elasticStage allows you to create professional vinyl and CD packaging on-demand. Whether you’re uploading a simple cover image or designing a fully customised print-ready layout, this guide explains exactly how to prepare your artwork correctly.
This article covers:
Choosing between Quick & Easy Upload and Designer Upload
What files you need
Print requirements (PDF, colour mode, resolution)
Templates and bleed
Common upload errors (click to expand)
1) Choose Your Artwork Method
When building your release, you can choose between two artwork options:
Quick & Easy Upload (Recommended) – Upload JPEG or PNG
Designer Upload (Advanced) – Upload a print-ready PDF
Both options allow you to customise your product. The difference is how much manual control you want over layout and file preparation.
Quick & Easy Upload (Recommended)
Quick & Easy Upload is the fastest way to create professional-looking artwork. You don’t need design software — just upload your front cover (JPG or PNG) and we help you build the rest.
All you need to get started
You can build a complete vinyl or CD release using only a front cover image.
If you don’t upload other elements, we automatically generate them using our Quick & Easy layout templates.
What you can customise
Front cover
Back cover
Vinyl centre labels
Inner sleeves
Booklet (where applicable)
If you upload your own assets, they will be used. If you don’t, we generate them for you.
The spine (auto-generated by design)
The spine is always generated automatically when using Quick & Easy Upload.
The spine colour is selected from the most prominent colour in your front cover artwork.
This ensures visual consistency across the product.
The spine cannot be manually customised in this route.
Everything can be reviewed and rotated in the interactive 3D preview before publishing.
Formatting limits (for auto-generated layouts)
Because some elements are automatically formatted (such as generated track listings and spine layout), there are structured limits to keep everything readable and visually balanced:
Vinyl: maximum 6 tracks per side
CD: maximum 12 tracks
Artist name: 26 characters
Title: 30 characters
Always check your artwork carefully in the 3D preview. Even within limits, text layout can vary (for example, “W” takes more space than “I”).
If you opt to use our auto generated back cover or label, this is the design you will be selecting:
Designer Upload (Advanced)
Designer Upload is for experienced designers who want complete manual control over every element of the product.
You create your artwork using our Adobe Illustrator templates and export a print-ready PDF.
What you control
Cover
Spine
Back cover
Labels
Inner sleeve
Booklet
There are no character limits in Designer Upload — you control the entire layout.
2) Templates & Bleed
Quick & Easy Templates
Quick & Easy Upload automatically crops images to fit the product format. If you want to prepare your images precisely before uploading, you can use these templates:
Designer Templates
Inside each template download:
For Illustrator → .ai files (recommended)
Reference files → PDFs and JPGs for building templates in other software
Bleed (Usually 3 mm)
Templates can include bleed areas (usually 3 mm, marked in red). If artwork extends to the edge of the design, extend it 3 mm beyond the cut line. The bleed is trimmed off and not visible in the finished product.
3) Print Requirements (Designer Upload)
File format
Must be exported as PDF/X-4:2008
Colour profile
Coated Fogra39 must be embedded
Colour mode
RGB is for screens (JPG, PNG).
CMYK is required for print. CMYK has a more limited colour range and cannot replicate the full vibrancy of RGB colours.
Always design in CMYK mode when preparing print-ready artwork.
4) Image Resolution
We use high-end commercial print equipment. Blurry or pixelated artwork is usually caused by low-resolution images.
All images must be at least 300 ppi
Do not enlarge raster images beyond their original size
5) CD-Specific Notes
CD Silver Option
A standard CD has a white coat with CMY printed on top. When you enable CD Silver, we print directly onto the silver surface. White areas become silver and colours appear duller.
The 3D preview simulates this effect.
Softpack crease lines
Lines visible inside the Softpack in the 3D preview simulate the crease line. They are not printed.
6) Common Upload Errors (Click to Expand)
Fonts not embedded
Fonts must be embedded in your PDF so they print correctly.
Fix:
Export using PDF/X-4
Replace restricted fonts
Or convert text to outlines (Type → Create Outlines)
PDF contains non-printable layers
PDF contains non-printable layers
Export using the PDF/X-4:2008 preset in Adobe Illustrator.
PDF contains annotations
PDF contains annotations
Use Adobe Illustrator and export with the PDF/X-4 preset.
Not PDF/X-4
Not PDF/X-4
File → Save As → Adobe PDF
Select preset: PDF/X-4:2008
Re-export and upload again
Missing Coated Fogra39 profile
Missing Coated Fogra39 profile
Export as PDF/X-4
Under Output → Select Coated Fogra39
Re-upload
Final Checklist
Chosen the correct upload method
Used templates where needed
Extended artwork into bleed areas
Designer Upload exported as PDF/X-4 with Coated Fogra39
All images are at least 300 ppi
Checked final result in the 3D preview