Album Motion Artwork is an animated loop based on the album cover that plays on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Android, and Smart TV devices on Apple Music.
Required deliverables
You need to submit two separate files:
Asset | Resolution | Devices |
Album Page Motion 3x4 | 2048x2732px | iPhone, Android |
Album Page Motion 1x1 | 3840x3840px | iPad, Mac, Smart TVs |
Technical specs (both files):
Codec: H.264 or Apple ProRes 422/4444
Format: .mp4 or .mov
Duration: 8–35 seconds
Bitrate: 45–100 Mbps
Frame rate: 23.976 / 24 / 25 / 29.97 / 30 fps
Color profile: Rec 709 or sRGB
Pixel aspect ratio: 1:1 (square pixels)
No audio track
Design guidelines
First frame: must match the static album cover exactly. If the connection is slow, the first frame may freeze, so it needs to work as a standalone image.
Continuity: the animation must stay focused on the album cover art for its entire duration. No cuts to other images, no multiple edits.
Seamless loop: the transition from end to beginning must not be noticeable. No drop frames or hold frames.
Fill the frame: artwork must fill the entire canvas. Do not place a 1x1 cover inside a 3x4 composition.
No extra elements: no promotional copy, tour dates, parental advisory logos, or UI-mimicking designs.
Flashing: avoid constant or frantic flashing, which can distract or harm viewers.
AI-generated content: must not introduce visual degradation, distorted text, unnatural anatomy, or aberrant animations. Any likeness modifications must be approved by the artist.
Safe area (3x4 only)
The 3x4 asset is displayed on iPhone, which has UI elements (notch, buttons, text overlays). Keep all essential elements - typography, logos, key subjects - within the safe area to avoid overlap. Apple provides downloadable templates with safe area guides.
The 1x1 asset has no safe area restrictions - the full canvas is usable.
Render settings
For After Effects: Format H.264, audio off, target bitrate 45 Mbps.
For Premiere / Media Encoder: Format H.264, preset "Match Source - Adaptive Medium Bitrate", export audio unchecked.
For full details and downloadable templates, see Apple's official guidelines.
If you’d like to add Apple Motion Artwork to your release, send the files to [email protected] and we’ll be happy to help you.