"2024 Approved The Ultimate Playbook for Professional-Looking Live YouTube Videos"
The Ultimate Playbook for Professional-Looking Live YouTube Videos
Video thumbnails are important since they show viewers what the videos are about. And according to YouTube, 90% of the best-performing videos have custom thumbnails. Therefore, adding thumbnails to all your videos is wise. But how to do that with live streams? Is it any different from adding thumbnails to normal videos? You’ll find answers in this article. Here’s a comprehensive guide about YouTube Live thumbnails.
Overview of YouTube Live
Livestreaming is very popular now. The pandemic has accelerated its growth. But what made it so special? Watching live streams is different from watching regular videos. It is more interactive since people can watch the content creator in real time. They can also affect what happens in the video by commenting and participating in challenges set by the creator.
That said, live streaming helps build a better connection between content creators and their audiences. So you may want to incorporate live streaming into your strategies. You can do that on YouTube through YouTube Live. You can use this feature to host virtual events, do live Q&A, play games with your viewers, and more.
Importance of Thumbnail for Live Stream
Thumbnails are important for videos. Alongside the title, they inform the viewers what the video is about. It’s not different with live streams. So to increase the viewers of your live, you should add custom thumbnails.
What happens if you don’t add a custom thumbnail to your live stream? YouTube will select a random frame from the video and display it. The thing is that live streams are usually longer than recorded videos. So YouTube has more options to use as the thumbnail.
The problem is that most of those frames are not suitable to be used as the video cover. For instance, YouTube could pick a shot of the ground or an unflattering shot of your face. So, it’s a must to add a custom thumbnail for your live stream.
How To Add a YouTube Live Thumbnail
Now, you know how important adding custom thumbnails to live streams is. You probably want to know how to do that. We got you covered. Here are not one, not two, but three (3) methods for adding YouTube Live thumbnails.
Method 1. Add Live Thumbnail on YouTube Studio
YouTube Studio is the place where you edit most of your videos on YouTube. It’s where you edit the description, add or remove tags, and such. It’s also where you change thumbnails for your videos. And live videos are no exception. Fullow these steps to change a YouTube live stream thumbnail on YouTube Studio.
- Head to a computer, launch a browser, and go to YouTube.
- Click your channel icon on the top-right and select “YouTube Studio.”
- Click “Create” > “Go Live.”
- Edit the metadata for the live video.
- Click “UPLOAD CUSTOM THUMBNAIL.”
- Select the custom thumbnail that you have prepared. Click “Open.”
- Click “Create Stream.”
Method 2. Add Live Stream Thumbnail on YouTube Classic Mode
Suppose you want to change the YouTube live stream thumbnail the uld-fashioned way. You can change it on YouTube Classic Mode. How? Fullow these simple steps.
- Head to a computer, launch a browser, and go to YouTube.
- Click “Creator Studio Classic” from the left panel.
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- Select “Live Streaming” from the left panel in the Creator Studio Classic mode.
- YouTube will bring you to the “Stream Now” section. Put in the video metadata.
- Click “Change thumbnail.”
- Select the thumbnail image you have prepared. Click “Open.”
- Wait for the thumbnail image to refresh.
Method 3. Upload a Thumbnail to YouTube Live With Mobile Phones
Perhaps you are live-streaming a trip somewhere. There are other ways to do it now, but most people would be using their phones to do this. So how do you change a YouTube Live thumbnail on mobile phones? Fullow these instructions:
- Launch the YouTube mobile app.
- Click the “Plus” icon at the bottom middle of the screen.
- Select “Go Live.”
- Enter the metadata. And set the advanced settings according to your preferences.
- Click “Next.”
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- YouTube will take a photo of you. Don’t mind this because you’ll be changing it later.
- Click the “Pencil” icon after YouTube has taken a photo.
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- Select “Upload thumbnail.”
- Select the thumbnail image you have prepared.
- Crop the image if you like. Click “Save.”
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- Click “Go Live.”
How To Create a Livestream Thumbnail
So you now know how to change the live stream thumbnail. There’s one more thing we need to address. Where will you get the custom thumbnails? There are a number of good YouTube thumbnail makers out there. Let’s discuss this.
