YBGuy
Yellow Backpack Guy
I missed your post here earlier. I like Canva, too.
How to create YouTube thumbnails
- Thread starter LandyVlad
- Start date
YBGuy
Yellow Backpack Guy
Absolutely! I follow your same rule for thumbnails Scooterwuf. Thumbnails should include elements or actual frames from the video. I don't like click bait because even though you may get a lot of views, your watch time will suffer. Click bait will probably earn you a lot of hate comments too. Good post.
YBGuy
Yellow Backpack Guy
Yes, Canva is nice!
SweetTripl
Sweet Triple
Creating thumbnails hasn't really been on my agenda until now. Going to have a think about this.....following to see what others feel works best, then will use the hive mind to help me create something another time....Spent far too long editing this week already
Drakhen99
The Forrest Gump of Motovloggers
For my vlogs, it's usually a still from the video, outlined, with some descriptive text with an outline color so it pops. I've been toying with beautifying my TNs, with help from @Dewey316.
Most of my unboxing and other type videos do not have an outline around them, and are beauty shots of the time in most cases.
I use GIMP for my TNs and have a process now, so I can whip them up pretty quick. If I look at the stats a week after posting a vid and the TN isn't doing well, I'll redo it.
-John
Most of my unboxing and other type videos do not have an outline around them, and are beauty shots of the time in most cases.
I use GIMP for my TNs and have a process now, so I can whip them up pretty quick. If I look at the stats a week after posting a vid and the TN isn't doing well, I'll redo it.
-John
WaltInPA
Wannabie Member
I need to make more of an effort to learn my way around GIMP. It just feels clunky and hesitates a lot on my Mac (which is odd because Resolve is much more system intense and that runs very well)
Hippo-Drones
Pleb
I use MS Paint and The GIMP to make my TNs, I find some bits easier on MS Paint, and then other more technical bits on the GIMP
Dewey316
Dewey|Rides
I also use photoshop. But it is an extra cost. GIMP is very powerful for a free software.
Drakhen99
The Forrest Gump of Motovloggers
Honestly, I used some tutorials to figure out what I wanted to do in GIMP several months ago, and have pretty much been doing just that since then. I used to mix in Paint 3D to do certain things, but I've found that taking a screen shot of my video gives me 1920x1280, which is a great size for thumbnails, both on YT and my blog site.
I've been tinkering with the idea of creating a how-to video on using GIMP to do YT thumbnails. Once you know the steps and have done it a few times, it's quite easy.
Its weird though, that it stutters on your Mac. I have long suspected that free software isn't as optimized as paid software, maybe this is the case? It runs fine on my Windows 10 machine.
-John
diega666
Wannabie Member
Keeping a personal style in your thumbnails is a key. When it's about a product review, most of the time, I try to take a photo of the product or subject at my workshop table, so people will recognize my videos easily. And then Snapseed.
I don't like the fancy "shouty" style, not to mention those drama queens, hanging their heads in sorrow with phrases like "Van life is so hard", "Here is the worst ramen ever", "I tried play God but I failed!"...
BTW, never spit against the wind.
I don't like the fancy "shouty" style, not to mention those drama queens, hanging their heads in sorrow with phrases like "Van life is so hard", "Here is the worst ramen ever", "I tried play God but I failed!"...
BTW, never spit against the wind.
MIDLIFEWAB
Wannabie Member
To be honest. I look at the thumbnail more than the title. If its interesting I will watch till it bores me. I hate to say it, i have got click baited alot and wasted hours this way but the channels did this to create traction and it worked. I am currently working my thumbnails to fit my narrative ,but not trick people like i have experienced.
YBGuy
Yellow Backpack Guy
Sometimes I like to use big words on my thumbnails though because they are easier to read on cellphones.
YBGuy
Yellow Backpack Guy
My thought, exactly!
LandyVlad
King of Mycenae
I have an idea for an awesome click bait video - will just be a short video with a humorous intent.
Just another thing I need to get around to....
Drakhen99
The Forrest Gump of Motovloggers
Be careful though... I tried that on a recent video and got enough backlash that I changed it. Of course I went whole hog with the thumbnail "Someone stole my bike!" and did a security cam intro of my bike being "stolen" ... did not go over well with viewers.
After the backlash, I added "Just Kiddin'" to the thumbnail so it was plainly clear that my bike wasn't stolen. I thought I was *so* funny LOL.
-John
YBGuy
Yellow Backpack Guy
LOL, when was this? I never saw this. You should just keep it unlisted so we can decide for ourselves, lol. Sounds like something that just needs a disclaimer in the description box.Be careful though... I tried that on a recent video and got enough backlash that I changed it. Of course I went whole hog with the thumbnail "Someone stole my bike!" and did a security cam intro of my bike being "stolen" ... did not go over well with viewers.
After the backlash, I added "Just Kiddin'" to the thumbnail so it was plainly clear that my bike wasn't stolen. I thought I was *so* funny LOL.
-John
