The Insider’s Guide to Frame-by-Frame Video Examination (Free)

How to Go Frame by Frame on YouTube Video? [5 Methods]

Richard Bennett

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

It’s always a handy process to be able to move the frame one by one if you binge-watch YouTube videos. Be it as complex as time-lapse or as simple as makeup tutorial, viewing YouTube video frame-by-frame is never an underestimated process.

To be able to achieve this, you ought to master the methods to move frame-by-frame using a frame by a frame video editor or frame by the frame video player.

But this might make you wonder which one would be best for you?

Then here are some methods to move a video frame-by-frame that may come handy for you.

Option 1: Frame-By-Frame Editing and Watching Video Offline

If you are looking for how to edit frame by frame on YouTube or how to go frame by frame on YouTube then you may use a variety of offline applications.

Below are the 2 highlighting benefits of making use of offline video editors instead of online ones:

• You are not required to have a fast and smooth internet connection once the targeted video has been downloaded and will have full liberty to edit or video vide while staying offline.
• You are granted with the full editing facilities whilst staying offline. You can trim, cut or do any video alterations using offline video editors.

If you don’t know how to download a YouTube video easily and quickly, check this guide on How to Download YouTube Videos without Any Software .

Beneath are some of the efficient offline video editors you can work with for editing and viewing videos of YouTube frame by frame.

How to Go Frame by Frame in YouTube Video Using Filmora

Filmora is a great video editor designed for those who are interested in video editing but lack professional experience. It’s very easy to use. Filmora is free to download. You can choose version that is compatible with your operating system.

Compatibility: Windows and Mac

Step 1: Tap on “New Project”.

Step 2: In “project settings” select the desired ratio rate.

Step 3: You can import files by clicking the “import” tab or drag-drop the desired file to this tool.

Step 4: Drag the file to the timeline.

Step 5: You can separate frames from video by hovering the mouse over the first desired frame and complete it by hovering mouse all the way to the end of the frame.

Step 6: Perform editing operations.

Step 7: Save the file by clicking “export” by selecting the desired format under the “format” option and set parameters in “advanced settings” or directly upload the final product to YouTube.

How to Move Frame by Frame in YouTube Video Using Movie Maker

Compatibility: windows

This video editing tool gives you enough option to perform basic editing. With its timeline option, one can edit the videos frame-by-frame which can be performed as guided below:

Step 1: The first step is to download the desired YouTube video.

Step 2: Import that video to movie maker.

Step 3: You have the facility to skip the video frame-by-frame and can also edit it by selecting a specific portion from the timeline.

Step 4: Tap on “edit” beneath video tools after selecting the targeted portion.

Step 5: You will have numerous editing options like transition, add texts, split, music, etc. for each of the frames one by one.

You may also like: YouTube to WAV File: 4 Best Free Convert Solutions >>

How to Advance Frame by Frame in YouTube Video Using iMovie

Compatibility: Mac

This is a free editing tool with a bundle of editing features. The steps are given below:

Step 1: Click “file”, then “new project” followed by “create” option

Step 2: Click “Import” to import video

Step 3: Tap on “edit” followed by the “play head” option to segregate the desired portion of the video to edit.

Step 4: Now apply editing features on the portion of the video given in this tool

Step 5: Press “share” and “export” option once done with editing.

Option 2: Frame-By-Frame Advancement Using YouTube Player

Why even bother ourselves to get a third-party program for the purpose of moving a video frame-by-frame when the YouTube player provides you the same facility within itself. Following are the steps to guide you about how to skip frame by frame on YouTube by using YouTube frame by frame hotkey:

Step 1: Make the video pause.

Step 2: To answer the query regarding how to go frame by frame on YouTube editor, you can make use of 2 keys on the keyboard which are basically used as a shortcut process for the sake of forwarding video frame-by-frame.

You can press “<” in order to skip a frame backward or you could either use a comma as well for the same purpose. For moving the frame forwards, you need to press “>” key or a full stop key will serve you with the same operation.

This is how to move frame by frame on YouTube.

Option 3: Go Frame-By-Frame In YouTube Video Using Online Application

If your work requires intricate analysis of the video where you have to view the view very closely then you may make use of an online external application for this purpose.

The following are the steps to show you how to advance frame by frame on YouTube using this online tool.

Step 1: Into the URL bar of the browser, paste the link www.watchframebyframe.com there where you will be redirected to the online tool which has quite an easy interface with several controls provided built-in.

Step 2: Tap on “Enter Video URL” box and paste the copied URL of a targeted YouTube video

Step 3: The video will get loaded after hitting enter. At the bottom, buttons are given to control accordingly for skipping the frame forwards and backward respectively.

Step 4: You can also personalize the frame skipping setting with the option given beside the forwards and backward button where you can customize fps (frame per second) setting and also adjust the number of frames to be skipped upon clicking forwards and backward button.

An application granting such diverse options gives precise accuracy level which would help make the learning process easier and accurate.

Where Will Need to Go Frame by Frame on YouTube?

• Viewing time-lapse:

Capturing minor details in a video having time-lapse is such a complicated task. It often becomes harder even after slowing the video down. Therefore, a frame-by-frame view is the perfect yet only way out to this problem.

• Viewing how-to video:

The main purpose of a learning video is to get the sound and thorough details of the process and hence can be made not only possible but easier through frame-by-frame scrolling.

• Video sharing or editing:

Clean editing or cropping from a particular position is an intricate process and becomes easier to pause at the desired moment by frame-by-frame forwarding.

• Learning tutorial

Learning needs an in-depth and clear delivery of the content which is made easier by the feature of frame-by-frame skipping of the video.

YouTube studio is the basement for YouTubers to upload and track their videos. To some newbies, they might don’t know how to use the YouTube Manager. If you happen to be one of them, check this article to get: Everything You Need to Know about YouTube Video Manager >>

Conclusion

The precise control over separate frames as well as set of frames, diverse OS support, and liberty to use a variety of editing features make Wondershare Filmora stand out among all other tools. But depending upon the suitability with respect to one’s available resources, any of the above tool will help you watch and edit YouTube video frame by frame.

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

It’s always a handy process to be able to move the frame one by one if you binge-watch YouTube videos. Be it as complex as time-lapse or as simple as makeup tutorial, viewing YouTube video frame-by-frame is never an underestimated process.

To be able to achieve this, you ought to master the methods to move frame-by-frame using a frame by a frame video editor or frame by the frame video player.

But this might make you wonder which one would be best for you?

Then here are some methods to move a video frame-by-frame that may come handy for you.

Option 1: Frame-By-Frame Editing and Watching Video Offline

If you are looking for how to edit frame by frame on YouTube or how to go frame by frame on YouTube then you may use a variety of offline applications.

Below are the 2 highlighting benefits of making use of offline video editors instead of online ones:

• You are not required to have a fast and smooth internet connection once the targeted video has been downloaded and will have full liberty to edit or video vide while staying offline.
• You are granted with the full editing facilities whilst staying offline. You can trim, cut or do any video alterations using offline video editors.

If you don’t know how to download a YouTube video easily and quickly, check this guide on How to Download YouTube Videos without Any Software .

Beneath are some of the efficient offline video editors you can work with for editing and viewing videos of YouTube frame by frame.

How to Go Frame by Frame in YouTube Video Using Filmora

Filmora is a great video editor designed for those who are interested in video editing but lack professional experience. It’s very easy to use. Filmora is free to download. You can choose version that is compatible with your operating system.

Compatibility: Windows and Mac

Step 1: Tap on “New Project”.

Step 2: In “project settings” select the desired ratio rate.

Step 3: You can import files by clicking the “import” tab or drag-drop the desired file to this tool.

Step 4: Drag the file to the timeline.

Step 5: You can separate frames from video by hovering the mouse over the first desired frame and complete it by hovering mouse all the way to the end of the frame.

Step 6: Perform editing operations.

Step 7: Save the file by clicking “export” by selecting the desired format under the “format” option and set parameters in “advanced settings” or directly upload the final product to YouTube.

How to Move Frame by Frame in YouTube Video Using Movie Maker

Compatibility: windows

This video editing tool gives you enough option to perform basic editing. With its timeline option, one can edit the videos frame-by-frame which can be performed as guided below:

Step 1: The first step is to download the desired YouTube video.

Step 2: Import that video to movie maker.

Step 3: You have the facility to skip the video frame-by-frame and can also edit it by selecting a specific portion from the timeline.

Step 4: Tap on “edit” beneath video tools after selecting the targeted portion.

Step 5: You will have numerous editing options like transition, add texts, split, music, etc. for each of the frames one by one.