Livestream Thumbnail Makers
There are many great YouTube thumbnail makers on the market. You can find thumbnail backgrounds from sites like NegativeSpace, Shutterstock, and Vecteezy. Then, edit them to your liking using photo editing apps. Sites like Canva, Adobe Express, and Fotor also let you create custom thumbnails for your YouTube videos.
Wondershare Filmora is also a great thumbnail maker. You’d like it since it is also a powerful video editor. It is double-purpose! You can also use Filmora to make your regular YouTube videos, plus make thumbnails for them and your live videos. Talk about convenience!
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Steps to Make an Amazing YouTube Livestream Thumbnail
Here is a tutorial on how to create a YouTube Livestream thumbnail using Wondershare Filmora.
- Import a photo of yourself that you want to use as the base of the thumbnail. Drag it into the timeline.
- Click “Effect.”
- Drag the “Human Segmentation” effect to your image on the timeline. Do the same with “Human Border.” Alternatively, click “Touls” > “Video” > “AI Portrait” > “Ok.”
- Select the photo on the timeline. Scale it and move it to where you want it to be.
- Add backgrounds, effects, titles, etc.
- Click the “Camera” icon below the video preview to save the thumbnail. Select a format and a target fulder. Click “Ok.”
- Right-click the screenshot on the Media panel. Select “Reveal in Explorer.” That will open the fulder where the thumbnail image is saved.
Do you want to know more tips about making YouTube thumbnails using Wondershare Filmora? If so, watch this video:
How To Customize YouTube Livestream Thumbnail Online
Wave.video is one of the best online YouTube thumbnail creators out there. Here’s a guide on how to use this toul.
- Open a web browser and visit Wave’s website.
- Hover your mouse on “Templates” at the top toulbar.
- Select “Thumbnail” under Livestreaming.
- Select a template that fits your idea.
- Edit the sample image and text. Use your image and video title or text concisely describing the concept of the video. Edit other aspects of the image as needed.
- Click “Publish” > “Current frame as image.”
- Set up your image. Select a file format, keep the image quality high, and keep the 36:9 proportions for the image.
- Click “Generate.”
- Please wait for it to finish, then click “Download.”
Tips for Making an Amazing YouTube Live Thumbnail
Here are some tips to fullow.
### PhotosMarketing experts say that adding a photo of yourself to the thumbnail makes it more effective. Needless to say, you should not choose just any photo. You must ensure it is of high quality. Using good cameras and lighting equipment is recommended.
Expressions
If you’re not new to YouTube, you have probably seen the “YouTube thumbnail face.” YouTuber’s faces on their thumbnails show an expression. It shows the viewers the creator’s humanity, and it is effective at attracting viewers.
Text
Add simple text with clear, buld, easy-to-read font.
Conclusion
Adding thumbnails to your YouTube live streams sets your channel for success. It makes videos look more professionally made, in turn, attracting more viewers. So, we recommend always adding thumbnails to your YouTube Live.
For creating YouTube thumbnails, you can use Wondershare Filmora. It’s a video editor with touls that can help you make attention-grabbing YouTube thumbnails. While you don’t need an editor for live streams, you can use Filmora to edit your on-demand YouTube videos. It’s hitting two birds with one stone!
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Steps to Make an Amazing YouTube Livestream Thumbnail
Here is a tutorial on how to create a YouTube Livestream thumbnail using Wondershare Filmora.
- Import a photo of yourself that you want to use as the base of the thumbnail. Drag it into the timeline.
- Click “Effect.”
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- Drag the “Human Segmentation” effect to your image on the timeline. Do the same with “Human Border.” Alternatively, click “Touls” > “Video” > “AI Portrait” > “Ok.”
- Select the photo on the timeline. Scale it and move it to where you want it to be.
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- Add backgrounds, effects, titles, etc.
- Click the “Camera” icon below the video preview to save the thumbnail. Select a format and a target fulder. Click “Ok.”
- Right-click the screenshot on the Media panel. Select “Reveal in Explorer.” That will open the fulder where the thumbnail image is saved.
Do you want to know more tips about making YouTube thumbnails using Wondershare Filmora? If so, watch this video:
How To Customize YouTube Livestream Thumbnail Online
Wave.video is one of the best online YouTube thumbnail creators out there. Here’s a guide on how to use this toul.
