What are the best programs to create CD covers?

Hi everybody,

I'm not sure if this belongs in the "audio hardware" forum, but I was wondering if anyone knew of great and free programs to design CD covers?
Nothing dubious, I'm currently making a few homemade compilations (from my own CDs!), and just thought I'd try and give them nice covers.

 

It may not be an initial choice for a lot of people, but I use Paint.net. It's free and has a quick learning curve. I use CS3 Illustrator (now free, but complex) for the "weird" stuff such as placing transparent compact disc and other logos on top of images and then export back to Paint.net for final work.

I've tried other programs in the past, but they often fall under the 90/10 rule... it seems to take 90% of your time doing the final 10% of the work. I work in pixels which takes some getting used to. Note that you can run multiple instances of the program (with two monitors).

Best of luck in your decision.

 

Thanks for the tip!
I'll give it a try.

 

Nero has a decent CD cover creator allows you to import the track list you burn and add pictures and text.

 

Thanks!

 

Magazine photos.

 

Similar to Illustrator:
https://www.inkscape.org/en/

Similar to InDesign:
http://www.scribus.net/canvas/Scribus

Similar to Photoshop:
http://www.gimp.org/

 

You mean, to use as covers?

 

Thank you!

 

I use Easy CD & DVD Cover Creator. Nothing fancy, but for me it still gets the job done. If your focus is listing tracks and times, and to get nice clear printing on the spine of your CD, this will be effective. However, the graphics and pictures are circa 1995, so if you want fancy graphics/pictures behind your text, don't bother with this one.

It's not being updated any longer, but you can still download it for free.

 

Back in the days when I made CD-Rs, I used Neato. http://www.neato.com/

When I stopped making jewel case booklets, I went to using Epson's program for making the CD-R labels that I printed directly on suitable blanks.

Nowadays, I don't bother with physical media.

 

Thank you!

 

Thank you!
To be honest I don't really bother too much with physical media anymore, but out of the blue, recently, I started thinking about making compilations of my favourite artists, and just thought I'd try and do some nice covers. A bit of an artistic rush someshow. It's always nicer than a blank cd-r...

 

No dedicated programs, as you can use Word and make a table 24 x 12 cm in A4 format orizontal, where you can put text and images/pictures - easy...

 

I make the graphics with Gimp and the booklet itself with a template in Libre Office Draw. I I just need the booklet I use a Gimp graphic and a liste of content an make a print with CDlabelgen.online for slim cd cases.
I use a Canon Pixma printer to print on printable CDs.

 

Thank you! I hadn't even thought of it...

 

Thank you!

 

That forum is really cool...

 

Acoustica Cd/DVD Label Maker. Used it for a few years now. Sells for 21.95. Excellent product.

 

Thank you!