This is How to Create the Best YouTube Thumbnails. How to make a cute youtube thumbnail

Be brave. Remember that your thumbnail appears in a grid full of other thumbnail skills, so increase the text size. The display’s sparkling fonts with squiggles and a gloomy aesthetic won’t be readable, so stick with clean, sans-serif choices.

How to make a cute youtube thumbnail

Thumbnails can also affect YouTube search ranking. Since your video’s click-through rate is one of the most important ranking factors in YouTube’s search algorithm, especially during the first hour on the platform, an eye-catching thumbnail can make a huge difference to your query ranking first, not Everything.

If your video has a plain or weak thumbnail, it won’t get anyone to click. YouTube may consider this video irrelevant and will not classify it in search results or distribute it through the Featured Videos channel.

Luckily, pulling freeze frames from YouTube videos isn’t the only way to create thumbnails. There are online tools, made especially for people who may not have a lot of design experience, that can help you create custom thumbnails – all for free.

Below, we’ll walk you through a simple five-step process to create visually stunning YouTube thumbnails that will cut through the noise, increase your video’s click-through rate, and raise your rankings.

How to Make a YouTube Thumbnail

1. Visit YouTube’s free online thumbnail maker.
2. Upload a photo or choose one of the thumbnail maker templates.
3. Add text, clipart or a background to your thumbnail.
4. Download the finished product to your computer.

1. Visit a free online YouTube thumbnail maker.

We’ve listed seven free YouTube thumbnail makers below, but we’ve covered FotoJet in this guide as it’s one of the few YouTube thumbnail makers that doesn’t force you to sign up for a free account before creating a thumbnail. Their robust thumbnail creator allows you to customize and download your thumbnails absolutely free – no email address required.

The free version of this online application allows you to download small and medium image files, but large and very large are premium features. This means you’ll be creative with your designs to make them as expressive as possible on YouTube.

2. Upload a photo or choose one of the thumbnail makers’ templates.

YouTube will allow you to upload any photo from your computer as a thumbnail of your video. But if you don’t have a vivid image on your computer or need some inspiration, Fotojet is here to help. It has over 23 free templates that can be used as a base for a thumbnail.

To create an eye-catching thumbnail in Fotojet, consider including a talking head. People are naturally drawn to human faces because it is an ingrained survival mechanism that helps us quickly assess someone’s emotions and determine if they are a threat or a friend. Research Gate also found that Instagram face photos are 38% more likely to be liked and 32% more likely to get comments.

3. Add text, clipart, or a background to your thumbnail.

Once you’ve selected an image or template, you can make your thumbnail stand out even more by adding text, clipart, or a background to it.

To further explain your video’s subject, consider adding its title to a thumbnail. Additionally, if your photo, graphics, or text are light, consider placing them against a dark background. The color contrast will make your thumbnail pop out. The same logic applies to dark objects and light backgrounds.

4. Download the finished product to your computer.

On Fotojet in particular, once you’ve finished polishing your thumbnail, hit the Save button at the top of the page to export the thumbnail.

Finally, title the thumbnail and save it as JPG or PNG. Its resolution will already match YouTube’s recommended resolution – 1280 x 720 pixels – so you don’t have to worry about resizing it later.

Additionally, it has been observed that a thumbnail containing yellow is much better than a thumbnail without it. This color has a greater advantage over the others. In addition, a light background is preferable to a white color.

What is a thumbnail on YouTube?

The video thumbnail is the first thing viewers see when browsing YouTube. It’s a small, clickable, static image that either grabs their attention or lets them scroll.

YouTube will offer you a selection of frames from your uploaded video to serve as a preview image, but rarely does this freeze frame serve you well.

You need something that catches the eye and communicates at a glance what your video is about. You want it to attract your target audience and make them think, I gotta watch this!

A thumbnail is typically the first time your video is viewed and basically determines whether users will click.

Designing a professional YouTube thumbnail not only helps to enhance your channel’s branding, it also draws visitors and more eyes to your content.

How to make YouTube thumbnails: best practices

So how do you create effective YouTube thumbnails? Here are 8 key tips to get you started.

1. Use the right YouTube thumbnail size

If you’re going to spend time creating a professional looking thumbnail, start with the correct size and dimensions.

As per YouTube guidelines, the thumbnail image should be 1280 x 720 pixels and a minimum width of 640 pixels. The 16: 9 aspect ratio is ideal as it is most used in YouTube players and previews.

