the ayumi hamasaki iTunes cover project [NOW IN HQ!]

[tasking]

A while back, I created the first thread compiling all of Ayu's album covers in 600x600 for iTunes. Then when ImageShack died, Tomoyo created the current thread. Unfortunately, most of the covers there are in PNG, which I've come to realize when coupled with iTunes is a no-no, because it takes up essential space needed on your device. I then found a site that actually lets you search and download art from the iTunes store - but to my surprise and horror, a lot of the covers there are really LQ scans. So, I took it upon myself to compile HQ album art this time.

For most of first 50 singles, I ripped the covers from the A COMPLETE screensaver, then used the iTunes store to fill in the gaps - but only if the covers were HQ and clearly digital. For the albums, I used the working links in the HQ album art thread and my own collection. So in short, everything here is DIGITAL, not scans.

Everything has been resized to 600x600 using Photoshop, and the irregular sized covers feature a black border to match the OS interface (except for POWER of MUSIC because that's the cover in the iTunes store).

If any of you have the now expired collection of HQ cover art compiled by Mario and want to help out, it'd be appreciated! Here are the covers that are missing, because I couldn't find an HQ digital version:

-A BEST
-a song is born
-A Song for XX
-ayu-mi-x
-ayu-mi-x II Acoustic Orchestra
-ayu-mi-x II JPN
-ayu-mi-x II Non-Stop Mega Mix
-ayu-mi-x II US+EU
-Bold & Delicious/Pride CD-only
-Cyber TRANCE presents ayu trance
-Cyber TRANCE presents ayu trance 2
-HEAVEN CD-only
-MY STORY Classical
-RMX WORKS from ayu-mi-x 5 non stop mega mix
-RMX WORKS from Cyber TRANCE presents ayu trance 3
-RMX WORKS from SUPER EUROBEAT presents ayu-ro mix 3
-Startin'/Born To Be...
-SUPER EUROBEAT presents ayu-ro mix

Stuff we're probably not ever gonna get digital covers of:
-avex official orgel collection
-Drizzly singles
-excerpts from ayu-mi-x III singles
-NOTHING FROM NOTHING (single and album)
-HARMONY albums
-the other side singles

Tip: Don't copy and paste the artwork from your browser into iTunes, because 1.) it saves it as PNG, and 2.) it adds this ugly strip on the left side. Save the covers to your computer, then right click on the album -> Get Info and double click on the Artwork box to select it.

For the sake of convenience, everything's in alphabetical order. Enjoy!

Spoiler:

[NintendoHTF1242]

Just wanted to say, for the PNG strip on the side issue; you have to upload the image directly from your folders; not as a "Copy-Paste" thing. So you have to copy the image, paste it into your paint, save it as whatever you want, go to the song, click "Get Info", then double click the box for the album art and then upload it that way. It's a super long and tedious process but it gets rid of that strip on the left side. It bothered me too.

[tasking]

Ugh, that explains it. I also found out that if you copy/paste it saves them as a PNG; if you do it the way you suggested, it keeps them as JPG. I'll add the info to the first post. Thanks!

[ayu-michan]

Thank you, there were some I was looking for this whole time.

[NintendoHTF1242]

Originally Posted by tasking

Ugh, that explains it. I also found out that if you copy/paste it saves them as a PNG; if you do it the way you suggested, it keeps them as JPG. I'll add the info to the first post. Thanks!

Oh damn really? That's so annoying. Apple needs to fix that asap. But thank you for this thread; you saved me a LOT of time for when I reapply the covers to my albums on iTunes lol

[owlflight]

What do you define as an image being HQ? I have a few of the images you listed under covers you were missing but I am not certain they would meet the standards requested.

[TeamAyu2004]

I think for itunes its 600x600
But if you get bigger images all it does is condense them to 600x600.

thanks for the images! gonna up date my ayumi stuff!!

[owlflight]

I'll check the images I have and get back to this thread. I may even have some from the list of hard to find digital covers too. Will let everyone know!

[Delirium-Zer0]

Because of how iTunes 11 does the album views, using colors from the cover art, is anyone else like me & would rather have rectangular cover art than the black bars on the top & bottom? Cuz those black bars mess that up lol

[tasking]

You know Deli, I was thinking of that, but I didn't know how to go about it. If you want to give it a shot, feel free.