The YouTube thumbnail is the first thing a viewer sees in the YouTube app. Most of the audience clicks on the video based on the thumbnail that is present on the video. So, it’s safe to say that YouTube thumbnails are the most important thing for any YouTube video. That’s why it’s extremely important to add an eye-catching YouTube thumbnail to get the most views.
However, how can we make great YouTube thumbnails for videos? What is the correct thumbnail size for YouTube? Are there any specific guidelines for creating thumbnails for YouTube videos? In this article, we’ll show you how to create an eye-catching thumbnail so you can get more views on your video. So, without further ado, let’s get started with this guide.
What are YouTube thumbnails?
YouTube thumbnails are preview images of YouTube videos. This is an image that describes what the video is about and what it includes. Below are examples of thumbnails.
A video with an attention-grabbing custom thumbnail is expected to get more clicks than a random screenshot from the video. In addition to the title, description, tags, channel name, YouTube thumbnails play an important role in YouTube videos. Therefore, the miniature should stand out from the others. Let’s see what is the ideal YouTube thumbnail size.
Ideal YouTube Thumbnail Sizes
To get the most out of a miniature, it must be created in the perfect size. Google has mentioned details about the YouTube thumbnail, including its dimensions. Below are guidelines for creating the perfect sketch with the perfect dimensions.
- The thumbnail must have a resolution of 1280×720 (with a minimum width of 640 pixels).
- It should be uploaded in image formats such as JPG, GIF, or PNG.
- Its size should not exceed 2 MB.
- Users may want to try using the 16:9 aspect ratio, as this is the most commonly used aspect ratio in YouTube players and previews.
How to make your own YouTube thumbnail according to dimensions
There are many online tools and applications available on the Internet to help you create a thumbnail. This list includes Canva, Snappa, Visme, etc. All of these apps download a plethora of fonts, graphics, icons, images, and more that you need to create a sketch. In addition, these applications have several thumbnail templates that you can use. We’ll be using Canva’s tool to show you how to make a YouTube thumbnail according to its ideal dimensions.
Follow the instructions below to learn how to use the sketch tool.
- Download the Canva app on your mobile phone or go to https://www.canva.com/. Find thumbnails on Youtube and it will show you many thumbnails.
- Select a thumbnail and it will open. Now you can make a few changes to the ad.
- Now on the left side of the blue screen, you can see a lot of options: Photos – for stock images Elements – for graphics and icons Text – for adding text to your ad Downloads – for uploading an image Now you can customize the
thumbnail
image of your choice and make it the best one.
Recommendations for YouTube Thumbnails
Here are the best methods you can use when creating a YouTube thumbnail.
Show me you face
Putting your face on the thumbnail is considered good practice for creating the perfect image for a YouTube video. Placing a face on a thumbnail will create a closer relationship with viewers and garner more views. Face thumbnails are expected to get more clicks and likes.
Add texts and graphics
If you are a video maker for practice, science, philosophy, or any explanatory topic, you should insert interesting text with a question to convey the essence of the video. Text related to the topic of the video will explain what the viewer can learn from your videos. Likewise, a graphic on a thumbnail will draw more attention.
The creator must choose a readable font, and the text size must be the right size to be visible on the thumbnail. Both graphics and texts should refer only to the video and should not be misleading. Make sure you don’t add a lot of text or graphics or the thumbnail will become cramped.
Use contrasting colors
When you add some color effects, make sure they stand out perfectly in the image. Many creators either add white text on a light background, or black text on a dark background, which looks very clumsy. If a user can read what your video is about, they are more likely to skip it. You can mix thumbnail with YouTube UI. We recommend creating a thumbnail in one of four colors: blue, orange, green, and yellow.
Take a frame from your video
This is the most basic form of YouTube thumbnail. If your face value is important to your channel or you’ve collaborated with someone, you can take a screenshot of the interesting part of the thumbnail and add text on top of it. This will make your thumbnail one of the best and make it stand out from the crowd. To take a screenshot of your video, go to the section you like and pause the video, click on full screen and take a screenshot.