- Open a web browser and visit Wave’s website.
- Hover your mouse on “Templates” at the top toulbar.
- Select “Thumbnail” under Livestreaming.
- Select a template that fits your idea.
- Edit the sample image and text. Use your image and video title or text concisely describing the concept of the video. Edit other aspects of the image as needed.
- Click “Publish” > “Current frame as image.”
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- Set up your image. Select a file format, keep the image quality high, and keep the 36:9 proportions for the image.
- Click “Generate.”
- Please wait for it to finish, then click “Download.”
Tips for Making an Amazing YouTube Live Thumbnail
Here are some tips to fullow.
Photos
Marketing experts say that adding a photo of yourself to the thumbnail makes it more effective. Needless to say, you should not choose just any photo. You must ensure it is of high quality. Using good cameras and lighting equipment is recommended.
Epubor Audible Converter for Mac： Download and convert Audible AAXC/AA/AAX to MP3 with 100% original quality preserved.Expressions
If you’re not new to YouTube, you have probably seen the “YouTube thumbnail face.” YouTuber’s faces on their thumbnails show an expression. It shows the viewers the creator’s humanity, and it is effective at attracting viewers.
Text
Add simple text with clear, buld, easy-to-read font.
Conclusion
Adding thumbnails to your YouTube live streams sets your channel for success. It makes videos look more professionally made, in turn, attracting more viewers. So, we recommend always adding thumbnails to your YouTube Live.
For creating YouTube thumbnails, you can use Wondershare Filmora. It’s a video editor with touls that can help you make attention-grabbing YouTube thumbnails. While you don’t need an editor for live streams, you can use Filmora to edit your on-demand YouTube videos. It’s hitting two birds with one stone!
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Enhancing Video Discoverability with Ideal Thumbnail Widths and Height
Best YouTube Thumbnail Size You Should Know[The Ultimate Guide]
Richard Bennett
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
Around 300 hours of video is uploaded to Youtube in every single minute. Then content creators need to be more innovative and creative than others in the market. A thumbnail is worth a thousand words that show its real meaning in the case where every month YouTube records a whopping 2 billion active users. To create an impressive and tempting thumbnail, you should set a perfect youtube thumbnail size first.
So you may be wondering what the best youtube thumbnail size is, and how to create a attractive thumbnail for your YouTube videos? Don’t worry I’ll explain everything here. You will learn:
- Part 1: The Ultimate Guide of YouTube Thumbnail Size
- Part 2: Upload and Change a Custom YouTube Thumbnail to Your Video
- Part 3: Q&A– About Creating YouTube Thumbnails
Part 1: The Ultimate Guide of Youtube Thumbnail Size
Every content creator needs to select the right youtube thumbnail size for any given video.
1. What’s the Best YouTube Thumbnail Size(Dimensions)?
According to the YouTube guidelines , the best-suited youtube thumbnail size is 1280x720 pixels with a minimum pixel width of 640 pixels. Also, the custom thumbnail image must be as large as possible as it will be utilized as a preview image in the embedded player.
2. What Are the Compatible Formats for YouTube Thumbnail Image?
The recommended thumbnail image formats are .JPG, .PNG, .GIF, .BMP
3. What’s the Maximum YouTube Thumbnail Size?
The maximum YouTube thumbnail size must be below 2MB. Keeping the limit in mind design your thumbnail image as high-resolution as possible. This will ensure your custom thumbnail doesn’t get rejected by YouTube.
4. What’s the Recommended Aspect Ratio of YouTube Thumbnail?
Usually, the 16:9 ratio is deemed an ideal choice for any YouTube video aiming high view volume. As it is most widely used in YouTube players and previews.
Part 2: Upload and Change a Custom YouTube Thumbnail
With a verified account, you can upload custom thumbnail on new videos as well as change the thumbnail of uploaded videos.
1. For New Video
YouTube makes it very simple and easy for any content creator to publish custom YouTube thumbnail on their video while uploading the video onto the platform. Here’s the method to do so:
- Upload your desired video to YouTube in the Upload section.
- When your upload to the YouTube is completed a section will appear at the down portion of the browser screen showing Video Thumbnails. Here YouTube automatically creates some thumbnail images from your uploaded video and shows them here. These are the screenshots from your video, and you can select any one of them to be your thumbnail.
