Canva lets you create a stunning video cover for your masterpiece with readily available and professionally designed templates that even non-designers can tweak and make their own using Canva’s easy drag-and-drop interface. So the last thing you want when you’re just bursting to get that video out is to skimp on attending to that one tiny but important detail.īut even if you’re in a rush to get that video out, you won’t have to sacrifice the effectiveness of your thumbnail. It acts as the face of your video and in no small part determines whether your video will be watched or not.

There’s a reason why one of the perks of having an official YouTube channel is getting to upload your own thumbnail. Also, make sure your image is as large as possible within the guidelines.Take advantage of professionally designed YouTube thumbnail templates

Size matters, so check the requirements for the platform you’re creating the thumbnail for, or it will look stretched, or will have white or black strips at the edges. There are a few best practices to keep in mind when creating a video thumbnail. Your screen grab should be an image that will hint at the premise of the content and compel viewers to click to discover more. While it can feature text or branding, the most important thing to consider is whether it will look good on any device’s screen – mobile, desktop or tablet. Keep in mind what you’re trying to accomplish by using a custom thumbnail. Pause your video on the image you want to capture, then copy and save it.

To make a screen capture on a PC, use the Windows Snipping Tool. For Mac users, hit Command+Shift+4 to select the part of your screen you want to capture. You can take a screenshot from your video that best explains its contents, or you can use a tool like Photoshop or Canva to overlay text or icons on the image. Making a video thumbnail is relatively straightforward.

Save thumbnail from youtube video