Thank you so much, everyone, for coming along to this event. I’m sure you’re all very interested in making videos online or just being creative. This is the first Cap Create event, and I’m super excited to host it. Today, we’re going to be talking about how I create thumbnails. I have experience with making thumbnails online, and I’ll be showing you tips and tricks, the programs I’ve used, and more. So, let’s get straight into this! Also, at the end of this presentation, I have an awesome new event that I’m going to be scheduling. I haven’t seen this one on Rec yet, so I’m very excited to host it. But I’ll tell you more about that at the very end, so that’s something to keep you waiting for! There are two people I want to give a massive thanks to for making this whole event come together. First of all, thank you to Cored 23. They aren’t here at the moment but did a lot of the setup outside, and I’m really grateful for that. Also, thanks to N from KS, who helped a lot with getting the screen sharing to work inside Rec Rooms. We’ve managed to get it working, and I’m super excited to continue with this. Hopefully, everything goes smoothly. Today, we’re going to be talking about thumbnails and an introduction to them. Our next event will focus on video editing, so if you’re interested in that, there are buttons at the very back of the room where you can see upcoming events. We’re also going to delve into how to use YouTube Studio, which I’m really excited about. That one doesn’t have a date yet, but it will show you analytics from my channel and that sort of thing. Now, let’s get straight into it! Where do you get started with thumbnails? There are a lot of areas you can get confused with. Many people are wondering if there are any free programs they can use to make thumbnails because, you know, Photoshop can be quite pricey. Some people make videos but don’t know how to create a thumbnail, and some have amazing videos but just a poor thumbnail that brings the whole video down. I’ve got a whole bunch of areas we’ll cover today regarding what makes a good thumbnail, including some psychological aspects to make your thumbnails more clickable. Now, over my time on YouTube, I’ve used three main programs to make thumbnails. The first one is PowerPoint by Microsoft. If you have a Windows computer, PowerPoint is fantastic. If you are on a Mac, Keynote is also great. I spent about four years using Keynote before I started using Canva, which is another excellent program. Canva has so many great features! There’s a lot of appreciation in the comments for Canva, and I agree that it’s a fantastic tool, especially with the new AI features they’ve rolled out. So, as seen here, these are a few of my thumbnails made over the years using Keynote and PowerPoint. Some of my most popular videos, like this one that almost hit 300K views, were made using these tools. If you’re interested in learning how to use the Make a Pen, I have a bunch of tutorials on that as well. Keynote is a super simple, free program, and it’s incredible for creating thumbnails, especially if you don’t have access to the internet. If you need a straightforward tool, Keynote is definitely the way to go. Moving on to the next tool, Canva is the most amazing free resource I’ve found for thumbnails right now. It’s absolutely fantastic and has a full library of templates you can use to create your own thumbnails. This entire presentation was made on Canva, and it’s free unless you want to pay for additional features, which I recommend if you want to expand. Canva’s drag-and-drop interface is incredibly user-friendly, and they are continuously rolling out new features to help with thumbnail creation and engaging content. You can access Canva on the web, on an iPad, or a tablet, making it incredibly versatile. With Canva, you can create a free account online, search for “YouTube thumbnails,” and gain access to a vast library of templates. If you’re creating content for specific games like Rec Room or Minecraft, you can easily customize these templates to suit your needs. Here are some thumbnail examples I made in Canva. They read really well and help maintain consistency across my videos, making it easy for viewers to recognize my content. Including a logo in the corner can help reinforce channel identity, too. If you’re interested in more Canva tutorials, which I can definitely provide, please check out underycap.com/events. If this event goes well, I might host a few more one-on-one sessions to show how I create my thumbnails. Now, let’s discuss what makes a good thumbnail. From my experience on YouTube, I have data that shows what works and what doesn’t. One key aspect is that thumbnails need to be simplistic. If you can’t read the thumbnail or there’s just too much going on, it won’t get clicks. I have an example of a video that initially failed. The thumbnail was overcrowded and confusing. After making slight changes—like simplifying the background and rearranging elements—we significantly increased the watch time and clicks, showing that simplicity is essential. Next, let’s talk about colors. Colors play a significant role in thumbnails. I’ve found that blue works well for mine, but the effectiveness of colors can vary depending on the video’s context. For instance, using bright colors can help grab attention, while muted tones might not work as effectively. Visual text is also crucial. When creating your thumbnails, ensure your text is clear and meaningful. The only way to convey your video’s message effectively is through a combination of imagery and well-placed text. Lastly, continuity is vital. Your thumbnail should work well with your title. For example, if the title includes a specific topic or feature, ensure that the thumbnail reflects that. It helps to secure understanding and encourages viewers to click. That’s about all I have for today. I’m so grateful for your attendance! If you want to see more events, I have buttons at the back with information. I haven’t seen many invention showcases in Rec Room, but I’ll be hosting regular events focused on showcasing personal inventions without circuits. It will be a great opportunity to network and share creativity. Thank you all again for coming! I hope you have an amazing day, and I look forward to seeing you at the next event.