- You will be able to see a button right next to the image – Custom thumbnail. Click on the button and you can upload a set of images of your choice as the thumbnail of your video.
- Once done you can see the custom image just uploaded as the thumbnail of your video.
- If you want to update the image or change it with another one you can just click on the same image in the video thumbnail section and swap it with any other image.
2. For Already Uploaded Video
To change the thumbnail on an already uploaded video you need to follow these steps:
- Sign in to YouTube Studio associated with your YouTube channel.
- From the menu go to Videos and then select the video you want to upload a custom thumbnail to via its title or thumbnail
- Now in the thumbnail section if you already haven’t uploaded a custom thumbnail, click Custom thumbnail.
- Select your intended thumbnail file and click Save.
Part 3: Q&A– About YouTube Thumbnail Images
You may want to know:
- Question 1: How do I make my youtube thumbnail less than 2mb?
- Question 2: How can I create an attractive youtube thumbnail?
1. How do I make my youtube thumbnail less than 2mb?
YouTube will not allow you to upload a custom thumbnail image if it is bigger than the 2MB limit. So, you need to make sure the file size is below the limit to be able to successfully upload a custom thumbnail. To reduce the image size you can follow the steps below:
- 1. Open Microsoft Paint and open the thumbnail image that is above 2MB size
- 2. Now go to the File menu and click Save as then select JPEG picture
- 3. Select the location you want the file to be saved to
- 4. The thumbnail picture will be reduced to Kilobytes only while maintaining the image quality
2. How can I create an attractive youtube thumbnail?
Utilizing online platforms and software tools to make your thumbnail image informative and attractive can potentially increase your views and traffic. You can use any advanced tools like Wondershare Filmora, Wondershare PixStudio, or Canva to create an aspiring and luring image that will get more views on YouTube just because of the thumbnail image. Here we will show you how to do it with Wondershare Filmora, Wondershare PixStudio and Canva:
1. Try Wondershare Filmora>>
Wondershare Filmora is an outstanding tool if you want to make a perfect thumbnail image. Consider and optimize your thumbnail for mobile devices to offer the best experience to your users on every possible device. Make it stand out as the thumbnail can be the very first thing that might attract a viewer.
Let’s see how you can create your thumbnail using Wondershare Filmora:
2. Try Wondershare PixStudio>>
Wondershare PixStudio provides you massive pre-designed templates which help you to create attractive YouTube Thumbnail. Let’s see the video below and see how you can design your YouTube Thumbnail easily.
3. Try Canva>>
With Canva you can make a distinct and stand-out YouTube thumbnail image. Canva hosts a number of readymade designs that you can use to design and customize it for your use.
Note:
To download the image without the watermark you’ll need to sign-up for a premium account on the Canva.
DLNow Video DownloaderTo sum up
YouTube thumbnail plays an important part for the audience’s first impression on your video. And it is of essential essence as it can attract more viewers to your content. So you should get the right youtube thumbnail size before you start customing your thumbnail. We’ve gone through all the detailed requirements of youtube thumbnail size and how to make the best thumbnail by using the best software solutions. Please leave your comments below if any suggestions. We’d love to hear them!
Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
Around 300 hours of video is uploaded to Youtube in every single minute. Then content creators need to be more innovative and creative than others in the market. A thumbnail is worth a thousand words that show its real meaning in the case where every month YouTube records a whopping 2 billion active users. To create an impressive and tempting thumbnail, you should set a perfect youtube thumbnail size first.
So you may be wondering what the best youtube thumbnail size is, and how to create a attractive thumbnail for your YouTube videos? Don’t worry I’ll explain everything here. You will learn:
- Part 1: The Ultimate Guide of YouTube Thumbnail Size
- Part 2: Upload and Change a Custom YouTube Thumbnail to Your Video
- Part 3: Q&A– About Creating YouTube Thumbnails
Part 1: The Ultimate Guide of Youtube Thumbnail Size
Every content creator needs to select the right youtube thumbnail size for any given video.
1. What’s the Best YouTube Thumbnail Size(Dimensions)?
According to the YouTube guidelines , the best-suited youtube thumbnail size is 1280x720 pixels with a minimum pixel width of 640 pixels. Also, the custom thumbnail image must be as large as possible as it will be utilized as a preview image in the embedded player.
