been
chosen to be used has a lot of
editing and changes made in
order to make it stand out from
the rest. This sort of image is
used as a way of portraying the
band/artist in a particular style,
which moulds the way the
audiences see’s the band/artist.

3. Image Based
Image based cover art is
perhaps the most original
and most random form of
cd covers. This is
because there is such a
wide range in what can be
used as an image for the
album. As like the other
types of cd cover art, the
image based type can
show the unique style of
the band/artist, whilst also
giving a mysterious edge
to the band, especially
when the text font for the
album is small.
These types of album
covers can be weird, freaky
or even humorous. With
this style there is no
specific rule you have to
follow. So you have a wide
range of different ideas and
concepts to use.

4. Portraits
This type of album cover is one
of the most popular. It’s simple
yet so effective. The artist or
band are all shown on the
album cover in all of there
glory. In some cases they are
aware of the picture being
taken, but in others they are
posing, just like in this one.
Rihanna is the center of
attention and is being
portrayed as a young sexy
female.
This can be of either there face
or there body. And also allows
the to become the center of
attention.

5. Type Based
Type based album covers
mainly use text to attract the
audience, for example for
this album over the use of
yellow and black allow the
text to stand out. Bold text is
normally used too.
The more important text is
larger, as they want the
audience to read the bigger
text first.
Some images can be used
but are kept minimal as the
main attention is on the text.
Some artists or bands also
have logos that also could
be applied to the album
cover.

6. Black & White
Black & White album
covers are mainly used to
give a vintage style/old
fashioned look.
These types of album
covers are used to make
the album image stand
out. This can be for either
the text used, image or
both.
Black and White CD covers
are seen all over the music
industry. They have many
different purposes and give
out different messages,
whilst also having different
meanings. The black and
White style is largely used
for its visual effects,
making the album
aesthetically appeasing
therefore making the
consumer want to buy the
album, and others from the
same band. The black and
white design is very simple.

7. Digital
The digital album cover
design is more of a
modern style, aimed at
the younger generation
who are more drawn
towards interesting
colours and lights
moulded together in a
digital format. This is one
of the most differing
types of album cover, as
none of the other styles
come close to what the
digital covers look like.
This is one of many Daft
Punk albums, as you can
see it has a more futuristic
style and immediately.

8. Hand Drawn
The hand drawn type of
creating album art work is
another rare style, mainly
because with the other
styles the facilities are
almost always there for a
large amount of people to
be able to create such
album covers, whereas with
the hand drawn type it is
more difficult to produce an
effective piece.
Hand drawn music albums
can have a professional look
or not so just like this one,
different albums have
various effects an meaning
according to what is drawn.