You may also like: YouTube to WAV File: 4 Best Free Convert Solutions >>

How to Advance Frame by Frame in YouTube Video Using iMovie

Compatibility: Mac

This is a free editing tool with a bundle of editing features. The steps are given below:

Step 1: Click “file”, then “new project” followed by “create” option

Step 2: Click “Import” to import video

Step 3: Tap on “edit” followed by the “play head” option to segregate the desired portion of the video to edit.

Step 4: Now apply editing features on the portion of the video given in this tool

Step 5: Press “share” and “export” option once done with editing.

Option 2: Frame-By-Frame Advancement Using YouTube Player

Why even bother ourselves to get a third-party program for the purpose of moving a video frame-by-frame when the YouTube player provides you the same facility within itself. Following are the steps to guide you about how to skip frame by frame on YouTube by using YouTube frame by frame hotkey:

Step 1: Make the video pause.

Step 2: To answer the query regarding how to go frame by frame on YouTube editor, you can make use of 2 keys on the keyboard which are basically used as a shortcut process for the sake of forwarding video frame-by-frame.

You can press “<” in order to skip a frame backward or you could either use a comma as well for the same purpose. For moving the frame forwards, you need to press “>” key or a full stop key will serve you with the same operation.

This is how to move frame by frame on YouTube.

Option 3: Go Frame-By-Frame In YouTube Video Using Online Application

If your work requires intricate analysis of the video where you have to view the view very closely then you may make use of an online external application for this purpose.

The following are the steps to show you how to advance frame by frame on YouTube using this online tool.

Step 1: Into the URL bar of the browser, paste the link www.watchframebyframe.com there where you will be redirected to the online tool which has quite an easy interface with several controls provided built-in.

Step 2: Tap on “Enter Video URL” box and paste the copied URL of a targeted YouTube video

Step 3: The video will get loaded after hitting enter. At the bottom, buttons are given to control accordingly for skipping the frame forwards and backward respectively.

Step 4: You can also personalize the frame skipping setting with the option given beside the forwards and backward button where you can customize fps (frame per second) setting and also adjust the number of frames to be skipped upon clicking forwards and backward button.

An application granting such diverse options gives precise accuracy level which would help make the learning process easier and accurate.

Where Will Need to Go Frame by Frame on YouTube?

• Viewing time-lapse:

Capturing minor details in a video having time-lapse is such a complicated task. It often becomes harder even after slowing the video down. Therefore, a frame-by-frame view is the perfect yet only way out to this problem.

• Viewing how-to video:

The main purpose of a learning video is to get the sound and thorough details of the process and hence can be made not only possible but easier through frame-by-frame scrolling.

• Video sharing or editing:

Clean editing or cropping from a particular position is an intricate process and becomes easier to pause at the desired moment by frame-by-frame forwarding.

• Learning tutorial

Learning needs an in-depth and clear delivery of the content which is made easier by the feature of frame-by-frame skipping of the video.

YouTube studio is the basement for YouTubers to upload and track their videos. To some newbies, they might don’t know how to use the YouTube Manager. If you happen to be one of them, check this article to get: Everything You Need to Know about YouTube Video Manager >>

Conclusion

The precise control over separate frames as well as set of frames, diverse OS support, and liberty to use a variety of editing features make Wondershare Filmora stand out among all other tools. But depending upon the suitability with respect to one’s available resources, any of the above tool will help you watch and edit YouTube video frame by frame.

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

It’s always a handy process to be able to move the frame one by one if you binge-watch YouTube videos. Be it as complex as time-lapse or as simple as makeup tutorial, viewing YouTube video frame-by-frame is never an underestimated process.

To be able to achieve this, you ought to master the methods to move frame-by-frame using a frame by a frame video editor or frame by the frame video player.

But this might make you wonder which one would be best for you?

Then here are some methods to move a video frame-by-frame that may come handy for you.

Option 1: Frame-By-Frame Editing and Watching Video Offline

If you are looking for how to edit frame by frame on YouTube or how to go frame by frame on YouTube then you may use a variety of offline applications.

Below are the 2 highlighting benefits of making use of offline video editors instead of online ones:

• You are not required to have a fast and smooth internet connection once the targeted video has been downloaded and will have full liberty to edit or video vide while staying offline.
• You are granted with the full editing facilities whilst staying offline. You can trim, cut or do any video alterations using offline video editors.

If you don’t know how to download a YouTube video easily and quickly, check this guide on How to Download YouTube Videos without Any Software .

Beneath are some of the efficient offline video editors you can work with for editing and viewing videos of YouTube frame by frame.

How to Go Frame by Frame in YouTube Video Using Filmora

Filmora is a great video editor designed for those who are interested in video editing but lack professional experience. It’s very easy to use. Filmora is free to download. You can choose version that is compatible with your operating system.

Compatibility: Windows and Mac

Step 1: Tap on “New Project”.

Step 2: In “project settings” select the desired ratio rate.

Step 3: You can import files by clicking the “import” tab or drag-drop the desired file to this tool.

Step 4: Drag the file to the timeline.

Step 5: You can separate frames from video by hovering the mouse over the first desired frame and complete it by hovering mouse all the way to the end of the frame.

Step 6: Perform editing operations.

Step 7: Save the file by clicking “export” by selecting the desired format under the “format” option and set parameters in “advanced settings” or directly upload the final product to YouTube.

How to Move Frame by Frame in YouTube Video Using Movie Maker

Compatibility: windows

This video editing tool gives you enough option to perform basic editing. With its timeline option, one can edit the videos frame-by-frame which can be performed as guided below:

Step 1: The first step is to download the desired YouTube video.

Step 2: Import that video to movie maker.

Step 3: You have the facility to skip the video frame-by-frame and can also edit it by selecting a specific portion from the timeline.

Step 4: Tap on “edit” beneath video tools after selecting the targeted portion.

Step 5: You will have numerous editing options like transition, add texts, split, music, etc. for each of the frames one by one.

You may also like: YouTube to WAV File: 4 Best Free Convert Solutions >>

How to Advance Frame by Frame in YouTube Video Using iMovie

Compatibility: Mac

This is a free editing tool with a bundle of editing features. The steps are given below:

Step 1: Click “file”, then “new project” followed by “create” option

Step 2: Click “Import” to import video

Step 3: Tap on “edit” followed by the “play head” option to segregate the desired portion of the video to edit.

Step 4: Now apply editing features on the portion of the video given in this tool

Step 5: Press “share” and “export” option once done with editing.

Option 2: Frame-By-Frame Advancement Using YouTube Player

Why even bother ourselves to get a third-party program for the purpose of moving a video frame-by-frame when the YouTube player provides you the same facility within itself. Following are the steps to guide you about how to skip frame by frame on YouTube by using YouTube frame by frame hotkey:

Step 1: Make the video pause.

Step 2: To answer the query regarding how to go frame by frame on YouTube editor, you can make use of 2 keys on the keyboard which are basically used as a shortcut process for the sake of forwarding video frame-by-frame.

You can press “<” in order to skip a frame backward or you could either use a comma as well for the same purpose. For moving the frame forwards, you need to press “>” key or a full stop key will serve you with the same operation.

This is how to move frame by frame on YouTube.

Option 3: Go Frame-By-Frame In YouTube Video Using Online Application

If your work requires intricate analysis of the video where you have to view the view very closely then you may make use of an online external application for this purpose.

The following are the steps to show you how to advance frame by frame on YouTube using this online tool.

Step 1: Into the URL bar of the browser, paste the link www.watchframebyframe.com there where you will be redirected to the online tool which has quite an easy interface with several controls provided built-in.

Step 2: Tap on “Enter Video URL” box and paste the copied URL of a targeted YouTube video

Step 3: The video will get loaded after hitting enter. At the bottom, buttons are given to control accordingly for skipping the frame forwards and backward respectively.

Step 4: You can also personalize the frame skipping setting with the option given beside the forwards and backward button where you can customize fps (frame per second) setting and also adjust the number of frames to be skipped upon clicking forwards and backward button.

An application granting such diverse options gives precise accuracy level which would help make the learning process easier and accurate.

Where Will Need to Go Frame by Frame on YouTube?

• Viewing time-lapse:

Capturing minor details in a video having time-lapse is such a complicated task. It often becomes harder even after slowing the video down. Therefore, a frame-by-frame view is the perfect yet only way out to this problem.

• Viewing how-to video:

The main purpose of a learning video is to get the sound and thorough details of the process and hence can be made not only possible but easier through frame-by-frame scrolling.