2. What Are the Compatible Formats for YouTube Thumbnail Image?
The recommended thumbnail image formats are .JPG, .PNG, .GIF, .BMP
3. What’s the Maximum YouTube Thumbnail Size?
The maximum YouTube thumbnail size must be below 2MB. Keeping the limit in mind design your thumbnail image as high-resolution as possible. This will ensure your custom thumbnail doesn’t get rejected by YouTube.
4. What’s the Recommended Aspect Ratio of YouTube Thumbnail?
Usually, the 16:9 ratio is deemed an ideal choice for any YouTube video aiming high view volume. As it is most widely used in YouTube players and previews.
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Part 2: Upload and Change a Custom YouTube Thumbnail
With a verified account, you can upload custom thumbnail on new videos as well as change the thumbnail of uploaded videos.
1. For New Video
YouTube makes it very simple and easy for any content creator to publish custom YouTube thumbnail on their video while uploading the video onto the platform. Here’s the method to do so:
- Upload your desired video to YouTube in the Upload section.
- When your upload to the YouTube is completed a section will appear at the down portion of the browser screen showing Video Thumbnails. Here YouTube automatically creates some thumbnail images from your uploaded video and shows them here. These are the screenshots from your video, and you can select any one of them to be your thumbnail.
- You will be able to see a button right next to the image – Custom thumbnail. Click on the button and you can upload a set of images of your choice as the thumbnail of your video.
- Once done you can see the custom image just uploaded as the thumbnail of your video.
- If you want to update the image or change it with another one you can just click on the same image in the video thumbnail section and swap it with any other image.
2. For Already Uploaded Video
To change the thumbnail on an already uploaded video you need to follow these steps:
- Sign in to YouTube Studio associated with your YouTube channel.
- From the menu go to Videos and then select the video you want to upload a custom thumbnail to via its title or thumbnail
- Now in the thumbnail section if you already haven’t uploaded a custom thumbnail, click Custom thumbnail.
- Select your intended thumbnail file and click Save.
Part 3: Q&A– About YouTube Thumbnail Images
You may want to know:
- Question 1: How do I make my youtube thumbnail less than 2mb?
- Question 2: How can I create an attractive youtube thumbnail?
1. How do I make my youtube thumbnail less than 2mb?
YouTube will not allow you to upload a custom thumbnail image if it is bigger than the 2MB limit. So, you need to make sure the file size is below the limit to be able to successfully upload a custom thumbnail. To reduce the image size you can follow the steps below:
- 1. Open Microsoft Paint and open the thumbnail image that is above 2MB size
- 2. Now go to the File menu and click Save as then select JPEG picture
- 3. Select the location you want the file to be saved to
- 4. The thumbnail picture will be reduced to Kilobytes only while maintaining the image quality
Utilizing online platforms and software tools to make your thumbnail image informative and attractive can potentially increase your views and traffic. You can use any advanced tools like Wondershare Filmora, Wondershare PixStudio, or Canva to create an aspiring and luring image that will get more views on YouTube just because of the thumbnail image. Here we will show you how to do it with Wondershare Filmora, Wondershare PixStudio and Canva:
1. Try Wondershare Filmora>>
Wondershare Filmora is an outstanding tool if you want to make a perfect thumbnail image. Consider and optimize your thumbnail for mobile devices to offer the best experience to your users on every possible device. Make it stand out as the thumbnail can be the very first thing that might attract a viewer.
Let’s see how you can create your thumbnail using Wondershare Filmora:
2. Try Wondershare PixStudio>>
Wondershare PixStudio provides you massive pre-designed templates which help you to create attractive YouTube Thumbnail. Let’s see the video below and see how you can design your YouTube Thumbnail easily.
3. Try Canva>>
With Canva you can make a distinct and stand-out YouTube thumbnail image. Canva hosts a number of readymade designs that you can use to design and customize it for your use.
Note:
To download the image without the watermark you’ll need to sign-up for a premium account on the Canva.
