Use the scanner to upload artwork that can not be produced in a design program (symbols, hand-drawn art, etc.). Save the image files from the scanner onto the desktop in an easily used format such as JPEG or IMG.
Open up the design program on the computer. Create a new file and set the file size to 5 inches x 5 inches. Select background colors, schemes and text options by using the tool bars and start to lay out the album cover. Include the name of the group/artist, the title of the album and any symbol to be associated with the group.
Upload scanned items into the album cover by selecting "Edit" and clicking the "Insert" button. From there, navigate to the desktop in the search fields and select the appropriate files. Edit the sizes of the scanned images to fit the screen but use the select tool on the tool bar of the design program.
Save the finished product three ways, first as the type of file that the design program uniquely creates--for instance, Photoshop will make Photoshop files (this will make the files easily changed later if need be). Save the file once again as a JPEG file with the current size of 5 inches x 5 inches, then save once more as an IMG file. Use the same name for each save for consistency.
Reopen the IMG file in the design program. Use the "Grab" tool in the tool bars to change the size of the image, or use the "Edit" menu and select "Size" to alter the size to 500 x 500p (pixels). Save changes to the image. Open the folder where the image is saved and drag the image into the folder that contains the album the cover is associated with. Open the MP3 player on the computer; it now displays the artwork with the MP3.