• Video sharing or editing:

Clean editing or cropping from a particular position is an intricate process and becomes easier to pause at the desired moment by frame-by-frame forwarding.

• Learning tutorial

Learning needs an in-depth and clear delivery of the content which is made easier by the feature of frame-by-frame skipping of the video.

YouTube studio is the basement for YouTubers to upload and track their videos. To some newbies, they might don’t know how to use the YouTube Manager. If you happen to be one of them, check this article to get: Everything You Need to Know about YouTube Video Manager >>

Conclusion

The precise control over separate frames as well as set of frames, diverse OS support, and liberty to use a variety of editing features make Wondershare Filmora stand out among all other tools. But depending upon the suitability with respect to one’s available resources, any of the above tool will help you watch and edit YouTube video frame by frame.

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett

Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions

It’s always a handy process to be able to move the frame one by one if you binge-watch YouTube videos. Be it as complex as time-lapse or as simple as makeup tutorial, viewing YouTube video frame-by-frame is never an underestimated process.

To be able to achieve this, you ought to master the methods to move frame-by-frame using a frame by a frame video editor or frame by the frame video player.

But this might make you wonder which one would be best for you?

Then here are some methods to move a video frame-by-frame that may come handy for you.

Option 1: Frame-By-Frame Editing and Watching Video Offline

If you are looking for how to edit frame by frame on YouTube or how to go frame by frame on YouTube then you may use a variety of offline applications.

Below are the 2 highlighting benefits of making use of offline video editors instead of online ones:

• You are not required to have a fast and smooth internet connection once the targeted video has been downloaded and will have full liberty to edit or video vide while staying offline.
• You are granted with the full editing facilities whilst staying offline. You can trim, cut or do any video alterations using offline video editors.

If you don’t know how to download a YouTube video easily and quickly, check this guide on How to Download YouTube Videos without Any Software .

Beneath are some of the efficient offline video editors you can work with for editing and viewing videos of YouTube frame by frame.

How to Go Frame by Frame in YouTube Video Using Filmora

Filmora is a great video editor designed for those who are interested in video editing but lack professional experience. It’s very easy to use. Filmora is free to download. You can choose version that is compatible with your operating system.

Compatibility: Windows and Mac

Step 1: Tap on “New Project”.

Step 2: In “project settings” select the desired ratio rate.

Step 3: You can import files by clicking the “import” tab or drag-drop the desired file to this tool.

Step 4: Drag the file to the timeline.

Step 5: You can separate frames from video by hovering the mouse over the first desired frame and complete it by hovering mouse all the way to the end of the frame.

Step 6: Perform editing operations.

Step 7: Save the file by clicking “export” by selecting the desired format under the “format” option and set parameters in “advanced settings” or directly upload the final product to YouTube.

How to Move Frame by Frame in YouTube Video Using Movie Maker

Compatibility: windows

This video editing tool gives you enough option to perform basic editing. With its timeline option, one can edit the videos frame-by-frame which can be performed as guided below:

Step 1: The first step is to download the desired YouTube video.

Step 2: Import that video to movie maker.

Step 3: You have the facility to skip the video frame-by-frame and can also edit it by selecting a specific portion from the timeline.

Step 4: Tap on “edit” beneath video tools after selecting the targeted portion.

Step 5: You will have numerous editing options like transition, add texts, split, music, etc. for each of the frames one by one.

You may also like: YouTube to WAV File: 4 Best Free Convert Solutions >>

How to Advance Frame by Frame in YouTube Video Using iMovie

Compatibility: Mac

This is a free editing tool with a bundle of editing features. The steps are given below:

Step 1: Click “file”, then “new project” followed by “create” option

Step 2: Click “Import” to import video

Step 3: Tap on “edit” followed by the “play head” option to segregate the desired portion of the video to edit.

Step 4: Now apply editing features on the portion of the video given in this tool

Step 5: Press “share” and “export” option once done with editing.

Option 2: Frame-By-Frame Advancement Using YouTube Player

Why even bother ourselves to get a third-party program for the purpose of moving a video frame-by-frame when the YouTube player provides you the same facility within itself. Following are the steps to guide you about how to skip frame by frame on YouTube by using YouTube frame by frame hotkey:

Step 1: Make the video pause.

Step 2: To answer the query regarding how to go frame by frame on YouTube editor, you can make use of 2 keys on the keyboard which are basically used as a shortcut process for the sake of forwarding video frame-by-frame.

You can press “<” in order to skip a frame backward or you could either use a comma as well for the same purpose. For moving the frame forwards, you need to press “>” key or a full stop key will serve you with the same operation.

This is how to move frame by frame on YouTube.

Option 3: Go Frame-By-Frame In YouTube Video Using Online Application

If your work requires intricate analysis of the video where you have to view the view very closely then you may make use of an online external application for this purpose.

The following are the steps to show you how to advance frame by frame on YouTube using this online tool.

Step 1: Into the URL bar of the browser, paste the link www.watchframebyframe.com there where you will be redirected to the online tool which has quite an easy interface with several controls provided built-in.

Step 2: Tap on “Enter Video URL” box and paste the copied URL of a targeted YouTube video

Step 3: The video will get loaded after hitting enter. At the bottom, buttons are given to control accordingly for skipping the frame forwards and backward respectively.

Step 4: You can also personalize the frame skipping setting with the option given beside the forwards and backward button where you can customize fps (frame per second) setting and also adjust the number of frames to be skipped upon clicking forwards and backward button.

An application granting such diverse options gives precise accuracy level which would help make the learning process easier and accurate.

Where Will Need to Go Frame by Frame on YouTube?

• Viewing time-lapse:

Capturing minor details in a video having time-lapse is such a complicated task. It often becomes harder even after slowing the video down. Therefore, a frame-by-frame view is the perfect yet only way out to this problem.

• Viewing how-to video:

The main purpose of a learning video is to get the sound and thorough details of the process and hence can be made not only possible but easier through frame-by-frame scrolling.

• Video sharing or editing:

Clean editing or cropping from a particular position is an intricate process and becomes easier to pause at the desired moment by frame-by-frame forwarding.

• Learning tutorial

Learning needs an in-depth and clear delivery of the content which is made easier by the feature of frame-by-frame skipping of the video.

YouTube studio is the basement for YouTubers to upload and track their videos. To some newbies, they might don’t know how to use the YouTube Manager. If you happen to be one of them, check this article to get: Everything You Need to Know about YouTube Video Manager >>

Conclusion

The precise control over separate frames as well as set of frames, diverse OS support, and liberty to use a variety of editing features make Wondershare Filmora stand out among all other tools. But depending upon the suitability with respect to one’s available resources, any of the above tool will help you watch and edit YouTube video frame by frame.

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

Unlocking the Secrets of Effective YouTube Thumbnails

The Ultimate Guide to YouTube Thumbnails that Get Views

Richard Bennett

Oct 26, 2023• Proven solutions

0

Search for any topic on YouTube and you’ll find thousands of videos. How do you decide which of them to watch? Thumbnails play a major role in what viewers decide to click on. They’re often more important than video titles.

Viewers click on thumbnails that both standout and feel relevant to their search. Your task when it comes to creating YouTube thumbnails is to make something that does both of those things while also maintaining your personal style.

1. How to Make a YouTube Thumbnail
2. How to Upload a YouTube Thumbnail
3. YouTube Thumbnail Makers
4. How to Make Thumbnails that Get Clicks (Without Clickbait!)
5. Animated YouTube Thumbnails

Part 1: How to Make a YouTube Thumbnail

In order to create a custom video thumbnail, you’ll need a program to put it together in. You can use an image editing program like Photoshop if you have one, but if you don’t you can check out these free thumbnail makers.

Here are some examples of popular thumbnail styles.

1. The Classic Thumbnail (Photo or Screenshot)

A photo that shows what happens in your video – whether that means the finished ‘look’ from your makeup tutorial or you posing in front of the landmark you shot your travel vlog in front of – is a great way to let viewers know what to expect. While curiosity can be a big motive behind clicking on a video thumbnail (or anything online), when people have searched for a specific topic they want to be convinced that your video has what they’re looking for.

#1. Choose Your Photo

To start off, either choose a still frame from your video or take a photograph while you’re still set up from your video. A separate photograph is usually a better idea because your video editor might not be able to export a high-quality snapshot, and also because you’re able to choose your facial expression.

Aim to make this shot a close-up or medium close-up and make sure you’re either in the center of the screen or off to one side, as per the ‘rule of thirds’. Many cameras allow you to bring an optional grid up onto your viewfinder. This will divide your screen into three equal segments both vertically and horizontally. Try to make sure your eyes line up with the top line, and if you’re going to be off to one side then make sure you’re on one of the vertical lines. This will ensure your image is visually appealing.

