Adding a thumbnail to a video can help draw viewers in and make your videos stand out when displayed on sites like YouTube or Facebook. A video thumbnail acts like a preview image that shows what the video contains before the viewer clicks play. In this article, we’ll walk through the steps and best practices for creating effective custom thumbnails for your videos.
Why Add a Thumbnail to Your Videos?
Here are some of the key reasons you should take the time to create and add custom thumbnails to your videos:
- Thumbnails increase click-through rate – Videos with custom thumbnails get more clicks and views than videos with just an auto-generated preview image.
- Thumbnails improve brand recognitions – A branded thumbnail can help viewers instantly recognize your content.
- Thumbnails allow you to showcase the best parts of your video – You can pick an eye-catching frame that will interest and intrigue viewers.
- Thumbnails look more professional – Default previews often look low-quality. Custom thumbnails make your channel look more polished.
In short, compelling video thumbnails can grab attention, convey what the video is about, and ultimately get more people to click and watch your content.
Thumbnail Dimensions
The ideal thumbnail dimensions vary depending on where you plan to upload and host your video. Here are recommended thumbnail sizes for some popular video platforms:
Platform | Thumbnail Width | Thumbnail Height |
---|---|---|
YouTube | 1280px | 720px |
1200px | 675px | |
Vimeo | 500px | 281px |
440px | 220px |
As a best practice, create your thumbnails at least as large as the recommended dimensions above. You can size them down as needed but starting with a high-resolution image will ensure quality isn’t degraded.
How to Create a Video Thumbnail
Here is the general process for adding a custom thumbnail to your videos:
- Choose an interesting frame – Pick a frame that captures viewers’ attention and clearly represents what the video is about. Look for key moments, text/graphics, emotions, etc.
- Extract the frame – Use video editing software to isolate and export the frame as an image file.
- Edit the image – Resize/crop for correct dimensions. Enhance brightness, contrast, etc. Add any text or graphics.
- Save the file – Save the edited image as a high-quality JPG, PNG, or GIF.
- Upload to your video platform – When uploading the video, you’ll be able to select the thumbnail image file.
The most important tools you’ll need are video editing software to extract the frame, and photo editing software to refine the thumbnail image. Here are some free options:
- Video editing software: VSDC, Davinci Resolve, Blender, OpenShot, iMovie
- Photo editing software: GIMP, Paint.net, Canva, PicMonkey
Choosing an Effective Thumbnail Frame
Choosing the right frame to use as your thumbnail image is key. Here are some tips for selecting a frame that will catch viewers’ eyes:
- Pick a frame near the start – Choose a frame within the first 5-10 seconds for optimal clarity.
- Focus on faces and eyes – Facial expressions and eye contact can help make an emotional connection.
- Highlight important text/graphics – Showcase key titles, logos, or on-screen graphics to convey the topic.
- Look for action and movement – Convey excitement by choosing energetic, visually dynamic frames.
- Don’t overcrowd the frame – Leave negative space to avoid clutter.
You may need to watch through the video multiple times, pausing frequently, to identify the ideal frame.
Editing and Enhancing the Thumbnail Image
Once you’ve extracted your chosen frame, you’ll need to edit the image to optimize it as a thumbnail. Here are some tips:
- Crop for the proper aspect ratio – Videos and thumbnails have different dimensions. Cropping avoids distortion.
- Resize to fit minimum dimensions – Upscale the image to at least the recommended specs for each platform.
- Sharpen and reduce noise – Adjust clarity and vibrance to make the image pop.
- Enhance lighting – Increase brightness and contrast for improved visibility.
- Add text, logos, graphics – Include informative or branded elements to complement the visuals.
Aim for simple, uncluttered designs that viewers will instantly recognize and understand. Ensure any text and added elements don’t conceal or distract from the main focal points.
Saving Thumbnail Files
The final step is saving your edited thumbnail image as a file that’s optimized for web upload. Follow these tips:
- Use JPG format for photos – JPG compresses well for efficient web uploads and displays.
- Use PNG for transparency – PNGs support transparent backgrounds if desired.
- Use GIF for animation – Simple animation can help thumbnails stand out.
- Save at maximum quality – Use quality of 100% or high resolution to avoid degradation.
- Keep file size reasonable – Stick under 2-5MB for manageable upload speeds.
Double check the file type, dimensions, and file size before uploading to ensure your custom thumbnail meets the platform’s specifications.
Best Practices for Effective Thumbnails
In addition to the technical steps, follow these best practices when designing your thumbnails to maximize viewership and clicks:
Highlight the Value Proposition
Your thumbnail should instantly communicate the core value the viewer will get from watching your video. If it’s a tutorial, highlight the end result. If it’s an explainer video, feature the product or key visuals. Include text, logos, or graphics to reinforce the main takeaway.
Use Contrasting Colors
Choose colors that make your focal points pop against the background. Dark text on a light background works best. Repeating video colors also helps brand recognition.
Style Thumbnails Consistently
Maintaining a consistent style across your thumbnails helps viewers associate them with your brand. Use templates, overlays, logos, and text in the same locations from thumbnail to thumbnail.
Optimize Thumbnails for Mobile
Most viewership comes from mobile these days. Make elements large and legible. Keep details simple. Test thumbnail sizes to ensure critical aspects don’t get cropped on different displays.
Analyze Performance and Refine
Use analytics to see which of your thumbnails and styles perform best over time. Double down on what draws clicks and keep iterating to improve results.
Using Thumbnail Creation Tools and Services
Creating great DIY thumbnails using the steps in this guide takes time and skill. If you need high-quality results without the effort, consider these automated tools and services:
- TubeBuddy – Browser extension to A/B test and auto-generate thumbnails.
- Canva – Graphic design templates tailored for video thumbnails.
- Upwork – Hire professional freelance designers and editors.
- Fiverr – Affordable thumbnail creation gigs from vetted sellers.
- Pixabay – Free stock photos and illustrations to use in your thumbnails.
The investment of hiring a pro or using automated tools can pay off with faster, higher-converting thumbnails. But a custom DIY approach gives you the most control.
Common Thumbnail Mistakes to Avoid
It’s easy to make mistakes with your thumbnails that will dampen performance. Be sure to avoid these issues:
- Pixelated images from low resolution or excess compression.
- Cropped or stretched images that appear distorted.
- Busy or cluttered designs that are hard to decipher.
- Generic thumbnails that look similar to competitors.
- Unclear messaging about the video’s actual content.
- Misleading or exaggerated imagery that tricks viewers.
- Dark, low-contrast thumbnails that are hard to see.
- Large, obtrusive logos or watermarks that cover key elements.
- Text that is too small or obscured to read on various displays.
Steer clear of these pitfalls by thorough quality control checks before publishing your thumbnails. Review them on multiple devices and get objective second opinions.
Conclusion
Custom thumbnail design is well worth the investment. Following the steps in this guide will help you create effective thumbnails that improve your video click-through-rate, brand recognition, and viewer satisfaction. Dedicate the time and creative effort to produce compelling thumbnails upfront, and you’ll reap the rewards with more engagement for all your amazing video content.