Using Paint

• 1). Open Paint, pull down the “Image” menu and set your dimensions as 4.724-inches by 4.724-inches and click the “OK” button. A blank white square appears on the screen.
  
  
• 2). Click the “Text” tool, which looks like an “A” and position your cursor near the top of the cover. Type the CD cover’s title and optional band name, such as “Greatest Hits of the Celtic Wonders” or “Fun Road Trip Compilation from Davida to Ed.” An additional option is to create another line of text with more information, such as “Featuring the first hit single, ‘I Love My Maine Coon’” or “Newest release in 10 years.”
  
  
• 3). Click the “Pencil” tool, select a color from the “Color Picker” at the bottom of the screen and draw an outline of an image, such as a guitar, palm tree or abstract design on the screen. Click the “Paint Bucket” tool and click inside the image, which fills it with color.
  
  
• 4). Switch back to the “Pencil” tool, change paint colors and add more details to the graphic. Switch to the “Paint Bucket” again, choose a paint color you haven’t yet used and click inside the white space of the CD cover to give it a colored background.
  
  
• 5). Pull down the “File” menu, click “Save As,” name the file such as “CelticCD” and save it to your computer.
  
  

Using Photoshop

• 1). Open Photoshop, pull down the “File” menu and click “New.” Name the file “NewCDCover” and set both dimensions to 4.724-inches. Click the “OK” button. Pull down the “File” menu again, click “Open” and browse to an image for the CD cover, such as a picture of your band or a photo of your pet. Double-click the file, which opens in Photoshop.
  
  
• 2). Click the “Lasso” tool on the “Tools” palette, draw an outline around the part of the photo to use for the cover and press the “Ctrl” and “C” keys on your keyboard to copy the selection. Click back to the “NewCDCover” box and press the “Ctrl” and “V” keys to paste in the copied area. Drag it into place with your cursor.
  
  
• 3). Click the “Type” tool, which looks like a “T” and select a font, size and color from the text toolbar at the top of the page. Position your cursor on the cover box and type the name of the CD, such as “My Favorite Love Songs” or “The Janofsky Band Hits the Town.”
  
  
• 4). Give the CD cover an eye-catching background by clicking the “Paint Bucket” tool, pulling down the “Fill” menu at the top of the screen and selecting “Pattern.” Click into the “Pattern” box next to it and select a pattern, such as checkerboard or silk. Slide the “Opacity” bar down to 20 percent and click inside the “NewCDCover” box, which fills the canvas with the pattern.
  
  
• 5). Click the right-pointing triangle in a circle icon on the top right side of the “Layers” palette. Select “Flatten Image.” Pull down the “File” menu, click “Save As” and select a place on your computer to save the CD cover.
  
  

Using Publisher

• 1). Open Publisher and click “Blank Print Publication.” A standard 8.5-inch by 11-inch page opens; to change it, pull down the “File” menu, click “Page Setup” and type 4.724-inches into both dimension boxes. Click “OK” and the publisher workspace automatically adjusts.
  
  
• 2). Click the “Text Box” tool, which looks like an “A” on an index card, on the left side of the screen. Draw a text box on the CD cover, then type your band name, CD title, song tracks or any other information. Highlight the text and use the toolbar at the top of the page to change the words’ appearance.
  
  
• 3). Pull down the “Insert” menu, click “Picture” and select “Clip Art.” Pull down the “Results should be” menu and check the “Clip Art” box for a cartoonish image, the “Photographs” box for a realistic cover image or check both for the most results.
  
  
• 4). Type a word or phrase, such as “band,” “rock star,” “bluegrass” or “road trip” into the “Search for” box and click “Go.” Scroll through the results and double-click an image, which appears on the CD cover workspace. Drag a corner of it to enlarge or shrink it into place. Add more images if desired.
  
  
• 5). Pull down the “File” menu, click “Save As,” name the CD cover and save it to your computer.