I like to think that I'm a pretty savvy thumbnailer but I've never even thought of that swatches of color soft light blend thing! Totally put that into action on my thumbnail today. Thanks for the tip Karen!
Oh my goodness! So many steps but you end up with such a vibrant and beautiful little thumbnail. I always end up forgetting to design one until my video is uploading and then I panic and throw something together super fast.
WOWWW. I had no idea that so much effort went into these thumbnails. You are a pro! THANKYOU for sharing! I am definitely inspired to keep working hard at photoshop
I just wanted to let you know that I have a beauty channel and had absolutely NO idea how to create a thumbnail until now. My latest video has an amazing thumbnail THANKS TO YOU!! Thank you so much for this video. I am now a subscriber :)
This helped me so much. Your channel is awesome by the way. I've been trying to teach myself graphic design and your channel is the first one I've run across that is actually helpful. *subscribed*
Thanks, Karen! I picked up a few tips! I didn't know that I could do an adjustment layer to a single layer underneath. I also like the gradient overlay/soft light trick. I think you forgot to mention that on the mobile channel page, they take only the narrow middle part of the thumbnail. So you may want to talk about a safe zone. Anywho, please do more of these. I really enjoyed watching you design.
AHHH thank you!! I have been looking on how to add an outline to text without a big hassle and NOW I CAN USE STROKE. Eeee I am excited. (completely new to photoshop so I'm a bit clueless)
I really Enjoyed your video!! you tubers need tell there secretes which makes it hard! do you think you can do a video in how to upload long videos and which camera you use to keep it in high HD
That's a whole other debate we can have, about the ethics of Photoshopping yourself, but for thumbnails, I like to create smooth skin just so the spots don't look blurry and messy when it's scaled down to such a small size.
Wow, I thought I knew how to use Photoshop, you know way more than I thought there was to know! Great work! I'd love for you to go through a few things that you did here more thoroughly, such as explaining the overlays you used and the different layers you used. I love all of your videos, you are so inspiring!
How did you add the videos at the end of your vid (like on the left side of the screen)? Did you do that in youtube or in an editing program? Btw I really liked your video and it was extremely helpful! :)
Thank you so much for making this video! It's been years since I've played around in Photoshop, and I'm so excited to try some new stuff out now! Subscibed, definitely. xoxo
See, I never thought to use the brush/erase tool. I just use the quick selection, but now, thanks to you Karen, I know how to make teeth whiter and blemishes less blemishy :-)
There is a print screen on windows also that puts it into the clipboard. You can use GIMP as a free alternative (although it takes a little getting used to) instead of photoshop if you can't get it.
Wow, I thought I knew how to use Photoshop, but you used a couple of new techniques that I have never thought of. I look forward to playing with photoshop more in the very near future.
This was so helpful! I don't need to make thumbnails but those tips such as the black corners thing will definitely come in handy with my presentation work. I had the image open on facebook in another tab so I could keep checking between it and the video :L
that was a great video! do you think youll do more where we can see the whole graphic design process and everything you do in photoshop? i really enjoyed it (:
This is great! I've been struggling today with making thumbnails! It would be great if you could help me if I still can't figure it out. Thank you so much for this video. I am wondering how much is Photoshop CS6?
Thanks for the awesome advice Karen! Can't wait to see you at Vidcon again. :D Also, now I need to see how many of these features are available on Photoshop Elements.
WHAT?!!! WOW i am so out of my depth with photoshop and editing photos :P (mostly cuz i don't have it) but still this looks like magic to me. You are way better at teaching photoshop than my computer teacher. And you make it look way more fun :) Karen Kavett photoshop fairy ;)
How long have you been working with Photoshop to be this good? I don't have Photoshop but what you do in minutes would take me weeks to do if I did have it :-)
In masking you apply black/white colour to indicate which parts are on/off, you don't delete any pixels of the original photo underneath. You do this so you don't compromise the photo you're planning to manipulate, even if it just to 'cut' it out.
Hey Karen, when taking a screenshot of the video you can use CMD + SHIFT + 4 to take a selection or you can use CMD + SHIFT + 4 then SPACEBAR while hovering over a window you would like a screenshot of. Thought that might be handy. :)
Loved it!! thanks, karen :) hate how they have changed photoshop though, prefer the previous version when the tools popped out and not hidden by the black/greyness!
