Canva Tutorial: How To Create Clickable Thumbnails For YouTube

It’s a very personal thing, but creating thumbnails for YouTube has an art and science in the design. Here I walk you through both with a step-by-step of how to create a clickable thumbnail for YouTube using Canva.

Thumbnails have one job, and one job only. They need to get a click from anyone who is viewing or scrolling past. Thumbnails can be used for all types of platforms and media, and the importance of having thumbnails that convert is imperative for showcasing your videos.

Whilst the art of creating thumbnails is very personal, the science can be applied to almost every design you chose to implement. Simplicity and clarity of process and design win every time with thumbnails, as a confused mind wondering what the video is about is unlikely to get a click. 

In this post, I walk you through how to create a thumbnail using Canva. I will start off with a blank canvas and finish up with a completed thumbnail.

1. Use a canvas with 1280 x 720 pixels

Log into your Canva account and open a new template. Double-check the size by clicking resize and checking that the width is 1280 and the height is 720 pixels. This is what is required if you're creating thumbnails for YouTube.

If you're creating thumbnails for any other type of platform, just have a look at what that platform recommends before actually building them out here.

2. Select royalty-free images

The next step is to create some sort of background. I like to use royalty-free platforms like Pixabay, Pexels, or Unsplash. For this example, I am going to use Unsplash.

You should have a background that is relevant to your content. As I teach online business, I am going to search the phrase office background.

Then you will need to select an image that you can see would be a good suit for the background of your thumbnail. Select one you like, download it, and upload it back into Canva.

Resize and adjust the placement of the image to fit across your entire canvas.

3. Blur the background image

Once you are happy with your background, I like to add a blur effect. This just helps bring the images in the foreground to life. You can do this by selecting the image, clicking on adjust, and dragging the blur setting to the right.

This will help a lot once you start to overlay the foreground images.

4. Add minimal text

Next comes your text. For this element, less is definitely more. Try and select as few words as possible, whilst still getting your message across. I typically use 3 words, sometimes more, sometimes less. You will soon find your sweet spot.

For this example, the title of the video will be "Canva Tutorial: How To Create Clickable Thumbnails For YouTube". So I have selected the text "Thumbnails Using Canva" to give the consumer an idea of what the video will contain.

Test and adjust the size, font, and location of your text until you are happy.

5. Search for a high-resolution logo

At this stage, I like to add a logo where appropriate. So I would simply search for a Canva logo. I would even add a "Canva logo with transparent background" to get a good high-quality image with no background.

Then I select an image, open it in a new tab to double-check that the background is in fact transparent, then download it to your desktop.

Upload this logo into your canvas and crop and adjust the size as required.

6. Add contrasting background colors

To make your text stand out even more, I would recommend adding some shapes of contrasting colors. You can do this by simply selecting a rectangle and using an opposite color to the text, then positioning this block behind the text to make it pop.

You should keep adjusting the size of the text and blocks to take up most of the room in the thumbnail, so your message is large and clear.

7. Add an outline to your logos

If the logo is not standing out from your background, you could add a background to make it pop. To do this, select the image, then click on glow. I like to add a white background with no blur or transparency and then adjust the size of the glow accordingly.

You should end up with a logo that has a nice bold white outline that makes it pop from the background image.

8. Add additional background colors

To make this thumbnail look a little different from your previous thumbnails, I tend to add a different color as a fade from one side. It can't look exactly the same as your other thumbnails as it has to catch the attention of your audience as a new piece of content.

Again, make sure you position this element to the very back so that your text and logo stand out from the background and they are easy to read.

9. Add an image of the creator

It's been proven that by adding a face to your thumbnails that you will resonate with more of your audience. People want to engage with people, so if you have an image of the creator with an appropriate expression on their face, it usually works well.

Just remember to resize, adjust the deposition and even create a white outline to make this image pop. This is probably one of the most important elements of the thumbnail.

10. Finish by adding a border

Now, for me, I would just try and finish off the thumbnail by placing a border around it. This just gives it a finishing touch and a professional look.

Adjust the position of this border to the very front, so it frames all the elements in the thumbnail. And you're done.