How to Make Spotify Canvas
Spotify Canvas lets you add short, looping visuals to your tracks — turning static album art into an immersive experience. Here's everything you need to know to create one.
What is Spotify Canvas?
Spotify Canvas is a 3–8 second vertical loop that replaces your album art in the Now Playing View on the Spotify mobile app. When a listener plays your track, they see a moving visual instead of a still image — making the listening experience more immersive and engaging. You can add a Canvas to any track, including upcoming releases.
145%
more likely to be shared
Tracks with Canvas are shared more on social media
5%
increase in streams
Canvas can boost your track's stream count
9%
more saves
Listeners save tracks with Canvas more often
Example Canvas
Looping visual
Canvas Specs & Requirements
Before you create a Canvas, make sure it meets Spotify's requirements:
Aspect Ratio
9:16 (vertical / portrait)
File Format
MP4 (H.264 codec)
Duration
3–8 seconds
Looping
Must loop seamlessly
Resolution
Minimum 720px wide (1080×1920 recommended)
File Size
Under 16 MB
Who can add Canvas:
- First main artist on the track
- Main artist on both the track and release
- Role: Admin or Editor in Spotify for Artists
Create a Canvas with AI
The fastest way to make a Canvas is with RiffGen's AI Canvas Generator. Describe the visual you want, and the AI creates a Spotify-ready looping video in seconds.
Write a prompt
Describe the visual you want. Be specific about colors, mood, and motion. For example: "A dreamy night sky with a glowing crescent moon slowly drifting through purple clouds"
💡 Prompt tip
Include details about movement (e.g. "slowly rotating," "gently pulsing") to get better looping results.
Generate your Canvas
Hit generate and our AI will create a looping video in the correct 9:16 format. The generation takes just a few seconds. You can iterate and regenerate until you're happy with the result.
Download your video
Download the finished MP4 file. It's already formatted to Spotify's Canvas specs — no editing needed.
Turn an Image into a Canvas
Already have album artwork or a photo you love? Upload it to RiffGen and our AI will animate it into a seamlessly looping Canvas video.
The AI preserves the essence of your image while adding subtle, eye-catching motion that loops perfectly.
Upload to Spotify for Artists
Once you have your Canvas video, you can upload it from the web or the Spotify for Artists mobile app.
Upload from Web
- 1Log in to artists.spotify.com
- 2Go to the Music tab
- 3Select your track
- 4Click "Add Canvas"
Upload from Mobile App
- 1Open the Spotify for Artists mobile app
- 2Tap the Music tab
- 3Select your track
- 4Tap "Edit Canvas"
Tips for Great Canvases
Avoid talking, singing, or rapping in the footage
Canvas is not synced to the track, so lip-synced video will look like an awkward overdub. Stick to abstract or environmental visuals.
Skip rapid cuts and intense flashing
Too many rapid cuts make a 3–8 second clip hard to follow, and flickering graphics can overwhelm viewers.
Keep the action in the safe area
Player controls cover the lower portion of the screen, and some phones crop the edges. Keep important content centered and away from the bottom.
Skip text, titles, and logos
Spotify already overlays the artist name, song title, and track length. Adding your own text will compete with it and look cluttered.
Know your loop types
A Continuous Loop seamlessly repeats with no clear start or end. A Hard Cut has visible edit points but can be artfully disguised. A Rebound plays forward then reverses — the easiest way to get a seamless clip.
Match the mood of the song
Your Canvas should reflect the feel of the track. A chill lo-fi song deserves calm, warm visuals — not flashy neon effects.
Use high contrast colors
Canvases are viewed on phone screens, often in bright environments. Bold colors and strong contrast will make your visual pop.
Connect your vision across your profile
Your Canvas is part of your Spotify presence alongside album art, profile picture, and header image. A cohesive visual theme across all of these strengthens your brand.
Update your Canvas over time
Unlike physical album art, you can change your Canvas whenever you want — to celebrate a moment, refresh your look, or keep fans engaged with something new.
Test on mobile
Canvas only displays on Spotify’s mobile app. Preview your video on a phone before uploading — what looks great on a monitor may look different on a 6-inch screen.
Ready to create your Canvas?
Generate stunning Spotify Canvas visuals in seconds with AI. No video editing skills needed.