It’s a big mistake to make a thumbnail that is too small. While thumbnails appear relatively little in YouTube search results, don’t forget that YouTube videos can also be embedded.

For this reason, you need a larger image size that can be scaled down, rather than a small size that will scale up. This will ensure the highest quality.

In addition, you need to save the images as JPG, GIF, BMP or PNG and keep the file size below the 2MB limit.

2. Use a great photo as your YouTube thumbnail background

Strong visuals are essential to grab your viewers’ attention.

A high-quality image that acts as a movie trailer will not only add context, but also provide an opportunity for your audience to learn about your style.

Matt Komo is a filmmaker and his YouTube content is very well done. It uses high-quality images that give users an insight into what the next 10 minutes might look like. As a travel cinematographer, Matt wants to show off adventurous photos to attract clicks to his video.

Need beautiful free stock photos to use in thumbnails? Many design tools offer a selection right in the app. Or, you can use this ultimate list of free photo sites!

Remember, it costs a dollar each time you use multiple photos in Canva. On the other hand, Snappa comes with over 60,000 royalty-free images that you can use at no extra cost as many times as you like.

Disclosure: If you choose to upgrade to a paid plan, I may receive a referral fee.

3. Include title text in your YouTube thumbnails

There are many benefits to adding text headers to your video thumbnail, but the biggest advantage is that it gives viewers more context about your video.

A simple image, no matter how beautiful, won’t communicate that your video is a great tutorial that will solve one of your viewers’ most pressing problems.

Capture that main idea into an attractive title that will attract those who will like your video

If you are creating a series, the text headings in the thumbnail can be numbered. Like a TV show with numbered episodes and seasons, YouTube numbered thumbnails will help viewers keep track of what they’re watching.

Plus, it encourages them to look for more!

Brands like Apple include text headings in their thumbnails to provide additional context that is not immediately visible.

For example, one of the thumbnails above contains an image of the horizon that would be quite general on its own. However, adding the text “How to photograph the horizon on iPhone 7” provides context to the thumbnail and makes viewers more likely to click on it.

Make your own thumbnails for YouTube with Vista Create and attract subscribers. In this video, you’ll learn how to create a thumbnail that will stand out from the crowd.

The Main Goal of the Thumbnail

Quite simply, the primary purpose of a thumbnail is to get the maximum number of clicks. Get an audience, more audience, watch our content and move on to see our other content. There are certain rules that make something happen. Here are three rules you need to consider to achieve your YouTube thumbnail design goal.

1. Content should accurately represent
2. Make the audience excited about the movie
3. Get your audience interested
4. Take advantage of the white space
5. Download thumbnail templates

You can call the above points are the rules of running a strategy. This ideology engages online visitors and gradually grows to a higher level. The thumbnail must be exciting and grab your audience’s attention to watch your videos and content.

How to create the best YouTube thumbnails design?

1. Include title text to deliver context

There is not only one benefit of including title text, but there are several others as well. But of all the best we choose to reflect the context of the movie. While the image matters a lot, it won’t explain the exact purpose of your video.

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For a brilliant tutorial, the viewer goes through a few thumbnails and tries to find the best solution to solve their technical or other problems. Supposing you are going to create a series, you’d better align text headings with numbers. Have you noticed the TV show series? Episodes and seasons are displayed in numbers to indicate which season and episode was used in the YouTube thumbnail.

The title does not imply anything related to the content; in fact, choose the main idea of ​​your video that will attract a larger audience to enjoy it.

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After all, a better solution is to put the appropriate title on your youtube thumbnail. The eye catching title will provide context that will attract more viewers. Sometimes, summing up the entire movie idea in a few words makes a good impression on visitors.

2. Use the best font style

If you’re done with the title, go to Font Style. It is very important that your audience is aware of your brand and content. The best way to keep your audience interested is to keep your thumbnails consistent with the same font style. In addition, use memorable colors and a more powerful design.
Don’t go with plain font, use something unique and impressive. It’s a good choice to give your title a bold style.

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3. Fine contrast with bright background

As we mentioned, including a title is important, but what’s the use if you are unable to read it. Exactly, we’ll cover the contrast here.

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There are many contrasts, but here we want to consider the color contrast. The idea of ​​color contrast will be explained with an example. Let’s say high contrast, which means the two colors are different from each other and can be black and white. On the contrary, low contrast, which means that the two colors are quite similar to each other and let’s assume they are red and orange.

