How to Make Thumbnails for YouTube Videos on Canva

About this video

This tutorial shows how to make a YouTube thumbnail for free in Canva. Go to canva.com, create a free account or log in, click Create a Design, and search for YouTube thumbnail. The blank design is already in the exact dimensions required by YouTube, 1280 by 720, and Canva suggests templates that can be browsed or searched by keyword such as cooking. Templates or elements marked with a crown require a paid subscription, but many free options exist. He customizes a gaming template: click text to change the font, font size, and colors; use the three dots and paintbrush to apply a font style to other text; add a text box from the Text panel; delete unwanted elements and drag items to reposition them. To change imagery, use Elements to search for graphics, photos, and videos — noting videos will not work when downloading a thumbnail — and filter by color or by free versus Pro. Drag a chosen element onto the page, or drag a photo into the photo frame or background. Own images can be added via Uploads and dragged in the same way. Edits shown include adding a border to the photo frame, adjusting its color to blend with the background, and making final color tweaks. He notes the trend of removing the background from a photo of yourself so it blends into the thumbnail is available in Canva but requires a premium subscription. When finished, click the Share up-arrow, choose Download, and download as PNG before uploading it to YouTube.

Key takeaways

• Start from Canva’s YouTube thumbnail design so the canvas is automatically 1280 by 720
• Templates and elements with a crown need a paid subscription; filter for free graphics and photos to stay free
• Edit text by changing font, size, and color, and copy a style to other text with the three-dots paintbrush option
• Replace images by dragging Elements or your own Uploads into the photo frame or background, then add borders and color adjustments
• Export via Share > Download as PNG; removing a photo background in Canva requires a premium subscription

Episode details: published October 23, 2024 · 5:30 long. Summary written by Self Growth Videos from the episode itself. Business results and any income figures mentioned are Kevin Stratvert’s own claims, shared for education — they are not typical or guaranteed.

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