How to Create Professional YouTube Thumbnails in Minutes with AI Thumbnail Maker
Creating professional-quality thumbnails is now easier than ever with our AI Thumbnail Maker. This new feature saves you time and effort, allowing you to focus on what you love most—creating content.
Getting Started – Two Ways to Create Your Thumbnail
The AI Thumbnail Maker gives you two easy options to begin your thumbnail creation:
Option 1: Upload a Video (Recommended)
For the best results, upload your video directly. This allows the AI to:
Analyze your video content to extract key frames that represent its story.
Ensure the thumbnails visually align with your content.
Simply drag and drop your video into the tool or click Choose Video.
Option 2: Use Text Input
If you don’t have the video ready, describe your ideal thumbnail. For example:
“A cat in a backpack with a mountain background and bold text.”
“A sunset beach with large title text that says ‘Meditation Guide.’”
The AI will generate thumbnails based on your description.
Pro Tip: Uploading a video gives the most accurate results since the AI can directly use visual elements from your content.
Select Your Favorite Thumbnail
Once you’ve chosen your method, click "Create" and watch the magic unfold right in front of your eyes. We will generate multiple thumbnails based on your input for you to choose from:
Preview Options: Scroll through the gallery to find the design that best fits your vision.
Make Your Selection: Click on the thumbnail you like to move to the next step.
If you want to explore additional options, click the “+” button in the gallery. This allows you to create a new thumbnail without overwriting your existing choices, giving you the flexibility to experiment with different designs.
Pro Tip: Consider the key message of your video when choosing. Does the thumbnail instantly communicate the topic? Does it grab attention?
Smart Commands
One of the most innovative features of the AI Thumbnail Maker is its Smart Commands. These commands allow you to modify your thumbnail without manual adjustments. Simply type what you need, and the AI will handle the rest.
How Smart Commands Work
You will be given three pre-populated Smart Commands related to your thumbnail to showcase what’s possible and inspire your creativity. Simply select one of them or use the input box to describe the changes you’d like. Examples include:
“Add bold red text with a shadow.”
“Change text to 'Explore Rome's Secrets.’”
“Add mountains to the background.”
The AI responds almost instantly, allowing you to experiment creatively.
Once you make a change to your thumbnail via a Smart Command, your updated thumbnail will appear next to the original one in the gallery, allowing you to easily view the changes and revert to the previous version if needed. Every time you use a Smart Command, we create a new thumbnail with those changes, unlike the next step: customization.
Customize Your Thumbnail
After using Smart Commands, you can further refine your thumbnail with manual customization. Press "+" to get the following options:
Edit Text: Add or adjust titles, subtitles, or font styles.
Note: If you already have AI-generated text, you won’t be able to customize it using manual text editing. Use a Smart Command to remove or modify the text.
Add Stickers or Images: Drag and drop elements to make the design more engaging.
If any of your manual changes didn’t hit the mark or you simply want to revert them, use the redo and undo buttons to go back. If these buttons are grayed out, it means:
No manual changes were made.
Changes were made via Smart Commands. In this case, you would need to select a previous thumbnail from the preview gallery.
Erase Unwanted Elements with the Magic Eraser
The Magic Eraser tool allows you to quickly remove unwanted elements from your thumbnail. Whether you need to erase a tiny detail or a large object, this tool makes it simple.
How to Use the Magic Eraser
Select the Magic Eraser Tool: Click the eraser icon.
Adjust the Size: Use the slider to increase or decrease the eraser’s size based on the object you’re targeting.
Use a smaller size for precise edits (e.g., removing a stray object).
Use a larger size for broader adjustments (e.g., erasing a large background area).
Erase: Click and drag over the area you want to remove. The AI ensures a clean and seamless edit.
Pro Tip: If you make a mistake, use the undo button to revert your changes instantly.
Save and Download Your Thumbnail
Once you’ve completed your design, it’s important to save and download your thumbnail to ensure your work isn’t lost. Click the Download button to save your high-resolution thumbnail, optimized for YouTube.
Important Note: Be sure to download and save your thumbnail once you’re satisfied with it. If you refresh or exit the page, all thumbnails will reset, and your work will be lost. We are actively working on adding a progress-saving feature so please stay tuned for our future releases!
Your saved thumbnail is ready to upload to YouTube, where it can help grab attention and drive clicks.
Pro Tips for Thumbnails That Stand Out
Focus on Simplicity: Don’t overcrowd your design; stick to one clear message.
Use Bold Titles: Large, high-contrast text makes your thumbnail stand out, even at smaller sizes.
Experiment: Try different designs and track their performance to find what works best.