Make an eye-catching thumbnail for a video, blog post or link preview. Add your own photos, big readable text, arrows and circles, then download it.
Click an item on the picture, or add one with the buttons above.
Everything you see is drawn on an HTML canvas at the exact pixel size you chose, so the file you download is a full-resolution image rather than a screenshot of the editor. Items are drawn in layer order from bottom to top: the background first, then each text, image or shape. The selection outline, the snapping guides and the shaded corner are drawn on a separate layer on top of the picture, so they never end up in your download.
Text uses fonts that are already installed on your device; this page doesn't download or supply any font files. A heavy outline is made by stroking each letter with a wide, rounded line before filling it, which keeps words readable over busy photos. The sticker outline for images works by drawing the picture several times in a small circle around itself, coloring that shape, and then drawing the original on top, so it follows the edges of a cut-out PNG.
Most people first see a thumbnail at around 250 pixels wide, so the small preview shows your design at that size. Short headlines of three to five words, strong contrast and one clear face or object usually read best. Video players often cover the bottom-right corner with the video length, which is why that area is shaded while you edit. When you choose JPG with Keep the file under 2 MB, the tool lowers the JPG quality step by step only if it needs to.
Use images you have the right to use. Your own photos and screenshots of your own work are fine. Don't copy another creator's thumbnail, artwork, logos or a celebrity's photo without permission. YouTube is a trademark of Google LLC. My Digital Drawer is not affiliated with or endorsed by YouTube or any other video platform.
What size should a video thumbnail be?
The common standard is 1280×720 pixels (16:9), which is the default here. Many video sites also ask for a file under 2 MB in JPG or PNG format, and this tool can keep JPG files under that limit for you.
Are my photos uploaded anywhere?
No. Photos are opened and drawn inside your browser, and the finished image is created on your device. Nothing is sent to a server, and closing the page clears everything.
Can I use any picture I find online?
Only if you have permission. Pictures, logos and other creators' thumbnails are usually protected by copyright or trademark. Use your own photos, screenshots of your own content, or images whose license allows it.
Why does my font look different on another computer?
The text uses fonts installed on the device you're designing on. Once you download the image, the text is part of the picture, so it looks the same everywhere.
How do I add a cut-out of myself?
Remove the background from your photo with another app so it's a PNG with transparency, then add it with ＋ Image and turn up the Sticker outline to give it a white edge.