Therefore, when choosing colors for a thumbnail, try to use complementary colors. These are the opposites on the color wheel. We suggest choosing these as they can stand up to each other and show their individual identity.

To further explain your video’s subject, consider adding its title to a thumbnail. Additionally, if your photo, graphics, or text are light, consider placing them against a dark background. The color contrast will make your thumbnail pop out. The same logic applies to dark objects and light backgrounds.

Quick Tips for More Effective YouTube Video Thumbnails

Thumbnails encourage people to watch your videos. Consider the following tips when creating yours.

Set expectations
– Set a thumbnail as a preview of what is to come. Tell the truth. Clickbait will backfire.

Choose great images
– Use a high-quality, vivid image that looks great at any size and communicates key information about your video.

Write a great title
– Keep a balance when it comes to titles. Guess what’s in the content, but leave room for curiosity too.

Choose your fonts wisely
– If you add text on a thumbnail, make sure it is easy to read. Try to use fewer fonts to avoid bulky items.

Check your stats
– YouTube Analytics will help you determine if your thumbnails and titles are as expected. Check how viewers behave once they start watching.

Over 40,000 Static Layouts

Use the VistaCreate static template library to reveal your creativity and create attractive YouTube thumbnails.

Make your own thumbnails for YouTube with Vista Create and attract subscribers. In this video, you’ll learn how to create a thumbnail that will stand out from the crowd.

How to transform design objects?

The Objects tab in the menu on the left contains various elements to make your projects more individual. These are shapes, lines, borders, icons etc. To add a new object to your project, select the appropriate item on the left and click on it or drag it onto the canvas. Use the Delete button in the editor or the Backspace button on your keyboard, or simply drag the object off the canvas to delete it. Note that the illustrations and icons can have more than one color, and this feature allows you to modify the colors according to your needs, as long as no more than 4 colors are used.

What editing options are available in VistaCreate?

You can edit the text – change fonts, text size, color, orientation, alignment, spacing. You can move objects between layers, flip, trim, copy, rotate and change transparency. You can apply filters to images, add or remove objects and photos, and upload your own images and fonts to use in your projects.

How do I apply a color mask/filter over a picture in VistaCreate?

Add a photo on the artboard. Apply the “Grayscale” effect, and then set the required brightness and contrast levels. Go to the “Objects” tab and add an object (for example a blue square) and drag the edges of the object to fully cover the photo. Change the color of this object to whatever you want and set “Transparency” to any level, such as 30%. And voila!

The whole world lives on smart devices such as mobile phones, laptops and tablets. It should look like a thumbnail that can be easily optimized on all devices. In short, the user-friendly design can be considered the most advantageous.

Make your YouTube thumbnail text pop

Adding text to your designs is easy – click the Text tab on the left, then click Add Text and start typing in the text box that appears above your design. Or you can click on one of the text layouts in the left pane and simply replace the text with your own. Our text layouts make font pairing as easy as possible.

Here are some quick tips to make your text stand out:

If you are placing your text on a moving background or in a photo, use a solid color graphic (rectangle or label). Click the Layers panel, then click the down arrow so that it appears behind the text.

Use the Outline option on the Shadow & Outline tab on the Text Tools menu to make the text stand out.

Apply light text on a dark background and vice versa.

Be brave. Remember that your thumbnail appears in a grid full of other thumbnail skills, so increase the text size. The display’s sparkling fonts with squiggles and a gloomy aesthetic won’t be readable, so stick with clean, sans-serif choices.

You can give your words a punch by adding a shadow. Click Shadow and Outline on the Text Tools menu to add them.

If you are running out of time, don’t despair. PicMonkey has a library of beautiful YouTube thumbnail templates (in desktop editor and PicMonkey mobile app) that make it easy and faster to create your own custom YouTube thumbnail. Open Templates and scroll to choose any template or type what you are looking for in the search bar. B-bam! Once the finished design is open, you can change it by adding your own text, graphics, textures – everything!

How to upload a thumbnail to YouTube

You can upload YouTube thumbnail directly from PicMonkey or download to computer and yourself. Also, remember that your project is always automatically saved to the Hub, PicMonkey’s cloud storage, so you can re-edit whenever you need (or use the project as the basis for your next YT thumbnail).

To upload a project from a computer:

Log in to YouTube Studio (make sure you have a verified account).

Click CREATE to upload your video.

In the “Thumbnail” section, click Upload thumbnail.

Note: If your video is already uploaded, find it in YouTube Studio under Content. Click its thumbnail to select a video, then click Upload thumbnail, select a file and click Save.

