YouTube Thumbnails

Your thumbnail is the first thing viewers see. A great thumbnail can dramatically increase your click-through rate. Canvora helps you create professional, eye-catching thumbnails.

Thumbnail Specifications

What Makes a Great Thumbnail?

1. Clear Subject

One main focal point that tells viewers what the video is about.

2. Bold Text

Large, readable text that communicates value:

• 3-5 words maximum
• High contrast with background
• Easy to read at small sizes

3. Emotional Expression

Faces with clear expressions perform well:

• Surprise
• Excitement
• Curiosity
• Reaction shots

4. Bright Colors

Colors that pop in the YouTube feed:

• High saturation
• Strong contrast
• Avoid YouTube's red (blends with UI)

5. Consistency

Maintain a recognizable style across your channel.

Generating Thumbnails

From Video Title

Enter your video title and key points:

Video: 5 Morning Habits That Changed My Life

Key points:
- Wake up at 5 AM
- Cold shower routine
- Journaling practice
- No phone first hour
- Exercise before breakfast

From Video Script

Paste your script or outline for AI to identify the most thumbnail-worthy moments.

From Existing Content

If you've written about the topic, import that content and generate a thumbnail.

Thumbnail Styles

Canvora offers several thumbnail approaches:

Text-Focused

Large text with supporting graphics. Best for:

• How-to videos
• Listicles
• Educational content

Face + Text

Combines facial expression with text. Best for:

• Vlogs
• Reaction videos
• Personal brand content

Visual Story

Image-heavy with minimal text. Best for:

• Travel videos
• Visual tutorials
• Cinematic content

Before/After

Split design showing transformation. Best for:

• Tutorial results
• Reviews
• Transformation content

Best Practices

Test at Small Sizes

Thumbnails appear small in:

• Search results
• Suggested videos
• Mobile feeds

Preview your thumbnail at 120 x 68 pixels to ensure it's still clear.

Avoid Clickbait

Thumbnails should accurately represent your content. Misleading thumbnails:

• Hurt watch time
• Damage trust
• May violate YouTube policies

Use Your Brand

Apply your Brand Kit for consistent channel identity:

• Brand colors
• Consistent fonts
• Logo placement

A/B Test

YouTube allows thumbnail testing. Create 2-3 versions and let data guide you.

Common Mistakes

Too Much Text

• Keep it to 3-5 words
• Let the image do the work
• Save details for the title

Low Contrast

• Ensure text is readable
• Use shadows or outlines
• Test on different backgrounds

Cluttered Design

• One clear focal point
• Remove unnecessary elements
• Embrace whitespace

Inconsistent Branding

• Use templates
• Maintain color schemes
• Keep fonts consistent

Editing Thumbnails

Don't like the first result? Use chat to refine:

• "Make the text bigger"
• "Add more contrast"
• "Use a blue background instead"
• "Make it more dramatic"

Related: Creating Social Media Posts | Prompt Best Practices