If you want to add text later, it’s a good idea to be off to one side.

Including your face is important for most types of YouTube videos. People are attracted to eye contact and are more likely to click on thumbnails that feature a face. Gamers might choose to use a picture of a video game character instead and it will have the same effect.

Some situations where it isn’t essential to include your face include tech reviews, where viewers will be more interested in seeing the product, and cooking videos where people are looking to be tempted by a yummy food pic.

#2. Add Text and/or Images

This part isn’t essential – in some cases, a photo is enough – but a lot of the thumbnails for the videos ranked highest in YouTube’s search results include either a couple of words of text, a simple graphic (i.e. an emoji), or both.

In some cases you might use text to make it clear what type of video you’ve made, i.e. ‘review’ or ‘tutorial’. It’s best to keep any text you use brief, but you could get a bit more descriptive and write something like ‘fall makeup tutorial’. Three words is probably the most you can get away with. Remember that your text will be shrunk down with the rest of your image; you need to make it big enough to read easily once it’s shrunk, and that means you don’t have a ton of room for text.

You should also avoid fonts that are harder to read. Fonts with a lot of curves can be harder to read, and you want to make sure you choose a color that stands out from your background. Yellow might work against black, but it probably won’t work against the beige wall of your sunny bedroom. Sans serif fonts tend to be best.

Another tactic used in successful thumbnails is to add small graphics, like emojis or small images (i.e. pumpkins for a Halloween video), which are related to your video’s content. As with text, you don’t want to overload your thumbnail with images, but they’re a great way to add something eye-catching that’s a bit different from competing thumbnails.

2. The Emotional Laser (Background + Face Reacting)

One increasingly popular style of YouTube thumbnail is what we’re going to call the ‘Emotional Laser’. It’s bright (like, blindingly bright), it communicates a clear feeling, and it creates high expectations for how exciting the video’s content is going to be.

The three main elements of the Emotional Laser thumbnail are a background (usually bright), your face on the right wearing an over-pronounced expression, and either the thing your expression is in reaction to (i.e. food, a product, the topic of your video in text) or reinforcement of your emotion (i.e an emoji or question marks) on the left.

#1. Ham It Up (Take Your Reaction Photo)

Take a high-quality photograph of yourself conveying strong emotion. Generally, you want to look extremely excited, disgusted, angry, or shocked depending on the theme of the video.

If there’s an object you want to include in your thumbnail, like a product you’ll be talking about, then it’s a good idea to hold it for this photo. Hold it to one side of your head, turn towards it slightly (but not so much that the camera can only see the side of your face) and put on the expression that’s supposed to be a reaction to the object.

It can be a good idea to take this photo in front of a solid color so you can remove the background easily with chroma key.

#2. Choose Your Background

Your background might be scenery, a solid color, or even the room you filmed the video in. Light or bright colors are popular. Make sure there’s nothing that will distract from your expression. If your background is a room, or anything else where there could be things like pictures hanging, you may want to add a blur effect in the next step.

#3. Put It Together

In your thumbnail maker or a program like Photoshop, you’ll need to put your photo and your background together. This will work differently depending on what program you use. If your program has a chroma key tool and your reaction photo was taken against a solid color then you can make that solid color transparent.

What if I don’t have a separate background? If you don’t have a background you want to use, but you still want your reaction to stand out the same way it would if you did, then you can use your photo editor’s blur tool to turn the normal background of your photo into something you can pop-out from.

#4. Add Extras (Text, Emojis, etc.)

If instead of an object you plan to fill the other side of your thumbnail with text, question marks, emojis, or some other graphic element then now is the time to add it.

Part 2: How to Upload a YouTube Thumbnail

When you upload a new video to YouTube, you will see a Custom thumbnail option under Video thumbnails after your upload is complete.

If you want to add a custom thumbnail to a video that’s already up, that’s easy too.

1. Go to your Video Manager in the Creator Studio.
2. Find the video you want to change the thumbnail for and click Edit next to it.
3. Click Custom thumbnail on the right of the preview screen.
4. Upload your thumbnail and click Save changes.

Remember when you’re uploading custom thumbnails that you need to use a .JPG, .GIF, .BMP, or .PNG image with an aspect ratio of 16:9 and that your file size has to be under 2MB.

YouTube recommends that thumbnail images have a resolution of 1280x720px, and you cannot upload an image with a width of less than 640 pixels.

Make sure that all of your thumbnails adhere to YouTube’s Community guidelines. Anything sexually suggestive, violent, or otherwise graphic could result in your video being age-restricted.

Part 3: YouTube Thumbnail Makers

You don’t have to go out and buy a photo editor like Photoshop to make custom video thumbnails (although it’s a good thing to use if you already have it). Here are two free online programs you can use instead:

Canva is an intuitive option with templates for Thumbnails, Channel Art, and other social media graphics. There are stock photos and graphics provided, but not all of them are free (paid options cost $1 each). Canva’s templates do tend to include paid resources, so you may want to use them mostly for their layouts or as inspiration and replace everything they provide with your own images.

Generally, using Canva is as easy as dragging and dropping things where you want them. You’ll be able to set the dimensions for your project so the image you export is a perfect size. Adding text and changing the size, font, or color is easy too.

Adobe Spark also has templates for channel art, and it’s also very easy to use. The first time you use it helpful notes will pop up to guide you through the process. Using templates is especially simple because you just click on the elements in the pre-made thumbnail and replace them with your own photos/text.

You can make changes to the colors in your Spark thumbnail easily by selecting a new color scheme or filter. You can even toggle through layouts easily. When you choose a new layout, Spark will rearrange all the pieces of your current thumbnail to align with the new layout so you can quickly see what it looks like instead of having to rebuild.

Click to check more YouTube thumbnail makers

Part 4: How to Make Thumbnails That Get Clicks (Without Clickbait!)

Here are the top 10 best practices for creating effective YouTube thumbnails:

#1. Show What Your Video Is About

Being mysterious and clickbaity can get you views, if you’re already big. For small YouTubers, it pays off to be clear about your video’s topic. You want people to click who want to watch the actual content of your video. Even if you manage to get some clicks by being mysterious, you’ll probably end up with low viewer retention because people are clicking away when they realize your video isn’t what they were looking for. That will make YouTube’s algorithm rank your video lower, and then even fewer people will find it.

If your video is a product review, show the product in the thumbnail and maybe even write ‘review’ on it. If your video is a makeup tutorial, show your face with the finished makeup and maybe even include pictures of the products you used. People want to know what they’re clicking on before they click.

#2. Use a Consistent Layout

As you grow, you’ll want people to be able to see one of your thumbnails and instantly know it’s yours. Building a recognizable brand is about consistency. Try to stick with one basic layout for all of your videos. You can still customize every individual thumbnail by using different facial expressions and different graphics, but try to use similar backgrounds, fonts, and general layouts (i.e. you to the right of the thumbnails, text to the left) over and over.

#3. Use Your Face

Why should people want to watch your videos? If the answer is ‘because I can teach them to create delicious food’ or ‘because they want to learn about the latest iPhone’ then your thumbnail should include that food or that iPhone.

If part of the reason people want to watch your videos is you – your personality and your sense of humor – then you should be in your thumbnail.

Viewers who are on YouTube because they like seeing a creator’s personality like to feel the presence of that personality in the video thumbnail, and eye contact naturally draws attention and clicks.

#4. Add Small Graphics

Adding small graphics, like emojis or hearts, to your thumbnail can help you stand out in a couple different ways. First, if they’re being compared to thumbnails that are just screenshots from the video, your thumbnails will look a lot more polished. Second, they’ll add a splash of color which can draw eyes to your video in a search where other thumbnails are not using those same colors.

#5. Your Text Should Be Huge

Your thumbnail will end up being a fraction of the size it is while you’re creating it in your thumbnail maker, and that means that any text you use will end up being shrunk down. You could probably type a six-word sentence in a size 18 font and have it look fine while you’re making your thumbnail, but after you upload it there’s no way people will be able to read it at a glance.

Aim for a huge font size, and 3 words or less (so your thumbnail doesn’t end up looking crowded).

#6. Check Out The Competition

Type your video’s title or topic into the search engine on YouTube and look at the thumbnails for the videos that come up. These are your competition. You want to make a thumbnail that is similar enough to what comes up that viewers know it’s on the same topic, but different enough that it stands out.

Generally, if most of the thumbnails have the same layout, you’ll want to mimic that layout. Where you can break from the crowd is in the colors, fonts, and graphics you use.

