Look at this example:Īs you might have noticed, many YouTubers use the sticker effect in their thumbnails. Some color combinations are just harder to see that others. Whatever background style you pick, make sure to make the foreground and text stand out. This has worked well for many channels on youtube. If you have time, you can even illustrate a youtube thumbnail. Some people use the original background from the video, others use an image, and others use a solid color. There are many different backgrounds you can use for a thumbnail. On your computer, simply go through the frames in that section and save a frame you think is best. Try some different poses, so you have plenty of material to work with later. When you are done shooting a video, keep recording as you pose for a headshot. It’s an effective method that raises curiosity in a potential viewer. You will see many YouTubers making funny expressions or pointing towards text in the thumbnail. Just go to YouTubes trending, and you will see that most thumbnails have some very animated facial expressions in them.
We are wired to recognize human faces when we see one. Use an Expressive HeadshotĪ human face in the thumbnail can directly catch the eye of a potential viewer. When framing a thumbnail, try to use the “rule of thirds” to create a more visually appealing image. Placing your subjects upon the grid lines or where they intersect creates a more esthetic image. Most cameras have a composition grid that appears on the LCD screen that divides the image into 3×3 blocks.