Uploading collection artwork

Every collection has its own page, and one of the most important elements of that page is the collection artwork (an image that appears next to the collection title). For Apple-hosted collections, you can upload an image to help build an audience for your content and illustrate the central idea behind the collection. For provider-hosted collections, you include the image within the feed itself.

Be sure to make the image as clean and appealing as possible. Simplicity is key. If the image is complicated, it might be difficult for users to understand what the collection is about. Some of the best images rely on no more than a simple picture and a few words against a plain background.

You can include your institution’s identity elements, including color and typeface, badge, crest, logos, seals, or emblems in collection artwork. Though not required, the use of these identity elements can help users to immediately associate your collection with your institution, establishes authenticity, create value for your content, and distinguish your content from that of other institutions when featured in the iTunes U area in the iTunes Store or in an iTunes Store search.

Collection artwork also supports your content on iPhone, iPod, and iPad and a scaled down version of the image is displayed as a thumbnail in search results.

To upload collection artwork:

1. Click Collections at the top of iTunes U Public Site Manager.

2. Click Apple Hosted in the Feed column for the collection where you want to upload artwork.

   As a contributor, click Edit Feed in the Title column for the collection where you want to upload artwork.

3. Click Channel in the feed editor.

4. Click Choose File.

5. Select an image for the collection, and then click Choose.

6. Click Save.

   iTunes U Public Site Manager displays a preview of the image, as well as a thumbnail version of the image.

Create a collection image at least 600 x 600 pixels. Apple recommends creating square, 1400 x 1400 pixel JPEG images. Using this “master art,” iTunes U Public Site Manager automatically generates the various thumbnail images displayed in your site and throughout the iTunes U area in the iTunes Store. Collection images must be JPEG or PNG with appropriate file extensions (.jpg, .png).

In addition to collection artwork, you can also use the image element (<itunes:image href=" ">) to include artwork for individual items within a collection. Item artwork is displayed in the iTunes Now Playing window when the item is selected or on iPhone, iPod, or iPad during playback. This artwork also represents the item or content if the item is featured in the iTunes U area of the iTunes Store.

Related Topics

• “About collection pages”

• “Customizing a collection page”

• “Adding a collection page URL list”

• “Relating collections by media format”

• “Previewing a collection page”

• “Creating a feed”