110 lines
4.0 KiB
Markdown
110 lines
4.0 KiB
Markdown
# YouTube Thumbnail Design Requirements
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## Critical Requirements (**MUST ALWAYS** Follow)
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### 1. **Pass The Glance Test** ⚡
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**The viewer must understand the thumbnail in 1 second or less.**
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- The full image must be comprehensible at a glance
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- No mental effort required to figure out what's going on
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- **Test criterion**: Would this be immediately clear when viewed at mobile size?
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- If the viewer's eye has to search or study the image, it **FAILS**
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### 2. **Spark Curiosity** 🎯
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**This is the #1 most important principle for clickable thumbnails.**
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- Create intrigue and tension in the viewer's mind
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- Make viewers feel compelled to click to resolve the curiosity
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- The thumbnail should make viewers want to know more
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- Without curiosity, other principles won't matter as much
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### 3. **Single Clear Focal Point** 👁️
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**The viewer's eye must be drawn to ONE point, not multiple competing elements.**
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- **NEVER** create thumbnails with multiple focal points
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- As soon as the eye needs to search for what to notice, it fails The Glance Test
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- One dominant element should immediately grab attention
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### 4. **Mobile-First Design** 📱
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**Most viewers see thumbnails small - design must work at small sizes.**
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- Always preview thumbnails at mobile/small size during design
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- Important details **MUST** remain visible when thumbnail is small
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- What looks good on a big monitor may fail on mobile
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- **Critical**: Don't let important details get lost at small sizes
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---
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## Text Guidelines
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### **NEVER:**
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- ❌ Repeat the video title in the thumbnail text (viewer already has that information)
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- ❌ Use too much text (breaks The Glance Test)
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- ❌ Use text that's too small to read on mobile devices
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### **ALWAYS:**
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- ✅ Use text that **complements** (not repeats) the video title
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- ✅ Ensure text is large enough to read at mobile thumbnail size
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- ✅ Keep text minimal and impactful
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- ✅ Test text readability at small sizes
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### **Best Practice - Short, Punchy Text:**
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- Use brief, impactful phrases that describe the video
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- Example: "10x Your Creative Production" (with visual emphasis like neon background highlights)
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- **Exception**: Slightly longer text is acceptable when there are minimal other elements and text takes up most of the space
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- Text should be descriptive and add value beyond the title
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---
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## Visual Composition
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### **AVOID:**
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- ❌ Clutter (multiple competing elements)
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- ❌ Images where nothing stands out
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- ❌ Complex compositions that require study to understand
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- ❌ Designs that take mental work to process
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### **PRIORITIZE:**
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- ✅ Clear, simple compositions
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- ✅ High contrast elements
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- ✅ Single dominant subject or element
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- ✅ Immediate visual clarity
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### **Performance Boosters:**
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#### 1. **Eye-Catching Graphics and Colors**
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- Use bold, vibrant colors that stand out
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- High contrast between elements
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- Graphics should be visually striking and attention-grabbing
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#### 2. **People (Especially Faces)**
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- **Faces perform exceptionally well** in thumbnails
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- Ideally feature someone from the video
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- Human faces create connection and draw attention
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- Facial expressions can convey emotion and intrigue
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---
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## Hierarchy of Importance
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1. **Spark Curiosity** - Without this, nothing else matters
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2. **Pass The Glance Test** - Just as important; all other principles serve this goal
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3. Single focal point, mobile optimization, and text guidelines - All support the above two
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---
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## Evaluation Checklist
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When evaluating or creating a thumbnail, ask:
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1. ✓ Can I understand this in 1 second? (Glance Test)
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2. ✓ Does this make me curious to learn more? (Curiosity)
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3. ✓ Is there ONE clear focal point? (Not multiple)
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4. ✓ Does this work at mobile size? (Mobile-first)
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5. ✓ If text is used: Does it complement (not repeat) the title?
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6. ✓ If text is used: Is it short, punchy, and readable at small sizes?
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7. ✓ Does it use eye-catching graphics and colors?
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8. ✓ Does it feature people (ideally faces from the video)?
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9. ✓ Is the composition simple and uncluttered?
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