Part 5: Animated YouTube Thumbnails

Whether or not you upload a custom thumbnail to YouTube, YouTube’s A.I will choose what it thinks are the 3 juiciest seconds of your video (you cannot choose for yourself) and play them as a GIF-like animation when people mouseover your video thumbnails.

As of now, this only works in the Google Chrome desktop browser. Videos have to be at least 30 seconds long to get moving thumbnails.

Alright, now that you know everything about YouTube thumbnails, go make one! Tell us in the comments what you’re going to do to make your video thumbnails stand out.

Touch Up YouTube Videos with Effects & Elements in Filmora

As one of the most widely used video editing software in YouTube video editing, Filmora provides lots of templates and effects with an intuitive interface. Download the free trial version and get started now.

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett

Oct 26, 2023• Proven solutions

0

Search for any topic on YouTube and you’ll find thousands of videos. How do you decide which of them to watch? Thumbnails play a major role in what viewers decide to click on. They’re often more important than video titles.

Viewers click on thumbnails that both standout and feel relevant to their search. Your task when it comes to creating YouTube thumbnails is to make something that does both of those things while also maintaining your personal style.

1. How to Make a YouTube Thumbnail
2. How to Upload a YouTube Thumbnail
3. YouTube Thumbnail Makers
4. How to Make Thumbnails that Get Clicks (Without Clickbait!)
5. Animated YouTube Thumbnails

Part 1: How to Make a YouTube Thumbnail

In order to create a custom video thumbnail, you’ll need a program to put it together in. You can use an image editing program like Photoshop if you have one, but if you don’t you can check out these free thumbnail makers.

Here are some examples of popular thumbnail styles.

1. The Classic Thumbnail (Photo or Screenshot)

A photo that shows what happens in your video – whether that means the finished ‘look’ from your makeup tutorial or you posing in front of the landmark you shot your travel vlog in front of – is a great way to let viewers know what to expect. While curiosity can be a big motive behind clicking on a video thumbnail (or anything online), when people have searched for a specific topic they want to be convinced that your video has what they’re looking for.

#1. Choose Your Photo

To start off, either choose a still frame from your video or take a photograph while you’re still set up from your video. A separate photograph is usually a better idea because your video editor might not be able to export a high-quality snapshot, and also because you’re able to choose your facial expression.

Aim to make this shot a close-up or medium close-up and make sure you’re either in the center of the screen or off to one side, as per the ‘rule of thirds’. Many cameras allow you to bring an optional grid up onto your viewfinder. This will divide your screen into three equal segments both vertically and horizontally. Try to make sure your eyes line up with the top line, and if you’re going to be off to one side then make sure you’re on one of the vertical lines. This will ensure your image is visually appealing.

If you want to add text later, it’s a good idea to be off to one side.

Including your face is important for most types of YouTube videos. People are attracted to eye contact and are more likely to click on thumbnails that feature a face. Gamers might choose to use a picture of a video game character instead and it will have the same effect.

Some situations where it isn’t essential to include your face include tech reviews, where viewers will be more interested in seeing the product, and cooking videos where people are looking to be tempted by a yummy food pic.

#2. Add Text and/or Images

This part isn’t essential – in some cases, a photo is enough – but a lot of the thumbnails for the videos ranked highest in YouTube’s search results include either a couple of words of text, a simple graphic (i.e. an emoji), or both.

In some cases you might use text to make it clear what type of video you’ve made, i.e. ‘review’ or ‘tutorial’. It’s best to keep any text you use brief, but you could get a bit more descriptive and write something like ‘fall makeup tutorial’. Three words is probably the most you can get away with. Remember that your text will be shrunk down with the rest of your image; you need to make it big enough to read easily once it’s shrunk, and that means you don’t have a ton of room for text.

You should also avoid fonts that are harder to read. Fonts with a lot of curves can be harder to read, and you want to make sure you choose a color that stands out from your background. Yellow might work against black, but it probably won’t work against the beige wall of your sunny bedroom. Sans serif fonts tend to be best.

Another tactic used in successful thumbnails is to add small graphics, like emojis or small images (i.e. pumpkins for a Halloween video), which are related to your video’s content. As with text, you don’t want to overload your thumbnail with images, but they’re a great way to add something eye-catching that’s a bit different from competing thumbnails.

2. The Emotional Laser (Background + Face Reacting)

One increasingly popular style of YouTube thumbnail is what we’re going to call the ‘Emotional Laser’. It’s bright (like, blindingly bright), it communicates a clear feeling, and it creates high expectations for how exciting the video’s content is going to be.

The three main elements of the Emotional Laser thumbnail are a background (usually bright), your face on the right wearing an over-pronounced expression, and either the thing your expression is in reaction to (i.e. food, a product, the topic of your video in text) or reinforcement of your emotion (i.e an emoji or question marks) on the left.

#1. Ham It Up (Take Your Reaction Photo)

Take a high-quality photograph of yourself conveying strong emotion. Generally, you want to look extremely excited, disgusted, angry, or shocked depending on the theme of the video.

If there’s an object you want to include in your thumbnail, like a product you’ll be talking about, then it’s a good idea to hold it for this photo. Hold it to one side of your head, turn towards it slightly (but not so much that the camera can only see the side of your face) and put on the expression that’s supposed to be a reaction to the object.

It can be a good idea to take this photo in front of a solid color so you can remove the background easily with chroma key.

#2. Choose Your Background

Your background might be scenery, a solid color, or even the room you filmed the video in. Light or bright colors are popular. Make sure there’s nothing that will distract from your expression. If your background is a room, or anything else where there could be things like pictures hanging, you may want to add a blur effect in the next step.

#3. Put It Together

In your thumbnail maker or a program like Photoshop, you’ll need to put your photo and your background together. This will work differently depending on what program you use. If your program has a chroma key tool and your reaction photo was taken against a solid color then you can make that solid color transparent.

What if I don’t have a separate background? If you don’t have a background you want to use, but you still want your reaction to stand out the same way it would if you did, then you can use your photo editor’s blur tool to turn the normal background of your photo into something you can pop-out from.

#4. Add Extras (Text, Emojis, etc.)

If instead of an object you plan to fill the other side of your thumbnail with text, question marks, emojis, or some other graphic element then now is the time to add it.

Part 2: How to Upload a YouTube Thumbnail

When you upload a new video to YouTube, you will see a Custom thumbnail option under Video thumbnails after your upload is complete.

If you want to add a custom thumbnail to a video that’s already up, that’s easy too.

1. Go to your Video Manager in the Creator Studio.
2. Find the video you want to change the thumbnail for and click Edit next to it.
3. Click Custom thumbnail on the right of the preview screen.
4. Upload your thumbnail and click Save changes.

Remember when you’re uploading custom thumbnails that you need to use a .JPG, .GIF, .BMP, or .PNG image with an aspect ratio of 16:9 and that your file size has to be under 2MB.

YouTube recommends that thumbnail images have a resolution of 1280x720px, and you cannot upload an image with a width of less than 640 pixels.

Make sure that all of your thumbnails adhere to YouTube’s Community guidelines. Anything sexually suggestive, violent, or otherwise graphic could result in your video being age-restricted.

Part 3: YouTube Thumbnail Makers

You don’t have to go out and buy a photo editor like Photoshop to make custom video thumbnails (although it’s a good thing to use if you already have it). Here are two free online programs you can use instead:

Canva is an intuitive option with templates for Thumbnails, Channel Art, and other social media graphics. There are stock photos and graphics provided, but not all of them are free (paid options cost $1 each). Canva’s templates do tend to include paid resources, so you may want to use them mostly for their layouts or as inspiration and replace everything they provide with your own images.

Generally, using Canva is as easy as dragging and dropping things where you want them. You’ll be able to set the dimensions for your project so the image you export is a perfect size. Adding text and changing the size, font, or color is easy too.

Adobe Spark also has templates for channel art, and it’s also very easy to use. The first time you use it helpful notes will pop up to guide you through the process. Using templates is especially simple because you just click on the elements in the pre-made thumbnail and replace them with your own photos/text.

You can make changes to the colors in your Spark thumbnail easily by selecting a new color scheme or filter. You can even toggle through layouts easily. When you choose a new layout, Spark will rearrange all the pieces of your current thumbnail to align with the new layout so you can quickly see what it looks like instead of having to rebuild.

Click to check more YouTube thumbnail makers

Part 4: How to Make Thumbnails That Get Clicks (Without Clickbait!)

