Plan what the album cover is going to look like. There are a lot of different types of album covers. Some have a picture of the artist or group; some have an image that represents the album title; and others have an artistic image or even just text. Consult with the band or artist and find out what their ideas are. Have a look at other existing albums to draw some creativity and inspiration.
Take some photos of the cover image with a digital camera once you have decided what it will be. Ensure that, whatever your subject matter is, you take lots of photos of it/them; this will give you more options when it comes to choosing a perfect photo later. Experiment with different camera effects, lighting and color. Upload the photos onto your computer once you have taken enough.
Download some copies of the cover image if you are using images from the Internet. Make sure that you have contacted the images' photographer and asked for permission to use them. Try to download lots of different color and style variations of the image.
Collect the image files you have together in one folder and try to decide on one or two images that really deserve to be on the album cover. Take particular care when considering the sharpness, color and clarity of the image. Make sure there is room on the picture for the name of the group or artist and the album name.
Use image editing software to add the album title and the artist or group's name. Experiment with different fonts and sizes and ensure that the text is visible, readable and prominent. Programs such as Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator are excellent for advanced users while Google's Picasa is user friendly and free.
Re-size and crop the image you have chosen to the correct CD size. All CD cases are the same measurement and the cover inlay (where your image slots inside the case) measures at 4.75 inches x 4.75 inches.
Print you album cover when you and the band/artist are satisfied with it. If you are printing only a small amount of copies, use a home printer and printing paper. If you are printing for several hundred CDs, it may be cheaper to use a printing company. Use the Internet to search for printing companies in your region.