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How do I make a Spotify Canvas? That little video loop that plays along with the music.

If you're using Spotify on your iPhone, you've already noticed the looping videos known as Spotify Canvas. In practice, this is often a looped excerpt from the music video in question. In this article, we'll look at how to create a video for your hit song if you're an artist or producer, then upload it to the platform.

What exactly is a Spotify Canvas?

A Spotify Canvas is a looped video that accompanies a piece of music. Your song thus offers an animated image in addition to the sound track. The aim is not to develop an idea as in a music video, but rather to immerse the listener in an atmosphere. You could say that canvas is halfway between a cover and a video clip.

Photo of an iPhone 15 Plus with the Spotify application playing a canvas.

Why make a Spotify Canvas? The advantages

The advantage is to immerse your fans in your world. This is still rare today, and therefore precious, but it could well become a standard in the music industry. Indeed, the feature was only available for the mobile version of the application, but now you can find Spotify Canvas on the Mac and PC application. In the future, owning a Spotify Canvas will be as natural as owning an album cover.

Video capture of Spotify Canvas on the Mac application.

Spotify's tips for a successful canvas

The website of music streaming platform Spotify provides guidelines for maximizing the impact of your canvas. Their aim is to ensure that their platform delivers a quality experience to listeners.

Do not use video clips of the artist singing or rapping.

Do not use video clips of the artist singing or rapping.

Avoid editing with too many extracts. 

At 8 seconds, the extracts would follow each other too quickly, and that would be unpleasant.

Center important elements in the video. 

What you need to bear in mind is that every smartphone or screen is different, depending on the device you're using, so the edges of the video may be cropped.

Do not include text in your video. 

For example, your artist name, tracks or album already appear on the interface, and it's not easy to read.

Accept that you won't be able to express everything in 8 seconds.

And yes, this is a bonus animation, not a clip. The best thing to do is to come up with something that makes sense in relation to your music.

Let's talk technology

A Spotify Canvas can be no longer than 8 seconds, and will play in a loop throughout the song. But that's not the only feature.

How long in seconds does a Spotify Canvas last?

The canvas is a looped video that lasts a minimum of 3 seconds and can extend to 8 seconds. Which is short, but still allows you to be creative.

What pixel format should my Spotify Canvas have?

The video ratio should be 9:16, i.e. in vertical format. The number of pixels should be between 720 and 1080 pixels. 720 pixels on a side will look a little blurred on the largest high-definition screens, i.e. those with extremely small pixels.

Spotify canvas video ratio

Using a freelancer or agency to create the Spotify Canvas

We're making a somewhat commercial point here, so if you're not interested, you can skip this paragraph!

When you work with a creative team to create your canvas, you can be sure of delivering quality content to your listening fans. Indeed, today we live in an extremely visual world; music is also listened to with the eyes. Well, not literally, but you get the picture. Since the advent of MTV, the visual has been essential, and web platforms have only reinforced this trend.

Update your canvas on Spotify

A Spotify account is something that has to live. Just as your career evolves as an artist, musician or singer, so must your Spotify account. It can show your new identity or a clip from an upcoming video. Anything is possible, as long as what you show is in keeping with your image, it's ok!

Managing your reputation on Spotify with Canvas

A canvas no longer satisfies you? Change it for a new one, with clips from a video, for example. After all, you've already invested time, energy and maybe even money in making your clip, so make the most of it. You may also decide to create content from scratch for the sole purpose of creating this Spotify Canvas. This is a viable option if new listeners discover you through their Spotify account, for example in their recommendations or in a playlist.

How to add a Canvas to your song on Spotify ?

Here's a simple tutorial for adding a video to your song:

1. Go to the Spotify for Artists application or on the platform where you publish your tracks.

2. Select song to which you wish to add a canvas.

Spotify Canvas: how do I get it online?
Screenshot of Spotify for Artists, a tutorial on how to upload a Spotify Canvas.

3. Click on "Add a canvas.

4. Select the canvas file on your device.

5. Confirm and save.

And that's it! Your canvas is now associated with your song.

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