Here are the top 10 best practices for creating effective YouTube thumbnails:

#1. Show What Your Video Is About

Being mysterious and clickbaity can get you views, if you’re already big. For small YouTubers, it pays off to be clear about your video’s topic. You want people to click who want to watch the actual content of your video. Even if you manage to get some clicks by being mysterious, you’ll probably end up with low viewer retention because people are clicking away when they realize your video isn’t what they were looking for. That will make YouTube’s algorithm rank your video lower, and then even fewer people will find it.

If your video is a product review, show the product in the thumbnail and maybe even write ‘review’ on it. If your video is a makeup tutorial, show your face with the finished makeup and maybe even include pictures of the products you used. People want to know what they’re clicking on before they click.

#2. Use a Consistent Layout

As you grow, you’ll want people to be able to see one of your thumbnails and instantly know it’s yours. Building a recognizable brand is about consistency. Try to stick with one basic layout for all of your videos. You can still customize every individual thumbnail by using different facial expressions and different graphics, but try to use similar backgrounds, fonts, and general layouts (i.e. you to the right of the thumbnails, text to the left) over and over.

#3. Use Your Face

Why should people want to watch your videos? If the answer is ‘because I can teach them to create delicious food’ or ‘because they want to learn about the latest iPhone’ then your thumbnail should include that food or that iPhone.

If part of the reason people want to watch your videos is you – your personality and your sense of humor – then you should be in your thumbnail.

Viewers who are on YouTube because they like seeing a creator’s personality like to feel the presence of that personality in the video thumbnail, and eye contact naturally draws attention and clicks.

#4. Add Small Graphics

Adding small graphics, like emojis or hearts, to your thumbnail can help you stand out in a couple different ways. First, if they’re being compared to thumbnails that are just screenshots from the video, your thumbnails will look a lot more polished. Second, they’ll add a splash of color which can draw eyes to your video in a search where other thumbnails are not using those same colors.

#5. Your Text Should Be Huge

Your thumbnail will end up being a fraction of the size it is while you’re creating it in your thumbnail maker, and that means that any text you use will end up being shrunk down. You could probably type a six-word sentence in a size 18 font and have it look fine while you’re making your thumbnail, but after you upload it there’s no way people will be able to read it at a glance.

Aim for a huge font size, and 3 words or less (so your thumbnail doesn’t end up looking crowded).

#6. Check Out The Competition

Type your video’s title or topic into the search engine on YouTube and look at the thumbnails for the videos that come up. These are your competition. You want to make a thumbnail that is similar enough to what comes up that viewers know it’s on the same topic, but different enough that it stands out.

Generally, if most of the thumbnails have the same layout, you’ll want to mimic that layout. Where you can break from the crowd is in the colors, fonts, and graphics you use.

Part 5: Animated YouTube Thumbnails

Whether or not you upload a custom thumbnail to YouTube, YouTube’s A.I will choose what it thinks are the 3 juiciest seconds of your video (you cannot choose for yourself) and play them as a GIF-like animation when people mouseover your video thumbnails.

As of now, this only works in the Google Chrome desktop browser. Videos have to be at least 30 seconds long to get moving thumbnails.

Alright, now that you know everything about YouTube thumbnails, go make one! Tell us in the comments what you’re going to do to make your video thumbnails stand out.

Touch Up YouTube Videos with Effects & Elements in Filmora

As one of the most widely used video editing software in YouTube video editing, Filmora provides lots of templates and effects with an intuitive interface. Download the free trial version and get started now.

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett

Oct 26, 2023• Proven solutions

0

Search for any topic on YouTube and you’ll find thousands of videos. How do you decide which of them to watch? Thumbnails play a major role in what viewers decide to click on. They’re often more important than video titles.

Viewers click on thumbnails that both standout and feel relevant to their search. Your task when it comes to creating YouTube thumbnails is to make something that does both of those things while also maintaining your personal style.

1. How to Make a YouTube Thumbnail
2. How to Upload a YouTube Thumbnail
3. YouTube Thumbnail Makers
4. How to Make Thumbnails that Get Clicks (Without Clickbait!)
5. Animated YouTube Thumbnails

Part 1: How to Make a YouTube Thumbnail

In order to create a custom video thumbnail, you’ll need a program to put it together in. You can use an image editing program like Photoshop if you have one, but if you don’t you can check out these free thumbnail makers.

Here are some examples of popular thumbnail styles.

1. The Classic Thumbnail (Photo or Screenshot)

A photo that shows what happens in your video – whether that means the finished ‘look’ from your makeup tutorial or you posing in front of the landmark you shot your travel vlog in front of – is a great way to let viewers know what to expect. While curiosity can be a big motive behind clicking on a video thumbnail (or anything online), when people have searched for a specific topic they want to be convinced that your video has what they’re looking for.

#1. Choose Your Photo

To start off, either choose a still frame from your video or take a photograph while you’re still set up from your video. A separate photograph is usually a better idea because your video editor might not be able to export a high-quality snapshot, and also because you’re able to choose your facial expression.

Aim to make this shot a close-up or medium close-up and make sure you’re either in the center of the screen or off to one side, as per the ‘rule of thirds’. Many cameras allow you to bring an optional grid up onto your viewfinder. This will divide your screen into three equal segments both vertically and horizontally. Try to make sure your eyes line up with the top line, and if you’re going to be off to one side then make sure you’re on one of the vertical lines. This will ensure your image is visually appealing.

If you want to add text later, it’s a good idea to be off to one side.

Including your face is important for most types of YouTube videos. People are attracted to eye contact and are more likely to click on thumbnails that feature a face. Gamers might choose to use a picture of a video game character instead and it will have the same effect.

Some situations where it isn’t essential to include your face include tech reviews, where viewers will be more interested in seeing the product, and cooking videos where people are looking to be tempted by a yummy food pic.

#2. Add Text and/or Images

This part isn’t essential – in some cases, a photo is enough – but a lot of the thumbnails for the videos ranked highest in YouTube’s search results include either a couple of words of text, a simple graphic (i.e. an emoji), or both.

In some cases you might use text to make it clear what type of video you’ve made, i.e. ‘review’ or ‘tutorial’. It’s best to keep any text you use brief, but you could get a bit more descriptive and write something like ‘fall makeup tutorial’. Three words is probably the most you can get away with. Remember that your text will be shrunk down with the rest of your image; you need to make it big enough to read easily once it’s shrunk, and that means you don’t have a ton of room for text.

You should also avoid fonts that are harder to read. Fonts with a lot of curves can be harder to read, and you want to make sure you choose a color that stands out from your background. Yellow might work against black, but it probably won’t work against the beige wall of your sunny bedroom. Sans serif fonts tend to be best.

Another tactic used in successful thumbnails is to add small graphics, like emojis or small images (i.e. pumpkins for a Halloween video), which are related to your video’s content. As with text, you don’t want to overload your thumbnail with images, but they’re a great way to add something eye-catching that’s a bit different from competing thumbnails.

2. The Emotional Laser (Background + Face Reacting)

One increasingly popular style of YouTube thumbnail is what we’re going to call the ‘Emotional Laser’. It’s bright (like, blindingly bright), it communicates a clear feeling, and it creates high expectations for how exciting the video’s content is going to be.

The three main elements of the Emotional Laser thumbnail are a background (usually bright), your face on the right wearing an over-pronounced expression, and either the thing your expression is in reaction to (i.e. food, a product, the topic of your video in text) or reinforcement of your emotion (i.e an emoji or question marks) on the left.

#1. Ham It Up (Take Your Reaction Photo)

Take a high-quality photograph of yourself conveying strong emotion. Generally, you want to look extremely excited, disgusted, angry, or shocked depending on the theme of the video.

If there’s an object you want to include in your thumbnail, like a product you’ll be talking about, then it’s a good idea to hold it for this photo. Hold it to one side of your head, turn towards it slightly (but not so much that the camera can only see the side of your face) and put on the expression that’s supposed to be a reaction to the object.

It can be a good idea to take this photo in front of a solid color so you can remove the background easily with chroma key.

#2. Choose Your Background

Your background might be scenery, a solid color, or even the room you filmed the video in. Light or bright colors are popular. Make sure there’s nothing that will distract from your expression. If your background is a room, or anything else where there could be things like pictures hanging, you may want to add a blur effect in the next step.

#3. Put It Together

In your thumbnail maker or a program like Photoshop, you’ll need to put your photo and your background together. This will work differently depending on what program you use. If your program has a chroma key tool and your reaction photo was taken against a solid color then you can make that solid color transparent.

