How to Create Text Only CD Jacket with iTunes

Picture this: you've just made a CD with some music you purchased on iTunes or some of your band's own music. Now, you want to make a CD jacket. Did you know you can create a text-only CD jacket with iTunes?

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Internet connection and computer
• iTunes account with completed playlist from Section 1
• Printer connected to your computer
• Paper that you want to use for the CD jacket that is compatible with your printer and able to have writing printed on it

How to Prepare the Playlist

1. Open up your iTunes account on your computer. f you already have an iTunes aacount and have the icon on your computer desktop, double left click to open iTunes. Generally, this will open the iTunes store as a default.

2. Get to your iTunes library to access your music. To do so, go to the top left of the page, and click on 'music' in the library section. This should pull up all the music in your library, from purchases or uploads.

3. Select the songs you want on your playlist. To do this, hold down the shift or control key on your computer while (at the same time) single left clicking on the song title of each song you want on the playlist.

4. Create the playlist. Go to the upper left hand corner of iTunes and select 'file.' As the drop down menu opens, select 'new playlist from selection.'

5. Look down the left hand side, and under Playlists, find the playlist you just created. Double left click it. This will allow you to type in a title for the playlist. Remember this title is the one that will show on your CD jacket.

How to Create CD Jacket Itself

6. Left click on the playlist that you wish to use for your CD jacket.

7. At the upper left hand corner of the screen, click on 'File,' and then from the drop down menu select 'Print.' This opens up a selection window.

8. At the top of this window, there is a printing option. Select 'CD jewel case insert.' This is another name for a CD jacket.

9. Next you choose a theme. For a text-only CD jacket, you can choose either text only or text only (black and white.) For either choice, your CD jacket will be just text, with the title on the front cover and playlist on the back.

10. If you choose text only, the playlist will print on the paper in white lettering with a blue background. Choose text only, and then hit okay. This will start the printing of the CD jacket.

11. 
    Text only (black and white) CD jacket printout...

    If you choose text only (black and white), the playlist will print with just black letters on a white background. Choose the text only (black and white) option and hit okay. The printing will start.

12. The CD jacket prints onto 8 1/2 inch by 11 inch paper. You have to cut the CD jacket from the paper, using the cutting guidelines on that print on the page.

13. 
    Completed CD jacket in jewel case...

    Fold the paper in half, with the printing on the outside. Insert into the jewel case for your CD and you're finished.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure to have the paper correctly loaded into the printer and everything ready to go before you begin to print the CD jacket.
• If you choose the text only selection for your CD jacket, you need to have a color printer. Otherwise, you should choose 'Text only (black and white).'
• Although the CD jacket will have lines for where you should cut it to fit the CD case, you may need to cut a little more off each edge than suggested. This helps it fit into the CD jewel case.

Resources

• ITunes website

[sensemanifold]

on 1/25/2008 This is an excellent and informative how-to. I am definitely going to use this feature of iTunes!