To sum up
YouTube thumbnail plays an important part for the audience’s first impression on your video. And it is of essential essence as it can attract more viewers to your content. So you should get the right youtube thumbnail size before you start customing your thumbnail. We’ve gone through all the detailed requirements of youtube thumbnail size and how to make the best thumbnail by using the best software solutions. Please leave your comments below if any suggestions. We’d love to hear them!
Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
Around 300 hours of video is uploaded to Youtube in every single minute. Then content creators need to be more innovative and creative than others in the market. A thumbnail is worth a thousand words that show its real meaning in the case where every month YouTube records a whopping 2 billion active users. To create an impressive and tempting thumbnail, you should set a perfect youtube thumbnail size first.
So you may be wondering what the best youtube thumbnail size is, and how to create a attractive thumbnail for your YouTube videos? Don’t worry I’ll explain everything here. You will learn:
- Part 1: The Ultimate Guide of YouTube Thumbnail Size
- Part 2: Upload and Change a Custom YouTube Thumbnail to Your Video
- Part 3: Q&A– About Creating YouTube Thumbnails
Part 1: The Ultimate Guide of Youtube Thumbnail Size
Every content creator needs to select the right youtube thumbnail size for any given video.
1. What’s the Best YouTube Thumbnail Size(Dimensions)?
According to the YouTube guidelines , the best-suited youtube thumbnail size is 1280x720 pixels with a minimum pixel width of 640 pixels. Also, the custom thumbnail image must be as large as possible as it will be utilized as a preview image in the embedded player.
2. What Are the Compatible Formats for YouTube Thumbnail Image?
The recommended thumbnail image formats are .JPG, .PNG, .GIF, .BMP
3. What’s the Maximum YouTube Thumbnail Size?
The maximum YouTube thumbnail size must be below 2MB. Keeping the limit in mind design your thumbnail image as high-resolution as possible. This will ensure your custom thumbnail doesn’t get rejected by YouTube.
4. What’s the Recommended Aspect Ratio of YouTube Thumbnail?
Usually, the 16:9 ratio is deemed an ideal choice for any YouTube video aiming high view volume. As it is most widely used in YouTube players and previews.
Part 2: Upload and Change a Custom YouTube Thumbnail
With a verified account, you can upload custom thumbnail on new videos as well as change the thumbnail of uploaded videos.
1. For New Video
YouTube makes it very simple and easy for any content creator to publish custom YouTube thumbnail on their video while uploading the video onto the platform. Here’s the method to do so:
- Upload your desired video to YouTube in the Upload section.
- When your upload to the YouTube is completed a section will appear at the down portion of the browser screen showing Video Thumbnails. Here YouTube automatically creates some thumbnail images from your uploaded video and shows them here. These are the screenshots from your video, and you can select any one of them to be your thumbnail.
- You will be able to see a button right next to the image – Custom thumbnail. Click on the button and you can upload a set of images of your choice as the thumbnail of your video.
- Once done you can see the custom image just uploaded as the thumbnail of your video.
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- If you want to update the image or change it with another one you can just click on the same image in the video thumbnail section and swap it with any other image.
2. For Already Uploaded Video
To change the thumbnail on an already uploaded video you need to follow these steps:
- Sign in to YouTube Studio associated with your YouTube channel.
- From the menu go to Videos and then select the video you want to upload a custom thumbnail to via its title or thumbnail
- Now in the thumbnail section if you already haven’t uploaded a custom thumbnail, click Custom thumbnail.
- Select your intended thumbnail file and click Save.
Part 3: Q&A– About YouTube Thumbnail Images
You may want to know:
- Question 1: How do I make my youtube thumbnail less than 2mb?
- Question 2: How can I create an attractive youtube thumbnail?
