How to Design YouTube Thumbnails in GIMP (Step-by-step)

You can create any desired thumbnails in GIMP by choosing the correct dimensions, adding images, text boxes, and logos, and adding filters and shadows to enhance the image.

Are you looking to create eye-catching thumbnails for your Youtube videos? Thumbnails are an important part of any successful video and can make be difference-makers when viewed by YouTube users.

Designing creative yet effective thumbnails is an art and this article will provide you with tips on how to design great YouTube thumbnails in GIMP in order to draw in more viewers.

How to Design Youtube Thumbnails

Thumbnails serve as preview of your videos and if they aren’t attractive and compelling, users sometimes won’t even click on them. In this article, we will provide a step-by-step tutorial on how to design thumbnails that maximize the potential of your videos.

It is simple and easy to design Youtube thumbnails in GIMP. For this purpose, you need to have two images to get started with this tutorial,

  • Image 1: A subject or person. In this tutorial, a woman is chosen as the subject of the image.
A subject of the image
  • Image 2: A background for the image. Here, a house interior is picked as the background.
A background for the image

Once you pick these images, you can get started.

Step 01: Create a New Project

Before starting, you need to set the thumbnail’s dimensions before placing the images in GIMP. To set the dimensions,

  1. Go to the File menu.
  2. Click New.
New option
  1. A new dialog with the default dimensions would appear.
  2. The YouTube thumbnail dimensions are 1920 x 1080 or 1280 x 720 (16:9). Set the desired dimensions and click OK.
Create a New Image dialog box

As soon as you click OK , a blank white canvas with standard YouTube thumbnail dimensions will appear.

Use the following guidelines & safe areas to make sure your thumbnail is clear all the time:

Youtube thumbnail safe area gimp
Youtube thumbnail safe area

Step 02: Open the subject of the thumbnail

Next, you need to open the subject of the thumbnail. If you have the subject of the image with a background, you need to first remove the background. To learn how to remove the background of the image, refer to the tutorial “Remove Background & Make It Transparent in GIMP”. As soon as you remove the background, you can proceed with the next step.

Alternatively, if you have the subject of the thumbnail without the background, proceed with the next step. To open the image,

  1. Go to the File menu.
  2. Click Open as Layers.
Open as Layer option
  • Choose the saved image.
  • Finally, click OK.

As soon as you click OK, the subject of the image appears in the Layers dialog.

Step 03: Scale the image

Now, you need to rescale to fit the subject in the canvas. To scale the image, you can use the Scale tool. To select the Scale tool,

  1. Go to the Toolbox and click on the Scale tool icon.
  2. Alternatively, use the keyboard shortcut Shift+S to select the Scale tool.
Scale tool icon

Alternatively, follow the below methods to select the Scale tool,

  1. Go to the Tools menu.
  2. Choose Transform tools.
  3. Finally, select the Scale tool.
Scale tool option

Once you choose the Scale tool, click and drag the control handles to rescale the image in order to fit within the canvas.

Drag the control handles as necessary

Once you set the desired dimensions, click on Scale.

Step 04: Open the background of the image

To open the background image you want use for the thumbnail,

  • Go to the File menu.
  • Click Open as Layers.
Open as Layer option
  • Choose the desired image by going to the file where it is saved.
  • Finally, click OK.

As soon as you click OK, the background of the image appears in the Layers dialog as well.

Layers dialog

If the background appears on top of the subject of the thumbnail,

  1. Go to the Layers dialog.
  2. Click and drag the background below the layer of the subject as shown below.
  3. Then, you would notice that the subject will appear on top of the background.
Click and drag the background below the subject

Now, you have set the subject and background in place.

Step 05: Adjust the subject of the thumbnail

After placing the background, you can follow the below steps to better adjust the subject. To do this, you need to select the Move tool,

  1. Go to the Toolbox and click on the Move tool icon.
  2. Alternatively, use the keyboard shortcut “M” to select the Move tool.
Move tool icon

Alternatively, follow the below method to select the Move tool,

  1. Go to the Tools menu.
  2. Choose Transform tools.
  3. Finally, select the Move tool.
Move tool option

Now, hold the Ctrl/Cmd key and click and drag the subject to the desired location. Once you are happy with the location, release the Ctrl/Cmd key. If you want to flip the image, you can use the Flip tool. To do this, you need to select the Flip tool,

  1. Go to the Toolbox and click on the Flip tool icon.
  2. Alternatively, use the keyboard shortcut “Shift+F” to select the Flip tool.
Flip tool icon

Alternatively, follow the below methods to select the Flip tool,

  1. Go to the Tools menu.
  2. Choose Transform tools to display the drop-down options.
  3. Finally, select the Flip tool.
Flip tool option

In the Flip tool options dialog, you can choose whether you want to flip the image horizontally or vertically. After choosing which direction you want to flip the subject, click on the image once. You would notice the subject flipping as soon as you click on it.

