1
Upload Your Base Image
Start with a screenshot from your video or a custom background. The canvas opens at 1280x720 automatically.
Thumbnail Studio
Social Media Thumbnail Maker | Create Thumbnails for YouTube and Twitch
Your thumbnail competes with 20 other videos on every YouTube screen and hundreds of Twitch VODs in directories. Grab attention in under 1 second with bold 72pt text, neon bright colors, and expressive faces. Export perfect 1280x720 for both platforms.
Start Creating Social Media ThumbnailsExamples
Thumbnail Gallery
Real thumbnails created with Thumbnail Studio
How It Works
Create Thumbnails in 4 Simple Steps
2
Add Bold Text and Graphics
Add your headline with large, readable fonts. Use shapes like arrows and circles to highlight key elements. Make it pop.
3
Optimize Colors and Contrast
Use bright, high-contrast colors that stand out. Test how it looks small on mobile since most viewers browse on phones.
4
Export for YouTube and Twitch
Download in 1280x720 resolution. Upload directly to YouTube or Twitch without resizing or format conversions.
Best Practices
Tips for Making Great Thumbnails
Design for vertical first (TikTok, Stories), then adapt to horizontal. Vertical is hardest constraint - if it works vertical, adapting to horizontal is easier.
Keep faces and text in the centre 60% of canvas. That's the universal safe zone across all platforms. Edges get cropped differently per network.
Test exports on actual devices before posting. Preview how thumbnails look in each platform's feed on mobile. Design decisions change when seeing real context.
Create platform-specific variations when needed. Sometimes universal design compromises too much. Make 2-3 versions optimised for platform groups (horizontal, square, vertical).
Common Mistakes
What to Avoid
Designing for YouTube first, then realising faces get cropped on Instagram square. Start with most restrictive format (usually square or vertical).
Placing text near edges. Every platform crops differently. Text on edges disappears somewhere. Keep it centred.
Using identical thumbnails across every platform. While efficient, platform-specific designs often perform better. Balance efficiency with optimisation.
Forgetting mobile context. Thumbnails on desktop look different than on mobile feeds. Most social media happens on mobile - design for that experience.
Benefits
Why Choose Thumbnail Studio?
Optimized for Click-Through Rate
Create thumbnails specifically designed to get clicks on YouTube and Twitch. Bold text, high contrast, clear focal points. Everything optimized for the 16:9 format these platforms use.
Mobile-First Design
Most viewers browse on mobile phones. Design with large text and high contrast so your thumbnail stays readable even on small screens. Preview at phone size before exporting.
Consistent Channel Branding
Save your colors, fonts, and layout. Reuse them for every video to build brand recognition. Viewers spot your content instantly when scrolling through YouTube feeds.
Create Thumbnails for Every Social Platform
Design once, export for YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and more. Multi-platform thumbnail creation built for modern creators. Free to start.
Start Creating Social Media ThumbnailsNo credit card required • Free plan available
FAQ
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