Upload or Start Fresh
Upload your image or start with a blank canvas. The editor opens at HD size for YouTube and Twitch.
Examples
Real thumbnail examples
How It Works
Upload your image or start with a blank canvas. The editor opens at HD size for YouTube and Twitch.
Add text boxes with your headline. Drag in shapes like arrows and circles to highlight key elements. Everything uses simple drag and drop.
Generate custom backgrounds with AI if you do not have an image. Type what you want and pick from 3-4 variations.
Download in HD, 2K, and 4K resolution. No watermarks on free or paid accounts.
Best Practices
Start simple. Add one element at a time: background first, then main image or text, then extras. This keeps your message clear instead of cluttered.
Design for mobile. 70% of views happen on phones. Keep text at least 72pt and make faces take up 40% of the thumbnail. Preview at small size before exporting.
Use high-contrast colors. Bright red on black, yellow on dark blue, white on vibrant backgrounds. This makes text readable even on tiny phone screens.
Limit text to 3-5 words max. Top creators use short punchy headlines. "CRAZY TRICK!" beats "I Discovered This Amazing Trick That Changed Everything".
Layer your elements. Background on bottom, images in middle, text on top. Add subtle shadows to text. This creates depth instead of flat boring designs.
Common Mistakes
Using fancy fonts that look blurry on mobile. Stick with bold thick fonts like Arial Black or Impact. Save the decorative fonts for posters.
Not previewing at actual size. What looks perfect on your monitor fails when shrunk to phone size. Check it on your phone before publishing.
Random placement without layers. Use the layer system to organize: background layer, image layer, text layer, shapes layer. This looks professional.
Too many arrows and shapes. One arrow is powerful. Five arrows looks like a conspiracy board. Guide eyes to ONE main thing.
Wrong colors for your niche. Gaming needs bright neon. Educational needs blues and oranges. Food needs warm reds and yellows. Match your niche.
Benefits
Familiar controls like PowerPoint. Text boxes snap to guides, shapes resize easily. No layers or complex tools to learn.
Generate custom backgrounds in seconds. Type a prompt, get 3-4 unique variations faster than searching stock sites.
Every export saves automatically with timestamps. Create multiple versions to A/B test which gets more clicks.
Exports perfect HD resolution automatically. No dimension errors or rejected uploads. Works for both platforms.
Design your first thumbnail using the canvas editor. Free tier includes 50 monthly credits for manual creation and AI generation. No credit card required to start.
Start Creating Thumbnails FreeNo credit card required • Free plan available
FAQ
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