Getting Started With Thumbnails: How to Make the Best Thumbnails for YouTube

If you want to watch the full presentation, you can check it out here: Watch on YouTube

Welcome to the First Cap Create Event

Thank you so much to everyone who came along to this event! Whether you are interested in making videos online or just being creative in general, this is exactly the kind of space we wanted to build. This was the very first Cap Create event and I was super excited to host it. Today we covered how I have made thumbnails over my time on YouTube, including tips and tricks as well as the programs I have used along the way. Before we get into it, I also want to say a massive thanks to Cored 23 who did a lot of the terrain work for the event space, and to N from KS who helped get screen sharing working inside Rec Room — without both of them this event would not have come together the way it did.

The Programs I Use to Make Thumbnails

Over my time on YouTube I have used three main programs to make thumbnails: PowerPoint, Keynote, and Canva. Each of them has their own strengths and I want to walk you through all three so you can find what works best for you.

PowerPoint and Keynote

If you are on a Windows computer, PowerPoint is an excellent free option for making thumbnails. If you are on a Mac, Keynote is absolutely the way to go — I actually spent around four years using Keynote before I made the switch to Canva, and it served me really well during that time. Both programs are completely free and incredibly easy to use. One of the things I love about using Keynote or PowerPoint for thumbnails is that you can use each slide as a different iteration of your thumbnail. So if you want to try a different font or a different layout, you can just duplicate the slide and make your changes without losing your original. It is a really simple and effective workflow, especially if you do not have access to other tools or a constant internet connection.

Canva

Canva is honestly the most amazing free tool I have found for making thumbnails right now. I genuinely wish I had it earlier because it is an absolute game changer. It is free to use, although there is a paid tier available if you want to unlock even more features, and I would definitely recommend upgrading if you are looking to expand your creative toolkit. Canva gives you access to a massive suite of tools including free media assets, AI-powered background removal, and a huge library of YouTube thumbnail templates that you can customise to suit your content. The entire presentation from this event was actually made in Canva too, which goes to show just how versatile it is. You can access Canva through your web browser, through the app on your iPad or tablet, or on your desktop — it is truly available everywhere. To get started with thumbnails in Canva, simply create a free account, head to the search bar, and search for YouTube thumbnails. From there you will have access to a full library of templates that you can customise with your own images, text, and branding.

What Actually Makes a Good Thumbnail

Because I have spent so much time on YouTube, I have collected a lot of data on what works and what does not. Here are the key areas I have found make the biggest difference when it comes to creating thumbnails that actually get clicks.

Simplicity

One of the most important things I have learned is that simplicity is absolutely key. If your thumbnail has too much going on and the message is unclear, people simply will not click on it. I actually have a real example of this from my own channel. One of my videos was underperforming and the thumbnail had a busy background with leaves and wood, plus a shield and an arrow. While it was possible to understand that the video was about making a custom shield, the complexity of the image meant a lot of people did not actually grasp what the video was offering. As a result, the average watch time was only 24.8%, which is incredibly low. When I simplified the thumbnail by removing the distracting background and cleaning up the layout, the watch time increased significantly. The final iteration removed the text and background entirely, keeping only the shields, and the watch time jumped all the way up to 45.6%. That single change made an enormous difference, and it all came down to simplicity. If you can clearly convey what your video is about without overwhelming the viewer, you will get more clicks and people will stick around longer.

Colour

Colour plays a really significant role in how your thumbnails perform. I have experimented with a lot of different colour combinations over the years and have found that certain colours work better depending on the type of content you are making. For my tutorials I tend to use a lot of blue because it feels calm and genuine, which matches the style of my videos. If the video is more high energy or exciting I lean towards yellows and bright colours. Orange is a great colour to use because it is bright and stands out in search results, making your thumbnail much more eye-catching. Colour also communicates emotion, so if you are making a critical or negative video you might lean towards red, while something celebratory or fun might suit purple or pink. Being intentional about colour is a simple but powerful way to make your thumbnails more engaging.

Text

Text can be a really powerful element in a thumbnail, but it needs to be used carefully. I had a video where the thumbnail showed an in-game item that most people simply would not recognise unless they were already familiar with it. Because there was no text to explain what they were looking at, almost nobody clicked on the video. When I updated the thumbnail to include the words “coloured text,” which was exactly what people were searching for, the video took off completely. The important thing to keep in mind is that you cannot assume your audience already knows what you are trying to teach them. If the item or concept in your thumbnail is not immediately recognisable, adding clear and simple text can make a huge difference. It is also worth noting that text can sometimes work against you if your audience speaks a variety of languages, so finding the right balance is important.

Continuity Between Your Thumbnail and Title

This is one of the most important aspects of thumbnails and it is something that a lot of creators overlook. Continuity refers to how well your thumbnail and your video title work together. If your thumbnail and title are not aligned, nothing is going to work no matter how good either one is individually. For example, with one of my Rec Room tutorials the title included the words “how to create with Maker Pen.” The thumbnail visually showed the Maker Pen, and because my audience are Rec Room players they would immediately recognise it. The title also contained the search term “how to” which helps with discoverability, and the word “create” appeared in both the title and the thumbnail text, reinforcing the message for the viewer. Everything worked together to confirm what the viewer was looking for and encourage them to click. Making sure your thumbnail and title complement each other is genuinely one of the most impactful things you can do to improve the performance of your videos.

What Is Coming Next

I am really happy with how this first event went and I am already excited about what is coming up. The next event will be an introduction to video editing, covering free editing software and how to get started. After that I will be doing a deep dive into YouTube Studio, where I will open up my own channel analytics and walk you through how to use all of the tools available to you. I also have a very exciting new event coming up called an Invention Showcase, which is something I have not seen done before. Rather than being a workshop where people build during the event, participants will be able to spawn in their own inventions and show them off to everyone. To keep things manageable and safe, all inventions must be made entirely with Maker Pen and no circuits are allowed. The first event will be capped at eight people so you will need to be quick to grab a spot. I am really looking forward to running this and seeing what everyone has been creating.

Thank you so much to everyone who came along to this event. If you are interested in attending future events, make sure you subscribe to the club where you can find all upcoming events and sessions. I hope you all have an amazing day and I will catch you at the next one!