As per YouTube guidelines, the thumbnail image should be 1280 x 720 pixels and a minimum width of 640 pixels. The 16: 9 aspect ratio is ideal as it is most used in YouTube players and previews.

How to make a thumbnail for your YouTube videos

You can select a video thumbnail during the initial video upload or after the video has been processed. You can even change it after publishing.

If you’re uploading a video, three thumbnail options should appear at the bottom of the upload screen while uploading and processing the video. To select one, just click on it.

If you’d like to create your own thumbnail, see “Create a custom thumbnail and upload it” below.

If the video has already been processed or published, you can set or change a thumbnail in YouTube Studio.

1. From the YouTube home page, click your avatar in the upper right corner of the screen and select “YouTube Studio.”

2. In the left pane, click “Videos.”

3. Hover over the video you want to edit and click the pen icon that appears.

4. On the Basic Information page, you should see three auto-generated thumbnails. Select the one you want to use and then click “Save” in the top right corner.

Select the thumbnail you like and then save your changes. If you’d like to create your own thumbnail, see the section below on creating a custom thumbnail for your YouTube video. Dave Johnson / Business Insider

Make a custom thumbnail and upload it

If none of the auto-generated thumbnails work for you, you can create your own, but YouTube doesn’t have a tool for that. The easiest way to create a thumbnail is to use a screenshot tool such as the Snipping Tool on Windows PC or any of the different screenshot methods on your Mac.

Here’s how you can do it on a PC or Mac.

1. Open the video on your computer in any media player.

2. Pause the video where you want to create a thumbnail.

Open a video and pause it wherever you want to turn it into a thumbnail. Dave Johnson / Business Insider

3. Launch Snipping Tool from the Windows Start menu or press Command + Shift + 4 on Mac to enter screenshot mode. If you are using a snipping tool, click “Mode” and select “Rectangular Snip.”

4. Click in the upper-left corner of the movie and drag the rectangle to the lower-right corner. Be careful to capture as close to the video window as possible.

5. A screenshot will appear in the Snapping Tool. Click “File” and then “Save As”. Name the thumbnail image and save it. If you’re using a Mac, the photo will appear in the lower-right corner of the screen and disappear after a few seconds. Once it disappears, it has been saved.

6. Go back to the YouTube video and next to the auto-generated thumbnails, click “Custom Thumbnail.”

7. Select the file you just saved.

Many developers also use programs like Adobe Photoshop to design custom thumbnails. If you want a thumbnail that isn’t just a frame from your video, consider designing your own.

Whether you’re presenting a tutorial or advertising a product, in all cases you need to think carefully and create the right image. Suppose you want to upload a video related to your tech tools, it is important to present them appropriately.

Customize your YouTube thumbnail design.

There are endless possibilities to customize your YouTube thumbnail design. For example, when you choose a photo as your background in the free thumbnail maker, you can zoom in or out and change its color using a set of filters and palettes. Make your thumbnail unique and special by following the steps provided in the YouTube thumbnail template.

With Creative Cloud Express, you don’t need an idea before starting the design process. Even if you don’t know exactly what you want your YouTube thumbnail to look like, browse the Creative Cloud Express Inspiration Gallery for endless creative options. You can choose a general thematic category that suits your video and see what other designers have created. Or you can just start the design path step by step and see where each subsequent choice will take you. With Creative Cloud Express, the development process allows for a hassle-free trial and error so you never have to worry about a mess.

Frequently asked questions.

Use thumbnails to instantly convey to viewers the theme of your video. Display large, bold, and legible typography that captures your intentions. Add high-quality images to your project, potentially including a photo of yourself or the subject of the movie.

Should I include my photo in the thumbnail?

If the movie is about or introduces you, then definitely. Upload images directly from your device to use in thumbnail. Use our background removal tool to create a cutout in your head and create a collage-style design. You can also use a still frame from a movie or stock image if you think it fits better.

YouTube thumbnails are 1280 by 720 pixels. Start with one of our pre-made thumbnail templates or create a design from scratch and enter the size you want.

Can I use Creative Cloud Express for free? If so, what’s included?

Yes, Creative Cloud Express has a free plan that includes basic features such as photo editing tools and effects, and thousands of free templates. Find out more about our plans and pricing.

Can I create my own YouTube thumbnail template?

To create a template, open a Creative Cloud Express project. In the upper right corner, select Share and choose to create a template for sharing. Follow the instructions to publish and share the template.