Every music release needs promotional graphics. Instagram stories, feed posts, TikTok announcements, X (Twitter) updates—they all look better with a polished visual that shows your album art and tells people where to listen.
The problem? Making these graphics usually means opening Canva, finding a template, uploading your artwork, adjusting text, adding platform logos, exporting in multiple sizes, and repeating the whole process for your next release. It's tedious.
Gatefolded now includes a built-in promo card generator. Upload your album once, and you can create professional promotional graphics in seconds. Choose a template, pick your format, customize the details, and export. Done.
What Are Promo Cards?
Promo cards are the shareable graphics you post when announcing a release. They typically include:
- Your album artwork
- Artist and album name
- A badge like "Out Now" or "Coming Soon"
- Streaming platform icons showing where to listen
Good promo cards are instantly recognizable, on-brand, and tell fans exactly what action to take. Bad ones look generic, get scrolled past, or bury the important information.
Using the Promo Card Generator
You'll find the promo card generator in two places: on your album share page (click "Create Promo Card") and on your album details page in the dashboard. Here's how to use it:
1. Choose a Template
Start by picking one of six templates, each with its own color scheme and vibe:
- Dark: Deep charcoal background, clean and professional
- Light: White background, modern and minimal
- Warm: Amber and orange tones, cozy and inviting
- Cool: Blue-gray palette, calm and sophisticated
- Minimal: High contrast black and white, bold and striking
- Bold: Vibrant purple, energetic and attention-grabbing
Each template has pre-configured colors for backgrounds, text, accents, and badges—but you can customize everything if you want.
2. Pick Your Format
Choose between two aspect ratios based on where you're posting:
- Story (9:16): Vertical format for Instagram Stories, TikTok, and similar platforms
- Square (1:1): Classic square format for Instagram feed posts, X, and Facebook
3. Add Streaming Platform Icons
Select which streaming platforms to display on your promo card. The generator supports 8 platforms:
- Spotify
- Apple Music
- YouTube Music
- Bandcamp
- SoundCloud
- Amazon Music
- Tidal
- Deezer
Pick the platforms where your music is actually available. No point showing Bandcamp if you're not on Bandcamp.
4. Customize (Optional)
The advanced options let you fine-tune your promo card:
- Badge text: Choose from presets like "Out Now," "Coming Soon," "New Single," or type your own
- Custom background: Upload your own image instead of using the template's solid color
- Release date: Add an optional release date to display on the card
- Font style: Choose Modern (clean sans-serif), Classic (elegant serif), or Bold (chunky display font)
- Album art frame: Adjust corner radius (sharp to rounded) and shadow intensity
- Text color override: Change text colors if the defaults don't work with your artwork
5. Export and Share
The live preview updates in real-time as you make changes. When you're happy with it, click "Export PNG" to download a high-quality image ready for posting.
Tips for Better Promo Cards
Match Your Album Aesthetic
If your album art has warm colors, try the Warm template. Dark, moody artwork? Dark or Minimal templates work well. The goal is cohesion—the promo card should feel like an extension of the album, not a separate design.
Less Is More
Don't overload the card with every streaming platform. Pick 3-4 where your audience actually listens. A clean card with fewer icons looks more professional than a cluttered one showing 8 platforms.
Use the Right Format for Each Platform
Story format (9:16) for Instagram Stories, Reels, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts. Square (1:1) for Instagram feed posts, X, Facebook, and anywhere else square images display well. Create both and use them where appropriate.
Include a Call to Action
The default "Out Now" badge tells people the music is available. But consider customizing it to be more specific: "Stream Now," "Listen Today," "Coming Soon," or even your release date for pre-release announcements.
Test Custom Backgrounds
If your album art is striking, try uploading a blurred or zoomed version as the background. This creates a cohesive look while keeping the main album art prominent in the center.
When to Use Promo Cards
Promo cards work for any music announcement:
- Release day: Announce your new album or single with an "Out Now" badge
- Pre-release: Build anticipation with a "Coming Soon" badge and your release date
- Platform updates: Let fans know when your music hits a new platform
- Throwbacks: Remind fans about older releases they might have missed
- Milestone celebrations: Hit 100k streams? Create a card celebrating it
Why Build This Into Gatefolded?
Most artists already use Gatefolded to share music with press, labels, and fans. Your album art, track info, and streaming links are already in the system. The promo card generator just packages that existing information into shareable graphics—no need to re-upload artwork or re-enter details in a separate design tool.
It's one less app in your workflow. Upload your album, share it with people who need early access, then create promotional graphics for the public announcement. All from the same place.
Good promotional graphics don't require design skills. They require good album art and a template that gets out of the way.