1. How do I make my youtube thumbnail less than 2mb?
YouTube will not allow you to upload a custom thumbnail image if it is bigger than the 2MB limit. So, you need to make sure the file size is below the limit to be able to successfully upload a custom thumbnail. To reduce the image size you can follow the steps below:
- 1. Open Microsoft Paint and open the thumbnail image that is above 2MB size
- 2. Now go to the File menu and click Save as then select JPEG picture
- 3. Select the location you want the file to be saved to
- 4. The thumbnail picture will be reduced to Kilobytes only while maintaining the image quality
2. How can I create an attractive youtube thumbnail?
Utilizing online platforms and software tools to make your thumbnail image informative and attractive can potentially increase your views and traffic. You can use any advanced tools like Wondershare Filmora, Wondershare PixStudio, or Canva to create an aspiring and luring image that will get more views on YouTube just because of the thumbnail image. Here we will show you how to do it with Wondershare Filmora, Wondershare PixStudio and Canva:
1. Try Wondershare Filmora>>
Wondershare Filmora is an outstanding tool if you want to make a perfect thumbnail image. Consider and optimize your thumbnail for mobile devices to offer the best experience to your users on every possible device. Make it stand out as the thumbnail can be the very first thing that might attract a viewer.
Let’s see how you can create your thumbnail using Wondershare Filmora:
2. Try Wondershare PixStudio>>
Wondershare PixStudio provides you massive pre-designed templates which help you to create attractive YouTube Thumbnail. Let’s see the video below and see how you can design your YouTube Thumbnail easily.
3. Try Canva>>
With Canva you can make a distinct and stand-out YouTube thumbnail image. Canva hosts a number of readymade designs that you can use to design and customize it for your use.
Note:
To download the image without the watermark you’ll need to sign-up for a premium account on the Canva.
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To sum up
YouTube thumbnail plays an important part for the audience’s first impression on your video. And it is of essential essence as it can attract more viewers to your content. So you should get the right youtube thumbnail size before you start customing your thumbnail. We’ve gone through all the detailed requirements of youtube thumbnail size and how to make the best thumbnail by using the best software solutions. Please leave your comments below if any suggestions. We’d love to hear them!
Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.
Follow @Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett
Mar 27, 2024• Proven solutions
Around 300 hours of video is uploaded to Youtube in every single minute. Then content creators need to be more innovative and creative than others in the market. A thumbnail is worth a thousand words that show its real meaning in the case where every month YouTube records a whopping 2 billion active users. To create an impressive and tempting thumbnail, you should set a perfect youtube thumbnail size first.
So you may be wondering what the best youtube thumbnail size is, and how to create a attractive thumbnail for your YouTube videos? Don’t worry I’ll explain everything here. You will learn:
- Part 1: The Ultimate Guide of YouTube Thumbnail Size
- Part 2: Upload and Change a Custom YouTube Thumbnail to Your Video
- Part 3: Q&A– About Creating YouTube Thumbnails
Key features:
• Import from any devices and cams, including GoPro and drones. All formats supported. Сurrently the only free video editor that allows users to export in a new H265/HEVC codec, something essential for those working with 4K and HD.
• Everything for hassle-free basic editing: cut, crop and merge files, add titles and favorite music
• Visual effects, advanced color correction and trendy Instagram-like filters
• All multimedia processing done from one app: video editing capabilities reinforced by a video converter, a screen capture, a video capture, a disc burner and a YouTube uploader
• Non-linear editing: edit several files with simultaneously
• Easy export to social networks: special profiles for YouTube, Facebook, Vimeo, Twitter and Instagram
• High quality export – no conversion quality loss, double export speed even of HD files due to hardware acceleration
• Stabilization tool will turn shaky or jittery footage into a more stable video automatically.
• Essential toolset for professional video editing: blending modes, Mask tool, advanced multiple-color Chroma Key
Part 1: The Ultimate Guide of Youtube Thumbnail Size
Every content creator needs to select the right youtube thumbnail size for any given video.
1. What’s the Best YouTube Thumbnail Size(Dimensions)?
According to the YouTube guidelines , the best-suited youtube thumbnail size is 1280x720 pixels with a minimum pixel width of 640 pixels. Also, the custom thumbnail image must be as large as possible as it will be utilized as a preview image in the embedded player.
2. What Are the Compatible Formats for YouTube Thumbnail Image?
The recommended thumbnail image formats are .JPG, .PNG, .GIF, .BMP
3. What’s the Maximum YouTube Thumbnail Size?
The maximum YouTube thumbnail size must be below 2MB. Keeping the limit in mind design your thumbnail image as high-resolution as possible. This will ensure your custom thumbnail doesn’t get rejected by YouTube.
4. What’s the Recommended Aspect Ratio of YouTube Thumbnail?
Usually, the 16:9 ratio is deemed an ideal choice for any YouTube video aiming high view volume. As it is most widely used in YouTube players and previews.