Ok, quick question but how do you take the thumbnail you made and use it as the thumbnail for your video, all I seem to be able to do is use 3 screenshots that youtube picked out from the video
I've been trying to figure this out myself. Nobody seems to have a straight answer. UA-cam Help is very vague about it (all it says is certain users have the option) and through all my googling I've found some people say you have to be a partner, and some say that youtube randomly enables it for various users so you just have to be patient and wait. No idea what's true. If you had it you would see a button for it in video manager beneath the three images choices it gives you for thumbnails.
Most of the thumbnail tutorials seem to suggest complicated (yes, complicated, at least for me!) software like Photoshop, etc. Please make (or share if they already exist) tutorials for making thumbnails on simple software like Paint which comes bundled with Windows, with which I can hopefully make thumbnails in a snap. The whole layers (among others) concept on Photoshop really confuses me. I want a simple way in which I can quickly take a screenshot from my videos (I have many UA-cam channels besides this one), add some text to it, and be done in a minute or two. I hate wasting time on these peripheral aspects of life, but I am aware that thumbnails provide immense value to UA-cam videos and add to their "watchability" score immensely, which is why I do want to make them, but in a simple and easy way which can really be done in a flash. Thank you!
You can try picmonkey.com - Easy to use, no real layers apart from moving objects front or back, quite some tools. Only drawback, I couldn't really find a nice way to make text pop up. At least not as easy as she's doing it here.
Ardensio I've started using picmonkey.com too. A great way to make text pop up is to go into effects, go down to artsy, click draw, make the hardness 0%, pick a color, and draw underneath the text. This really makes the text pop out. Hope I helped!
Thanks Lauren! I always upload my videos a day or two before they go live, so that gives me plenty of time to make the thumbnails :)
Great video! I admire how much work you put into thumbnails! I was wondering what screen capture program you use?
Not only do I always learn massive amounts of knowledge from you, but your bubbly nature always brightens my day. Thank you!!!
I'm learning Photoshop and this was really helpful! I just wish you weren't so fast, haha.
I've been using it practically every day since I was 12. Many many hours of practice.
I like to think that I'm a pretty savvy thumbnailer but I've never even thought of that swatches of color soft light blend thing! Totally put that into action on my thumbnail today. Thanks for the tip Karen!
Oh my goodness! So many steps but you end up with such a vibrant and beautiful little thumbnail. I always end up forgetting to design one until my video is uploading and then I panic and throw something together super fast.
I have to admit you went above and beyond on what I was expecting for a UA-cam thumbnail. Very nicely done.
WOWWW. I had no idea that so much effort went into these thumbnails. You are a pro! THANKYOU for sharing! I am definitely inspired to keep working hard at photoshop
It's so interesting to see someone else working in photoshop!
I'm so glad you centred the text in the end, it was bugging me so much haha
Did you go to school for graphic design?? or self taught? Awesome videos!!
It's always interesting seeing how other designers do the same things like cutting out and so on. So many different methods!
I just wanted to let you know that I have a beauty channel and had absolutely NO idea how to create a thumbnail until now. My latest video has an amazing thumbnail THANKS TO YOU!! Thank you so much for this video. I am now a subscriber :)
This helped me so much. Your channel is awesome by the way. I've been trying to teach myself graphic design and your channel is the first one I've run across that is actually helpful. *subscribed*
I love your thumbnails! This was very helpful thanks 😊
That was honestly fascinating. I would love to see more videos like this, where we can see you designing things on Photoshop or other programs.
11 years later. I'm here trying to figure out how much this thumbnail designing niche has escalated!
You put so much effort into your thumbnails, you really put us all to shame. XD
Thanks, Karen! I picked up a few tips! I didn't know that I could do an adjustment layer to a single layer underneath. I also like the gradient overlay/soft light trick. I think you forgot to mention that on the mobile channel page, they take only the narrow middle part of the thumbnail. So you may want to talk about a safe zone. Anywho, please do more of these. I really enjoyed watching you design.
This video has become my UA-cam thumbnail BIBLE. It's bookmarked and everything. Thank you! x
AHHH thank you!! I have been looking on how to add an outline to text without a big hassle and NOW I CAN USE STROKE. Eeee I am excited. (completely new to photoshop so I'm a bit clueless)
I really Enjoyed your video!! you tubers need tell there secretes which makes it hard! do you think you can do a video in how to upload long videos and which camera you use to keep it in high HD
I always like your thumbnails, so thanks for sharing the process! Definitely useful.