The subject flipped once being clicked

To rescale the background,

  • Choose the Scale tool from the Toolbox once again.
Scale tool icon
  • Now, click and drag the control handles to scale the background image as desired.
Scale the image background

Once you are happy with the result, click on Scale.

Step 06: Stroke the subject

Next, you will learn how to stroke the subject of the image. Stroking helps to highlight the subject to draw more attention to it. Before stroking, you need to add a new layer,

  1. Go to the Layer menu.
  2. Click New Layer.
New Layer option

A new dialog would appear,

  1. Set the name as Stroke.
  2. Set the Fill with option to Transparency.
  3. Finally, click OK.
New Layer dialog box

The new layer will be added in the Layers dialog. To create an Alpha channel on the subject,

  1. Press Alt/Option and click on the subject layer to create an Alpha channel.
  2. Alternatively, right-click on the subject layer in the Layers dialog and choose Add Alpha Channel.

Next, go to the Paths dialog on the right-hand side of the canvas,

  • Click on the Selection to Path icon placed at the bottom of the Paths tab.
Selection to Path icon
  • Dotted lines will automatically outline the subject of the thumbnail.
Dotted lines surrounding the subject

To deselect the selection,

  1. Go to the Select menu and click None.
  2. Alternatively, press Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+A to deselect the selection.
None option

Once the selection disappears, you need to paint along the path. To paint along the path,

  1. Go to the Paths dialog.
  2. Click on the Paint along the Path icon.
  3. A new dialog appears to apply the stroke.
Paths tab

In the Stroke Path dialog,

  1. Set the line width to 10 – 20.
  2. Choose a desired color from the Toolbox.
  3. Choose the desired stroke line type.
  4. Adjust the other options as required.
  5. Click OK to apply the stroke to the subject.
Stroke Path dialog box

In case you need to adjust the stroke, first select the Move tool, then click and drag the image slightly while holding Ctrl/Cmd until you are satisfied with the result.

Move tool icon

You can notice that the stroke is perfectly placed on the subject and the focus of any viewer will be drawn to the subject.

The stroke is placed on the subject

Step 07: Add Contrast to the subject and Blur the background

It’s time to brighten the subject and blur the background slightly to further enhance the YouTube thumbnail. First, click on the subject layer and,

  1. Go to the Colors menu.
  2. Click on Levels.
Levels option

As soon as you click, the Levels dialog will pop up. Adjust the sliders in the dialog to brighten the subject.

Levels dialog box

Once you are happy with the changes, click OK. Next, click on the background layer in the Layers dialog. To blur the background,

  1. Go to the Filters menu.
  2. Choose Blur.
  3. Select the Gaussian Blur or the Lens Blur.
Blur options

In the chosen blur’s dialog, adjust the sizes and click OK to apply the changes.

Gaussian Blur dialog box

Step 08: Add a border to the image

In this step, you will learn how to add a double border to the image. Before adding a border, you need to create a new layer.

  1. Go to the Layer menu.
  2. Click on New.
New Layer option

In the New Layer dialog,

  1. Name the Layer ‘Border’.
  2. Set the Fill with option toTransparency.
  3. Finally, click OK.
New Layer dialog box

Make sure that this new layer (Border layer) is above the background layer in the Layers dialog.

Move the Border layer above the background layer

Next, to select all the elements of the image,

  • Press Ctrl/Cmd + A.
  • Go to the Select menu.
  • Click Border.
Border option
  • Set the border size to 25 pixels.
  • The Border Style should be hard.

Finally, click ok to add the Border.

Border Selection dialog

Next, you can fill the border with a solid color or apply a gradient. To add a gradient color, you have to select the Gradient tool,

  1. Go to the Toolbox and click on the Gradient tool icon.
  2. Alternatively, use the keyboard shortcut “G” to select the gradient tool.
Gradient tool icon

Alternatively, follow the below steps to select the gradient tool,

  1. Go to the Tools menu.
  2. Choose Paint tools.
  3. Finally, select the Gradient tool.
Gradient tool option

Choose the desired gradient color from the Gradient tool’s options dialog.

Gradient tool dialog box
  • Click and drag the gradient across the image.
  • Once you are happy with the gradient, click on the Endpoint and click OK or press the Enter key to apply the gradient.
Click on the Endpoint and click OK or press Enter key to apply the gradient

Next, we will add an inside border to this image. To set the inside border,

  1. Go to the Select menu.
  2. Click on Shrink.
Shrink option
  • Insert the number 20 in the Shrink Selection by option.
  • Finally, click OK to apply the changes.
Shrink Selection dialog box

As soon as you click ok, the inner border appears in dotted lines as follows:

The inner border appears as dotted lines

To apply the stroke to the inner border, you need to create a new layer.