Part 2: Upload and Change a Custom YouTube Thumbnail
With a verified account, you can upload custom thumbnail on new videos as well as change the thumbnail of uploaded videos.
1. For New Video
YouTube makes it very simple and easy for any content creator to publish custom YouTube thumbnail on their video while uploading the video onto the platform. Here’s the method to do so:
- Upload your desired video to YouTube in the Upload section.
- When your upload to the YouTube is completed a section will appear at the down portion of the browser screen showing Video Thumbnails. Here YouTube automatically creates some thumbnail images from your uploaded video and shows them here. These are the screenshots from your video, and you can select any one of them to be your thumbnail.
- You will be able to see a button right next to the image – Custom thumbnail. Click on the button and you can upload a set of images of your choice as the thumbnail of your video.
- Once done you can see the custom image just uploaded as the thumbnail of your video.
- If you want to update the image or change it with another one you can just click on the same image in the video thumbnail section and swap it with any other image.
2. For Already Uploaded Video
To change the thumbnail on an already uploaded video you need to follow these steps:
- Sign in to YouTube Studio associated with your YouTube channel.
- From the menu go to Videos and then select the video you want to upload a custom thumbnail to via its title or thumbnail
- Now in the thumbnail section if you already haven’t uploaded a custom thumbnail, click Custom thumbnail.
- Select your intended thumbnail file and click Save.
Part 3: Q&A– About YouTube Thumbnail Images
You may want to know:
- Question 1: How do I make my youtube thumbnail less than 2mb?
- Question 2: How can I create an attractive youtube thumbnail?
1. How do I make my youtube thumbnail less than 2mb?
YouTube will not allow you to upload a custom thumbnail image if it is bigger than the 2MB limit. So, you need to make sure the file size is below the limit to be able to successfully upload a custom thumbnail. To reduce the image size you can follow the steps below:
- 1. Open Microsoft Paint and open the thumbnail image that is above 2MB size
- 2. Now go to the File menu and click Save as then select JPEG picture
- 3. Select the location you want the file to be saved to
- 4. The thumbnail picture will be reduced to Kilobytes only while maintaining the image quality
2. How can I create an attractive youtube thumbnail?
Utilizing online platforms and software tools to make your thumbnail image informative and attractive can potentially increase your views and traffic. You can use any advanced tools like Wondershare Filmora, Wondershare PixStudio, or Canva to create an aspiring and luring image that will get more views on YouTube just because of the thumbnail image. Here we will show you how to do it with Wondershare Filmora, Wondershare PixStudio and Canva:
1. Try Wondershare Filmora>>
Wondershare Filmora is an outstanding tool if you want to make a perfect thumbnail image. Consider and optimize your thumbnail for mobile devices to offer the best experience to your users on every possible device. Make it stand out as the thumbnail can be the very first thing that might attract a viewer.
Let’s see how you can create your thumbnail using Wondershare Filmora:
2. Try Wondershare PixStudio>>
Wondershare PixStudio provides you massive pre-designed templates which help you to create attractive YouTube Thumbnail. Let’s see the video below and see how you can design your YouTube Thumbnail easily.
3. Try Canva>>
With Canva you can make a distinct and stand-out YouTube thumbnail image. Canva hosts a number of readymade designs that you can use to design and customize it for your use.
Note:
To download the image without the watermark you’ll need to sign-up for a premium account on the Canva.
To sum up
YouTube thumbnail plays an important part for the audience’s first impression on your video. And it is of essential essence as it can attract more viewers to your content. So you should get the right youtube thumbnail size before you start customing your thumbnail. We’ve gone through all the detailed requirements of youtube thumbnail size and how to make the best thumbnail by using the best software solutions. Please leave your comments below if any suggestions. We’d love to hear them!
Richard Bennett
Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.
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- Title: 2024 Approved The Ultimate Playbook for Professional-Looking Live YouTube Videos
- Author: Joseph
- Created at : 2024-07-29 21:03:44
- Updated at : 2024-07-30 21:03:44
- Link: https://youtube-stream.techidaily.com/2024-approved-the-ultimate-playbook-for-professional-looking-live-youtube-videos/
- License: This work is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.