Free tools / Spotlight
Thumbnails that get the click.
Type a few big words, pick one to highlight, add your photo and a background. Download a 1280 by 720 thumbnail ready for YouTube.
How it looks small, like on a phone:
What makes a thumbnail work
- Few words, very big. If it cannot be read at stamp size, it does not work.
- One highlighted word that carries the promise: "slow", "free", "£500", "mistake".
- A face with a clear expression, looking towards the text.
- High contrast: light text on a dark background, with a thick outline.
- Different from the title. The title explains, the thumbnail makes people curious.
Check it small
Most people see your thumbnail on a phone, about the size of a postage stamp. The small preview next to the editor shows you exactly that. If you cannot read it there, cut words or make them bigger.
Questions
What size is a YouTube thumbnail?
1280 by 720 pixels (16:9), under 2 MB. This tool exports exactly that size as a PNG.
How do I get a cut-out photo of myself?
Use a photo with a transparent background (a PNG). Most phones can do this: on an iPhone, press and hold the person in a photo and tap Share; on Android, Google Photos and Samsung Gallery have a similar option.
What makes a thumbnail get clicked?
Three to five big words, one highlighted, a face showing a clear emotion, and strong contrast. It should still make sense at the size of a stamp, because that is how most people see it on a phone.
Are my photos uploaded?
No. Everything is drawn in your browser. Only an AI background, if you ask for one, is made on our server from your words.
Want Spotlight on this every day?
On Lupaan your whole team works in the background and tells you when something needs you.