  1. Go to the Layer menu.
  2. Click New.
New Layer option

A new dialog would appear,

  1. Set the name as Inner Border.
  2. Set the Fill with option to Transparency.
  3. Finally, click OK.
New Layer dialog box

Make sure that the layers in the Layers dialog are in this order before proceeding:

Make sure the Layers dialog follows this order

Next, you need to convert this layer to a path,

  1. Go to the Paths dialog.
  2. Click on the Selection to Path icon.
  3. The selection appears on the image.
Selection to Path icon

To deselect the selection,

  1. Go to the Select menu and click None.
  2. Alternatively, press Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+A to deselect the selection.
None option

Next,

  1. Go to the Paths dialog.
  2. Choose the option Paint along the Path icon.
  3. A new dialog to apply the stroke appears.
Paint along the Path option

In the new dialog,

  1. Set the line width to 5.
  2. Choose a desired color from the Toolbox.
  3. Choose a desired stroke line type.
  4. Click OK to apply the stroke to the subject.
Stroke Path dialog box

See below the result after adding an outer and an inner border.

Inner border appears on image

Click on the inner border layer in the Layers dialog and change the Layer mode to Exclusion.

Exclusion mode
Final result

Step 09: Add text to the thumbnail

If you want to add text to the thumbnail, select the Text tool,

  1. Go to the Toolbox and click on the Text tool icon.
  2. Alternatively, use the keyboard shortcut “T” to select the Text tool.
Text tool icon

Alternatively, follow the below methods to select the Text tool,

  1. Go to the Tools menu.
  2. Finally, select the Text tool.
Text tool option

Next, adjust the Text tool settings by;

  • Choosing an eye-catching anf clear font.
  • Set the font color.
  • Set the font size. In the below example, “How to design” is set to 105 pixels and “Youtube thumbnail” is set to 125 pixels.
Text tool options

Now, click on the canvas and type the text. You can click and drag the corner handles of the text box to adjust the text box.

Step 10: Add a rectangle box

Before creating a rectangle box, you need to add a new layer,

  1. Go to the Layers menu.
  2. Click on New Layer.
New Layer option

A new dialog would appear,

  1. We will name this layer ‘Text Box’.
  2. Set the Fill with option to Transparency.
  3. Finally, click OK.
New Layer dialog box

Next, you will add a rectangle box around the second piece of text (Youtube thumbnail) to highlight the main topic of the YouTube video. To select the Rectangle tool,

  1. Go to the Toolbox and click on the Rectangle tool icon.
  2. Alternatively, use the keyboard shortcut “R” to select the Rectangle tool.
Rectangle tool icon

Alternatively,

  1. Go to the Tools menu.
  2. Click on Selection Tools.
  3. Finally, select the Rectangle tool.
Rectangle tool option

Next, click and drag around the text to draw the rectangle.

Step 11: Add the GIMP logo

In order to add the logo, simply drag and drop the logo on the work canvas. Then, use the Move tool to relocate it.

Move tool

Also, you can add your logo to the thumbnail. To add the brand logo, simply drag and drop it into the canvas as you did above.

Drag and drop the brand logo

Reposition the logo using the Move tool once agian.

Step 12: Add shadow to the text

First, select one layer of text from the Layers dialog. Then,

  1. Go to the Filters menu.
  2. Choose Light and shadow.
  3. Click Long shadow.
Long Shadow option

A new dialog would appear to change a few settings,

  1. Set the shadow style to ‘Fading (fixed length)’.
  2. Change the color of the shadow.
  3. Finally, click OK to apply the changes.
Long Shadow dialog box

Repeat this process to the other text pieces as necessary.

Repeat “Long Shadow” option

This is the final result!

Final Result

Step 13: Export the youtube thumbnail

To export the image,

  • Go to the File menu.
  • Click Export As.
  • Alternatively, use the shortcut Shift+Ctrl/Cmd+E.
Export As option
  • Choose the image format as JPEG and click on Export.
Choose the JPEG format

Conclusion

In conclusion, designing effective YouTube thumbnails is a crucial process when creating video content. The thumbnail is the first thing viewers will see and it can make or break their decision to watch your video.

To be successful, keep your thumbnail simple, use attention-grabbing visuals, and write an eye-catching headline. By following these three rules for designing YouTube thumbnails, you can increase views on your videos and gain more subscribers on your channel.

Thanks for reading & feel free to check out more of our articles!

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Summary

A well designed youtube thumbnail is vital in today’s age of the ‘attention economy’ in order to make sure your video gets the highest amount of clicks and views possible. Not to worry, edits101 and GIMP have you covered. The format is fairly straightforward and is only limited by the skill level and creativity of the graphic artist.