Prepare a cutout for a YouTube thumbnail
Published
Remove the subject’s background first so you can position it next to the title. Inspect thin edges over a dark colour before you save the cutout for your design.
Try these steps in the editor
Try the 16:9 frame for a horizontal video layout. Download a separate transparent PNG if you will position the subject in another editor. Use YouTube’s thumbnail guidance for the final dimensions and file size.
Check the downloaded result
View the draft at the size it will appear on a phone. Make sure the title and the subject are recognisable. Check the platform’s preview for your video type because thumbnails can appear differently in different surfaces.