What if I don’t have a separate background? If you don’t have a background you want to use, but you still want your reaction to stand out the same way it would if you did, then you can use your photo editor’s blur tool to turn the normal background of your photo into something you can pop-out from.

#4. Add Extras (Text, Emojis, etc.)

If instead of an object you plan to fill the other side of your thumbnail with text, question marks, emojis, or some other graphic element then now is the time to add it.

Part 2: How to Upload a YouTube Thumbnail

When you upload a new video to YouTube, you will see a Custom thumbnail option under Video thumbnails after your upload is complete.

If you want to add a custom thumbnail to a video that’s already up, that’s easy too.

1. Go to your Video Manager in the Creator Studio.
2. Find the video you want to change the thumbnail for and click Edit next to it.
3. Click Custom thumbnail on the right of the preview screen.
4. Upload your thumbnail and click Save changes.

Remember when you’re uploading custom thumbnails that you need to use a .JPG, .GIF, .BMP, or .PNG image with an aspect ratio of 16:9 and that your file size has to be under 2MB.

YouTube recommends that thumbnail images have a resolution of 1280x720px, and you cannot upload an image with a width of less than 640 pixels.

Make sure that all of your thumbnails adhere to YouTube’s Community guidelines. Anything sexually suggestive, violent, or otherwise graphic could result in your video being age-restricted.

Part 3: YouTube Thumbnail Makers

You don’t have to go out and buy a photo editor like Photoshop to make custom video thumbnails (although it’s a good thing to use if you already have it). Here are two free online programs you can use instead:

Canva is an intuitive option with templates for Thumbnails, Channel Art, and other social media graphics. There are stock photos and graphics provided, but not all of them are free (paid options cost $1 each). Canva’s templates do tend to include paid resources, so you may want to use them mostly for their layouts or as inspiration and replace everything they provide with your own images.

Generally, using Canva is as easy as dragging and dropping things where you want them. You’ll be able to set the dimensions for your project so the image you export is a perfect size. Adding text and changing the size, font, or color is easy too.

Adobe Spark also has templates for channel art, and it’s also very easy to use. The first time you use it helpful notes will pop up to guide you through the process. Using templates is especially simple because you just click on the elements in the pre-made thumbnail and replace them with your own photos/text.

You can make changes to the colors in your Spark thumbnail easily by selecting a new color scheme or filter. You can even toggle through layouts easily. When you choose a new layout, Spark will rearrange all the pieces of your current thumbnail to align with the new layout so you can quickly see what it looks like instead of having to rebuild.

Click to check more YouTube thumbnail makers

Part 4: How to Make Thumbnails That Get Clicks (Without Clickbait!)

Here are the top 10 best practices for creating effective YouTube thumbnails:

#1. Show What Your Video Is About

Being mysterious and clickbaity can get you views, if you’re already big. For small YouTubers, it pays off to be clear about your video’s topic. You want people to click who want to watch the actual content of your video. Even if you manage to get some clicks by being mysterious, you’ll probably end up with low viewer retention because people are clicking away when they realize your video isn’t what they were looking for. That will make YouTube’s algorithm rank your video lower, and then even fewer people will find it.

If your video is a product review, show the product in the thumbnail and maybe even write ‘review’ on it. If your video is a makeup tutorial, show your face with the finished makeup and maybe even include pictures of the products you used. People want to know what they’re clicking on before they click.

#2. Use a Consistent Layout

As you grow, you’ll want people to be able to see one of your thumbnails and instantly know it’s yours. Building a recognizable brand is about consistency. Try to stick with one basic layout for all of your videos. You can still customize every individual thumbnail by using different facial expressions and different graphics, but try to use similar backgrounds, fonts, and general layouts (i.e. you to the right of the thumbnails, text to the left) over and over.

#3. Use Your Face

Why should people want to watch your videos? If the answer is ‘because I can teach them to create delicious food’ or ‘because they want to learn about the latest iPhone’ then your thumbnail should include that food or that iPhone.

If part of the reason people want to watch your videos is you – your personality and your sense of humor – then you should be in your thumbnail.

Viewers who are on YouTube because they like seeing a creator’s personality like to feel the presence of that personality in the video thumbnail, and eye contact naturally draws attention and clicks.

#4. Add Small Graphics

Adding small graphics, like emojis or hearts, to your thumbnail can help you stand out in a couple different ways. First, if they’re being compared to thumbnails that are just screenshots from the video, your thumbnails will look a lot more polished. Second, they’ll add a splash of color which can draw eyes to your video in a search where other thumbnails are not using those same colors.

#5. Your Text Should Be Huge

Your thumbnail will end up being a fraction of the size it is while you’re creating it in your thumbnail maker, and that means that any text you use will end up being shrunk down. You could probably type a six-word sentence in a size 18 font and have it look fine while you’re making your thumbnail, but after you upload it there’s no way people will be able to read it at a glance.

Aim for a huge font size, and 3 words or less (so your thumbnail doesn’t end up looking crowded).

#6. Check Out The Competition

Type your video’s title or topic into the search engine on YouTube and look at the thumbnails for the videos that come up. These are your competition. You want to make a thumbnail that is similar enough to what comes up that viewers know it’s on the same topic, but different enough that it stands out.

Generally, if most of the thumbnails have the same layout, you’ll want to mimic that layout. Where you can break from the crowd is in the colors, fonts, and graphics you use.

Part 5: Animated YouTube Thumbnails

Whether or not you upload a custom thumbnail to YouTube, YouTube’s A.I will choose what it thinks are the 3 juiciest seconds of your video (you cannot choose for yourself) and play them as a GIF-like animation when people mouseover your video thumbnails.

As of now, this only works in the Google Chrome desktop browser. Videos have to be at least 30 seconds long to get moving thumbnails.

Alright, now that you know everything about YouTube thumbnails, go make one! Tell us in the comments what you’re going to do to make your video thumbnails stand out.

Touch Up YouTube Videos with Effects & Elements in Filmora

As one of the most widely used video editing software in YouTube video editing, Filmora provides lots of templates and effects with an intuitive interface. Download the free trial version and get started now.

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett

Oct 26, 2023• Proven solutions

0

Search for any topic on YouTube and you’ll find thousands of videos. How do you decide which of them to watch? Thumbnails play a major role in what viewers decide to click on. They’re often more important than video titles.

Viewers click on thumbnails that both standout and feel relevant to their search. Your task when it comes to creating YouTube thumbnails is to make something that does both of those things while also maintaining your personal style.

1. How to Make a YouTube Thumbnail
2. How to Upload a YouTube Thumbnail
3. YouTube Thumbnail Makers
4. How to Make Thumbnails that Get Clicks (Without Clickbait!)
5. Animated YouTube Thumbnails

Part 1: How to Make a YouTube Thumbnail

In order to create a custom video thumbnail, you’ll need a program to put it together in. You can use an image editing program like Photoshop if you have one, but if you don’t you can check out these free thumbnail makers.

Here are some examples of popular thumbnail styles.

1. The Classic Thumbnail (Photo or Screenshot)

A photo that shows what happens in your video – whether that means the finished ‘look’ from your makeup tutorial or you posing in front of the landmark you shot your travel vlog in front of – is a great way to let viewers know what to expect. While curiosity can be a big motive behind clicking on a video thumbnail (or anything online), when people have searched for a specific topic they want to be convinced that your video has what they’re looking for.

#1. Choose Your Photo

To start off, either choose a still frame from your video or take a photograph while you’re still set up from your video. A separate photograph is usually a better idea because your video editor might not be able to export a high-quality snapshot, and also because you’re able to choose your facial expression.

Aim to make this shot a close-up or medium close-up and make sure you’re either in the center of the screen or off to one side, as per the ‘rule of thirds’. Many cameras allow you to bring an optional grid up onto your viewfinder. This will divide your screen into three equal segments both vertically and horizontally. Try to make sure your eyes line up with the top line, and if you’re going to be off to one side then make sure you’re on one of the vertical lines. This will ensure your image is visually appealing.

If you want to add text later, it’s a good idea to be off to one side.

Including your face is important for most types of YouTube videos. People are attracted to eye contact and are more likely to click on thumbnails that feature a face. Gamers might choose to use a picture of a video game character instead and it will have the same effect.

Some situations where it isn’t essential to include your face include tech reviews, where viewers will be more interested in seeing the product, and cooking videos where people are looking to be tempted by a yummy food pic.

#2. Add Text and/or Images

This part isn’t essential – in some cases, a photo is enough – but a lot of the thumbnails for the videos ranked highest in YouTube’s search results include either a couple of words of text, a simple graphic (i.e. an emoji), or both.