That's a whole other debate we can have, about the ethics of Photoshopping yourself, but for thumbnails, I like to create smooth skin just so the spots don't look blurry and messy when it's scaled down to such a small size.
Wow, I thought I knew how to use Photoshop, you know way more than I thought there was to know! Great work! I'd love for you to go through a few things that you did here more thoroughly, such as explaining the overlays you used and the different layers you used.
I love all of your videos, you are so inspiring!
How did you add the videos at the end of your vid (like on the left side of the screen)? Did you do that in youtube or in an editing program? Btw I really liked your video and it was extremely helpful! :)
I was wondering how you got your thumbnails to be so lovely. Love it.
This is so awesome! I learned a bunch of little Photoshop tricks. Please do more of these screenshot tutorials! :D
Thank you so much for making this video! It's been years since I've played around in Photoshop, and I'm so excited to try some new stuff out now! Subscibed, definitely. xoxo
This was so helpful. Thank you for making this! :D
You can also option/alt-click in-between layers to have that curves adjustment only apply to the layer below it.
See, I never thought to use the brush/erase tool. I just use the quick selection, but now, thanks to you Karen, I know how to make teeth whiter and blemishes less blemishy :-)
You, girl, are goooood. Thanks for this 'cause I'm new around here. Can't wait to play with this kind of artwork!
This was so much fun to watch! Tip: To delete a large area, just hit "backspace".
cmd+shift+3 on a mac to screenshot guys. Saves using grabber or whatever was used in this vid. You're welcome!
Great tips :) It's always interesting to see how different people do the stuff you also do in PS. I always get new ideas. Keep it up, Karen!
Learned some cool techniques. Really hope this means a lot more on-screen tutorials :)
I'm a danger to myself and everyone around me.
I learned so much from this!! You're amazing, Karen!!
There is a print screen on windows also that puts it into the clipboard. You can use GIMP as a free alternative (although it takes a little getting used to) instead of photoshop if you can't get it.
"The most nerve-wracking thing I've ever done!" Karen lives on the edge!
So glad I found your channel! I'm a first year graphic designer and I love your video's! Keep it up :)
You are soo good at it! I know how to do what you did but it would have taken me hours to edit a picture/thumbnail that fast!
Wow, I thought I knew how to use Photoshop, but you used a couple of new techniques that I have never thought of. I look forward to playing with photoshop more in the very near future.
I learned a ton exponentially from you in this video Karen! OMG, my brain is so inspired. :) Thank you!!!
Do u use a wacom tablet? U r really good with the brush tool!
This was fab! How did you get the white outline on the text?
This was so helpful! I don't need to make thumbnails but those tips such as the black corners thing will definitely come in handy with my presentation work. I had the image open on facebook in another tab so I could keep checking between it and the video :L
Fantastic video, I love learning new Photoshop techniques!
that was a great video! do you think youll do more where we can see the whole graphic design process and everything you do in photoshop? i really enjoyed it (:
This was great...thank you so much! :D I'll be playing around with my thumbnails!
This is great! I've been struggling today with making thumbnails! It would be great if you could help me if I still can't figure it out. Thank you so much for this video. I am wondering how much is Photoshop CS6?
Thanks for the tips, this is incredibly helpful! I've been struggling with thumbnails for a while now.
Thanks for the awesome advice Karen! Can't wait to see you at Vidcon again. :D
Also, now I need to see how many of these features are available on Photoshop Elements.
What are the rules on background music? I loved what you used when you were posing....
also which computer do you have/ which photoshop do you have?
great video, but just to add that i find using the magnetic lasso tool soo much faster for masking out :)
WHAT?!!! WOW i am so out of my depth with photoshop and editing photos :P (mostly cuz i don't have it) but still this looks like magic to me. You are way better at teaching photoshop than my computer teacher. And you make it look way more fun :) Karen Kavett photoshop fairy ;)
Sheesh. I'm impressed with your Photoshop abilities. We can expect more screencapture videos of you working in Photoshop?
what is the text font ? i like it alot !
Oh my gosh! You're a pro at Photoshop!
i really wish i was this tech savy when i took photography in high school!!! this would have helped so much!!