In some cases you might use text to make it clear what type of video you’ve made, i.e. ‘review’ or ‘tutorial’. It’s best to keep any text you use brief, but you could get a bit more descriptive and write something like ‘fall makeup tutorial’. Three words is probably the most you can get away with. Remember that your text will be shrunk down with the rest of your image; you need to make it big enough to read easily once it’s shrunk, and that means you don’t have a ton of room for text.

You should also avoid fonts that are harder to read. Fonts with a lot of curves can be harder to read, and you want to make sure you choose a color that stands out from your background. Yellow might work against black, but it probably won’t work against the beige wall of your sunny bedroom. Sans serif fonts tend to be best.

Another tactic used in successful thumbnails is to add small graphics, like emojis or small images (i.e. pumpkins for a Halloween video), which are related to your video’s content. As with text, you don’t want to overload your thumbnail with images, but they’re a great way to add something eye-catching that’s a bit different from competing thumbnails.

2. The Emotional Laser (Background + Face Reacting)

One increasingly popular style of YouTube thumbnail is what we’re going to call the ‘Emotional Laser’. It’s bright (like, blindingly bright), it communicates a clear feeling, and it creates high expectations for how exciting the video’s content is going to be.

The three main elements of the Emotional Laser thumbnail are a background (usually bright), your face on the right wearing an over-pronounced expression, and either the thing your expression is in reaction to (i.e. food, a product, the topic of your video in text) or reinforcement of your emotion (i.e an emoji or question marks) on the left.

#1. Ham It Up (Take Your Reaction Photo)

Take a high-quality photograph of yourself conveying strong emotion. Generally, you want to look extremely excited, disgusted, angry, or shocked depending on the theme of the video.

If there’s an object you want to include in your thumbnail, like a product you’ll be talking about, then it’s a good idea to hold it for this photo. Hold it to one side of your head, turn towards it slightly (but not so much that the camera can only see the side of your face) and put on the expression that’s supposed to be a reaction to the object.

It can be a good idea to take this photo in front of a solid color so you can remove the background easily with chroma key.

#2. Choose Your Background

Your background might be scenery, a solid color, or even the room you filmed the video in. Light or bright colors are popular. Make sure there’s nothing that will distract from your expression. If your background is a room, or anything else where there could be things like pictures hanging, you may want to add a blur effect in the next step.

#3. Put It Together

In your thumbnail maker or a program like Photoshop, you’ll need to put your photo and your background together. This will work differently depending on what program you use. If your program has a chroma key tool and your reaction photo was taken against a solid color then you can make that solid color transparent.

What if I don’t have a separate background? If you don’t have a background you want to use, but you still want your reaction to stand out the same way it would if you did, then you can use your photo editor’s blur tool to turn the normal background of your photo into something you can pop-out from.

#4. Add Extras (Text, Emojis, etc.)

If instead of an object you plan to fill the other side of your thumbnail with text, question marks, emojis, or some other graphic element then now is the time to add it.

Part 2: How to Upload a YouTube Thumbnail

When you upload a new video to YouTube, you will see a Custom thumbnail option under Video thumbnails after your upload is complete.

If you want to add a custom thumbnail to a video that’s already up, that’s easy too.

1. Go to your Video Manager in the Creator Studio.
2. Find the video you want to change the thumbnail for and click Edit next to it.
3. Click Custom thumbnail on the right of the preview screen.
4. Upload your thumbnail and click Save changes.

Remember when you’re uploading custom thumbnails that you need to use a .JPG, .GIF, .BMP, or .PNG image with an aspect ratio of 16:9 and that your file size has to be under 2MB.

YouTube recommends that thumbnail images have a resolution of 1280x720px, and you cannot upload an image with a width of less than 640 pixels.

Make sure that all of your thumbnails adhere to YouTube’s Community guidelines. Anything sexually suggestive, violent, or otherwise graphic could result in your video being age-restricted.

Part 3: YouTube Thumbnail Makers

You don’t have to go out and buy a photo editor like Photoshop to make custom video thumbnails (although it’s a good thing to use if you already have it). Here are two free online programs you can use instead:

Canva is an intuitive option with templates for Thumbnails, Channel Art, and other social media graphics. There are stock photos and graphics provided, but not all of them are free (paid options cost $1 each). Canva’s templates do tend to include paid resources, so you may want to use them mostly for their layouts or as inspiration and replace everything they provide with your own images.

Generally, using Canva is as easy as dragging and dropping things where you want them. You’ll be able to set the dimensions for your project so the image you export is a perfect size. Adding text and changing the size, font, or color is easy too.

Adobe Spark also has templates for channel art, and it’s also very easy to use. The first time you use it helpful notes will pop up to guide you through the process. Using templates is especially simple because you just click on the elements in the pre-made thumbnail and replace them with your own photos/text.

You can make changes to the colors in your Spark thumbnail easily by selecting a new color scheme or filter. You can even toggle through layouts easily. When you choose a new layout, Spark will rearrange all the pieces of your current thumbnail to align with the new layout so you can quickly see what it looks like instead of having to rebuild.

Click to check more YouTube thumbnail makers

Part 4: How to Make Thumbnails That Get Clicks (Without Clickbait!)

Here are the top 10 best practices for creating effective YouTube thumbnails:

#1. Show What Your Video Is About

Being mysterious and clickbaity can get you views, if you’re already big. For small YouTubers, it pays off to be clear about your video’s topic. You want people to click who want to watch the actual content of your video. Even if you manage to get some clicks by being mysterious, you’ll probably end up with low viewer retention because people are clicking away when they realize your video isn’t what they were looking for. That will make YouTube’s algorithm rank your video lower, and then even fewer people will find it.

If your video is a product review, show the product in the thumbnail and maybe even write ‘review’ on it. If your video is a makeup tutorial, show your face with the finished makeup and maybe even include pictures of the products you used. People want to know what they’re clicking on before they click.

#2. Use a Consistent Layout

As you grow, you’ll want people to be able to see one of your thumbnails and instantly know it’s yours. Building a recognizable brand is about consistency. Try to stick with one basic layout for all of your videos. You can still customize every individual thumbnail by using different facial expressions and different graphics, but try to use similar backgrounds, fonts, and general layouts (i.e. you to the right of the thumbnails, text to the left) over and over.

#3. Use Your Face

Why should people want to watch your videos? If the answer is ‘because I can teach them to create delicious food’ or ‘because they want to learn about the latest iPhone’ then your thumbnail should include that food or that iPhone.

If part of the reason people want to watch your videos is you – your personality and your sense of humor – then you should be in your thumbnail.

Viewers who are on YouTube because they like seeing a creator’s personality like to feel the presence of that personality in the video thumbnail, and eye contact naturally draws attention and clicks.

#4. Add Small Graphics

Adding small graphics, like emojis or hearts, to your thumbnail can help you stand out in a couple different ways. First, if they’re being compared to thumbnails that are just screenshots from the video, your thumbnails will look a lot more polished. Second, they’ll add a splash of color which can draw eyes to your video in a search where other thumbnails are not using those same colors.

#5. Your Text Should Be Huge

Your thumbnail will end up being a fraction of the size it is while you’re creating it in your thumbnail maker, and that means that any text you use will end up being shrunk down. You could probably type a six-word sentence in a size 18 font and have it look fine while you’re making your thumbnail, but after you upload it there’s no way people will be able to read it at a glance.

Aim for a huge font size, and 3 words or less (so your thumbnail doesn’t end up looking crowded).

#6. Check Out The Competition

Type your video’s title or topic into the search engine on YouTube and look at the thumbnails for the videos that come up. These are your competition. You want to make a thumbnail that is similar enough to what comes up that viewers know it’s on the same topic, but different enough that it stands out.

Generally, if most of the thumbnails have the same layout, you’ll want to mimic that layout. Where you can break from the crowd is in the colors, fonts, and graphics you use.

Part 5: Animated YouTube Thumbnails

Whether or not you upload a custom thumbnail to YouTube, YouTube’s A.I will choose what it thinks are the 3 juiciest seconds of your video (you cannot choose for yourself) and play them as a GIF-like animation when people mouseover your video thumbnails.

As of now, this only works in the Google Chrome desktop browser. Videos have to be at least 30 seconds long to get moving thumbnails.

Alright, now that you know everything about YouTube thumbnails, go make one! Tell us in the comments what you’re going to do to make your video thumbnails stand out.

Touch Up YouTube Videos with Effects & Elements in Filmora

As one of the most widely used video editing software in YouTube video editing, Filmora provides lots of templates and effects with an intuitive interface. Download the free trial version and get started now.

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Richard Bennett

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