How long have you been working with Photoshop to be this good? I don't have Photoshop but what you do in minutes would take me weeks to do if I did have it :-)
It's called SnagIt. I got a download code from the Vlogger Fair swag bag and it works great.
wow, i never think this much about my thumbnails, thanks for the ideas!:)
Thank you so much for this video
Such a great video Karen!!!!! Super super helpful.
how did you get all you pictures in a collage like that for the background?
Whats the typeface that you used? LOVE IT
I'd love to see more videos like this, in which you show us how to do things on Photoshop
youre amazing on photoshop!
Karen you are great and your skin is lovely ..wait until you are my age lol now I use mac book pro can I do all this on there ?
You should definitely do more Photoshop tutorials like that! Very helpful!
does anyone know what app or software was used?? :) Thank you, very helpful xx
Amaze!! Great tutorial. You made this very accessible.
In masking you apply black/white colour to indicate which parts are on/off, you don't delete any pixels of the original photo underneath. You do this so you don't compromise the photo you're planning to manipulate, even if it just to 'cut' it out.
How do u upload a thumbnail to yotube?
Oh I'm also curious about your views on the consistency of thumbnail styles. Is it good or bad to have the same style of thumbnail every time?
Hey Karen, when taking a screenshot of the video you can use CMD + SHIFT + 4 to take a selection or you can use CMD + SHIFT + 4 then SPACEBAR while hovering over a window you would like a screenshot of. Thought that might be handy. :)
Your tutorial for this is awesome,,,thanks!
How do you set it when posting the video????
Loved it!! thanks, karen :) hate how they have changed photoshop though, prefer the previous version when the tools popped out and not hidden by the black/greyness!
You made it look so easy.
SLOW DOWN ??????!!!!!!!!!!
Heather Lonnon lol
Did you use your normal mouse/trackpad to get rid of the background in the layer mask? Or did you use a tablet?
great tutorial! could you please do more photoshop videos?
This was an amazing video Kudos. I did wish i have your skill set in regards to doing those thumbnails haha
Any advice for how to frame two people in a thumbnail? I find ours often seem crowded
How do you add the design thumbnail to the video?
Ok, quick question but how do you take the thumbnail you made and use it as the thumbnail for your video, all I seem to be able to do is use 3 screenshots that youtube picked out from the video
I thought you could change that through the window drop down. Did they take that off the new version? /:
Just got a new iMac. Where do you download the grab software?
Just use Shift, Command, 4.
the pirate bay or you can buy it
This is amazing, please do more photoshop tuts!
Could you make a vide on how to make youtube thumbnails or Picmonkey or a free website? I don't have Photoshop!
This is so immensely helpful. Thank you!
I've been trying to figure this out myself. Nobody seems to have a straight answer. UA-cam Help is very vague about it (all it says is certain users have the option) and through all my googling I've found some people say you have to be a partner, and some say that youtube randomly enables it for various users so you just have to be patient and wait. No idea what's true. If you had it you would see a button for it in video manager beneath the three images choices it gives you for thumbnails.
Wow, you do that seamlessly. :O
2 things
1. I love how much effort you actually put in
2. try out cinema 4d for even better text so yeah
How do you like add thoes screens from the beginning that have words Idk what the are called
Most of the thumbnail tutorials seem to suggest complicated (yes, complicated, at least for me!) software like Photoshop, etc. Please make (or share if they already exist) tutorials for making thumbnails on simple software like Paint which comes bundled with Windows, with which I can hopefully make thumbnails in a snap. The whole layers (among others) concept on Photoshop really confuses me. I want a simple way in which I can quickly take a screenshot from my videos (I have many UA-cam channels besides this one), add some text to it, and be done in a minute or two. I hate wasting time on these peripheral aspects of life, but I am aware that thumbnails provide immense value to UA-cam videos and add to their "watchability" score immensely, which is why I do want to make them, but in a simple and easy way which can really be done in a flash. Thank you!
You can try picmonkey.com - Easy to use, no real layers apart from moving objects front or back, quite some tools. Only drawback, I couldn't really find a nice way to make text pop up. At least not as easy as she's doing it here.
Ardensio I've started using picmonkey.com too. A great way to make text pop up is to go into effects, go down to artsy, click draw, make the hardness 0%, pick a color, and draw underneath the text. This really makes the text pop out. Hope I helped!
Love 2 Create Nice, thank you for the tip !